What we’re about
A group for those who always wanted to be a writer. An inclusive and supportive community welcoming those picking up pen & paper for their first time, and those who have done it for years and achieved substantial milestones... and for everyone in between!
This is more than a meetup group. HOW TO BECOME A WRITER is a welcoming home for writers of all kinds. We will foster a diverse community of writers who are on a journey of learning and crafting with words... and we invite you to join. Events will be both online and in-person (in Jakarta, Indonesia).
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY
This is a place for sharing and celebrating each other's successes; for learning from each other's struggles; and for helping each other overcome the blocks preventing us from becoming the best writers we can be.
Our community is open to everyone without discrimination on the ground of arbitrary traits, social constructs, or levels of experience. We value diversity, inclusivity, respect, and authenticity. We won’t tolerate harassment or discrimination of any kinds.
We have a low barrier to entry for anyone interested in writing. The writing itself is difficult; joining our community should be easy! A crucial tenet of our community is to realise that we are all on a journey. Members are asked to be respectful of each other and join with an attitude of solidarity and openness. This community should help us elevate each other!
ABOUT OUR EVENTS
The group will host a blend of workshops, practice, writing challenges, showcases, and community discussions. From time to time, we will invite special guests to share their experience, expertise, tips, and suggestions. We will also host a dedicated, spam-free online community (WhatsApp or Discord – link to follow) and share helpful resources for writers to get started and bring their writing to the next level!
You can see a list of past and future events on the group page, and don't hesitate to ask any questions in the comments!
WHOM IS THIS GROUP PERFECT FOR?
Writers of all genres and expertise are most welcome to join! Novices might have ambitions and enthusiasm that have abandoned established authors; seasoned writers might experience blocks that beginner writers might not yet encounter. Our differences make our strength: We will be able to learn from each other's experiences in different genres and media. There are unifying traits in all types of writing! Finding them will help us become better writers.
No one should feel obliged to share any of their experiences or writings until they are ready to. Introverts and folks who'd like to be active listeners are most welcome, too. Writers in this community can also informally ask and offer their help (for example, for feedback on pitches, or to finding beta-readers).
ABOUT THE HOST(S)
Corrado Nai would describe himself as a science writer although he has experimented with many genres (including poetry, short stories, and one unpublished novella). He has a written features and commentaries for New Scientist, Smithsonian Magazine, Asimov Press, Small Things Considered, Science, Reactor, and many more. He’s a recovering academic with a PhD in microbiology and has written and edited dozens of papers and theses.
Corrado Nai is currently writing a science comic about the forgotten woman who used a dessert (agar-agar) to revolutionise science and medicine, Fanny Angelina Hesse (website | Instagram) for which he raised over 10,000 USD on Kickstarter. He recently launched a Patreon page.
HOW TO JOIN AND SHAPE THIS COMMUNITY
Joining this group come with a monthly fee of 3 USD to cover the running costs of the meetup app for organisers, to make sure we can keep organising plenty of events, and to reward the efforts of the organiser. We have a free 90-day trial phase to allow people enough time to decide which event they want to join. Membership needs to be paid before attending the first event and can be paid through the meetup app or by pledging support with a membership on Patreon (Tier 1 = 2,49 USD/month is OK!). Membership gives access to all events during 30 days after payment, as well as all events of Jakarta Creatives (usually hosted in person in Jakarta).
I’d be happy to allow members to host their own event for free as long as it is aligned with the community goals, spirit, and philosophy.
Upcoming events (3)
See all- Present your writings or your writing plans and ideas!Friends with Bru (Poins Mall, Lebak Bulus), Jakarta Selatan
Welcome to the VERY FIRST event of HOW TO BECOME A WRITER!
The setting of this event is very simple: we will meet and present each other work, and/or our plans and ideas! What is everyone working on? What is your dream project? What have you proud to have achieved?
You are welcome to show thing on your screen (altohugh, please make sure that you have a tablet-size or laptop screen to show it), or just share link with everyone in the group chat!
Or just talk and explain to everyone! You are welcome to prepare a structured presentation but equally so to wing it on the spot. Everyone has about 5-10 minutes time, depending on how many people we will be.
I am also most happy to receive feedback on this group and suggestions on what events to organise in the future (although I already have many ideas, and many events schedulled... see all future events here!)
We will meet in a café in Poins Mall (MRT Lebak Bulus) with great coffee and a lovely book shelf, and sit down on a few tables. Please make sure to order at least one drink as a respect for the venue.
Please be on time as we want to start together and listen to each other presenting their work. Please make sure you understand that we have a monthly membership fee in place. Membership fee can be paid through the app (3 USD/month) or by becoming a paid member of my Patreon page (👉🏼 www.patreon.com/corradonai | Tier 1 = 2.49 USD/month is OK!). Please confirm payment before a few moments before joining the event and be ready to show a confirmaiton of payment to save time. Thanks! Membership gives access to all events of HOW TO BECOME A WRITER for 30 days after payment as well as to all events of Jakarta Creatives for 30 days after payment, and can be stopped on a monthly basis.
This event is back-to-back with the WORKSHOP: CROWDFUNDING ABC happening at the same place at 2:30 PM, where I will present my experience on raising funds for writing projects, and help you set up your! Feel free to join one event or both but please note that you need to register to both events individually. As I explain, the membership fee will give you access to both events: pay once, attend multiple events!
For any questions not answered in the project description, feel free to post a comment in the event page.
ABOUT THE HOST
Corrado Nai would describe himself as a science writer although he has experimented with many genres (including poetry, short stories, and one unpublished novella). He has a written features and commentaries for New Scientist, Smithsonian Magazine, Asimov Press, Small Things Considered, Science, Reactor, and many more. He’s a recovering academic with a PhD in microbiology and has written and edited dozens of papers and theses.Corrado Nai is currently writing a science comic about the forgotten woman who used a dessert (agar-agar) to revolutionise science and medicine, Fanny Angelina Hesse (website | Instagram) for which he raised over 10,000 USD on Kickstarter. He recently launched a Patreon page.
See you at the event!
Corrado - ABC of CROWDFUNDING (Workshop) - how to fund your own writing projects!Friends with Bru (Poins Mall, Lebak Bulus), Jakarta
Let's face it: making money as a writer isn't easy. 😢 Here, I'll will present strategies and experiences with CROWDFUNDING so that you, too, can get (financial) wind in your writing career! 😀💸🤩
I will give a presentation of financies strategies on two platforms: KICKSTARTER and PATREON based on my own succesful project which has raised more than 10,000 USD last year on Kickstarter "The Dessert that Changed the World". I will also talk about my Patreon page which I just recently started and which is off to a great start.
I will give a presentation (about 30-45 minutes) about my crowdfunding projects, telling what worked well, and what didn't work that well. I will be very candid and tell you what I would do exactly the same, and what I won't repeat in my next crowdfunding.
At the end of the presentation, I want everyone to prepare a short plan and pricing of their (mock) public facing crowdfunding campaign. I will ask you to ask the following questions: What products you'd like to offer as reward to supporters? How would you price them? What other strategies could you use to get succesfully funded? What are your goals? After about 20 minutes you have worked on your assignment, we will discuss together (some) of the plans presented by attendees.
What I want you to get away from is tools and plans for your own writing project. I aim to give you ideas, inspirations and suggestions that can be used on any project, genre medium, idea you are developing, or platform you want to explore (there's more platforms other than Kickstarter or Patreon!).
We will meet in a café in Poins Mall (MRT Lebak Bulus) with great coffee and a lovely book shelf, and sit down on a few tables. Please make sure to order at least one drink as a respect for the venue.
Please be on time as we want to start together. Please make sure you understand that we have a monthly membership fee in place. Membership fee can be paid through the app (3 USD/month) or by becoming a paid member of my Patreon page (👉🏼 www.patreon.com/corradonai | Tier 1 = 2.49 USD/month is OK!). Please confirm payment before a few moments before joining the event and be ready to show a confirmaiton of payment to save time. Thanks! Membership gives access to all events of HOW TO BECOME A WRITER for 30 days after payment as well as to all events of Jakarta Creatives for 30 days after payment, and can be stopped on a monthly basis.
This event is back-to-back with the WORKSHOP: PRESENT YOUR WRITINGS happening at the same place at 1:00 PM, where everyone is welcomed to join and present their work, plans, and ideas. Feel free to join one event or both but please note that you need to register to both events individually. As I explain, the membership fee will give you access to both events: pay once, attend multiple events!
For any questions not answered in the project description, feel free to post a comment in the event page.
ABOUT THE HOST
Corrado Nai would describe himself as a science writer although he has experimented with many genres (including poetry, short stories, and one unpublished novella). He has a written features and commentaries for New Scientist, Smithsonian Magazine, Asimov Press, Small Things Considered, Science, Reactor, and many more. He’s a recovering academic with a PhD in microbiology and has written and edited dozens of papers and theses.Corrado Nai is currently writing a science comic about the forgotten woman who used a dessert (agar-agar) to revolutionise science and medicine, Fanny Angelina Hesse (website | Instagram) for which he raised over 10,000 USD on Kickstarter. He recently launched a Patreon page.
See you at the event!
Corrado - Shut your face, fill the page (online silent writing)Link visible for attendees
You can't become a writer without writing. It's as simple and as brutal as that. How many hours do you write every day? How many words you get down on a page every week? every month? every year?
In this event we aim to give each other support and motivation... by just writing! We will meet online and mainly, JUST WRITE (plus, connect a bit). The whole point is to have a communal experience of quiet writing. Everyone will be on their laptops and working on their own projects, no matter what! (I'd happy to help you finding a writing project or give you prompt, if you'd need me to.)
So sign up, log in, tune on, and fill in the page! Join online from anywhere in the world! I will share the video call link to all confirmed attendees a few days before the event.
You will experience how different and more productive it is to write quietly with a group of fellow writers doing the same! I'd encourage everyone to keep their camera on to be accountable, but no one should need to feel forced to!
After 1 hour of quite writing, we will take a quick break, and get the chance to introduce oursleves and say hi. Then, we will continue our session of online quiet working. At 4 PM we will have a short wrap up of the session, say farewell, and log off.
The aim is that we will create a community of writers that will be able to support each other (I also explain more in the group description!). We will can share useful online resources and informally ask and offer their help (for example, for feedback on pitches, or to finding beta-readers). This is the first online event of this community! Please keep an eye on future (online) events, too! Soon I'll share a link to a dedicated, spam-free online community (WhatsApp or Discord – link to follow).
Please be on time as we want to start together. Please make sure you understand that we have a monthly membership fee in place. Membership fee can be paid through the app (3 USD/month) or by becoming a paid member of my Patreon page (👉🏼 www.patreon.com/corradonai | Tier 1 = 2.49 USD/month is OK!). Please confirm payment before a few moments before joining the event and be ready to show a confirmaiton of payment to save time. Thanks! Membership gives access to all events of HOW TO BECOME A WRITER for 30 days after payment as well as to all events of Jakarta Creatives for 30 days after payment, and can be stopped on a monthly basis.
For any questions not answered in the project description, feel free to post a comment in the event page.
ABOUT THE HOST
Corrado Nai would describe himself as a science writer although he has experimented with many genres (including poetry, short stories, and one unpublished novella). He has a written features and commentaries for New Scientist, Smithsonian Magazine, Asimov Press, Small Things Considered, Science, Reactor, and many more. He’s a recovering academic with a PhD in microbiology and has written and edited dozens of papers and theses.Corrado Nai is currently writing a science comic about the forgotten woman who used a dessert (agar-agar) to revolutionise science and medicine, Fanny Angelina Hesse (website | Instagram) for which he raised over 10,000 USD on Kickstarter. He recently launched a Patreon page.
See you at the event!
Corrado
