☁︎An Idea☁︎ Uncanny Word Count and Creations! (Patreon)

I've been mulling this over for a couple months and I can't shake it, so here we go. Back in 2009 (15 years ago!) I started a small Facebook group with a handful of my online writing friends for us to share our goals and daily word counts. It was a super safe, comfortable place to escape to and kind of hold ourselves accountable, check in, as well as root each other on and celebrate each other's successes.

That group disbanded years ago as everyone had life happen, even me. But for quite a good while it was so nice. And even better, it worked. I got a lot written, as did the others. Plus the members of that group still have a very warm place in my heart and we're still in touch even though so much has happened since then.

So I already made a private FB group called "Uncanny Word Count and Creations" with the above kitsune thing I drew as the banner and I've been sitting on it thinking...Here's my idea, the group will be a place to check in once or twice a day (or less, no pressure at all here) with any progress or non progress or goals or thoughts on your creative venture. At first, at least, no heavy stuff, like how do I fix this plot hole in my novel or anything like that because that wonderful bastard *time* is always leering down my/our neck and there is just so. much. to. do. 

Because I do miss that comfortable routine of dropping by once a day and seeing what's up and reporting my own progress. It's such a niche private thing, I think, really. To be the creating part should be done in the shadows, not on insta. So while I was thinking of doing a daily social media post, it doesn't sit right. Maybe occasionally. However, left to my own devices, I'll let emails and a million other things distract me from doing what I most want to be doing. Writing. Then I wonder if others are feeling equally unmoored and unfocused? And, if so, wouldn't it be nice to have a calm touchstone or harbor to return to at the end of the day. 

So my idea would be to introduce ourselves, what we'd like to be called, share a little, then mention what we're working on or want to work on. This can be writing or drawing or pottery or language studies, anything at all. Some creative venture we want to delve into and make progress on.Maybe we could start with our yearly goals, then break them down to middle-sized and smallish chunks. For example, one of my big goals for 2024 is to finish my mid grade book. I'd like to have a rough draft finished before summer and then I want to write on it daily -- at least 500 new words. <- Not completely thought out, but pretty much Me!

The page will remain private and probably always just for patrons. I think there are enough creatives in here to make it nice and homey and I really don't want it to get too big. I want it to be a pleasant positive place for everyone. Mostly I want a small group of us to share and encourage and get to know one another a little better. Then maybe at the end of the year we'll be pleasantly surprised by how far we come and what we've accomplished. 

An aside, I think it would be fun if it was super creative, too, if that makes sense. Like if there is some photo you took, or piece of artwork you made, or your obento looks super awesome or if your pet is making a goofy face, or if on a walk you found a bunch of acorns that just called out to you, sharing those little bursts of joy are, of course, fine, too. That said, I won't be able to spend loads of time there, but I do intend to check in daily and post both daily word count progress and weird drawing progress and see what everyone else is up to.

I know this can also be done on a private discord channel and that might be an option if everyone likes that idea better. But I also know I do get quite a few messages from people who are unfamiliar with discord and don't know how to get onto the Uncanny Japan one and feel it's a little bit of a learning curve. FB is dead easy.

Here's the link if anyone is interested: 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/907670844359494/ 

XO, 

t