The Collective: A Year In Review
Anyone who knows me or has followed me on social media will know I’ve been a part of The Collective throughout this past year. A few people have recently asked me what it’s all about (and whether it’s a cult). Needless to say, having benefited so much from the support of this amazing bunch, I’ve signed up for another year-long adventure!
So I thought I would take a look back at the past year, sharing some of my personal highlights through the rollercoaster that has been 2020 so far.*
*Ceci n’est pas a sponsored post - I genuinely just love The Collective and want to tell you alll about it.
The Collective is a gorgeous community for independent creative womxn, by Delicate Rébellion Magazine Editor Hannah Taylor (summed up beautifully here).
Members this year have included professional artists and illustrators, talented bloggers and writers, designers of super covetable (sustainable!) fashion and accessories and entrepreneurs with impressive brands from skincare to vintage markets, interior design and more. Women from all different backgrounds and industries, at every stage of their own creative biz journeys but with plenty in common. Read all about em’ in the Online Directory.
The group lives in a private FB Group (floating high above us all in the clouds👩🏻💻☁️), where we have regular live workshops from incredible mentors (which you can rewatch to your heart’s content), weekly accountability posts (“share your top 3 goals for this week”), celebrate wins and generally hang out. If you have a dilemma or are feeling curious, chances are, someone in the group has experienced something similar or can offer advice.👯♀️👯♀️
For me one of the biggest highlights has been finding a tribe of like minded souls, all cheering each other on and sharing tips and experiences. Freelancing is notoriously solitary and I’ve made genuine friendships with such lovely, down to earth and talented people that I feel really thankful for.
The Things I’m Most Proud of This Year..
Just a handful of the best bits.
My social media following and engagement have grown too. There really is no aspect of my business that hasn’t benefited from my membership, despite the pandemic putting so much on hold. I’ve taken on new, more ambitious commissions and set bigger goals than I would have dared this time last year. I’m not alone in making strides - you can read more success stories and wins from other super talented members here.
Global Pandemic? No Problemo! (Well, no - very much a problemo, gulp).. but the group has really kept me sane. In what has been a super overwhelming year, being a part of this little online space has helped me to keep positive and focused on my goals big and small. From panic stations to a woman of action!
The Welcome Pack of Dreams
Ft. the most amazing Delicate Rébellion daily planner pad, sweetest little personalised pencil and rubber combo, thoughtful welcome note, postcards and Rama Publishing penholder. The warmest welcome to the best team.
Getting Sh** Done
Every Monday, we share our top goals for the week ahead. Aside from wearing pink, on Wednesdays we share all of the things we’d like to shout about, with a thread of our latest work / products / projects / *insert cool thing here*. Fridays are for celebrating the wins, however small and cheering each other on.
Workshops by Lovely Mentors:
There have been so many brilliant workshops I’m not even sure where to begin! Rachida Benamar of RAMA Publishing inspired and motivated me to keep daydreaming (also - the life changing power of saying no).
I did mood boarding and branding exercises with Claire Jakstas of The Alchemy of Design, chose a website platform with Cat Byrne of Gatto Web and went onto build this very site. I set out a Blogging Content Plan with guidance from Emma Jane Palin, grew my Pinterest monthly views from zero to 60k+ thanks to (actual “Pinner of the Year”) Lex Gillies and so much more.
Though I’m not a visual artist, I just loved learning more about the business of art from Skye Kelly-Barrett, art director, curator and agent at ROAR Illustration Agency and illustrator of dreams Jacqueline Colley’s workshop gave me a push to be brave and share more work with the world. We’ve had lunchtime wild card workshops on How to Write the Perfect Brand Bio from Ruth MacGilp, a Digi Detox from art director, copywriter and social media creative Ella Hagi and an Intro to PR from Rosie Davies-Smith, founder of PR Dispatch.
Workshops like the recent How to Get a Book Published by writer and speaker Katie Treggiden & An Intro to Trademarks, IP & Important Legal Stuff with lawyer Seona Burnett were perfectly timed with the completion of the first draft of my novel this month. I also loved setting my brand values with Creative Edinburgh Director Briana Pegado.
“Falalala..”
Christmas Drinks
We had a gorgeous Christmas drinks party with the Scotland-based Collective humans in a twinkly festive dreamland in Edinburgh. It was so, so wonderful to meet some of the friendliest faces I had gotten to know online (including absolute babe Hannah Mitson who made it all the way from Berlin).
Other pre-COVID IRL meet-ups in ye olde Y219 included Quad Biking (Yass muddy queens), a London Christmas party & impromptu Glasgow drinks with the amazing Siobhan of Rejean Denim. Little did we know just how much we would look back and appreciate those moments as the 2020 stormclouds rolled in.
Indy Secret Santa
Secret Santa with a focus on supporting Indy businesses. The sweetest way to treat each other in the chaotic Christmas run-up. I was completely spoiled with this custom J sign by super talented Esther North of Sylvie Signs. (Pictured alongside a portrait by fellow member Rachael Presky that I treated myself to).
Other Highlights…
A January Instagram Challenge
We Kicked off 2020 with an Instagram challenge set by social media expert Charlie Bolderow of Bold As. With different prompts each day, it was a really creative way to refocus and reengage with the platform after the chaos of the Christmas break. #BoldAsTheCollective
Book Club
In peak lockdown, I took part in The Collective’s first Book Club - with 6 dreamy non-fiction books to choose from. Samantha Clarke’s Love It or Leave it was the perfect pandemic companion, with practical exercises broken down into super accessible steps to help reframe different aspects of what you do for optimum joy! Yay to that!
A Private Members-Only Film Screening
We got to be some of the first eyes on director Erica Edwards’ brilliant new documentary The Win, followed by a Q&A (on Zoom, bien sur). The film explores the UK feminist movement through the stories of six different self-identifying feminists, discussing the work still to be done within feminism while celebrating the wins along the way.
Zoom Mentor Mixer
Does anyone else find it so much scarier to jump on a Zoom call with many waving postage stamps than walk into a room of new people? I really do - but the first Zoom Mentor Mixer was such a success! I got to talk all things blogging with mentor Emma Jane Palin and catch up with Hannah & Fee Sheal - this year’s new host, events and project manager, about all things Collective.
I’m In for Round Deux - Are You??
If you are thinking of joining, don’t wait! Doors close for another year on the 30th September. You can read all about what to expect in the first month, check out the impressive list of lovely mentors and learn more about the new Pay It Forward option, with sponsored spaces to ensure that no creative talent misses out because they can’t afford a membership at this wild time.
For a more in-depth glimpse into the heart and soul of this curious, gentle community, read The Delicate Rebellion’s Powerful Little Storm Issue, featuring the best artists, writers and creators you ever did see.
“P.S. You can use my code FRIENDSWITHJULIA for a 10% discount on a year’s membership, when using the pay in full option. (That’s just over £28 off! Woopah!) ⚡️⚡️⚡️ xoxo”
In the meantime, see these beaut Insta stories to screenshot from @inthecollective story highlights & share to help others get to know you a little better (you can find mine on my grid). Member or not, I’d love to see yours. Follow #AllHailTheDreamers for the latest too. xoxo
If my words, ideas & tips have been useful and you would like to, you can buy me a cup of coffee via Ko-Fi (a fantastic, secure platform to help you support writers and artists online). You are wonderful and it’s so, so appreciated.