Failure and collaboration are two parts of writing that we as writers sometimes dread, but they are essential to producing quality work. Without these two things, there is no way to improve or further develop as writers. Failure, like Alexus Yeakel mentions in “Failure is Awesome” is a bridge to innovation. To expand on our ideas in our writing, we first need to fail to have somewhere to grow from. These are the ideas Yeakel discusses in her writing, and I think that these are often difficult truths to digest as writers. Of course, nobody wants to fail; we are taught that this is a negative thing and to avoid failure at all costs. However, I think that embracing failure can completely transform the work that we produce and allow us as writers to flourish once we get over the hard part.
Directly related to the concept of failure in writing is collaboration. This is another part of the writing process that I think so many writers tend to fear or be apprehensive of, myself included. I tend to want to work independently on my projects and not involve the collaboration of others, no matter what form that may take. However, Nancy Allen, et al’s “What Experienced Collaborators Say About Collaborative Writing” dives into a study on collaborative writing, and how this is impactful. After reading this study, I realize that although collaborative writing isn’t always something writers enjoy, it can help us progress with our writing, and it is even beneficial in improving how and what we write as well.
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