For at least the first three months of 2021, I’m trying an experiment to make myself accountable to my big writing projects. I’m inviting you to join me. Read on to see how this is going to work.
Often people in my Sanctuaries and workshops say that the only time they actually write is when they’re in a writing group with me and others. These days that’s true for me too, unfortunately. I’ve been incredibly busy over these Covid months. Once I switched my writing workshops, manuscript mentoring and my therapy practice to online, my business hours swelled full to bursting with appointments. My non-business hours are filled with reading for my clients and workshop participants.
Over the pandemic I and many of my writing friends have participated in Emily Stoddard’s marvelous Hummingbird Writing Session’s and Vicki Pinkerton’s inspiring Pot-of-Gold pop-up writing sessions – just 15 minutes of generative writing time – no feedback, just something to kick off pens (or fingers) and GO!
Both of these projects need sustained, bum-in-chair time to concentrate – at least an hour at a time, regularly – so that I can hold it all in my head.
The only time I have managed to get some of that work done is in a Mastermind group with Jen Louden that I was a part of for 3 months, Writing Sprints with the Creative Academy for Writers and on focusmate.com. (If the times I’m offering don’t work for you, you could check those out).
So I’ve decided I needed to create that concentrated space for myself and invite others to join me if they too would benefit from an hour, regularly, of uninterrupted concentration on their writing or editing.
There’s a passage in the book Wild Mind where Natalie Goldberg talks about making a date with a friend to write, even though her friend is unsure that she can make it. The passage has stuck with me for years. I looked it up again as I was designing this experiment.
If I was going to get any writing done, I knew I had to make a date to meet someone after I taught.
I called Sawnie. “Will you meet me at twelve-thirty at the Garden?” –
“I’m not sure I can make it,” she said.
“Never mind. Don’t tell me either way. I’ll make believe you are meeting me and if you don’t show up, I won’t expect you but I’ll be there.”
That Monday, I tore away from the lunch crowd because I had to meet Sawnie. As soon as I got there, I began to write. Sawnie stopped by two hours later to say hi.
I said, “Listen, tomorrow I’ll meet you here at one.” I held up my hand. “Don’t tell me whether you’ll be here or not. I’ll pretend you will and I’ll be here.”
~Natalie Goldberg, Wild Mind, p. 77
- Monday evenings, 7:30 p.m. EST
- Wednesday mornings, 7:30 a.m. EST
- Thursday evenings, 7:30 p.m. EST
- Saturday mornings, 7:30 a.m. EST
The reason I’m calling these suggestions “Pyjama Writing” is that they’re all outside of regular business hours. Especially the ones in the morning. You’re welcome to show up in your pyjamas, coffee in hand and get down to work before the day begins.
Because I won’t be doing much facilitation for this, beyond providing the space, the guidelines and the company, there is no charge for these. If you would like to make a donation, it will go to Amherst Writers and Artists social justice programming.
To register for one, more, or all of these sessions, please go to the links on this page. Advance registration is required so that I know who to send the zoom links to.
I’ll see you Monday evenings and/or Wednesday and Saturday mornings. Don’t tell me whether you’ll be there or not! I’ll pretend you will and I’ll be there working. 🙂
(I’m still offering Online Writers’ Sanctuaries several times a month. If you are interested in knowing the dates for Winter/Spring 2021, please go to this link.)
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Here is an overview of how the sessions will work:
How to Be Productive in a Pyjama Writing Session
Prepare for your session
- Turn off your phone and put it out of the room or at least out of sight.
- Remove any other sources of interruption: close your door, turn off notifications on your computer, etc.
- Get water/coffee or use the bathroom before the session begins.
- The zoom room will open 15 minutes before the scheduled start – feel free to sign on early and chat. Silent productive time will begin at 7:30 EST.
- Make sure you are visible in the video. Pyjamas are optional but clothing is not—you should be appropriately covered up.
Kick off your session
- Plan what you intend to work on and accomplish in that session.
- Break your commitment down into specific tasks
- Post your plan in the chat area
- Start working at 7:30 when the community goes into silence.
Get to work
- Work in silence on your tasks. Unless there’s a necessary reason, leave your video on. It’s so encouraging to look up and see the community all working together.
- Stay with your posted commitment. If something comes up and your attention needs to go elsewhere, say goodbye. If you’re in the room, please be working on your intended task.
- If you need to take a bio break, post in chat that you’re leaving for a few minutes and you’ll be back.
Wrap up
- Sue will keep the room open for at least one hour. Before you go, post one sentence from what you’ve been working on that you’re happy with.
- Be supportive to others, and celebrate your own productive session!
For me to establish the habit of being up by 7:30 would in itself be amazing. To be up and working? Transformative. I am IN. Thanks for doing this.
Delighted you’ll be joining us Susan!! Please click on the dates you want to come and register and you’ll get a reminder the day before. xxoo
I am in for Monday.
Fantastic JR! I look forward to writing with you!
I love this. I have a collection e project that needs attention this new year. I’ll be there.
Marvelous Erika! So happy to be embarking on this project with you. 🙂
Thank you, Sue.
An immensely appealing invitation for me.
I am new to all of this, yet there is a deep resonance inside, so I am taking this plunge.
I so enjoyed writing with you last June, and with Beth Girard over the past few months.
Looking forward to Monday evening.
Delighted to hear it Anne! I loved writing with you last Spring and Beth is a marvelous facilitator. I see you’re going to join me for some sanctuaries too! Hooray!
Yes yes yes! Love it. I have no specific project but ideas are raining down around me – pick one up and explore. I am attracted to the doing. I might float between the times to see what works best. Excited! Thank you for the invitation.
Thank you for your enthusiastic response Nienke! Looking forward to writing with you again! It’s been too long. xoox
I am registering for the Monday session Sue. I can’t promise Pj’s on a Monday evening but promise to wear clothing! So looking forward to this.
Hi Ellen,
Thrilled you’ll be joining us. As I said pyjamas are not a requirement! See you Monday night!
Such a great idea. Love it. Something I really need to do. And to get up at 7:30. That too something I’ve been wanting to do. This will be a great help on all levels. Thanks so much for the invite and for doing this. Not sure I can do the Mon. evenings yet. Wonder if I can decide on this later.
Glad to supply the energy and inspiration for you to carry out your intentions Gail! See you there! xo
Happy new year! I love this, can I share this with a friend?
Hi Sue – Of course! The more the merrier! — and the greater that created “vortex” of energy and creativity in the community. See you tonight!
Thank you, Sue!! This might work out really well for me — being on the west coast, I’m 3 hours behind you on the clock, so none of your times worked easily in my calendar. I did go look at the other two, though, and signed with one of them just now — my first session is booked for tomorrow!
I am SO delighted to find this offering — thank you so much for putting me onto it! (BTW, I did tell them who sent me their way, so you may get a thank you note from them!)
Hi Leah,
Well, while I’m sorry that you won’t be writing with me in our pyjamas, I’m glad one of the other opportunities turned out to be helpful! Hope that one day our schedules jibe a little better. xoxo
Hello Sue and thank you for this. I’m in for Wednesday mornings. I’ve started a new novel and a regular writing time will help me a lot.
Hi Claire! So happy you will find this helpful. I look forward to seeing you there! xo
Attended one session and, wow, blasted through a block or something, and got more writing done in that hour than I have on that project in months! Whatever you are doing, Sue, it’s magic.
Now trying to register for all Tuesday and Thursday evening sessions and can’t seem to find how. If I click on the calendar, it lets me register for one session only, not all of them. I know I did it before, so the link is there. Please point this compassless poet.
Lol. Many thanks for this offering, Sue.
Stay safe, Brenda