Writing Together: The Evolution of My Writing Practice

By Christina Consolino

For me, writing began as a solitary act. Much like when I read, I immersed myself in the world of story, reveling in the characters, setting, plot, and themes. My lone writing time gave me the opportunity to marinate in my work, and I believed my introverted self couldn’t possibly write with anyone else because the situation would take too much out of me. Drain me of any energy I needed to craft my story, disrupt my singular focus, dilute my ability to achieve a daily writing goal.

And then I met Erin Flanagan, author and English professor at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.

Erin and I first crossed paths at a 2014 Antioch Writer’s Workshop Lit Salon at which she was the featured speaker. She chatted with me and my critique group—feedback naturally requires other people—and took a picture with us, charming us with her humor and wit. After that, Erin and I ran into each other several times, mostly at the elementary school our daughters both attended. We always smiled and waved at each other until one used book fair, where we exchanged a casual “let’s get coffee!” Did either of us believe we’d follow through with the meeting? I can’t be sure, but we did get coffee, and then lunch, and then we scheduled a couple of walks. Eventually—much to my complete surprise—we set several writing dates and held them. My email record says those meetings took place in 2018, and here we are, six years into the future, writing regularly each week.

That’s correct—we write. Together. As in, both Erin and I are in the room tapping away at our respective keyboards, like toddlers engaging in parallel play. And despite my earlier reservations about writing with someone, the practice is productive, energizing, and invaluable.

In late 2021, Erin had the idea to construct and attend our own weekend writing retreat. From Friday at two p.m. until noon on Sunday, we wrote, splitting our writing time into hour chunks bookended by reaks. The weekend was wildly successful for us both—I surpassed my goal of writing 10,000 words—and Erin proposed inviting three other Dayton-area authors (Meredith Doench, Katrina Kittle, and Sharon Short) to join us for the next one. The question was, Would I be able to sustain a consistent writing practice with four other authors involved?

Spoiler alert: The answer is yes.  

That’s how the CCBs (Cute City Bitches, and yes, there’s a story there), came together. We write historical mysteries, contemporary fiction, literary mysteries, queer thrillers, and romance, among other genres. Three of us have agents, two of us do not. Three of us publish with large publishing houses, while two of us are with small publishers. Two of us publish under pen names as well as our given names. One of the CCBs—me—has dipped into the world of independent publishing. All of us teach in some capacity. Over the past few years, this group has met for full weekend retreats, but we’ve also carved out time for one-day or half-day meetings.

I often ask myself, why these authors? What makes it so easy to write with the CCBs? The answer flickered to life after the first retreat with Erin, and it fully ignited shortly after the second retreat with the entire group.

• We’re all introverts. These ladies understand the need to recharge at the end of the day. At our last retreat, we all went our separate ways inside the retreat house shortly after dinner. No one balked, and more importantly, we all celebrated (independently) the decision to take alone time and do whatever it was that would prepare us for the next day. (I, for one, listened to an audiobook, then shut the light off by 8:30 p.m.) 
• We’re committed to our work. Commitment manifests in many ways, and you don’t have to be a published author to be committed. In my mind, however, you do need to practice the craft consistently. The CCBs have been writing for decades (individually and collectively) and constantly strive to make their work better. They don’t just say, “I’m going to write.” They do it. Writing might be a blog post, an essay, a newsletter, or a draft of a new book, but they consistently commit time and energy to produce pieces. 
• We respect each other, our time, and our work. Of course, I’m biased, but the CCBs are generally good humans. While we respect all people, we also respect that each of us is different. We write differently. We write in different genres. Our lives hold different challenges and opportunities. The time we spend together is precious, not to be wasted, and all work is valuable.
• We’re supportive of each other. Like commitment, support materializes in many ways. Regardless of what’s happening with our writing or our lives, the CCBs will be there. Brainstorming book ideas, imparting Instagram tips and tricks, babysitting cats and watering plants, providing rides to meeting places, posting a review on Goodreads. We listen, we problem-solve, we validate one another.
• We bring positive energy to the workspace. The writing process is long and difficult, and the publishing industry can often be brutal. The CCBs know this and combat negativity with positivity. We believe in each other. We’re kind and generous. We engage in positive self-talk and hold each other to the same standard. We’re calm and patient and try to minimize stress. We create a space that’s beneficial to all of us. 

That’s all good, but how, with five women in a house for a weekend, does the writing get accomplished? That’s where a few guidelines come into play.

• Set realistic expectations for how much actual writing time can be accomplished over the allotted number of hours or days.
• Set personal writing goals for the writing time.
• Set a timer for the writing time.
• Set a timer for the social time. 
• Take movement breaks.
• Bring precooked meals and snacks.
• Be flexible and open to readjustment as needed.

Erin opened me up to the possibility that writing with others could be accomplished, and I’m glad she did. Now, I have two writing groups: one for feedback and one to write with. Both groups serve different needs, but they both feed my soul and maintain forward momentum. If, like me, you consider yourself a solitary writer, you might consider rethinking your stance.

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Christina Consolino is the author of The Weight We Carry and Rewrite the Stars and the co-author of Historic Photos of University of Michigan. She also writes romance under the pen name Keely Stephens. Along with teaching, she freelance edits both fiction and nonfiction. Warm cups of coffee, good books, and long runs outside are some of her favorite things, and if she had her way, our days would be filled with nothing but joy.

You can find Christina on Instagram at cmconsolino, on Facebook at AuthorChristinaConsolino, and on Goodreads as Christina Consolino. You can read more at her website.

THE WEIGHT WE CARRY

Marissa Raffaelo-Moretta is used to shouldering the burden. As the middle child, she’s played the mediator role for longer than she cares to admit. As a mother, she’s taken on the exhausting task of primary caregiver. And as a daughter and nurse practitioner, she’s spent her adult life being responsible for her parents’ physical and mental health.

When her stubborn and impulsive father, Frank, falls and refuses to stay at rehab, she and her brothers bring him home, and Marissa upends her life: she temporarily moves into her parents’ house, which takes precious time away from her two sons and jeopardizes her job. Soon, Marissa recognizes that life as they’ve all known it is about to change: while Frank’s ineffective legs are worrisome, her mother Angie’s memory issues might be a more urgent dilemma.

A heartbreaking and emotional story of the toll that health crises can have on an entire family, The Weight We Carry reminds us of the fine line between reliance and independence, tending and mothering, and love and obligation.

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