Matt Kendrick - Writer | Editor

The Lightbulb Collective

The "Lightbulb Collective" is an online writing community where writers can workshop their stories, connect with other writers and learn about various elements of writing craft.

In the future, the community will hopefully become a place for any fiction writer, but the initial focus is on flash fiction and novellas-in-flash.

How it works

You can sign up for a single month or a block of three months. Each month, you'll be put in a feedback "pod" with other writers depending on your writing focus and your level of experience. A "pod" will typically consist of between seven and ten writers, and each writer can post up to three pieces for other writers to comment on during that month.

In addition, there are weekly "encouragement" emails and "live" sessions facilitated through Google Meet. Live sessions will include a mix of writing craft discussions, write-and-prompt workshops, feedback masterclasses, "chatterbox" tea breaks, panel discussions, "book club" style discussions, and open mic readings. These will very each month and will happen at different times to allow writers from different timezones to take part.

Time commitment

For every piece that you post for feedback, you'll be expected to provide feedback for three other pieces. This means if you post three pieces, you need to allow time to provide feedback on nine pieces during the month. If you post six pieces, you need to allow time for six etc. The expectation is that everyone spends around fifteen to twenty minutes giving feedback on each piece. However, the hope is that the community is a low pressure environment that helps nurture your writing rather than becoming an additional stress to everything else you have going on in your life.

Delivery

The feedback "pods" are based in Google Drive using Google Docs. In order to participate, writers will need to set up a Google or Gmail account. It's the responsibility of each writer to familiarise themselves with how to use Google Docs.

Live sessions will be facilitated through Google Meet. Sessions will be scheduled at different times of the day to allow writers in different timezones to take part. Certain sessions will be recorded so that writers who can't attend live can watch them back after the event.

Overview

Membership includes:

The feedback workshop
Weekly "encouragement" emails
Writing craft "discussion" workshops
"Write and prompt" workshops
Feedback masterclasses
"Chatterbox" tea breaks
Panel discussions
"Book club" style discussions
Open mic readings

Spotlight membership

"Spotlight" membership includes everything from the "standard" membership as well as structural feedback from Matt Kendrick on one piece of flash fiction per month. "Spotlight" members also get priority for feedback masterclasses and discounts on "Write Beyond the Lightbulb" courses.

Price

"Standard" membership = £15 per month or £40 for three month block.

"Spotlight" membership = £40 per month or £110 for three month block.

Sign up

Sign ups are on a rolling basis. To participate in a particular month, you'll need to sign up by the 24th of the month before.