Everyone knows that the best way to make progress on a writing project is to buckle down and write. But before you retreat to your lonely writing garret, it’s worth knowing that creativity and sociability go hand in hand. Indeed, science tells us that going public is vital in holding us to account – and improving our productivity.
Professor Katherine Guiffre of Colorado College, researched some of the most solitary artists in history and found they aren’t the lonesome geniuses of legend. They were actually at their most sociable in times of creativity.
Poet Emily Dickinson is famed for being a recluse who separated herself from others in order to write. The truth is very different – she had a close family and spent hours writing letters to friends and trusted advisers. Guiffre found that Dickinson had a rich network of communication, in particular when she was at her most creative.
That’s no excuse for wasting away time on Facebook. Instead writers should focus on types of social networks that hold them to account and support their creativity – specifically collaborative and critiquing relationships.
So, while it’s important to get down to the business of writing, social networks and public accountability can be an important part of your creative life. The trick is to make the most of them and know how you are using them.
Here are 6 methods to use to make you more accountable, more productive – and creative.
1. Just tell someone
Psychologist Dr Gail Matthews found that telling other people about your goals (even if it’s just one other person) can dramatically improve your chances of achieving them. Her research among 300 people found that people who shared goals with a friend – whether these are fitness, diet or creative in nature – and send the friend weekly updates on progress are on average 70% more likely to accomplish them than people who keep their goals private.
2. Writing groups
The benefits of joining a writing group are significant, including getting feedback, learning from others, having regular deadlines, being accountable to others, and the chance for writing solidarity (otherwise known as gossip). But how do you find the right group for you? Lisa Goll runs the 3,000-strong London Writers Café and offers her advice on hunting down the perfect group and helping avoid barbaric hazing rituals and too many rules. Read more here.
3. Social networking sites
Songwriter and performer Johnny Steinberg formed a virtual support group after attending a songwriting course. He recommends using established social networking sites like Facebook to set up a private group. He said, “You can post up lyrics for comments, advertise gigs or post up songs or performances on YouTube or Sound Cloud. It’s more helpful than getting a ‘like’ – you get positive comments and feedback from people you trust.” If meeting up face to face is a challenge, then why not set up or join an online group?
4. A shared challenge
There’s nothing like a collaborative project to keep you on your toes. The 900 Club is a great example of this – the five members set themselves the challenge of writing a short story of exactly 900 words each month. The pressure of meeting a regular deadline to post the stories online keeps them motivated. Things are kept fun with a rule to include a specified two word phrase –past examples are ‘loose ends’, ‘dive in’, and ‘Stephen Fry’. One of the group, Adam Stones, said: “We all love writing but it’s the discipline of having to get one in the bag every single month that keeps it engaging. I think we all genuinely really like each other’s stuff too, which is pretty important!” Read more here.
5. The writers’ agreement
Fiction writer Aimee Bender established a regular writing routine by getting a friend to act as a mentor. She formalised the agreement in a contract, signed by both parties The contract enforced the accountability, but what made it work was the daily email confirming she’d kept her side of the bargain, ie writing a certain amount each day. Check out her full article on the Oprah website.
6. Peer feedback
If you’re considering linking up with a like-minded writer for feedback it’s important the relationship is built on mutual trust and support. We recently featured two writers who have a critiquing partnership. You can read their blog here and find out their top tips for making it work. Why not try an online matching website like CP Seek or put a shout out on Twitter, on a writing forum or magazine.