I’ve decided to use the really cool storytelling site Cowbird in my project. I had been thinking about using it for some time, but wasn’t sure. Then I joined it and published my first story. I love it! Such a supportive community. I’ve been posting digital stories on Vimeo for almost two years now (142 videos in all), and I’ve already received more encouragement in less than a week on Cowbird than I ever have on Vimeo. I still think Vimeo is great and I love using it, but Cowbird has built a better structure for creating community among everyday storytellers.
While I haven’t completely figured out how to use Cowbird for this project, I have a tentative plan:
1. To post story fragments about the farm while I design/develop my interactive documentary for the project. Maybe 1-2 per week? These fragments will help me as I work through the storytelling process and they’re a good way to let other people know about the project.
2. Create a collection* (The Farm) and encourage certain people (family members, friends) to share their own stories about the farm. Eventually, once the project is launched, I will actively open up the story sharing to anyone who wants to contribute.
*Still undecided. Should I use a collection or a project?