Writing is lonely work but connecting with other novelists on zoom keeps me motivated

The camaraderie of other writers cannot be underestimated and as we bemoan the job at hand, it’s also one we feel compelled to persist with. Photograph: Cenkay Sahinalp/Alamy

When you work solo, peer accountability is sacred.

Three mornings a week I set my alarm for 5.45am and 10 minutes later I open my laptop to join a zoom chat. My friend, author Gabbie Stroud, appears on the screen. There we are, bedraggled and sleepy, bundled in polyester dressing gowns and big scarves, cradling cups of tea that fog our faces. It’s not pretty but it’s productive and it’s why we keep showing up. We’ve got novels to write and nothing brings you to the page faster than someone ready and willing to type alongside you.