What is co-writing (and what it isn’t)?

Co-writing is a writing accountability group that meets on set days and times, so your writing time becomes as non-negotiable as any other appointment on your calendar.

It’s a simple, repeatable container: you arrive, you set an intention, you write quietly alongside others, and you check out.

There are no prompts to follow, no critique to prepare, no pages to read aloud. And importantly, it is not collaborative writing on a single project, and you are not co-authors. You’re each working on your own drafts while drawing energy from the shared focus of the group.

This distinction matters because many writers avoid groups because they fear extra homework or the vulnerability of critique workshops. Co-writing sidesteps both of these concerns.

Think of it as a weekly (or twice-weekly) workout session for your writing muscle: you book the time, show up, and do the work. The accountability comes from the calendar and the quiet visibility of others doing the same.

 

Why does co-writing work?

Bottom line. Co-writing solves the real problem—not prioritizing your writing—by giving you a reliable, consistent practice to return to every week.

If you’re like most writers, the hard part isn’t the writing. It’s setting aside the time to sit down and write.

You want to write, but competing priorities often overshadow the importance of it. Or the guilt for setting aside the time to write snuffs out your longing to write and convinces you that your time is better spent on things that matter more.

Underneath this is the idea that setting aside time to write is somehow less important or less serious work than those competing priorities.

The truth? Writing your book is likely one of the most important things you will do with the one life you are given.

Cowriting helps serious writers stop making excuses and start prioritizing their work. Here’s how:

• Time is pre-decided. When it’s on the calendar, you don’t spend energy choosing if or when to write. You just show up.
• Attention is protected. A clear format removes chatter and decision fatigue, allowing you to drop into flow.
• Momentum compounds. Regular sessions train your brain to expect deep work at predictable times.
• Guilt goes down. You no longer “steal” time from chores or family. Instead, you keep a commitment you’ve made to yourself within a supportive community of other writers.

 

How do you find a co-writing group?

If you’re wondering how to find a co-writing group, you have more options than you might think.

• Start here (for free): You’re invited to join ours. Always free. We meet twice weekly and follow a simple, supportive structure. Learn more about the Open Roads Co-Writing Group.
• Search online. Use specific terms like “co-writing group,” “silent writing group,” “virtual writing sprints,” “writing accountability group,” or “cowriting sessions.” A few places to look. You might also use MeetUp. Search your city + “co-writing.” Many communities host recurring sessions online and in-person.
• Ask local librarians and booksellers: Ask about writers’ hours or quiet-hours meetups. Some host weekly write-ins.
• Research writing centers & MFA alumni groups: They often run open craft hours that function like co-writing.
• Facebook Groups, Discord, Slack: Try hashtags like #amwriting, #cowriting, #writingcommunity; many groups schedule weekly sprints on Zoom or voice channels.
• Coworking spaces: Some offer “maker mornings” or focused sessions that are perfect for writers.

How can you tell if a co-writing group is a good fit?

A group should feel like a steady container for your practice. Simple, predictable, and easy to show up for week after week.

You’re not shopping for a workshop or a class. Remember, you’re looking for accountability to write and dedicated time to write.

As you scan options, look for signals that the group respects your time, keeps the format clean (no surprise sales pitches, and removes friction rather than adding it).

Here’s a quick list of things to look for in a co-writing group:

• Scheduling: Does the schedule align with your life?
• Format clarity: Is it truly accountability (no critique, no prompts, not a sales funnel)?
• Length: 90–120 minutes is ideal for deep work.
• Group size: 4–12 is big enough for energy, small enough for ease.
• Host reliability: Do sessions start on time and follow the stated structure?
• Cost: Free or low-cost is common. If there is a cost, does it fit your budget?

 

How can you organize a co-writing group (if you can’t find one)?

If you can’t locate a good fit, here’s how to organize a co-writing group with minimal friction.

• Clarify the purpose. Put it in one sentence you can share with others. Something like, “We meet weekly for a short grounding, a 70-minute quiet writing block, and a quick checkout—no prompts, no critique.
• Invite a small circle. Start with your existing network: writer friends, classmates, workshop peers, newsletter readers, or social followers.
• Choose the contain: You can determine this ahead of time or decide as a group. Where will you meet? Will it be online or in person? If it’s online, decide which online meeting platform to use. If it’s an in-person group, decide on the physical location. Your home, a coffee shop, local library, maker space?
• Pick a consistent time. Choose one clear, recurring slot you can defend every week and keep it fixed. The longest-running groups anchor to a simple, memorable cadence (e.g., Tuesdays 7–8:30 p.m.) that everyone can set and forget on their calendar.
• Set your group agreements. Decide as a group how you’ll conduct yourselves, consider things like:
  • Start and end on time.
  • Cameras optional; mics muted during the writing block.
  • No critique, feedback, or reading aloud during sessions.
  • Late arrivals slip in quietly; no apologies required.
  • Length of check-ins and check-outs

 

How can you structure a co-writing group meeting (a proven 90-minute flow)?

Here’s a simple, repeatable 90-minute agenda that maximizes writing time and respects everyone’s schedule. I’ve been using this structure for my online co-writing group for five years now.

0:00–0:05 | Grounding & intention (3–5 minutes).

Everyone arrives. The host invites a brief, eyes-closed centering. Just a minute or two of slow breathing, followed by a moment to set an intention privately.

0:05–0:10 | Lightning check-in (max 5 minutes total).

Keep it short and focused. Each person shares one quick gratitude about their writing practice and states their intention aloud.  When facilitating writers, I find it’s important to use intentional language to set the container and remind participants to be respectful of our time together.

The prompt, “Let’s check in. Please share a quick note of gratitude and your intention for today’s session,” invites everyone to be mindful of how much time they use during this stage of a co-writing session.

0:10–1:20 | Quiet writing (70 minutes).

If it’s an online meeting, mics are muted and cameras are optional. Some writers like the extra accountability of being visible, while others prefer privacy. Regardless of where you meet, there should be no sharing, no critique, no prompts. Just silience and writing. The goal is always maximum, uninterrupted deep work.

1:20–1:25 | Quick checkout (5 minutes).

Adding a structured check-out helps hold writers accountable for their time both in and away from the session. This two-question check-out is a meaningful way to add accountability and help writers keep the momentum going after the session:

1. “How did that go?”
2. “How will you keep moving this project forward?”

 

And just like with the check-in, it’s helpful to use the words quick or short when inviting participants to check-out.

 

Final Thoughts on Co-writing

Most writers don’t struggle with ideas or inspiration. They struggle to sit in their seats and write.

The simple structure of a co-writing group helps solve that overwhelmingly difficult problem.

The truth for writers is that competing priorities snuff out of our plans to write: laundry, caregiving, email, the dog that suddenly must go out. Underneath that are invisible blockers: decision fatigue (“when will I write?”), context switching, isolation, perfectionism, and the guilt of “stealing” time from everything else.

Surveys show over 80% of Americans say they want to write a book, yet fewer than 1% actually sit down consistently long enough to do it.

To answer the question, “what is co-writing?” more abstractly—but more succinctly—co-writing is an excuse to write.

Cowriting helps you put down the excuses that have plagued you for years and gives you a reason to prioritize your story and your book—word after word, page after page, session after session, month after month.

It addresses every block that’s keeping you from your seat and preventing you from writing:

• Time scarcity → It’s on the calendar, so you don’t negotiate with yourself. You just show up.
• Decision fatigue → A simple, repeatable routine. No prompts, no prep, no critique—just intention, focus, write, done.
• Context switching →  A quiet, distraction-free writing block trains your brain to drop into deep work fast.
• Isolation →Writing alongside others creates momentum without the pressure of a workshop.
• Perfectionism →You measure consistency, not word counts, but session-by-session and your progress becomes inevitable as showing up to co-writing.
• Guilt → You’re not “stealing” time. You’re keeping a commitment you’ve made to your craft.
• Stalling after a session → The quick checkout locks in how you’ll keep moving forward between sessions.

 

Ready to turn “I’ll write later” into “I wrote today”? → Join us.

Our co-writing group sessions run twice weekly—always free, never any charge. We use the simple structure outlined above.

Save your spot at openroads.life/cowriting-group.