Writing in Company

Even in non-Covid times, writing (here comes the cliché) is lonely work. Sometimes that’s its appeal. There are days when I walk into my office, shut the door, and breathe a huge sigh of relief.

Then there are days when I’m greeted by chaos on my desk and confusion on the page and I think, Oh my God, I am not going to make it out of here.

Of course I will never truly get stuck in my office. Eventually my family will come along and ask who’s making dinner or for a ride to physio. But will they come and fish me and my writing out of the soup? No, friends. No, they will not.

But I’ve seen the waving hands of those who will: other writers, who know the value of company in tough seasons. And I’ve grabbed hold.

There were times when I might have turned away. Given in to the whispers that say, If you had any talent, you could hack it alone. That what “real writers” do.

I know for a fact (go on, ask me how) that the more highly published you are, the less solitary the writing pursuit. There are agents and editors, marketing people and assistants…the list of eager readers and cheerleaders goes on and on. And it’s not just professionals who are there to offer feedback. Sometimes it’s readers eager to get a glimpse of an unpublished draft, or an expert who—once they read that sparkling bio—leaps to the phone to return your call.

Emily Dickinson may have favoured creative solitude, but it’s not a requirement.

Why did we ever think it should be? Everyone else gets to gather and collaborate. Athletes have teams, or training partners; there are classes or groups for every manner of learning or support; and some people seek company even for silent prayer.

Sometimes the company you need as a writer is that quiet kind—a sense that there are others, labouring on as you are. Sometimes you need teaching or a coach’s dedicated ear. Sometimes you need a writing partner, or a group to workshop your newest pages, or to push you further.

Finding company as a writer has a lot to do with the kind of support you need. And me?

I was looking for comrades, and a little extra oomph.

From May 31-June 13, I wrote along with New York Times-bestselling author Jami Attenberg on her annual #1000WordsofSummer initiative. In addition to doing the 1000-words-a-day exercise herself, Attenberg shares daily encouragement via her newsletter and social media, and is often joined by other well-published writers who provide their own motivation. While I wrote to fill some gaps in the new draft of my novel, I had the good company of more than 14,000 people from around the world, and at least one from across town.

The same day I signed on to Attenberg’s challenge, I joined a group where company will be ongoing: the Writers’ Flow Studio from writer, poet, and all-round productive person Rhonda Douglas. It’s a membership-based program that offers company, writing meet-ups, a writing book club, and workshops with visiting writers. In September, I’ll be that guest writer. I’ll admit that made me hesitate, before I bought my membership. And—full disclosure—I did send a text saying, Hey, is that weird?? But Douglas and I were of the same mind: sometimes we all need a little help. Douglas’s approach is eminently practical, and as someone who is often getting buried in the process—or trying to find the process under the detritus of the other parts of my life—that’s something I appreciate.

This month, I’ve also had the fine company of my fellow participants at Blog School, run by the inimitable Kerry Clare. This is the third class I’ve taken with Clare in just over a year. It’s not because it’s some rigorous program I’m trying to master—in fact, Clare wants us to fit blogging snugly into our lives—but the insights from Clare, and the camaraderie keep me coming back. As someone who clings to perfection and the endless rewrite, Blog School keeps me focused on the importance of simply showing up, and reminds me how much richer life—writing and otherwise—is when I do. 10/10. Will do again. (And again.)

Which is not to say you should.

If you’re a writer looking for a team, you might want an entirely different kind of company. Luckily, the options abound—from the well-established novel-in-a-month initiative of NaNoWriMo, to the soon-to-be-unveiled The Forever Writers Club from Chelene Knight and her team at Breathing Space Creative, to the creativity coaching I offer. And if you’re not sure where—or why—to start, begin with this week’s episode of the podcast The Shit No One Tells You About Writing, in which they discuss the importance of finding your people.

Or don’t.

Sometimes, in your head on your own is where you need to be. Just remember that you don’t always have to go it alone.