Writing is a solitary pursuit.
When I work, I mutter, fidget, and contort my face while fishing for the right word or shaking a name from the folds of my grey matter. When I’m bogged down on a paragraph or project, I might stare out the window or leap from my chair to brew tea, the mental break unclogging ideas so that words flow freely.
Nobody should be subjected to my myriad idiosyncrasies. Nobody outside the family, that is.
Well, last week my friend Charity proposed we write together.
What an idea: to write together. We didn’t intend to collaborate on a project, at least not anytime soon, so the phrase seemed like an oxymoron. How can such a solitary pursuit benefit from the presence of others? Would we distract each other or spur one another on? And, most pressing, could I curb my quirky fidgeting?
Charity didn’t know how it would work, either; this would be an experiment. Maybe we would write without talking, or maybe we’d break periodically to share our progress and read a short excerpt to one another before returning to the keyboard.
We had lunch first. That was wise. We needed to catch up before we could ever fall silent.
After a couple of hours of conversation (and an amazing slice of chocolate cake), we slipped into a local coffee shop offering free wi-fi, pulled out our laptops, and set to work. As it turned out, I didn’t produce any substantial writing; I did some research, however, that allowed me to quickly churn something out later that evening when I was back at home. Though I felt unproductive during our writing time, I thought, This could work.
The more we write together, the more we may discover ways to inspire and encourage each other (and the more I may learn to limit restless finger-snapping and mumbling).
Last night I decided to see if very many writers try writing together. I wondered if others wrote regularly—once a week, say, or once a month. To hunt down testimonials, I typed various combinations of phrases like “writing partners” and “write together” into a search engine. The search turned up a video called “How to Write ‘Together’ in Chinese.”
On a lark, I clicked on it and watched the instructor pronounce the word in Chinese, and then explain that it means “and” or “together” or “peace.”She drew something that looked like this, which I copied into my new blank book.
I started to imagine how these Chinese characters related to our learning to write together:
Charity and Ann, friends and writers.
Charity and Ann together, writing.
As for peace?
Well, I suppose this could seem silly to anyone who knows Chinese, but when I look at those characters in the context of writing together, I see a computer in the box. And on the other side of the computer, opposite the people working together, I see Jesus in the cross and the Trinity in the triangle. Seems like a powerful combination that could lead to…well, peace.
I didn’t expect this visual when I went out in search of how to “write together”; in fact, I only clicked on the video for fun. But it seems to bring in all the essentials.
Charity and I are meeting again. We’ll see how it goes as we research, write, brainstorm, share our work, eat and laugh. As we set up our laptops at Panera or Starbucks to write together, we can quietly thank God for His presence and ask for inspiration.
And maybe, as I corral my quirks, we’ll not only produce inspired prose, but also radiate peace.
Your writing time with Charity warms my heart. What a blessing to have a so friend close by that you can meet and write in a coffee shop. I also enjoyed the Chinese symbols for “and, together, and peace.” These words aptly describe the writing retreat Kay, our adult children, and I enjoyed. Thanks for highlighting my post!
You inspired us! We’re going out again to see what peace (and productivity) we might enjoy. Thanks for writing and being a part of There & Back Again!
So I’m not the only one with writing quirks? Not only do I need a constant supply of tea to keep going, but when I get stuck, I do laundry, as my machines are conveniently located in the garage, next to my back porch office. I’ve never written with a friend, though. Sounds scary, like typing naked.
Well, I’m relieved not to be the only fidgeter. 🙂
We’re going to try this writing together thing again. It won’t be as unfamiliar the second time, and maybe we’ll have ideas for how to make the most of it. And now she knows my tendency toward, you know, goofiness.
This is one of the extreme perks of NaNoWriMo.org (National Novel Writing Month). Many local writers gather almost every day for a month to write.
On months that are not November, I write with one or two close friends at a local coffee shop, which is a nice change of pace from solitary, bedroom writing.
And as the ganache on the cupcake, I get to fly from Ohio to Atlanta for a long weekend every fall to write with my Glitter Girls. We lock ourselves away in a picturesque cabin, writing in Word Wars, breaking for lunch, writing again, sharing excerpts, etc. for the whole weekend. We are all at various stages of our careers but we have agreed that the first one with a publishing contract buys dinner.
Writing together can be a distraction sometime but for me, it is usually a bonus and an incentive to keep the keys clicking. I’ll thrilled you found someone to partner with.
Nicole, you have it all figured out! What fun to have so many ways to work with others–maybe I just need to start writing fiction?
Ann – You are a fantastic writing partner, and I didn’t even notice your quirks! I guess I was too busy trying to hide mine!
I love the Chinese characters. Those symbols always bring so much richness to concepts and ideas – and that is TOTALLY Jesus there, with the cross and the triangle.
I have been encouraged over at my place today to hear how people are working together, or at least desiring that kind of momentum and relationship. I think we’re on to something!
Maybe, as a good friend, you simply overlooked them. And I agree–it’s neat to hear about the connections and community people are seeking as writers. In the end our words must stand alone, but we don’t necessarily have to compose them in a silo. 🙂
I suppose the way I have almost always written, in a crowded, noisy newsroom, or at least in an office with a few other people could qualify as writing “with” someone. The more people around, the better I can isolate my thoughts and concentrate, but it is nice to come up out of the concentration and ask a question or two, or solicit responses.
A-ha! This is an interesting observation–reminds me of the college years when I had to write papers with commotion all around. Actually, that reminds me of *RIGHT NOW* with four kids all around. 🙂 Sometimes I come out of the concentration mode, bring one of the kids in, and make them listen to me read it aloud.
Do you miss all of that, now that you work in a quieter setting?
At our local writer’s conference in April, Vinita Hampton Wright was a featured speaker.
She told us about writing her first (I think it was her first) book on her 40-minute train commute to work, because that’s when she could make the time. She explained that she had a regular group of commuting friends, and simply explained to them that she needed to use the time to work.
When I’m deep in it, I might jump out of my chair if the phone rings. I can’t begin to imagine writing in 40 minute bites on a train.
This sounds great Ann. Just last night I was hunting around the internet for writer’s groups in our area. Nothing looked very appealing. I thought about an on-line group and wished for others to write with. I’m so glad you and Charity have each other and love your interpretation of the Chinese characters.
The meeting together will be fun even if you do not write as you thought you might. I could not do it but I am looking for a local writers group. Haven’t found one yet. Until them, I muse at my computer and I may bite my lit and frown, not really sure.
I truly enjoyed all three posts and appreciated your comment over at Charity’s place. Also, I much prefer people with quirks to those without any. They’re much more interesting!