It’s that time again: Small Web September is here!
Running throughout the month of September, Small Web September (SWS) is designed to be a chill, friendly and accessible event for anyone to make progress on a small web project, from a personal site/indie archive to a shrine, directory, link hub, or anything in between.
Maybe you’ve always wanted to make a set of graphics, start a blog, or make a resource list – whatever it is, as long as it’s small web-related (by the helpful definition in our
comm intro post) come and work on it with us during the month!
How does the challenge work?
Throughout the month of September, I’ll be posting ‘check-in points’ to this comm where people can talk about their projects, share their goals and the progress they’re making, ask questions, and trade tips and resources with fellow small webbers in the comments. Each check-in point has a theme to help spark off thoughts and get discussions going, but they’re not mandatory – feel free to just share an update with how your project(s) is/are going, ask for help, or whatever you please! There’s no cut-off point for commenting on each one, either, so don’t be afraid to comment on an ‘old’ check-in if you have thoughts to share.
You can also share updates to your personal blog or on social media - there's no wrong way to take part! Small Web September is designed to be flexible and accessible so that no-one feels the bar for entry is too high. Think of it like a fest or jam for small web stuff.
If you’d like to throw a question open to the rest of this community, share something interesting, or just show off your progress, you can also make a post directly to the comm! I hope that people will make their own posts in between the check-ins so that there’s plenty of activity to engage with in the comm. As long as any posts follow the
community guidelines laid out by
kalloway, you are good to go!
What’s the schedule?
I’m glad you asked! Here are the dates for key posts during the event:
( Read more... )How can I join in?
Right here on this post! (Of course, you don’t
have to – feel free to jump in anywhere, but if you’re seeing this on the 1st, we’ve only got the one place so far xD)
Traditionally, we start off with a goal-setting post where people can talk about what they’re planning to work on, or start, during the month – and where they’d like to focus. Don’t worry if you actually wind up doing something different – no-one is marking you against what you said here! But it can be a nice way to begin the event.
For anyone who’d like to use it, here’s a pre-formatted set of prompts that you can fill in with your own info:
<strong>Name:</strong> (Username, nickname, whatever you like to go by)
<strong>Project(s):</strong> (Share a link to your project(s) if you’d like to, and/or describe what you’re making or plan to make!)
<strong>What are you hoping to work on for SWS?</strong> (This can be as general as “add to my shrine”, or as specific as “archive X fanworks” or “implement a new blog theme”. You could even include ‘bonus’ or extra goals you’d like to get to if you have time!)
And for a bonus discussion-starter: What do you enjoy about the small web and/or working on your project(s)? Is there anything you’ve learned so far that surprised you?
Spreading the word
If you want to spread the word about taking part in SWS (thank you very much!), we have these awesome banners made by
javert and buttons made by
biteshelter (for both Small Web September and this comm!) that you can save to use on your page/site/blog, or embed using the codes below!

<img src="https://biteshelter.dreamwidth.org/file/295.png" alt="A button reading small web next to a spiralling spider web." />
<img src="https://biteshelter.dreamwidth.org/file/733.png" alt="A button reading small web next to a spider's web extending out from the corner." />
<img src="https://biteshelter.dreamwidth.org/file/865.png" alt="A button reading small web september with a spiralling spider web next to it." />

<img src="https://javert.dreamwidth.org/file/286238.png" alt="A cat lying on the keyboard of a laptop with code on the screen. Text overlaid on the banner reads, Small Web September, a month-long small web event on @ small web." width="400" height="200" />

<img src="https://javert.dreamwidth.org/file/286085.png" alt="Photograph of a spider web with the words Small Web September superimposed on it. Below this, text reads, a month-long small web event on @ small web." width="400" height="200" />
I'm excited to hear what everyone's planning for the month! Happy SWS-ing!
DW really made me sweat for the formatting in this post. Why are you like this, DW... *goes to lie down*