Kathryn, this is a beautiful idea and concept. My sense is that this would work best IRL, but it's certainly worth giving a shot in the virtual sphere. I'd recommend setting up a Section here, in your top nav, and giving this space a name. It has to have a name. Then you need to figure out how to enable people to post about what they're looking for. Someone then has to gather that input and publish it, and people can use the Comments to connect with each other. Maybe a regular Zoom call, as well. Just some ideas.
Or maybe you do it off Substack if this platform doesn't lend itself well to what it needs (or wants)?
That same group did an online group for a while and it worked well but everyone was local here. I envision here it starting mostly with people being willing to do guest posts or share on social or whatnot but I imagine it could grow off that as well. I do suspect that maybe the best tool for it is off Substack though. Thanks for chiming in!
I would love a co-writing group, basically everyone who is interested on zoom for an hour or so, silently working on their novel, etc. I don’t know if anyone is interested in that.
I have found Foster to be really great for writing groups. I'm not opposed to doing something with that here eventually but since they're already going I figured I'd mention.
This is an excellent idea Kathryn! I think something like a Notion database may work well for this. Or maybe even Sheets, though it would be helpful to have a way to tag & search for requests, perhaps?
Thanks! I don't know Notion (just looked at it, seems cool) but I did think that some kind of tool like that would help us organize better. Especially if this grows and lasts a long time, we want people to be able to easily go through it. I'll throw that idea on the list!
This is such a beautiful idea, I could not love it more!! My immediate feeling is that a spreadsheet (a Google sheet so it can be openly shared) is the easiest route, with filters for types of request. In the spirit of the project, I'm happy to help set it up if you do want to go that route - I love a spreadsheet! 😁
I definitely was thinking a spreadsheet would be a great idea. I just know that my brain doesn't work in that way very well so it would be amazing if you/ others took on the design of it. I'm going to DM you and Allegra here a link to a spreadsheet and maybe you can connect and play around with some designs/tags/whatever you might call it in a spreadsheet. If it feels good. Let's not share the link elsewhere yet since I'm still collecting ideas but I know for sure I want spreadsheet to be part of it.
I definitely was thinking a spreadsheet would be a great idea. I just know that my brain doesn't work in that way very well so it would be amazing if you/ others took on the design of it. I'm going to DM you and Marbellys here a link to a spreadsheet and maybe you can connect and play around with some designs/tags/whatever you might call it in a spreadsheet. If it feels good. Let's not share the link elsewhere yet since I'm still collecting ideas but I know for sure I want spreadsheet to be part of it.
“Is there some other tool for collaboration off Substack that I don’t know about that would work perfectly?” - in response to this specific question, Slack is a great collaborative platform although I’m not sure whether there are limits as to number of users, co-hosting, etc
Re: Slack ... I agree that it's a terrific tool for collaboration ... AND my brain doesn't work that way and I get so overwhelmed there and hate when everyone communicates through Slack. Honestly same with Whatsup. BUT ... one of the things that is really important to me with this group is that there are different ways for people to participate because we all learn and understand and organize differently. So I'm kind of envisioning a monthly post on Create Me Free reminding/chatting in comments/ giving news ... And then links to the community in Zoom, Slack, Spreadsheets. I'm not sure yet but some kind of idea is coalescing. Which is all to say that someone would need to pick up the slack (ha, ha) but I'm throwing that in the hat as one good option.
I love this idea. And I especially relate to how creativity is changing during menopause. I've noticed a real change in myself - but for the good.
Before my books were acquired by a UK publisher, I was part of a publishing collective (the only one I know of in Australia). It was a small group of talented professionals with a wide range of skills and experience - we had worked variously as editors for publishing houses, proofreaders, project managers and so on. And instead of exchanging money for services (eg a structural edit), we exchanged services/skills. It was a fantastic group to be part of and I'm forever grateful to them.
So wonderful. Tucson, my hometown, had a barter system for a while. I also love community "stuff" - little free libraries, tool libraries where you borrow the tool you need and return it, etc.
Re: menopause/creativity ... If you ever want to write a guest post on your experience (or heck just chat about it privately) I'd love that.
I love this idea! It's something that I have been tossing around in my head lately. It gets lonely in our artist caves and sometimes it is nice to feel that we aren't islands in the streams, but part of a community. I am a NYT and USA Today self-publishing billionaire romance author and can offer some advise on the topic. I can also offer copies of my book. I would love to be featured in an interview, and cross promote, etc. More later once we get this show on the road.
I think maybe a monthly chat thread, possibly with a link to past threads, in case someone's opportunity to share came up before they joined. Notify people with a post with a link to that thread. That's probably how I would do it.
This is exactly how my brain works and is what I would be most inclined to do. But I also think that this could get overwhelming if it grows to a lot of people/ lasts a long time. So I think there should also be some other tool ... that someone else is better at. You know it's really important to me to try to include a variety of options so that people can choose the ones that work best for their learning and communication style, accounting for neurodiversity etc. So I'm leaning towards doing exactly what you've said and also having a spreadsheet for organization and maybe adding other options (slack, zoom, etc.) And people can go where they feel best, with the monthly chat post here being the hub everyone can use as the core resource. We'll see - it's all still coalescing as an idea. But I'm very excited.
I don’t have any particular suggestions that haven’t already been brought up, just wanted to say I am HERE for it all.
As for your needs list, one that stood out was having someone to talk/vent to about chronic illness as I can relate. I’d be more than happy to be here anytime you want or need.
In case you haven't seen it yet there's a Google Form for anyone who wants to be sure to be updated about this as it evolves (but info will also be here at Create Me Free) - https://forms.gle/fKMGCZxzrgsZQ5vcA
This reminds me of the Buy Nothing Project which I participate in on Facebook (the only reason I’m still there) and they also have an app I believe. Might be worth looking into for inspiration (including language they’ve used to describe the whole project).
Also, what about “wish for” instead of need or want?
I get how a spreadsheet sounds fun to create, but I’m not sure as a user, I’d go in and find things. Maybe I just can’t imagine that kind of spreadsheet.
A monthly chat or comments section feels both messy and also alive and fun and interesting.
That's a good point about the Buy Nothing group. The idea here is more intangible but I think the format might make sense.
I can't imagine that kind of spreadsheet either but people with brains who think that way might be able to create something amazing. I think that the more options we have for exchanging the information, the better, since our brains all work in different ways and people can use what works for them.
I love this idea so much.
DM-ing you <3
This is such a great idea <3
💛💛💛
Kathryn, this is a beautiful idea and concept. My sense is that this would work best IRL, but it's certainly worth giving a shot in the virtual sphere. I'd recommend setting up a Section here, in your top nav, and giving this space a name. It has to have a name. Then you need to figure out how to enable people to post about what they're looking for. Someone then has to gather that input and publish it, and people can use the Comments to connect with each other. Maybe a regular Zoom call, as well. Just some ideas.
Or maybe you do it off Substack if this platform doesn't lend itself well to what it needs (or wants)?
That same group did an online group for a while and it worked well but everyone was local here. I envision here it starting mostly with people being willing to do guest posts or share on social or whatnot but I imagine it could grow off that as well. I do suspect that maybe the best tool for it is off Substack though. Thanks for chiming in!
Great ideas! I like the Zoom call idea, perhaps monthly or bi-monthly where we can meet each other and collaborate.
I am throwing the Zoom call in the hat as one of the good options.
PS I am throwing the Zoom call in the hat as one of the good options.
I would love a co-writing group, basically everyone who is interested on zoom for an hour or so, silently working on their novel, etc. I don’t know if anyone is interested in that.
Are you familiar with Foster? It is also part of CoAuthored here on Substack. https://www.foster.co/
Thanks for the tip.
I have found Foster to be really great for writing groups. I'm not opposed to doing something with that here eventually but since they're already going I figured I'd mention.
Both Hands Up!
This is an excellent idea Kathryn! I think something like a Notion database may work well for this. Or maybe even Sheets, though it would be helpful to have a way to tag & search for requests, perhaps?
Thanks! I don't know Notion (just looked at it, seems cool) but I did think that some kind of tool like that would help us organize better. Especially if this grows and lasts a long time, we want people to be able to easily go through it. I'll throw that idea on the list!
This is such a beautiful idea, I could not love it more!! My immediate feeling is that a spreadsheet (a Google sheet so it can be openly shared) is the easiest route, with filters for types of request. In the spirit of the project, I'm happy to help set it up if you do want to go that route - I love a spreadsheet! 😁
Oh I love me a spreadsheet too! Happy to help with this :-)
I definitely was thinking a spreadsheet would be a great idea. I just know that my brain doesn't work in that way very well so it would be amazing if you/ others took on the design of it. I'm going to DM you and Allegra here a link to a spreadsheet and maybe you can connect and play around with some designs/tags/whatever you might call it in a spreadsheet. If it feels good. Let's not share the link elsewhere yet since I'm still collecting ideas but I know for sure I want spreadsheet to be part of it.
I definitely was thinking a spreadsheet would be a great idea. I just know that my brain doesn't work in that way very well so it would be amazing if you/ others took on the design of it. I'm going to DM you and Marbellys here a link to a spreadsheet and maybe you can connect and play around with some designs/tags/whatever you might call it in a spreadsheet. If it feels good. Let's not share the link elsewhere yet since I'm still collecting ideas but I know for sure I want spreadsheet to be part of it.
“Is there some other tool for collaboration off Substack that I don’t know about that would work perfectly?” - in response to this specific question, Slack is a great collaborative platform although I’m not sure whether there are limits as to number of users, co-hosting, etc
Re: Slack ... I agree that it's a terrific tool for collaboration ... AND my brain doesn't work that way and I get so overwhelmed there and hate when everyone communicates through Slack. Honestly same with Whatsup. BUT ... one of the things that is really important to me with this group is that there are different ways for people to participate because we all learn and understand and organize differently. So I'm kind of envisioning a monthly post on Create Me Free reminding/chatting in comments/ giving news ... And then links to the community in Zoom, Slack, Spreadsheets. I'm not sure yet but some kind of idea is coalescing. Which is all to say that someone would need to pick up the slack (ha, ha) but I'm throwing that in the hat as one good option.
I love this idea. And I especially relate to how creativity is changing during menopause. I've noticed a real change in myself - but for the good.
Before my books were acquired by a UK publisher, I was part of a publishing collective (the only one I know of in Australia). It was a small group of talented professionals with a wide range of skills and experience - we had worked variously as editors for publishing houses, proofreaders, project managers and so on. And instead of exchanging money for services (eg a structural edit), we exchanged services/skills. It was a fantastic group to be part of and I'm forever grateful to them.
So wonderful. Tucson, my hometown, had a barter system for a while. I also love community "stuff" - little free libraries, tool libraries where you borrow the tool you need and return it, etc.
Re: menopause/creativity ... If you ever want to write a guest post on your experience (or heck just chat about it privately) I'd love that.
I love this idea! It's something that I have been tossing around in my head lately. It gets lonely in our artist caves and sometimes it is nice to feel that we aren't islands in the streams, but part of a community. I am a NYT and USA Today self-publishing billionaire romance author and can offer some advise on the topic. I can also offer copies of my book. I would love to be featured in an interview, and cross promote, etc. More later once we get this show on the road.
Thanks for chiming in! I am feeling so much pull for community right now. Let's stay in touch!
This is a really lovely idea and certainly something I would love to be part of.
I think maybe a monthly chat thread, possibly with a link to past threads, in case someone's opportunity to share came up before they joined. Notify people with a post with a link to that thread. That's probably how I would do it.
This is exactly how my brain works and is what I would be most inclined to do. But I also think that this could get overwhelming if it grows to a lot of people/ lasts a long time. So I think there should also be some other tool ... that someone else is better at. You know it's really important to me to try to include a variety of options so that people can choose the ones that work best for their learning and communication style, accounting for neurodiversity etc. So I'm leaning towards doing exactly what you've said and also having a spreadsheet for organization and maybe adding other options (slack, zoom, etc.) And people can go where they feel best, with the monthly chat post here being the hub everyone can use as the core resource. We'll see - it's all still coalescing as an idea. But I'm very excited.
I like that approach!
I don’t have any particular suggestions that haven’t already been brought up, just wanted to say I am HERE for it all.
As for your needs list, one that stood out was having someone to talk/vent to about chronic illness as I can relate. I’d be more than happy to be here anytime you want or need.
Hugs. Thank you!!
In case you haven't seen it yet there's a Google Form for anyone who wants to be sure to be updated about this as it evolves (but info will also be here at Create Me Free) - https://forms.gle/fKMGCZxzrgsZQ5vcA
Any time…I mean that!
Thank you. Definitely making that mental note. <3 <3
This reminds me of the Buy Nothing Project which I participate in on Facebook (the only reason I’m still there) and they also have an app I believe. Might be worth looking into for inspiration (including language they’ve used to describe the whole project).
Also, what about “wish for” instead of need or want?
I get how a spreadsheet sounds fun to create, but I’m not sure as a user, I’d go in and find things. Maybe I just can’t imagine that kind of spreadsheet.
A monthly chat or comments section feels both messy and also alive and fun and interesting.
That's a good point about the Buy Nothing group. The idea here is more intangible but I think the format might make sense.
I can't imagine that kind of spreadsheet either but people with brains who think that way might be able to create something amazing. I think that the more options we have for exchanging the information, the better, since our brains all work in different ways and people can use what works for them.
I LOVE "wish for". Brilliant.
Buy nothing is often used for tangible goods but it also includes acts of service! (Though I too had forgotten about this until I read your post).
And you’re so right - there may be different options; maybe it doesn’t need the ONE brilliant solution but a few different avenues.
Excited to see where this goes and will complete the interest form (I started yesterday but then lost all progress 😭).
Oh I hate when that happens losing the progress on a form!!
I didn’t know it also has acts of service. I’ve never used it myself but researched it for an article a super long time ago 🤷🏻♀️ that’s wonderful.