An Invitation to 'The Library'

I have been running a Twitch channel since June 2022. For those unfamiliar, Twitch is a livestreaming platform where anyone can host a livestream under a variety of categories.

It started as a bit of a social outlet for me. I was 3 years into university and, thanks to a certain virus, I hadn't made very many friends in that time. I had watched some Twitch channels for a while, and I was encouraged by them to give it a go and go live myself.

I started with gaming content, blowing off steam after lectures and papers with friends. Usually FPS or creative games.

It was great fun to hang out with mates and game - sharing moments of fun and connection through the internet! (also sometimes actually playing well I guess!)

Then, I sprinkled a little craft content in, making LEGO, and chatting away in real life - I even added charity streams to the schedule!

This is me wrapping presents and raising money for FoodCycle last Christmas! We raised over £300 as a community and it was one of the most amazing things in my life EVER!

Then, much more recently, I started a writing club!

I was nervous to start the club. I didn't feel that 'writing club' had enough of the fast-paced adrenaline vibes the internet likes to give traction to! Nevertheless, I took my community's advice and began to stream Writing Club on a Thursday evening.

To say it has been a success would be an understatement for me. I have (somehow) built a solid, supportive community of writers and creatives on Twitch.

We call ourselves 'The Library'.

It has been an amazing thing to do, honestly. I don't know why I was so resistant to start it in the first place, call it stage fright!

Each writing club consists of a prompt, which we brainstorm together, and then some writing sprints, which are timed and use the pomodoro method. This is when we focus for 25m, and rest for 5. Though every two breaks, I add a 15m break just so I can catch up with chat and say hello to everyone!

For an idea of what it's like, here's a recording from my YouTube archive. I upload all my streams there.

Fair warning: this stream is 18+ and can be a lil spicy!

Now, the streams are not the only part of this amazing world I want to invite you all into. I have made a Discord!

On this Discord, I have provided spaces for people to brainstorm, advertise their works, and even work on larger book projects! There is a 'writing buddies' audio chat for anyone who doesn't want to write alone, and we even do watch parties for when we just want to hang out and watch a movie.

I am proud to say that my Discord has become very active! (So active that I often find myself missing messages, and members of the library have to come and poke me for an answer!)

But my god, the people I have somehow befriended? They are the most amazing, kind, supportive, and talented people ever!! I am not sure what I did to deserve such a community, but I am going to be sure to treasure it!

And now, I feel ready to share that with my vocal friends!

Ian Read and I have already connected over Twitch and Discord, as he is a fellow streamer, and his addition to 'The Library' felt so right. I have not always felt that my two ventures (Twitch and Vocal) could merge in such a way, but life always finds a way to surprise me!

Thus, I invite you to join us:

My Twitch is here (where you can join me live!)

My Discord is here (where you can become a member of this wonderful community!)

Oh, and all of this is free - just wanted to note that, as most things have hidden payments these days!

Well, there it is! I hope some of you will join me on this crazy journey if it appeals to you!

Happy Writing!

TWW!