Community Ebook/Newsletter

[k_a_webb]

I've been thinking about this for a while now, but as it's coming up to Christmas and the New Year I thought it would be a good time to suggest the idea of us putting together a quarterly ebook and newsletter. We each have different prompt sessions and plans, write a mix of fiction and poetry, and I thought it would be good to have something that we could send out to all those who both are a part of this community and who aren't so they can see what we all do in one place.

What I had in mind was having a piece of fiction or poem from each person who's in the newsletter to make into an ebook that can be sent out with it and then the newsletter holding everything we have planned for that quarter, from beginning a new serial to a prompt session or fishbowl to having a new ebook out. If anyone's interested let me know and if there's enough of us I'm happy to beginning putting it together, so we can have the first one out at the end of February.

Comments

Wow!

[ysabetwordsmith]

>>I've been thinking about this for a while now, but as it's coming up to Christmas and the New Year I thought it would be a good time to suggest the idea of us putting together a quarterly ebook and newsletter.<<

That is a brilliant idea. I'm thrilled to see someone else coming up with good suggestions for community activities. I think this would be a helpful way to showcase our work and maybe get new folks interested in crowdfunding.

>>We each have different prompt sessions and plans, write a mix of fiction and poetry,<<

Plus art, if we're using an ebook format that allows for that. Several people have done icons, and I think there are folks who do larger pieces too.

>> What I had in mind was having a piece of fiction or poem from each person who's in the newsletter to make into an ebook that can be sent out with it and then the newsletter holding everything we have planned for that quarter, from beginning a new serial to a prompt session or fishbowl to having a new ebook out.<<

That sounds like a good plan. Do we want to focus on news of upcoming projects, or recently done things, or a combination? I know some of us plan thing out at least a little in advance, but not everyone does. Frex, I pencil in my poetry fishbowls several months in advance, but not the Creative Jam dates/topics.

>> If anyone's interested let me know and if there's enough of us I'm happy to beginning putting it together, so we can have the first one out at the end of February. <<

That works for me. I'll be happy to contribute.

Re: Wow!

[k_a_webb]

I'm glad you like it. The community is special to me, so I want to be able to help, and I really want us to be able to reach people who may not be on DW or LJ. We've been lucky enough to gather together such an interesting group of people that I think it's something we need to showcase.

Art would be wonderful. I hadn't thought of that.

What I had in mind was a combination of both, so at the beginning there was a recently done section, where we could write about how things had gone, if you had a new ebook out in the last three months that you might not have thought was going to be ready, or just a general update on how your crowdfunding efforts had gone, and then a pencil into your calendar section for things that are coming up - even if they don't have dates.

Having it quarterly, I think, makes both a little simpler. Also, I think it would be nice to have a little introduction at the beginning of everyone who contributed to the issue with links.

Re: Wow!

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> The community is special to me, so I want to be able to help, <<

I'm happy to hear that.

>> and I really want us to be able to reach people who may not be on DW or LJ. <<

Yes, I think expanding our reach would be great.

>> Art would be wonderful. I hadn't thought of that. <<

Cool.

>> What I had in mind was a combination of both, <<

That works for me.

>> Having it quarterly, I think, makes both a little simpler. <<

Agreed.

>> Also, I think it would be nice to have a little introduction at the beginning of everyone who contributed to the issue with links. <<

A bio section is prudent. It usually comes at the end, though.

[havocthecat]

I love that idea! I'm barely even dipping my toes in the water on crowdfunding; I'd be interested in contributing if I can think of a way to do so. (Suggestions would be appreciated.)

Hmm...

[ysabetwordsmith]

Some possibilities ...

* Plan to do a project soon, even if it's small. Then you'd have an event to report and hopefully an item to share.

* We might consider including an extra tidbit or two, like a crowdfunding technique or a review of a crowdfunding site. That's more likely to appeal to experienced folks, but it's a thought.

[alexseanchai]

I like this!

[mmegaera]

I really like the idea. Would you be including links to author/artist websites? How do you plan to distribute it? That would be the crucial part, I think, once it's put together.

[k_a_webb]

Yes, links would be included, and I already use a newsletter sender thing (that was really descriptive... sorry), so I'll probably just set up a new one if this becomes a reality. That permits you to attach things, so the ebook will be an attachment on there, and I could also use my Dropbox to set up a shared folder where we keep all the ebooks for those who want to read them but aren't so interested in the newsletter.

[mmegaera]

Thanks for the information. Let me rephrase. Who would be getting this newsletter? How would subscribers learn about it other than just contributors telling people we know? Is there a marketing plan?

[k_a_webb]

At the moment it's not even more than an idea - if there aren't enough people interested then it's not going to happen, so, no, there isn't a marketing plan yet. What I'd like is for as many people as possible to get the newletter, but until I know for certain that I have at least eight people interested in contributing then it's not really something I'm going to be thinking about, and if the time comes that I can make it happen I'll be focusing on the next steps.

[alexseanchai]

I count five so far, counting yourself, so you're more than halfway there!

[k_a_webb]

That's good. :)

[mmegaera]

Okay. I'm of the opposite opinion, but at least I know where you're coming from with it.

Thanks!

[k_a_webb]

To be honest the community's been so quiet recently that I didn't think I'd get any interest at all, so thinking of a marketing plan didn't really cross my mind. I just want to know if it is something people would be interested in before I go any further, otherwise I waste time I don't really have, what with the hundred other things I need to do. Plus the idea I was planning on posting about was the ebook, but then I thought a newletter with an ebook would be even better. :)