Back in the BP (Before Pandemic) several of my writing friends and I used to get together once or twice a week to write. We’d meet in a coffee shop or some other public place and set an egg timer for 45 minutes or so. And then we’d write. And write. No talking. Just write.
Those were some of my most productive writing times. There’s nothing like knowing others are watching (and rooting for you) to hold you accountable. Turns out a little peer pressure can help you get the words down on the page.
After the pandemic hit, we figured out how to move these writing times online. We would get together in someone’s Zoom room, set a timer, and write. And then, when the time is up, we come back together and discuss our projects. Sometimes we brainstorm. Sometimes we commiserate. Sometimes we celebrate.
The point is that for that small sliver of our day or week, we are focused on writing and writing alone. And it can be a liberating experience.
That’s why I started doing this for my clients too. Every week at the same time, we meet up to write. We spend 50 minutes writing, and then at the end we report back on what we did. It’s an incredibly productive time for everyone involved.
So, consider creating something (either online or in-person) with your writing community. Writing can be a very solitary activity. But we don’t have to let it be.
