I am intrigued by how body doubling ... or as I like to call it parallel play creates a shared energy ... even when it is virtual. I love the idea of showing up at a specific time with whatever my current writing project is ( lately, I am simply giving energy to curating ideas and wrangling words into sentences and wrangling those sentences into something coherent ... healing my brain) But i have seen for years how simply being in space together amplifies the creative energy
Thank you for reading and commenting, Cynthia. I love your "parallel play" phrase, and I think you really summarize the potential nicely with the comment about amplifying creative energy. That's definitely it!
I have had trouble sticking with my fiction writing, and then when I found Substack I felt like I've found what I've been missing in my writing process. Community. I'm really enjoying connecting with a community of like minded people as I write here on Substack. Writing a long winded novel alone can be a lonely process and I think I've craved having others to talk to along for the writing ride. The body double idea is great but one I probably don't have the capacity for right now, but it's absolutely worth trying if you are able to.
Thank you for reading and commenting, Tania. I think “no time” is where most of us fall when thinking about something like this. I’m really glad to hear that you’ve found the community you’ve been missing. Is that a function of reading others and/or engaging in comments that is giving you that sense of community?
I'm in. Yup. I have a lot to say in response to your post, but for now, I'm just going to sit with my feelings, and my sense of joy that you seem to understand the things I want in my writing life. I've found a lot of inspiration over the last 4 months on Substack, and a commitment to showing up that is new for me in many ways. I keep surprising myself, and I love that. This post. Wow. As a point of reference in my "application," I tried book clubs. I couldn't stand being in one that discusses the book we're reading. I don't want to hear people's opinions, I don't want to listen to other readers analyze, tear apart, or criticize. I just want to read the book. And I'm not anti-social. I just want to be with the words, whether I'm reading them or writing them. I guess I've said a lot already, so I'm going to stop now! xoxo
Awesome! What a great response, Nan. Did you happen to read the Sunday post? Normally, I don’t ask people to go read posts. I really don’t. Who has time? The invitation post from Sunday is not really about this search for a writing community. But that post is also the “pretty” counterpart to this one. Hah! We all need people like you who say yes. I appreciate this response all around. I hope we will continue to talk and see if something makes sense - either writing or substack writers informally chatting or both.
Oh. I thought I was reading the Sunday post! I just went to read it, and left a brief comment there. I'm trying to say yes more to invitations that come my way. I'm VERY good at NO. When I was a little kid, my parents dubbed me "Nancy No-No." Safety is very important to me. Feeling safe, not risking too much. I've always had an intense need to protect myself from harm, real or imagined. I'm looking at that a lot these days. Why have I been so afraid? I haven't tried your drawing Zoom, because I'm so critical of my abilities. A no. At least for now. And that's okay. But shutting myself off from the magic and the messengers that might come my way is not okay. I have to go slow sometimes, dipping my feet, one by one in a slightly too hot or slightly too cold pool. Slowly, slowly until the rest of me can catch up. And that's okay too. My "no" is often automatic. A learned behavior. I'm granting myself the grace to examine my no to see what it's rooted in. Sometimes the no turns into a yes...and that's a gift. I can be so stubborn. And when I am, and I reflect, I realize that I'm denying myself potential adventures and connections. That's when I really want to get out of my own way. You offer so much lovely food for thought. I'm so happy to know you in any form, one-on-one, in a group, within the safety of a comment section or a direct message. You're one of those messengers I referred to above. Thank you.
Nan - I am so sorry that I didn’t see this. I would never have let this go unacknowledged. I know you wrote a great post about saying no and saying yes after this. But I wanted to say, first, how touched I am by this comment. But I also appreciate, deeply, your introspection, your self-knowing, and your continuous process of questioning the why of certain things - and maybe moving beyond them. I respect your position on the drawing group — but I want to say one thing about that….. maybe two. 1) There is nothing required in terms of ability to join us. 2) No one has to share what they work on. Really, we draw and simply chat for an hour. I think for many of us, it is simply nice to talk to humans for an hour about things that are easy (mostly). And some of us are shy and/or quiet and like not having to just stare at people on zoom the whole time :). I’ve had people come and knit through my group. Basically, if you ever want to join us, you are welcome - even if you choose not to draw. But sometime, we are going to try and write together — or else find a small group of substack writers you want to meet regularly and talk substack. That only works in a totally non-competitive way for me, though. Oddly, since posting this, I’ve seen at least three other posts or notes from other people who are now doing (or offering as a perk) the ability to cowrite. I know it is a thing. Again, thank you.
This thread actually spurred the idea for my YES/NO essay this past week. I’d forgotten what I’d written so I’m glad that you missed my comment in a way. It was nice to re-read my thoughts. They often slip away! I’m thinking about Sunday drawing. It would be another yes for me. And K seem to be saying that with more ease these days. xo
My thoughts while reading led me to the idea of shared work spaces- but what attracted me to those is just a change of scenery and maybe not the chatty elements. Then I thought of knitting groups but those are normally all about the chatter. Sometimes I go to the library with my laptop so I can look out a different window while I work. There are always people working there quietly and it is sort of a passive encouragement to focus and work myself.
Hi Lauren - I think shared work spaces are pretty much the principle of body doubling — for writing, it would be that way. Something more chatty wouldn’t be body doubling in the same way, though I agree groups like knitting or drawing groups succeed “with” chat because it doesn’t necessarily take away from the focus of the work. Your library solution is a good one!
My daughter and I call this - being alone together. Even if we are working on solitary projects, it is more comforting to do it in a shared space (real or virtual).
I've been craving the same, both more community and some sort of silent co-work for accountability, but never taken the plunge.
Body doubling works for me, if/when I have found it - but it's got to be someone who I really trust, because I am way too introverted to just hang otherwise. 😅
I am intrigued by how body doubling ... or as I like to call it parallel play creates a shared energy ... even when it is virtual. I love the idea of showing up at a specific time with whatever my current writing project is ( lately, I am simply giving energy to curating ideas and wrangling words into sentences and wrangling those sentences into something coherent ... healing my brain) But i have seen for years how simply being in space together amplifies the creative energy
Thank you for reading and commenting, Cynthia. I love your "parallel play" phrase, and I think you really summarize the potential nicely with the comment about amplifying creative energy. That's definitely it!
I have had trouble sticking with my fiction writing, and then when I found Substack I felt like I've found what I've been missing in my writing process. Community. I'm really enjoying connecting with a community of like minded people as I write here on Substack. Writing a long winded novel alone can be a lonely process and I think I've craved having others to talk to along for the writing ride. The body double idea is great but one I probably don't have the capacity for right now, but it's absolutely worth trying if you are able to.
Thank you for reading and commenting, Tania. I think “no time” is where most of us fall when thinking about something like this. I’m really glad to hear that you’ve found the community you’ve been missing. Is that a function of reading others and/or engaging in comments that is giving you that sense of community?
Yes it is
I'm in. Yup. I have a lot to say in response to your post, but for now, I'm just going to sit with my feelings, and my sense of joy that you seem to understand the things I want in my writing life. I've found a lot of inspiration over the last 4 months on Substack, and a commitment to showing up that is new for me in many ways. I keep surprising myself, and I love that. This post. Wow. As a point of reference in my "application," I tried book clubs. I couldn't stand being in one that discusses the book we're reading. I don't want to hear people's opinions, I don't want to listen to other readers analyze, tear apart, or criticize. I just want to read the book. And I'm not anti-social. I just want to be with the words, whether I'm reading them or writing them. I guess I've said a lot already, so I'm going to stop now! xoxo
Awesome! What a great response, Nan. Did you happen to read the Sunday post? Normally, I don’t ask people to go read posts. I really don’t. Who has time? The invitation post from Sunday is not really about this search for a writing community. But that post is also the “pretty” counterpart to this one. Hah! We all need people like you who say yes. I appreciate this response all around. I hope we will continue to talk and see if something makes sense - either writing or substack writers informally chatting or both.
Oh. I thought I was reading the Sunday post! I just went to read it, and left a brief comment there. I'm trying to say yes more to invitations that come my way. I'm VERY good at NO. When I was a little kid, my parents dubbed me "Nancy No-No." Safety is very important to me. Feeling safe, not risking too much. I've always had an intense need to protect myself from harm, real or imagined. I'm looking at that a lot these days. Why have I been so afraid? I haven't tried your drawing Zoom, because I'm so critical of my abilities. A no. At least for now. And that's okay. But shutting myself off from the magic and the messengers that might come my way is not okay. I have to go slow sometimes, dipping my feet, one by one in a slightly too hot or slightly too cold pool. Slowly, slowly until the rest of me can catch up. And that's okay too. My "no" is often automatic. A learned behavior. I'm granting myself the grace to examine my no to see what it's rooted in. Sometimes the no turns into a yes...and that's a gift. I can be so stubborn. And when I am, and I reflect, I realize that I'm denying myself potential adventures and connections. That's when I really want to get out of my own way. You offer so much lovely food for thought. I'm so happy to know you in any form, one-on-one, in a group, within the safety of a comment section or a direct message. You're one of those messengers I referred to above. Thank you.
Nan - I am so sorry that I didn’t see this. I would never have let this go unacknowledged. I know you wrote a great post about saying no and saying yes after this. But I wanted to say, first, how touched I am by this comment. But I also appreciate, deeply, your introspection, your self-knowing, and your continuous process of questioning the why of certain things - and maybe moving beyond them. I respect your position on the drawing group — but I want to say one thing about that….. maybe two. 1) There is nothing required in terms of ability to join us. 2) No one has to share what they work on. Really, we draw and simply chat for an hour. I think for many of us, it is simply nice to talk to humans for an hour about things that are easy (mostly). And some of us are shy and/or quiet and like not having to just stare at people on zoom the whole time :). I’ve had people come and knit through my group. Basically, if you ever want to join us, you are welcome - even if you choose not to draw. But sometime, we are going to try and write together — or else find a small group of substack writers you want to meet regularly and talk substack. That only works in a totally non-competitive way for me, though. Oddly, since posting this, I’ve seen at least three other posts or notes from other people who are now doing (or offering as a perk) the ability to cowrite. I know it is a thing. Again, thank you.
This thread actually spurred the idea for my YES/NO essay this past week. I’d forgotten what I’d written so I’m glad that you missed my comment in a way. It was nice to re-read my thoughts. They often slip away! I’m thinking about Sunday drawing. It would be another yes for me. And K seem to be saying that with more ease these days. xo
My thoughts while reading led me to the idea of shared work spaces- but what attracted me to those is just a change of scenery and maybe not the chatty elements. Then I thought of knitting groups but those are normally all about the chatter. Sometimes I go to the library with my laptop so I can look out a different window while I work. There are always people working there quietly and it is sort of a passive encouragement to focus and work myself.
Hi Lauren - I think shared work spaces are pretty much the principle of body doubling — for writing, it would be that way. Something more chatty wouldn’t be body doubling in the same way, though I agree groups like knitting or drawing groups succeed “with” chat because it doesn’t necessarily take away from the focus of the work. Your library solution is a good one!
My daughter and I call this - being alone together. Even if we are working on solitary projects, it is more comforting to do it in a shared space (real or virtual).
I love that phrasing! I think the perceived companionship has a lot to do with this idea.
I've been craving the same, both more community and some sort of silent co-work for accountability, but never taken the plunge.
Body doubling works for me, if/when I have found it - but it's got to be someone who I really trust, because I am way too introverted to just hang otherwise. 😅