Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Allen & Becca Connors.
Hi Lisa & Becca, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
We founded The Notebooks Collective during the pandemic. We wanted to create a virtual space where we could have creatives in conversation, write-ins, and other classes that supported connection during a time of isolation. While the pandemic may be receding, access to cultural events is still vital. We love being able to bring emerging and established writers to new audiences, where they can talk about what matters to them most.
In 2022, we re-launched by hosting the book release for Randall Horton’s Dead Weight: A Memoir in Essays. From then on, we have had events nearly every month. This fall, we’ll be launching online workshops and classes.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
We both work full-time jobs in addition to running the Notebooks Collective. We are writers ourselves, as well as moms, and at times life dictates that we prioritize other things. However, this work brings us both a lot of joy and when we return to it, we are inspired to keep going.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
We specialize in creating space for creatives to connect, learn, and build community. We are known for our virtual In Conversation events, in which we encourage guests to structure exactly how they want rather than prescribing a pre-determined structure.
We are proud of building a community of creatives that come together virtually, sometimes from outside the United States, to listen, share, encourage, and work on their own creative projects.
We are growing, offering more and more In Conversation events, and soon we’ll be offering classes. We understand that even though this Collective was born of the pandemic need to meet others virtually, the virtual platform is still necessary and desired because it allows people from all areas and with all abilities to gather. We record all In Conversation programs and they can be viewed on our YouTube channel at any time, from anywhere.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
We recommend any of the books in our bookshop.org store: https://bookshop.org/shop/notebooks-collective.
We’re both fans of Beth Pickens, a Los Angeles-based consultant for artists and arts organizations, and highly recommend her book, Make Your Art No Matter What: Moving Beyond Creative Hurdles.
Contact Info:
- Website: thenotebookscollective.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenotebookscollective/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenotebookscollective
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/notebookscltv
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenotebookscollective1595
