24 votes

Proposal and interest survey for Timasomo: Tildes' Make Something Month

UPDATE: Be on the lookout for Timasomo Post #0 on Friday, October 25!


November, the month of NaNoWriMo or National Novel Writing Month, is coming up. I was thinking we could run a parallel event, though slightly more open in scope.

My idea is to use November here as a "Make Something Month" with pretty much wide open parameters. Write a novel, write poetry, paint landscapes, craft pottery, create delicious recipes, homebrew, code a game, contribute to open source software, do something clever with a Raspberry Pi. Whatever it is you're interested in doing creatively, go for it! I envision something quite self-directed, with the challenge being meeting the parameters you set for yourself rather than any external criteria we come up with. It also doesn't have to be limited to a single project, so maybe you want to tackle a weekly or even daily challenge.

My current vision for how this will work:

I'll post weekly recurring posts (or see if Deimos can schedule them), starting one week before November begins (for planning), continuing through the month with check-ins and feedback and support, and ending with a final showcase post in December where everyone can share their creative works with everyone else.

If this is something that you'd like to participate in, please let me know! Also, if anyone has any ideas for how to run it, please share.

16 comments

  1. [3]
    moocow1452
    Link
    I think I can probably have a decent proposal, start strong, fall behind, have a reckoning with myself about my ability to plan long term and then pull enough together at the end of this to form a...

    I think I can probably have a decent proposal, start strong, fall behind, have a reckoning with myself about my ability to plan long term and then pull enough together at the end of this to form a praxis around a perceived moral victory by trying in the first place. I'm in! đź‘Ť

    16 votes
    1. [2]
      kfwyre
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      Way to spoil the ending for everyone! :P All kidding aside though, your description is pretty spot on. I've tried and failed at NaNoWriMo enough times to know that I likely won't end up achieving...

      Way to spoil the ending for everyone! :P

      All kidding aside though, your description is pretty spot on. I've tried and failed at NaNoWriMo enough times to know that I likely won't end up achieving or fully realizing what I want to, but I'll at least have done something worth trying.

      3 votes
      1. unknown user
        Link Parent
        Generally, ideals are meant to be guidance, not prognosis. 50k is a ridiculous amount of words to put out in a month. 10k sounds reasonable if you're into writing and want to challenge yourself. A...

        Generally, ideals are meant to be guidance, not prognosis.

        50k is a ridiculous amount of words to put out in a month. 10k sounds reasonable if you're into writing and want to challenge yourself. A 10k story might even end up worth reading.

        3 votes
  2. kfwyre
    Link
    It looks like there's some definite interest in this, so I'm happy to announce that Timasomo is a go! We will begin with post #0 this coming Friday, October 25 which will be a roll call and...

    It looks like there's some definite interest in this, so I'm happy to announce that Timasomo is a go! We will begin with post #0 this coming Friday, October 25 which will be a roll call and planning thread where participants will get to meet each other, define and share their goals, and come up with plans for the month.

    I'm looking forward to participating with all of you!

    8 votes
  3. [2]
    facedeodorant
    Link
    I'm in. I would probably finish some project I've left undone for a while: finishing up my woodworking studio so it can be used to make more new creative stuff. It's currently basically a spidery...

    I'm in. I would probably finish some project I've left undone for a while: finishing up my woodworking studio so it can be used to make more new creative stuff. It's currently basically a spidery dungeon, so the work would be cleaning, painting, and finishing building my custom workbench, and installing my furnace so I can make stuff over the cold winter.

    Hopefully this fits in somehow? I don't really feel that I need to write a novel or work on more code, and making a workshop scratches my creative bone.

    6 votes
    1. kfwyre
      Link Parent
      Absolutely! I'm not here to gatekeep anyone's creativity, so if it works for you, it works for Timasomo! Also, I hear you on the spidery dungeon. My garage is filled with eight-legged friends...

      Absolutely! I'm not here to gatekeep anyone's creativity, so if it works for you, it works for Timasomo!

      Also, I hear you on the spidery dungeon. My garage is filled with eight-legged friends right now. I say hi to them every time I go do laundry, as I figure I should stay on their good side. There's a lot more of them than there are of me!

      1 vote
  4. Gyrfalcon
    Link
    I'm definitely interested! Not sure how working on something ongoing would fit in but I'm game to try.

    I'm definitely interested! Not sure how working on something ongoing would fit in but I'm game to try.

    4 votes
  5. unknown user
    Link
    I have a thing or two I may want to try to tackle in a month. Count me in if you're running it. As for organization: first post: announcement, goal-setting, luck-wishing week 1 post: progress,...

    I have a thing or two I may want to try to tackle in a month. Count me in if you're running it.

    As for organization:

    • first post: announcement, goal-setting, luck-wishing
    • week 1 post: progress, experience so far, discoveries about workflow
    • week 2 through 4: repeat week 1
    • final post: results, congratulations, a Tildes medal for Being Quite Good At Something™
    4 votes
  6. acdw
    Link
    This sounds great! I'm totally on board. I also like how self-directed this is. I'll think of something cool to do and contribute :)

    This sounds great! I'm totally on board. I also like how self-directed this is. I'll think of something cool to do and contribute :)

    3 votes
  7. Greg
    Link
    Great idea! Not sure what I'll do yet, but now I've posted here that should give me an incentive to figure it out.

    Great idea! Not sure what I'll do yet, but now I've posted here that should give me an incentive to figure it out.

    3 votes
  8. [3]
    xstresedg
    (edited )
    Link
    Heck, why not. I'm down. LET'S DO THIS! EDIT: Even made a webpage for it hahaha. It's kinda got me pumped up.

    Heck, why not. I'm down. LET'S DO THIS!

    EDIT: Even made a webpage for it hahaha. It's kinda got me pumped up.

    2 votes
    1. [2]
      unknown user
      Link Parent
      Might wanna put a link to Tildes in there somewhere for that sweet, sweet traffic. :)

      Might wanna put a link to Tildes in there somewhere for that sweet, sweet traffic. :)

      2 votes
      1. xstresedg
        Link Parent
        Already did. In the description, Timasomo is a link to this post.

        Already did. In the description, Timasomo is a link to this post.

        4 votes
  9. [3]
    moocow1452
    Link
    Quick thought, if we called it Tildes' Do Something Month, we could all be Tildusomos!

    Quick thought, if we called it Tildes' Do Something Month, we could all be Tildusomos!

    2 votes
    1. [2]
      kfwyre
      Link Parent
      While I'm flexible on the name, I will say that I'd rather it not be "Do Something Month." Spoiler This isn't because I don't like the idea but because it steals the thunder for a later iteration...

      While I'm flexible on the name, I will say that I'd rather it not be "Do Something Month."

      Spoiler This isn't because I don't like the idea but because it steals the thunder for a later iteration of this that I was planning! I was thinking of having a "Do Something Week/Month" later on as another event. I envision that one as focused not on creativity but more on productive action (e.g. volunteering, contributing to your community, cleaning out clutter, etc.).
      3 votes
      1. moocow1452
        (edited )
        Link Parent
        Okay, Timasomos sounds pretty cool to say too.

        Okay, Timasomos sounds pretty cool to say too.

        2 votes