3 Ways to Keep yourself Accountable for your Writing
One of the most difficult things when it comes to writing a book is staying accountable throughout the whole process. Writing a book is a commitment – there’s no getting away from that, and I personally think that’s why the whole ‘writing a book’ process seems daunting to so many people. There are some great ways you can keep yourself accountable when it comes to your writing.
Here are my top 3 ways:
- Write some manageable goals that work for you. I know many people who write a whole book within a month, but others take a year or more. Generally, a biography, a self-help style book or business book based on what you know can be a lot quicker to put together because you’re already familiar with what’s going into your book. If you decide you can manage a chapter per month, then that’s great, just make sure the goals work for you. You may decide to spend the first week researching and planning your chapter, then two weeks on the writing, and the final week of the month proofreading, formatting and editing. Check your goals off as you hit them so you can help monitor your progress.
- Make a plan or write a book outline. Writing a plan or outline will make the writing process easier. You can keep track of what you’re writing and what topics you’ve covered or need to cover. This helps to make the process a little more streamlined.
- Get yourself a writing buddy or join a group. It’s really difficult to keep yourself accountable. To remedy this, you can get other people on board to help you. Get yourself a writing buddy. This could be someone you know and trust, or a stranger. Tell them your goals every week, and they can tell you theirs. Then check in with one another at the end of the week, to ensure you’ve met your goals. If you can’t find a buddy, join a Facebook group that will allow you to detail your writing goals – some writing groups, personal development groups or business groups will allow you to make a note of your goals. I offer this free over at my own FB group, The Writer’s Hideaway and all you have to do is make a note of your goals on a Monday, and then I prompt you to check in on a Friday and talk about whether you’ve achieved your goals.
Many people join programmes, a coach or an agent to keep them accountable for their writing because it is the most difficult part of writing. Writing can be a lonely world, and some people need help and guidance to help them develop their skills, build their confidence and create the mindset required of a successful writer. Writing can be so enjoyable, but if you’re alone and you get stuck (which happens to everyone), it can be difficult to overcome this. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, and don’t be too hard on yourself for getting stuck.
Do what’s right for you!
You got this!
Much love, Janet X
