I have a new obsession: live writing sessions with writers I love.
Maybe you have no idea what I mean. Let me explain! Writers will go live on YouTube, Discord, or whatever platform they prefer and live stream their writing sessions, inviting you to write alongside them. Generally, these sessions will last 25 minutes to a half hour, with breaks in between to read superchats and answer questions. The writers will often spend over an hour — usually upwards of 3 hours — writing and interacting with their audience, and it’s great PR for them while also inspiring hopeful writers to get cracking on their own manuscripts.
Here’s a great example: Abbie Emmons
I’ve watched all of her current Writing Retreat videos and took part in only a portion of a live session (I have kids; leave me alone), and I took a hard look at my numbers as I did so.
The question I wanted to answer was this: do these influencer writing sessions help writers get more work done than they would have done on their own?
Let’s find out.
Session One: 2 hours and 17 minutes
I watched the replay of this and diligently sat at my computer (as much as I could, anyway, with two kids to raise) while I tapped away alongside Abbie and her quaint little writing desk — which, by the way, inspired me to spend more money than I should have on that insanely adorable typewriter’s mechanical keyboard.
(I think a lot of writers want to experience the ASMR aspect of the sound of a typewriter, ala Ernest Hemmingway. It’s a thing.)
Anyway, I did what I could, and while it took me a while to get over the awkwardness of typing while someone typed in a video in another tab, I think I did well. I didn’t set a word goal in that session, but my work gave me an idea of what I could accomplish.
Word count achieved: 980
Session Two: 2 hours and 16 minutes
This time I had two hours of blissfully free time, so I could partake in the entire session. What did this do for me?
Flow. I found my flow.
I usually have to have a particular soundscape playing or a certain setting (candles, twilight, etc.), but this was a great way to harness my focus, too. It worked out great because I managed to write a lot more than I did in my previous session.
Word count achieved: 1,230
Session Three: 2 hours and 10 minutes
This time, I wrote for my non-fiction publications and not my book, and I realized something that was absolutely massively enlightening:
I really want to finish my book.
There’s something very freeing about fiction. What’s more, article writing requires you to have a conversation with your readers, and you really have to cater to their every whim. I don’t hate it, but I discovered that my heart lies in my book and the little world I’ve created for my characters.
Anyway, it wasn’t an entirely unsuccessful session, and I’m pleased with the results.
Word count achieved: 1,094
Session Four: 2 hours and 14 minutes
This was the last session I did prior to writing this, although I see she has one more session that she streamed a day ago, so I guess I know what I am doing tonight!
I was distracted by kids and spouse this time, which is fine — life, uh, finds a way, as a certain Dr. Ian Malcom may or may not have said. But it really brings home the importance of having a quiet, person-free space to write in. My husband works from home a few days a week, and he’s able to work while kids are in and out of his space, all while watching movies or videos as he programs.
I guess software development is wildly different from writing a book. Who’d have thunk it?
Regardless, it was my best writing session in terms of actual volume — I don’t trust it though, and fully intend to go back and edit thoroughly before I put my stamp of approval on that.
Word count achieved: 1,608
The takeaway
I would recommend this process to anyone who, like me, is still in the early stages of their book. It’s worth noting, as well, that Abbie Emmons has several great videos about how to organize a book using various apps (and even Google Docs, which was very helpful for this Google-lifer), and it’s wise to listen to established authors when they discuss their craft and process.
Writing a novel (or a series of novels, as I and so many budding authors are attempting) is a serious undertaking. Too often, I’ve read books that had continuity errors or bland plot elements, and those mistakes made me fear making the same ones, so I’ll take all the help I can get in this area.
As a final thought, I’ll just express that everyone starts somewhere, and we all have to get words on paper if we ever hope to write an entire book. Writing alongside other writers might be very motivating for you — I know it was for me. Give it a shot if you’re struggling; you might be pleasantly surprised.