Hello everyone,
I’ve been thinking this week about the isolated life of a writer — and the big isolation we’re experiencing more generally — perhaps because my routine in Oregon is unhurried and calm compared to the insanity of Manhattan. The walks with my dog Albert are peaceful — no cabs honking, delivery trucks double-parked, jack hammers drilling. I don’t wake up at 7 a.m. to the droning sound of the heating and cooling system in the alley behind my apartment. That’s been a nice change!
But all of this comes with a lot of time to think, to be alone with my thoughts, and to be thinking about how I’m alone with my thoughts. How meta. I’ve been working from home since late 2016, so the remote setup (though I wouldn’t exactly describe my home “office” — desk — in those terms) is nothing new to me and wasn’t during the pandemic. I learned early on in my freelance career that I needed to fill my social calendar with activities and happy hours if I was going to be working for myself, both because I wasn’t able to network and connect with people in a newsroom and for my own personal sanity. And yet some days, no matter how many ice cream breaks I’ve taken or how much pickleball I played, it still never gets easier to sit down at the computer in my living room and start working alone. When the documentary about Joan Didion came out in 2017, writers glommed onto the fact that she said she woke up in the morning, drank a Coke and began her work. It all sounded so easy.
The thing is, writing is a solitary endeavor. Even in Manhattan, with all the chaotic energy. I’ve never been able to work in a coffee shop or even really at a co-working space (also because those are very expensive and financially un-friendly for solo entrepreneurs). Sometimes I like to go to the main library branch in Bryant Park because speaking is not allowed — or at least I presume this is the rule since the place is completely hushed when I’m there. But my best writing gets done alone in my apartment, as much as I want to be out in the world. And then sometimes when I’m out in the world, I just want to be at home writing (or at least reading).
I’ve always thought of this as a catch-22: I write because I’m lonely, but I’m lonely because I write.
It seems like there’s simply no way to be a writer, journalist or anyone else who has to compose words without doing so by themselves. But all of this brings me to the fact that it seems, more broadly, people are siloed where we shouldn’t be. I visited a newsroom recently —which I expected to be bustling and lively with shouts of “stop the presses!” (okay maybe not quite) — only to find rows of reporters and editors sitting silently in cubicles while chatting energetically in Slack.
I realize this is a) nothing new and b) makes me sound very old and crotchety, but what was going on?! Part of my criteria when I look for jobs or side hustles is that there’s a sense of camaraderie or collaboration or face-to-face/phone brainstorming sessions. All the above! Even as an independent journalist, I love to hop on a call with an editor or another freelancer. So much better than email. I once worked with an editor who would ring me up without warning as he went through my draft. We’d chat while I was in the car or running errands and it was truly great (I realize some people might hate this or find it seriously anxiety-inducing to see a random incoming call from the boss, but I personally love a chat or voice note, just ask my friends). Again, I know editors are busy people, but sometimes it saves time and headaches and refrains of “I need a drink” if one just picks up the phone.
The ironic thing is that, as I mentioned last week, I began this newsletter to meet new people, build a community, have a little fun — and I’m trying to do so all while behind a computer! SMH.
But seriously, I’m currently in my IRL era. Except, of course, when I’m writing.
Thanks for being here <3
Britta Lokting
Endnote: I spent most of this week absolutely tearing through Emma Cline’s book “The Guest.” (No spoiler, but what’s up with the ending? I have thoughts). That’s my main rec of the week, but I also wanted to share this Vox piece about the huge spike in gun ownership — the stats are pretty wild. I actually came across some myself while reporting a piece that I’m hoping will run in September. Oftentimes data is the story.
I enjoy your personal observations and your description of the isolation that free lance and other writers must often feel. I have always worked in an office with a bunch of people around. I have liked that and would be very challenged working all the time in isolation.