That’s a Wrap – Global Silent Book Club Week is now complete for 2024.
The Amazing Moments
Preparing for this worldwide virtual event forced me to get out of my comfort zone, meet new people, and present new ideas. Some aspects worked better than others, but the fact that I tried means a lot to me in my healing journey. Along the way, GSBCW produced some beautiful opportunities for connection – here are some of them:
As an introverted person, it was so rewarding to connect with people I’d otherwise never get to talk to. Silent Reading felt like an organic, holistic way for me to meet my community where they are, without burning myself out.
Running a Global Event Takes Work
What did I have to create in order for GSBCW to work? Events don’t happen magically on their own – if you build it, they will come. To make it work I built the new web presence, created social media campaigns (Example One, Example Two, Example Three), reached out to different influencers, set up Discord, created safety guidelines so that parents would feel safe with their kids, connected with authors to let them promote their free work, answered questions, managed haters, and created artwork. All told, I’d estimate around 60-80 hours of work went into making this event live and breathe. I’ll have to do it all over again when we have the next one. 🙂
When Are We Doing GSBCW Again?
I’m not sure – this is an open discussion – happy to schedule something again in a month, a quarter, or a year away. Let me know your thoughts on Bluesky or Mastodon.
Nothing Works As Planned
Unlike Hollywood movie montages where linear success happens in a five-minute montage, real projects are more like herding cats. Whether it’s web development, manufacturing icons in Photoshop, getting authors to get materials to you – everything is harder than you thought they’d be. Then there are haters, people going out their way to misunderstand or mischaracterize your intentions. Managing haters is a skill unto itself and I needed all my previous experience to make GSBCW work. And yet …
It’s Still Worth It
I’m exhausted but happy. Global Silent Book Club Week connected me to people I’d otherwise never get to talk to. Instant, unfettered companionship. Those peaceful Silent Reading hours felt cozy, home-like, and for a brief period – we all felt like we belonged.
GSBCW is going to happen again – the when / where / how is all that needs to be decided. You can participate in the discussion on Discord, Bluesky or Mastodon. We’ll see you down the road.
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