Writing Solo: The Benefits of Working Alone

Writing Solo: The Benefits of Working Alone

Raise your hand if you loathed group projects in school. I see you in the back with both hands up, and I feel you. Sometimes group members don’t carry their weight and rely on everyone else do the work, or even have the audacity to turn in their half-done, completely horrid share of the project. All partners aren’t as detached and disorganized—teamwork is an excellent way to share ideas, test your conflict resolution and communication skills, and allow different creative minds to come together to make one awesome project. However, working alone can be just as fulfilling. Here’s why:

 

*Expand Your Creativity*

Hearing other people’s great ideas makes it easier to come to a conclusion about how your assignment will turn out, but working alone really allows you to push your own creativity. Pull from your own mind the innovative layouts, designs, or titles to include in your work. Working alone encourages you to see just how imaginative you are, and therefore promotes creative progress in group settings. Try jotting down a few cool approaches and the pros and cons of each. Pick the ones you like the best and use them.

 

*Hold Yourself Accountable*

When you’re working alone, you only need to look after one person: yourself. There’s no need to make multiple phone calls or vent to others about how such-and-such isn’t doing their share of the work. You are in charge of the work you do (or don’t do), so make sure you are holding yourself accountable. Keep those deadlines in mind and avoid doing just enough to get by. You can’t point fingers at anyone but yourself if things don’t go as planned. Respect yourself enough to put out only the best.

 

*Accept Positive Self-Criticism*

Again, since you’re the only one doing the work, self-evaluation is key. Monitor how your actions affect the project and keep an eye on the minor details’ importance. Listen to, read, or watch the project throughout to edit out things you aren’t totally sure about. It’s OK to pick apart your work as long as you’re putting it all back together.

 

*Trust Your Abilities*

There’s nothing wrong with being confident in the work you know you can do, even if that means turning down partnering up with someone else. You’re not controlling or anti-social, you’re just assured that your work is trustworthy. Have confidence in your work and your abilities.

 

*Ask for Advice*

Yes, this whole article talked about the benefits of working by yourself, but constructive criticism and input from others can also be a great thing for working on your project alone. When you’re stuck and need quick input, simply asking, “Does this sound right?” when the words you chose sound strange to you, or asking which colors to use in a piece gives others the chance to come into your creative realm for a moment.

 

Choosing to work alone gives you the opportunity to get lost in your work and build it up. It’s as if you are challenging yourself and saying, “Let’s see what I can really do.” You can grow from working alone and it also teaches you about your thought process so that you can adjust to others in a group setting. Pick a quiet spot in the library or keep it casual at home and bask in that creative solitude.

 

MADE by Kim Jackson

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