[softwaredoug]

Have you heard of conference driven development?

The idea is you propose a talk for 6 months out on your idea. You thus give yourself a deadline and consequences.

(And it’s not HUGE consequences - “I tried X and failed, here’s what I learned on the journey” are some of the best conference talks)

[DrNuke]

That’s very good advice but 6 months a talk are too many imho. One talk / public meeting per month (even virtual meetings) is kicking enough to keep you going without feeling isolated. It’s also a nice way to improve your networking attitude.

[dizzydiz]

Do y'all do meetups for this? Or just apply to random conferences and talks?

[softwaredoug]

Yeah, I usually choose whatever venue makes sense for my level of commitment.

Meetups are pretty informal and usually eager for talks & speakers. There's not a high bar.

Conferences (depending on the conference) feel a bit like a bigger deal, and I'll commit to them if I feel I can have a bit more polish.

Some conferences/meetups also have shorter time slots if you don't want to commit to the classic 45 minute talk.

[DrNuke]

Start with any venue at any level offering you a 15 minutes slot for a 5-6 slides presentation or a 2-3 pages case study. Be it a peers meetup, a local open day, a virtual conference. Treat any opening as a nudge to get out of your shell, wrap up your work and speak about it with different people. You will find your best path and your best convenience realtively soon.