How to be Mindful About Creative Collaboration
And the magic it brings.
I've been thinking about something that has shaped my creative journey in the most beautiful ways: the magic that happens when we choose collaboration over competition.
In a world that often tells us there's only so much success to go around, I want to share a different story - one where the writing life becomes infinitely richer when we open our arms to fellow storytellers.
The Joy I've Found in Creative Partnership
Some of my most fulfilling moments as a creative haven't come from solitary victories, but from the beautiful energy of collaboration. When I’ve co-led writing and wellness retreats in the past, I've loved how much more is offered together than alone. Each of us bringing our own insights, our own way of diving deeper into storytelling, our own encouragement. And suddenly we're creating a space where writers can truly flourish.
Co-founding Book Works has taught me that when creatives pool their expertise and support each other's dreams, something magical happens. We become more than the sum of our parts. What started as a simple idea between colleagues has grown into a community where we lift each other up, share resources, and celebrate each other's wins as if they were our own.
And then there are the podcasts and newsletters we've created together - conversations that never would have existed if we'd stayed in our separate corners.
Why Creative Sharing Feeds the Soul
The truth is, the scarcity mindset that competition breeds is exhausting (can I get an amen?). It tells us to guard our ideas, to see other writers as threats, to measure our worth by how we stack up against others. But creativity doesn't work that way. Creativity is abundant. It multiplies when shared.
When we collaborate, we tap into something profound: the understanding that there's room for all of our stories. Your success doesn't diminish mine. Your brilliant idea doesn't mean there are fewer brilliant ideas available to me. In fact, witnessing your creativity often sparks my own in ways I never expected.
Creative sharing also connects us to the heart of why we write in the first place - not just to be published or praised, but to connect, to understand, to make sense of this beautiful, messy human experience. When we collaborate, we remember that writing is fundamentally about connection.
How to be mindful about opportunities
So here's my gentle encouragement to you: look for opportunities to collaborate rather than compete. Offer to read a fellow writer's work. Share a resource that helped you. Invite someone to brainstorm with you over coffee. Help promote someone else’s work.
These small acts of creative generosity will come back to you. Not because you're keeping score, but because collaboration creates an upward spiral of creativity, connection, and joy.
The writing life can be lonely sometimes, but it doesn't have to be. When we choose collaboration over competition, we choose community over isolation, abundance over scarcity, and joy over fear.
And isn't that the kind of writing life we all want to live?
Ready to hear more about collaboration? Check out this week’s episode on The Whole Writer podcast, where I sit down with the dynamic author duo Ali Brady. 👇🏻
Every week, The Whole Writer podcast creates space for writers to nurture both their craft and themselves, exploring what it means to write from a place of wholeness rather than depletion. You can find episodes:
📍 Here on my Substack
📍 Apple Podcasts
📍 Spotify
If creative collaboration is calling to you…
I’m co-hosting a writing retreat this fall and I’d love for you to join us!
A Creative Haven Just for You
Imagine waking up in your private cabin room, warm cup of coffee in hand, with nothing but the day's writing ahead of you. The distractions of everyday life fade away as you find yourself surrounded by the peaceful beauty of Oregon and a small, supportive community of fellow writers who understand your journey.
This isn't just another writing event. It's a carefully crafted experience designed for writers who are ready to:
📚Dive deeper into their novel manuscripts
📚Develop their authentic author platform
📚Connect with a small, supportive community of like-minded creatives
📚Return home feeling clear, inspired, and recharged
What Makes This Retreat Different?
Truly intimate setting: We've intentionally limited this retreat to just five writers plus the Book Works team (Gretchen & Nicole). This means personalized attention, customized guidance, and the chance to form meaningful connections with everyone present.
October 16 - 19, 2025
Sisters, Oregon
[EARLY BIRD PRICING ENDS THIS MONTH]
Interested? Let’s get your questions answered.👇🏻