I cannot tell you how many times I’ve told myself: I’ll wake up and write first thing in the morning or I’ll plop down at my desk to write after work—only to mentally jump through hoops to avoid it. This usually ends with me getting ahead on errands or binge-watching one of my favorite Netflix shows. Maybe you’ve felt this way, too. You have the best intentions to commit to your writing practice but lack the discipline to follow through. Might I recommend body doubling?
Put simply, body doubling is when you have a partner who holds you accountable for the task you want to complete. They could be in the same room as you or on the screen via a video chat, working on the same task or something completely different. The idea is that the presence of another person puts external pressure on you to actually do the thing. For instance, if you needed to read a chapter for a course but find it hard to focus, you could meet with a fellow peer. They could also use the time together to read the chapter, or they could complete other coursework. Having another person alongside you who is being productive helps activate your momentum.
This tool is often used by neurodivergent folks who struggle with executive dysfunction, overwhelm, and distractions. As someone who was diagnosed with ADHD a month ago (shoutout to all the late-diagnosed neurodivergent people!) but has been consciously body doubling for the past several years, I can attest to its benefits. I’ve always been able to get the job done, so to speak, but starting a task felt daunting, or I felt restless while working on it, or I felt like a failure at launch, so why try?
As writers, we often experience self-doubt, resistance, and the belief that we should be farther along in our careers. This cocktail can make it hard for us to actually write. Body doubling helps me quell those feelings—and it’s a tool that can work for anyone.
How to use body doubling for writing
I’ve sensed throughout my life that doing something, like reading or tackling household chores, alongside someone else helped me get the thing done, but I never put it together that it could be used strategically as a tool. The same goes for my writing practice: It wasn’t until Neidy recommended we do “writing sprints” that I realized I could use the presence of a friend to help me with my own practice.
My writer friends and I call our particular version of body doubling “writing sprints.” As the name suggests, it’s when we meet to write in timed bursts. Here’s our process:
1) Start a sprint
Sometimes, we plan on a day and time to sprint, but usually, we just throw out our availability in the group chat and see if anyone takes the bait. Because writing sprints can be anything you want them to be, they can easily fit into the constructs of your day. Since we all live in different locations, our sprints are through video chats. When we all hop on, we set our intentions for the sprints: are we working on our novel, a short story, or even a draft for this newsletter. Setting intentions gives us focus for the sprint, which helps eliminate any initial overwhelm.
2) Set a time and write
Once our intentions are set, we then set the time frame. Usually, we’ll sprint in 20–30 minute increments, which is perfect for my ADHD brain that has trouble focusing for longer. During this time, we mute our audio (and sometimes video) and get to writing. While I write, I usually have this song on repeat, which adds another dimension to my concentration. Knowing that I only have to write for a short increment pushes me to focus on the task at hand, which is usually writing a scene for my novel-in-progress.
3) Regroup
When time’s up, one of us will unmute and say “time” and wait, as sometimes it takes a minute or two for everyone to come out of their writing. We’ll share our progress: how did the writing go? Did we work through a complicated scene? Enjoy the words we wrote? The braver of us will even read snippets aloud of what we wrote.
4) Repeat
If our goals from the first sprint have changed, we’ll update the group with what we want to focus our attention on during the next sprint. Otherwise, we repeat steps two and three until our morning, day, or night pulls us elsewhere.
Nine times out of 10, regardless of our final word count, writing sprints propel us forward and rekindle our creativity flames. If you don’t have a friend or workshop cohort who you can sprint with, there are resources to help: London Writers’ Salon offers free 50-minute writing sprints for every time zone; local writing organizations may provide in-person or virtual meet-ups; or, as Sarah mentioned in last week’s Kernel, you could answer an open call on social media.
My kernel of advice: If you struggle to get a writing project started—or to maintain its momentum—find someone you can body double with.
Inspiration, Information, & Insight
Shelby took it easy this week as she was feeling a bit under the weather. She is excited to restart writing sprints and get back into her writing practice (yes, she went against her own advice and took more than two days off from writing!). But she did manage to read this craft essay from Beth Nguyen that used Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well (10 Minute Version)” to explain “double perspective,” which was brilliant.
Neidy began reading Rachel Heng’s Suicide Club this week. As is always the case with Heng’s writing, Neidy was transported by her lush descriptions and lyrical language. She attended a virtual event hosted by Carlow University’s MFA program where she heard several authors read from their most recent projects and read one of her own flash pieces. She also wrote a first draft of the Statement of Purpose she will be using for MFA applications this year, and applied for a Tin House Workshop.
Natalia struggled with plot once more in her writing life, so she turned to The 3 A.M. Epiphany for some writing exercises to jolt new life into her novel.
Sarah revisited the title story in ZZ Packer’s debut collection Drinking Coffee Elsewhere. She particularly enjoyed the story’s voice-y protagonist and its illustrative withholding of information. Every story in that collection is an absolute gem. She thinks you should check it out.