Writing is a lonely job.

It demands spending extended periods by yourself working on articles, stories or books, often without feedback from others.

Look
at the work spaces of many famous writers, and you’ll find them typing
away in basements, coffee shops and rooms at the tops of their houses
or  backs of their apartments.

The American poet Raymond Carver, for example, often wrote on a notepad in his car.

The big question is: How can you balance the time you need by yourself to create and the accompanying feelings of loneliness?

What Creative People Need

American science fiction writer and professor Isaac Asimov once said,

“As
creativity is concerned, isolation is required. The creative person is,
in any case, continually working at it. His mind is shuffling his
information at all times, even when he is not conscious of it.”

He added,

“The
presence of others can only inhibit this process, since creation is
embarrassing. For every new good idea you have, there are a hundred, ten
thousand foolish ones, which you naturally do not care to display.”

Asimov is mostly right, although I think he was describing solitude rather than isolation.

What’s the Difference Between Solitude and Isolation?

Solitude refers to a quiet bubble where you’re free to write or create without judgement from others.

Isolation,
on the other hand, describes cutting yourself off from others for
extended periods without caring for your mental health.

You can create moments of solitude while around others, for example, in a coffee shop.

However, isolation is to lock yourself away from others without seeking connections.

The former supports the creative process; the latter hinders it.

How to Embrace Solitude

If you want to write and finish articles, stories and books, cultivate solitude for at least 30 minutes, ideally every day.

You
could rise early in the morning before your family. Or you could work
late at night when your house or apartment is quiet. Go to the same
place to work on your ideas until you can slip into a bubble of solitude
more easily.

While there, turn off all notifications on your
devices and close down distracting computer apps. If you’re working on
an early draft, practice outlining with pen, paper and index cards or
dictate it. Computers are better for self editing later.

Avoid
company or software that intrudes on this bubble of solitude. You could
even don a pair of noise-cancelling headphones and listen to
instrumental music.

If you’re struggling with loneliness or other
dark emotions, journal about these feelings. Better yet, use them as
fuel for your stories.

What Happens When You Embrace Solitude

Many new writers feel guilty about cultivating solitude.

Why do you think they dedicate so many books to their families?!

If this happens to you, become more aware of your personality type.

A sales manager of a large team once said to me,

“I
hate working from home. I don’t know how you do it Bryan. I love coming
into the office and talking through my plans with the team. It
recharges me.”

He is a classic extrovert. However, many
writers are introverts. They recharge by themselves and feel drained
after spending time in large or noisy groups.

Once you understand
your personality type, you’ll be better able to create moments of
solitude to write and feel less guilty about it.

Know thyself!

How to Form Connections with Other Writers and Readers

Almost every writer creates for his or her readers, and that is a form of connection.

So plan to show early drafts to the people close to you or members of a local writing group. Better yet, start a blog or share excerpts of your work on Medium.

You can also cultivate interests outside writing that demand spending time with others.

For
example, I enjoy long-distance running with members of a local
athletics club. I also go out of my way to attend Crossfit classes with
others because it prevents me from isolating myself for the day.

You
might not necessarily enjoy these sports, but perhaps you can pursue
other interests in the company of others after you’ve produced 500 or
1,000 words for the day.

My Best Moment of Solitude

When asked, “What’s your best moment of solitude?” I often think of rising about 05.00 to work on a messy first draft of my book, The Power of Creativity.

While listening to music recorded with a background of rain on repeat, I edged towards my target wordcount for the day.

All the while I avoided self editing and kept thinking, “This will do,” and “ I’ll fix this later.”

As
I worked, the rising sun began pouring through the window at my desk,
and by the time my alarm sounded at 08.00, I realised I’d written 3,000
words without giving into my limiting belief that this first draft
wasn’t good enough.

I wrote, on that morning at least, without fear or expectation.

It’s a Wonderful Thing

American comedian and screenwriter Steve Martin said about practicing stand-up comedy,

“Being alone onstage is the eagle’s last stand. No one is more vulnerable than a stand-up comedian standing alone.”

A
writer, too, is vulnerable if he or she spends too much time alone. So
take care to cultivate connections with family, friends and readers.

In the end, remember solitude can be a wonderful thing.

You
can work on a single, a dozen or 100 foolish ideas before finding one
that captures your imagination. You’re free to work without judgement or
expectation, and it’s a privilege many can’t enjoy.

The trick is to understand the difference between solitude and isolation.

When you’re done, your readers are waiting.

Culled from Become A Writer Today