The Power of Collective Creativity: Social Facilitation in Young Writers
Writing, a traditionally solitary endeavor, finds a unique dynamic when brought into a collective.
Originally posted on LinkedIn, this article was featured in Fredrik Haren's newsletter, The Creativity Explorer, in 2023. Since then, Writers’ 45 has evolved into Writers’ Workshop and doubled in size. We’ve moved to Recess and use Gather, but the concept and ideas from my original Writers’ 45 remain the same. I have tweaked the article to replace the name Writers’ 45 with Writers’ Workshop; otherwise, the article is consistent with my 2023 version. Want to know the true brilliance behind Writers’ Workshop? Enjoy this article.
Have you ever found yourself in a room or group where creativity hums like electricity? I have, and let me tell you, it’s nothing short of magic. Whether sweating it out on the sports field, pursuing knowledge, or typing away in solitary silence, humans inherently need to connect. Writing, a traditionally solitary endeavor, finds a unique dynamic when brought into a collective.
Understanding Social Facilitation
Alright, let’s get a little geeky. Ever heard of ‘social facilitation’? Social facilitation is the heightened performance one experiences in the presence of others. Last week, one of my writers and a high-performing ski athlete shared his personal narrative about a day in his life. He recounted a group training session and remarked, “I always train harder in group training because I am trying to best the other kids on the team.”
You can think of social facilitation as the extra oomph you get when jogging alongside someone. Now, transport that to writing. It’s this little zing you feel when you write in the company of others, even if you’re all working on different things. If you’re still curious, ask your writer to explain your feelings about being part of Writers’ Workshop.
The Common Misconception
During my meetings with new parents and kids, a recurring query pops up: “If they’re working on separate pieces, why join others? Why isn’t this just collaborative?” The answer lies in our initial ritual. At the start of every session, we prompt our writers to declare their sessions’s mission. This isn’t just goal-setting; it’s an atmospheric setup, like a silent high-five to everyone in the room. This practice solidifies the idea of social facilitation – creating an environment where individual goals, creative play, exploration, and pursuits are welcomed and drive collective motivation.
Reflecting on the Writing Process
And just as I start every session with a ritual, we conclude each Writers’ Workshop session. I like to whip out reflective questions like:
What sentence/paragraph excites you? Would you care to share?
If you had to name your creativity today, what would that be?
How did that one idea evolve, even if it was just in your head?
Any bumps on the road today?
Our reflection questions are intricately tied to the principle of social facilitation, acting as catalysts that amplify the inherent power of our group setting. When our young writers openly share their work, experiences, challenges, and triumphs, they indirectly hold themselves accountable to the collective. The synergy created from these shared narratives propels individual motivation and perseverance, even when writing or creativity may have eluded them. Additionally, hearing their peers navigate similar or disparate writing journeys fosters an unspoken benchmarking, where one’s progress, achievements, and challenges are homogenized. These reflective moments cultivate self-awareness and reinforce our community’s bond, ensuring that no writer feels isolated in their endeavor. In essence, our reflection process harnesses the group’s energy, strengthening each writer’s resolve and fueling passions.
The Universal Writing Community
My passion for collective writing didn’t spring from a void. I’ve been fortunate to be part of several writing groups. But during the pandemic, my virtual refuge was the London Writers Salon’s Writers’ Hour. Every day, amidst a sea of writers, I dived into the world of words. Some days were dedicated to client copy and SEO writing, while others drifted to short stories or journal entries. This daily ritual became more than just about writing. On days when words dodged me, just amidst the collective energy was therapeutic.
It’s this magic, this palpable presence, that I wished to recreate for young writers, not as competition but as a celebration of shared creativity.
Let Me Leave You With This
The age-old adage, “It takes a village,” rings true, even in writing. From setting goals to the joy of sharing breakthroughs and the solace in shared challenges, collective writing sessions elevate the individual journey into a shared adventure. Ultimately, it’s about harnessing the power of the group, not for competition, but for the sheer joy of collective creativity.