Writing with Another Writer

I was about to title this "workshopping vs. writing," but I felt the dichotomy rang false. These aren't two activities pitted against one another. They are both important--even to the seasoned writer. Established writers maintain long-distance correspondence with trusted readers for years. Perhaps what I actually want to discuss here is this: the benefit of writers getting together simply to be writing in the same space.

I have a short attention span, well, short-ish. I can be intensely focused, but I am easily distracted. However, when I write in the presence of someone else who is writing, I can focus for the better part of an hour (if not two or more). I have a few fond memories of this. The first, in high school: my friend and I used to sequester ourselves in his bedroom for hours to listen to music and write plays, poems, and whatever else interested us. In college (and I may be mis-remembering this a bit) I wrote once or twice with a girlfriend in the living room of her ground-floor apartment. In grad school I spent a whole evening in the sitting room of my fancy, turn-of-the-century apartment (a story for some other post) scribbling away with my roommate and a classmate. And, during the past year, on several afternoons, my workshopping buddies and I met at the Bean Exchange in Philly--not to discuss work--just to churn it out. So, please forgive the nostalgia. As I arrange a collaborative writing session with some writers I know, I have been thinking a lot about "writing with others."

Have you--oh my often ignored, but dedicated readers--written in the presence of others who are writing? Would you share an anecdote or two? Or, have you worked on a piece, collaboratively--in the same space--one writer's hands on the keyboard/paper, the other writer speaking? I don't think I'm romanticizing the value of this practice. While this practice may be more helpful for extroverted writers like myself, there must be benefits to any writer. No?

Custom made furniture by Craftwork in Philadelphia

I am using this post to celebrate Jayme Goukas and his woodworking abilities. Here's the story.

When my wife and I moved into our house a few months back we had a difficult time finding a simple corner television stand for our living room. Our place was built in the 40s, and although it's a three bedroom place, all of the rooms are sized for a simpler time--a time when we knew what was enough. Today's furniture is designed for humongous rooms. We searched and searched. In those rare cases when we did find a piece that was sized right, it was usually made of cancer-causing mdf, or it just looked like hell. I knew we had to get something custom-made.

At the recommendation of my brilliant brother, I contacted Jayme Goukas of Craftwork. A few emails went back-and-forth, and five weeks later a custom television cabinet was delivered. Yes, it was slightly more expensive than most (but not all) pieces we saw online or in-store, but it was worth it. I paid what I thought was a very fair price for expert craftsmanship, good materials, timely service, and a piece that exceeded my expectations for that pesky corner of my living room. In short, thanks to Goukas, I'm not sure I will ever buy a piece of store bought furniture again.

Okay, I'm afraid I might start sounding like a bourgeois prick. In short:
Custom-made stuff rocks.
Support local or regional artisans.
And when it comes to furniture or kitchens, make that artisan Jayme Goukas.

Oh, and yes, thanks for asking, the Superbowl and Oscars are at my house this year.