Description: This is an experiment in providing a writer-focused room for people who write for an audience. It's readable by all, but writeable only by active writers who have requested the Writers, Inc server role.

Experiment: Writers Incorporated

This is an experiment in a freelance-focused where committed writers of all kinds can create a workplace bubble where they can casually talk shop.

The room is readable by all, but only "active writers" can post. If you'd like to join the room, let me know what kind of writing you're doing and I'll grant you access. The only requirement is that you are committed to devoting time weekly to your writing, and have some experience in maintaining that discipline.

TIP for OBSERVERS

If you are NOT a member of this group but have a question you'd like to post, just forward or quote-post the message to our main #chat and ask it there!

The Starting Format

• There is no hierarchy of writing! Everyone is doing their own thing and we're all awesome for doing that! The important thing is that you've made a commitment to writing and are actively doing. We're all here to support and share for mutual success, recognizing that this can be difficult work.
• You can pick a role or department (of one) that we're representing professionally; you can pick several of them as writers wear multiple hats, such as finding our audiences to deriving income from our work.
• The vibe is that of a workplace where we are all on friendly terms and wish success for everyone. The ideal is that it is the kind of place where one can share without fear of judgment or being talked-down to.
• We can talk about any issue related to freelancing and related business stuff! If you are looking for a sounding board from fellow writers, or workshopping some work, that's totally cool.
• We are starting with this single room, but can expand as needed. If the experiment looks like it was helpful and has some minimum level of engagement, we can keep it going for as long as people want.

Starting Process

• We have check-in and check-out when you are on the writing clock. Writing cycles are variable, so you can use this mechanism to announce you're in "writing mode".
• To promote the feeling of accountability to producing work and sharing acknowledgement of progress, we can post what we're working on and report what we finished. In return, participants can provide a thoughtful acknowledgement in the form of cheering progress on.
• We do not give unsolicited feedback on work shared, unless the posting person asks explicitly for it and provides a hint about what kind of feedback they like.

do not worry about breaking things or cluttering up the channel. It's an experiment and we will figure things out as they happen .

Maybe some quick introductions would be helpful too!

I'll start. I'm Sri, and I am restarting a freelance business of some kind after a long-term client lost all their science funding. Right now, my strongest offering is probably "information design", and a growing expertise in Javascript realtime graphics for custom learning systems. I have two side hustles related to my blogging: selling physical stationery products that I design, and also building a community of support through Patreon. In the context of freelancing, I see my current challenge as creating a portfolio of projects to help attract either people who will hire me or buy something from me. Figuring out what to prioritize and how to pace myself and stay motivated is at the top of my mind.