The Power of Collaboration: Why You Shouldn't Write Alone

From Rembrandt and Vermeer to Picasso and contemporary photographers, artists have kept the figure of the lone writer alive in the cultural imagination. Every author’s Acknowledgements section is a testament to the weakness of the lone writer myth, yet romantic notions of artistic solitude and silent introspection are hard to shake. 

I, too, used to think writing happens in isolation, something between me and my notebook, or, more often, the blinking cursor of a blank Word document. This created a barrier to asking for help and seeking meaningful feedback. If writing was documented proof of intelligence, as I once assumed, then letting people peak inside a messy draft might expose me. Academic environments amplify this feeling because of the way people are evaluated as, and shaped into, individual thinkers.

I wish someone had told me earlier what I know now: look for writing buddies as you move through different stages of your life and career. Find people who will read your work and for whom you’ll do the same, and push and encourage one another in equal amounts. Embrace writing for what it can be: a social glue between people. 

Feedback Improves Results

Writers often wait for the feedback from their "final evaluator" - an editorial review from a journal, a decision from a granting institution, or the feedback an instructor. But this can be a costly wager: if there's an issue, missing data, or something unclear to readers, this can delay the outcomes you're aiming for. Share your work early and often.

Collaboration Enhances Creativity

Collaboration encourages risk-taking. When you know someone else supports your work, you feel safer experimenting with style or content. This can lead to breakthroughs that elevate your writing. For example, a novelist working with a co-writer can explore characters and plot twists they might never have imagined alone. This exchange of ideas often leads to richer, more nuanced writing.

Building Accountability and Motivation

Collaboration builds accountability. I often have a friend or two whom I consider my "accountability buddy." We get together on a weekly basis and write together. It motivates me to show up having made some kind of progress I can report on, and it spurs me to think about what I want to accomplish in the week ahead.

Working together with others also provides emotional support. Encouragement from peers can boost confidence and help you overcome writer’s block.

Practical Ways to Collaborate on Writing

Collaboration does not mean you write every word together. There are many ways to work with others that fit different styles and projects:

• Peer review: Exchange drafts with fellow writers or trusted readers for feedback.

• Co-writing: Divide sections or chapters between writers and combine efforts.

• Writing groups: Join or form groups that meet regularly to share work and advice.

• Workshops: Participate in writing workshops where professionals critique your work.

• Online collaboration tools: Use platforms like Google Docs to write and edit together in real time.

• Work with a writing coach: ask around to fine dedicated coaches or editors who want to partner with you. Sometimes it's easier to work with someone outside your field or friend group so you can be completely honest and vulnerable.