100 Day Creative Challenge Day 91: The Three C’s
Number Three: Conversation
This week I had four writers at my home for a two-day writing retreat. There was time to write, time to talk and time to eat and talk. The conversations were full of, ‘What do you think about…?’
‘Wow! That’s a great idea. I love it.’
‘I think it’d be great if …’
In 1920, social psychologist Floyd Allport showed that a group of people working individually at the same table performed better on a whole range of tasks even though they weren’t cooperating or competing. Perhaps this is why many creatives enjoy working at their local café surrounded by strangers.
We are better together. When two (or more) like-minded creative people get together the conversation has benefits and outcomes for your work. When you discuss ideas your ideas and theirs spark other ideas. It’s a synergy that works.
People can fill in your blind spots and help you with things you don’t know. People can help you see the world differently. People can teach you and give you ideas that you cannot think of yourself.
Meeting with a small group of writers every couple of months for writing retreat days is an opportunity to write, but also to share coffee, conversation and cake while we work. Creativity thrives on diversity, tension, sharing, and collaboration.
I regularly meet with budding authors to discuss their projects and give some advice in the early stages of their projects. I love discussing structure—particularly of non-fiction work.
Going to conferences and retreats and having time to sit and chat, and share each year is a wonderful time to converse about our work. Those conversations may continue online or in writing groups long after and are a lifeline for the lonely author.
It also means that when you have a question, you can ask someone who is a friend—not a distant, unknown publisher far away.
Conversation is critical to the creative process.
