Current Projects

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

For all the writers, artists, musicians, and other creative folks:

What are your current projects in cyberfunded creativity?


I've been updated my Poetry Fishbowl parameters, based on audience input, and the July fishbowl will be next week. Also the second installment of my CFC series is up at EMG-zine.

Comments

Good for you!

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

I've seen several other folks use cyberfunded creativity to fund a specific purchase. haikujaguar has done it for paintbrushes. It's a technique I'm keeping in mind for future reference.

What kind of paper are you buying, or considering?

Re: Good for you!

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

Fascinating. I didn't know paper came like that.

Check for acid-free and lignin-free, by the way. That's how scrapbook paper is labeled; "archival" is another useful term. Basically all that boils down to "made to last."

Still exploring

[wyld-dandelyon.livejournal.com]

I'm still meditating as to what will best fit the schedule of someone who works full time, is a single Mom, and has chronic health issues. Also, I've been focusing on plotting an outline for a novel, which doesn't lend itself to the kinds of cyberfunded creativity I've been seeing. However, I have looked at the adopt a character portrait site, and have been doing some sketches & paintings of people. I think that's likely to be where I start; it puts the majority of the work I do for it into the creative side, not the administrative side, which is, in any case, something I need more of in my life. I've been out of balance, with too little time spent creating, for the past few years. Letting someone else keep up a website and handle stuff like mailings (and get a fee for doing so) sounds really good to me right now.

Re: Still exploring

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

All the CFC folks I know are super busy, too, and at least a couple have chronic health challenges. Cyberfunded creativity is a flexible business model so I think it attracts that type.

A novel is a big project. There are a bunch of people doing those as cyberfunded creativity, but mostly established authors. Starting smaller is probably prudent.

Not being an artist myself, I can't speak to that side of Ellen Million Graphics; but I write for EMG-zine and as a writer, I'm pleased with it.

Not sure how to go about this

[giazz-40.livejournal.com]

Hi there,
I'm new at the Cyberfunded creativity group, and would like to learn more about how to do this.
I am a musician, and my husband and I just put together a Renaissance Faire, and promoted it online (not sure if that is the same thing) and also have been promoting my other side business as well.
Can you give me some ideas?
Thanks.

Re: Not sure how to go about this

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

Welcome!

Click the "how to" tag on the left side of this blog and you can find some information on what makes cyberfunded creativity work.

I also have a series going at EMG-zine:
http://www.emg-zine.com/item.php?id=410
http://www.emg-zine.com/item.php?id=412
A later installment will describe some ways of establishing a CFC project.

Look in the "Links" list on the left side of this blog, and click "Tom Smith Online." He's a musician, and his CFC activities include a virtual tip jar and various options for commissioning personalized songs. You can also look at other people's projects but I think everyone else so far is a writer and/or artist, so the style is a little different.

The easiest way to get started in CFC is to put up a general donation button, usually using PayPal. It works like putting out a tip jar when you're busking: if people find you entertaining, they give you random amounts of money.

Drop by my blog, "The Wordsmith's Forge," next Tuesday and you can watch one of my Poetry Fishbowls in action. I request audience inspiration and then write poetry based on whatever comes in. You might find that kind of thing useful for composing new songs.

Do you have MP3 files for any of your music? Those are a great way to attract new listeners and/or reward donors. One possibility would be to announce that you're going to make an MP3 available, and let your audience pick which song they want it to be.

Audience participation is crucial in cyberfunded creativity. The more you can do to catch people's interest and get them involved, the better.