Project Update for May 2023

The Next Net Project’s current objective is to share ideas that I’m writing about in a book called “The Next Internet: A Climate Solution.” Work in May 2023 focused on launching this venture.

Hollywood Climate Summit Pitchfest

A chapter in my book is about climate solutions portrayed on tv. While revising this chapter, I became aware of the Hollywood Climate Summit Pitchfest deadline. Given the overlap similarities between the Pitchfest and my task, I wanted to get involved.

My aspiration to write a climate script begun April 20. I had 10 days to complete a script and pitch. After fantasizing about possible plots overnight, I committed to this task.

The challenge felt exciting. I started typing on April 21, downloaded scriptwriting software on April 23, and sent a draft to a friend on April 24. Somehow, I got in three rounds of edits with different reviewers. They all seemed to realize I was writing a comedy, which is ideal when aiming to write a comedy. I filmed my pitch and uploaded it to YouTube on the last day. On April 30 with mere hours to go before the deadline, I submitted my script.

I reached my goal of completing the contest entry. However, this wore me out. Fittingly, the name of my pitch is “Low Energy.” In this sitcom pilot, a family joins a government project that challenges middle-aged parents to try living without emitting using experimental internet technology.

I felt really good to have accomplished completing and submitting my first script. However, I started the month of May recovering from this exertion.

Internet Society’s Community Week

On May 4, I participated in an online conference for the Internet Society’s Community Week. This was a wonderful opportunity to virtually meet like-minded people from around the world. I was not the only one thinking “May the 4th Be With You.”

Themes for this conference included the #InternetFuture. The conversations about the values of the internet were informative and apropos of my project. However, I realized if I wanted to share my ideas, I would have to be better prepared to present my ideas. My web presence is basically non-existent and I have shared very little content. Thus, I decided to work on my website.

This Website

Nextnetproject.com is not my first website for this project. I’ve owned several domain names over the years. I didn’t maintain my old site during the covid-19 pandemic and wanted to start again. After looking at newer WordPress themes, I eventually decided to go with roughly the same look I’ve had since 2019 but with a new domain and new content. I need to focus on content.

As evidenced by this post, I did manage to buy a new web address, set up a new site, and start adding content this month.

“Next Net Project” YouTube Channel

To meet to upload my pitch for the Pitchfest, I created a YouTube Channel. Having taken this first step, I decided to start posting videos publicly. For the last two weeks, I’ve been busy with video making activities.

I posted 3 shorts in May and have several longer videos in the works. The process involves learning thinking of idea, gathering media, video editing and figuring out YouTube. I was so excited to earn my first like! The shorts so far are just teasers, but I think they are fun. To communicate ideas effectively I will need to figure out how to make longer videos that are watchable.

Book Update

My main task should be working on my book. Admittedly I didn’t get much writing done this month.

In April and May, I sent several chapters to different editors I found online. Sending writing to others is a process I need to get more comfortable with. Fortunately, my editors were very professional and overall this was a positive experience. The responses indicate I still have work to do, but at least the early chapters are coherent and communicate interesting points. Thus, I feel I am in a position to start sharing what I have been working on.

Conclusion

This blog, the YouTube channel, and the Pitchfest script all seem to contribute to procrastination from writing my book. However, my ultimate objective for this project is to share my ideas, which I have also procrastinated doing for a long time.

To sum up, May 2023 has been filled with productive procrastination.