Decided Quote by Alison McGhee
![“So we [with Kate DiCamillo] decided to give the friends an object and see what they did with it. The object was a sock and it went from there. Once we got going, once we got on a roll, it became very easy to work together and to figure out how to do it. We would meet for two-hour segments, usually…” quote by Alison McGhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/73e/alison-mcghee-15698_decided_so-we-with-kate-dicamillo-decided-to-giv_2315802.jpg)
“So we [with Kate DiCamillo] decided to give the friends an object and see what they did with it. The object was a sock and it went from there. Once we got going, once we got on a roll, it became very easy to work together and to figure out how to do it. We would meet for two-hour segments, usually from 10-12, two or three times a week. We met all one summer, and I think into the fall.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Conversation with Kate DiCamillo, 2020
Creative collaboration thrives when simple prompts spark collective imagination and momentum.
In simple terms: Simple prompts can spark teamwork and momentum.
Key Takeaway
Start with a small, shared task.
Themes
creativity
collaboration
play
process
momentum
Mood
enthusiastic
playful
Type
inspirational
practical
When to use this quote
- workshops
- classroom activities
- team building sessions
- creative writing groups
Key Concepts
design thinking
emergent storytelling
group dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you design a prompt that invites diverse contributions?
- What keeps a collaborative project moving forward?
A Different Perspective
Success depends on participants’ willingness to engage and sustain interest.
![“I don't think we [with Kate DiCamillo] intended to write a book about friendship, I think we intended to write a book about two friends.” quote by Alison McGhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2f3/alison-mcghee-15698_about-friendship_i-don-t-think-we-with-kate-dicamillo-int_2047261.jpg)
![“We had so much fun together as friends that I suggested we [with Kate DiCamillo] write a book together.” quote by Alison McGhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0ac/alison-mcghee-15698_book_we-had-so-much-fun-together-as-friends-t_1973766.jpg)
![“Our rule was that we [with Kate DiCamillo] would write everything together, literally every word.” quote by Alison McGhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f45/alison-mcghee-15698_kate_our-rule-was-that-we-with-kate-dicamillo_1672748.jpg)
![“So we [with Kate DiCamillo] would act them out, we would toss ideas back and forth, we would laugh, we would argue. Sometimes it went really well, sometimes it was such a pain in the ass. Our other rule was that we wouldn't work on it at all when we weren't in the other's presence. It was really…” quote by Alison McGhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ea6/alison-mcghee-15698_arguing_so-we-with-kate-dicamillo-would-act-them_382879.jpg)
![“We met in the summer or fall of 2001. I had never met Kate [DiCamillo], though I'd heard her name, and I think she knew of me too. We were laughing within a few minutes, I mean really, furiously, laughing. So we were off to a good start.” quote by Alison McGhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b5f/alison-mcghee-15698_fall_we-met-in-the-summer-or-fall-of-2001-i-h_517595.jpg)
![“We'd decided to write a book about two friends. I gave her some coffee and then we sat there not knowing what to do. How do you start writing a book together? So Kate [DiCamillo] got up after about 10 minutes into this endeavor, and said, 'Well, that was fun,' and started to head out the door. I…” quote by Alison McGhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/88f/alison-mcghee-15698_bits_we-d-decided-to-write-a-book-about-two-f_282606.jpg)
![“Kate [DiCamillo] tends to be more reluctant about change. I convinced her to give it a try and she came over.” quote by Alison McGhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/118/alison-mcghee-15698_change_kate-dicamillo-tends-to-be-more-reluctan_328771.jpg)
![“We had dinner at Figlio's, which has turned into a restaurant called Il Gato. I'm 99% positive I had Joe's Eggs. I know every time I went there, and I loved it, I ordered Joe's Eggs. Kate [DiCamillo] probably had a pizza, because she loves pizza.” quote by Alison McGhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2cc/alison-mcghee-15698_dinner_we-had-dinner-at-figlio-s-which-has-turn_1883507.jpg)
