Drakeathon Aftermath Report*
Feb. 21st, 2011 01:26 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
aldersprig.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
crowdfundingXposted to my lj, my dreamwidth, and the Dreamwidth Crowdfunding community.
* title changed to indicate that no, kitty is still alive and well.
This weekend was my Drakeathon: an 8-hour livewriting marathon over two days to raise funds to help offset the costs of my diabetic kitty's insulin, needles, and vet visits.
For 4 hours on Saturday & 4 on Sunday, I took prompts and wrote from them in a GoogleDoc open to anyone who donated.
I received $155 in donations, got 20 prompts from 16 people, 13 of whom donated.
(in sick kitty terms, this is one bottle of insulin and 100 syringes, or 6 visits to the vet, or 155 days of canned cat food).
Things I learned:
* I like livewriting. I really like it. If I could do all my writing in front of an audience, I think I would.
* GoogleDocs works, but it has its flaws. It's not right there visible to everyone, which I think might draw more interest.
* (Something I knew already, but I'm not sure how to capitalize on best): Interest makes interest. If half of your Twitter Feed or F-list is talking about something, you're more likely to be interested yourself.
* 4 hours at a sitting is too long, and midnight is too late.
Things that surprised me:
* I got less unpaid prompts (5, from 3 people) and more paid prompts (the other 15) than I thought I would. I expected a lot more little 50 or 100 word unpaid prompts and less 600+ word paid requests
* I write slower than I thought I would. I still have 2 unpaid & 4 paid requests to write in the next week, totally 3900 words (I wrote ~7000 words over 8 hours).
* People seem rather interested in what sort of pizza I'll be getting with the $20 incentive level (probably take-out Indian. There's no good delivery in East Nowhere where we live)
* It probably shouldn't have surprised me, but I had quite a few Addergoole prompts (4, plus two in the wings that are "Addergoole /or/ Cali;" Addergoole is my webserial I've been posting for 2+ years) and none for the current fantasy short story setting, Reiassan.
All in all, I had a lot of fun. I'm excited to put together the e-book, as that will be another learning experience, and I will probably do this again at some point.
* title changed to indicate that no, kitty is still alive and well.
This weekend was my Drakeathon: an 8-hour livewriting marathon over two days to raise funds to help offset the costs of my diabetic kitty's insulin, needles, and vet visits.
For 4 hours on Saturday & 4 on Sunday, I took prompts and wrote from them in a GoogleDoc open to anyone who donated.
I received $155 in donations, got 20 prompts from 16 people, 13 of whom donated.
(in sick kitty terms, this is one bottle of insulin and 100 syringes, or 6 visits to the vet, or 155 days of canned cat food).
Things I learned:
* I like livewriting. I really like it. If I could do all my writing in front of an audience, I think I would.
* GoogleDocs works, but it has its flaws. It's not right there visible to everyone, which I think might draw more interest.
* (Something I knew already, but I'm not sure how to capitalize on best): Interest makes interest. If half of your Twitter Feed or F-list is talking about something, you're more likely to be interested yourself.
* 4 hours at a sitting is too long, and midnight is too late.
Things that surprised me:
* I got less unpaid prompts (5, from 3 people) and more paid prompts (the other 15) than I thought I would. I expected a lot more little 50 or 100 word unpaid prompts and less 600+ word paid requests
* I write slower than I thought I would. I still have 2 unpaid & 4 paid requests to write in the next week, totally 3900 words (I wrote ~7000 words over 8 hours).
* People seem rather interested in what sort of pizza I'll be getting with the $20 incentive level (probably take-out Indian. There's no good delivery in East Nowhere where we live)
* It probably shouldn't have surprised me, but I had quite a few Addergoole prompts (4, plus two in the wings that are "Addergoole /or/ Cali;" Addergoole is my webserial I've been posting for 2+ years) and none for the current fantasy short story setting, Reiassan.
All in all, I had a lot of fun. I'm excited to put together the e-book, as that will be another learning experience, and I will probably do this again at some point.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Thoughts
Date: 2011-02-21 06:43 pm (UTC)I call mine "followup reports" if that helps.
>>* I like livewriting. I really like it. If I could do all my writing in front of an audience, I think I would.<<
So look for ways to do more of your writing live in front of an audience. Could you make livewriting a regular monthly feature? Could you do it at a convention or other event?
>>* GoogleDocs works, but it has its flaws. It's not right there visible to everyone, which I think might draw more interest. <<
Do you have a webcam, or could you borrow one, to see if that provides a better experience? I was reading the stories on LJ, not GD.
>>* (Something I knew already, but I'm not sure how to capitalize on best): Interest makes interest. If half of your Twitter Feed or F-list is talking about something, you're more likely to be interested yourself.<<
Well, I know that word-of-mouth tends to build momentum over time. If you ask people to retweet or otherwise boost the signal, it goes farther.
>>* I got less unpaid prompts (5, from 3 people) and more paid prompts (the other 15) than I thought I would.<<
O_O That is by FAR the best ratio I've ever heard of in crowdfunding.
Re: Thoughts
Date: 2011-02-21 06:50 pm (UTC)That's probably a much better title in the future, thanks!
>> Could you make livewriting a regular monthly feature?
I might! It seemed to entertain people, not just me...
...cons might be a bit terrifying.
>>Do you have a webcam.
I could probably borrow one. I could have more up to date pictures of the kitty then, too (though he slept through 9/10 of the 'thon, he spent a good portion of the rest trying to get into my "writing desk" (an old sewing machine)).
Re: Thoughts
Date: 2011-02-21 07:16 pm (UTC)Glad I could help.
>> I might! It seemed to entertain people, not just me... <<
I would enjoy seeing more.
>>...cons might be a bit terrifying.<<
So, save that as a possible future option if it ever appeals. I just happen to like conventions, and I've done fishbowling in writing classes before, so the concept is not new or daunting to me.
I think the webcam and updated pictures are worth exploring too.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-02-21 07:49 pm (UTC)It's not? I thought it was if you published it with the automatically republish option.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-02-21 08:01 pm (UTC)Googledocs is visible, but it's not on, say, the same landing page as the prompting/donating. Having everything integrated would make less clicks for potential viewers/participants. In my experience, the less people have to click, the more likely they are to get involved.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-02-22 12:15 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-02-22 12:17 am (UTC)