Class 1: recap and homework

To recap …

In this class we talked a lot about ideas for the big project. There looks to be most group enthusiasm for a book and/or a competition – with support also for a video, a reading, and especially a website or blog.

Homework

Come up with an idea for a project that incorporates a competition and a book (it may be print or online), and also incorporates one or more of these things as well: a video, a reading, a website, a blog. Think creatively. Combine these things in any way you like.

Other notes

We talked about SWOT analyses – listing and exploring the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats involved in any project, and we brainstormed a few that could apply to this group working on a competition/book project. This is essentially what we've come up with so far:

Strengths

The group is good at giving constructive feedback

The group has a wide range of perspectives, opinions, and interests

The group is smallish which may make organization easier

Several members of the group have a strong interest in and aptitude for editing

One member of the group has experience in and interest in film and video

Cohesive good communicators with each other

Weaknesses

The group has a wide range of perspectives and opinions (dissension?)

The small group size could be a disadvantage – create a risk of spreading ourselves too thin

The group are fairly introverted and not too comfortable with public speaking etc.

Lack of actual experience in project management etc

Opportunities

For project:

People love to see their work in print

People want to win

For group:

Networking with industry professionals

Networking with other writers – inspiration

May get to meet people who could be useful in finding jobs in future

Gaining experience

Threats

Lack of money

Lack of interest from public – a lot of competition

Underestimating the amount of work involved

The value of a SWOT analysis is always in what you do with it, and how you use it to help plan, so we will do more work on this as we go on, and begin to decide what our project will be.