~ Vines of affection ~

’What are we here for if not to make life easier for each other?’

~ George Eliot

When Ivona Cornwall and I created Vines of Affection together, we did it primarily online, via Zoom and Skype calls, and also via email. The book was published in Canada, with a Canadian ISBN, and was completed within four months. Interestingly, I think that if it hadn’t been a collaborative project between Ivona and me, Vines of Affection likely would never have seen the light of day.

Creating something together has its pros and cons. Certainly more pros. Just as we learn how to do other things in life, the same applies to the ability to learn how to co-create on a project with another person.

Here is my conversation with Ivona about the process of co-creating of our book:

Ivona, what are the positive aspects of co creating a project together with another person?

The biggest advantage of co-creating a project together is that we don’t have to feel alone in the process. We can inspire each other, share ideas, and offer each other new perspectives. Everyone can leverage their skills and share the work. Sometimes one person starts something, the other develops it, and something great comes out of it. It’s nice to go through the entire process together and support each other.

Is it easier or more difficult to co-create something together, in your opinion? Why?

It all depends on the relationship between the two people, and how they get along. On the one hand, it can be more difficult because you have to be able to communicate and compromise despite different views. On the other hand, if there’s trust, it’s much easier than trying to do it alone. Together, you have support, and you don’t have to take on everything alone. You can also share roles, which makes the work much easier.

Ivona, what was your intention behind creating something together? Did you meet your goal, what you intended to accomplish?

It was my first project and it required very broad knowledge, which I didn’t fully have myself. I felt that together we could achieve the goal and create something wonderful. In this project, each of us had our own role and used our own unique skills. I think the final result is great. I learned a lot during the process of co-creating this project, and I feel that this collaboration enriched me in many ways.

Ivona, where can we buy the book: ‘ Vines of affection’?