Greatest thing about my work life has always been about the people I have gotten to collaborate with.

If you’re a creative person, but you’re afraid of working with others, all I can say is try and find a way to work with others.

Reach out to the edge of your comfort zone.

It may not work the first time. If it doesn’t, try and figure out why.

Maybe you reached out to a collaborator that was too similar to you. Or maybe they were too different.

Whatever it was, try and dial it in - don’t give up.

Collaboration is the force multiplier for creativity.

Doesn’t have to dominate your process. You don’t have to do it much if that’s not your thing.

But if you don’t do it at all, well… a few thoughts.

You’re a liar.

Collaborators?
- your editor
- Your agent
- your spouse

So embrace collaboration. Edit it. Shape it. Figure out when you need it, and when you don’t.

You may need 5 weeks to go off and write that first draft, but once you’ve done it?

Bring in your brain trust.
Maybe it’s your twin brother.
Maybe it’s your spouse.

But do it. Listen.

I have friends that want no details of what I’m doing, but just how I’m feeling, and they give me a deliberation from that.

It’s usually right; it’s always helpful.

I have other friends that I give them way too much detail; they respond w/way too many notes :-)

Again, helpful.

The underscore of all of this is having professional friends.
Building a cohort.
Accumulating your “brain trust”.

It’s its own fraught activity, but as a creative professional, this is a thing you should be engaged in along the way.

Be an ally.
Be a booster.
Be an honest fan.