by Dr. Diana Stout

I always considered myself a self-starter as a writer but found writing difficult to pursue regularly as a new writer. Inspiration always came after reading writing magazines, how-to books, attending conferences, and monthly meetings. But, back at my desk, that aspiration to write more didn’t occur. It was difficult writing day after day with no other writers to talk to frequently and regularly.

Along came the internet and chat rooms! The problem was I was spending more time in chat rooms than I was in writing.

Once I met two other nearby writers, we formed a critique group, where we met every three weeks, exchanging the new pages we’d written in between those meetings. In essence, we had self-imposed deadlines. Accountability.

Having been a weekly newspaper columnist and later a traditionally published author with deadlines, I realized the deadlines forced me to write, and that inspiration occurred after the writing started.

Then, I moved across the country. Finding accountability again in real time wasn’t easy. I joined writing groups and tried different accountability partners and critique groups, but they weren’t working well. I couldn’t find the fit I needed.

And then, because of Covid, Zoom moved into my life in a huge way. Meetings occurred online. We began having write-ins online.

Side Note: Zoom write-ins involve check-in designated times, and in between those times, our screens go dark, and we’re muted while we each write.

Today, I have an accountability partner and an accountability Zoom group, both of which assist me in being productive on a regular basis.

What Accountability Looks Like

Accountability is having support, where your successes are applauded, no matter how big or small, and even when you’re non-productive. We’re able to laugh at our common rabbit-hole excursions.

Accountability isn’t someone looking over your shoulder, or being critical or disapproving if don’t meet your goal(s).

Could Accountability Work for You?

Have you ever wished you could spend more time with other writers, or take part in more events that were writing focused?

If so, an accountability partner or an accountability group could work for you.

Testimonials from my writing group are that:

• we’re writing more.
• we are finishing more projects in less time.
• we’re cheering each other’s success, even if it’s only writing a couple hundred words, starting a blog, or creating some promo postings that day.
• we are supportive and sympathetic when the writing doesn’t go well.

If have a current accountability group or partner but are frustrated, it’s possible that your specific needs aren’t being met or that your expectations of that person or group doesn’t match yours.

Types of Accountability Groups

In creating an accountability group, you can make it anything you want. What kind of group do you need to help you write more?

• Simple accountability where you’re reporting your daily word count or hours spent writing to each other?
• Alpha reading critique group, where you’re getting help with developmental issues?
• Beta reading critique group, where errors are sought and caught?
• Brainstorming group, where you help each other plot out your stories?
• Shared writing time together either online or in person?

What Are the Qualities of a Good Accountability Partner?

Two qualities are necessary for an accountability partner—you included: honesty and the ability to receive criticism well.

Someone who receives criticism and makes it personal will not be a good fit for anyone they partner with. A major clue they don’t take criticism well is when they say someone provided harsh feedback. And yet, other writers will praise the feedback they receive from that same person. For that one writer, it’s harsh because they weren’t being told what they wanted to hear; they can’t believe they have more work to do. True harsh feedback is being told you’ll never be a writer.

Being told what’s wrong and why it doesn’t work is criticism you want to receive! Even better is when suggestions are provided on how to fix the problem. That kind of criticism is gold!

Talking honestly about what isn’t working in your writing (or theirs) is the only way either of you will improve. Feedback is about the writing, not you personally. More than anything else, you want partners who will tell you the truth and not sugar-coat (play down) any writing that still needs work.

Thus, honesty and not making it personal are strong foundational pillars of a good accountability relationship.

Other Qualities You Want to Have as an Accountability Partner

Be open to all feedback. Never defend or argue your position. Ask if you can explain what you were trying to do and listen to the suggestions offered. You don’t have to agree with everything said, but at least be open to hearing it. We can only go by what’s on the page, not by what was intended.

Be supportive. Saying You can do it! can go a long way to helping your partner.

Be able to laugh at your mistakes, your rabbit-holes, your failures.

What To Do If the Accountability Relationship Isn’t Working

When you suspect or discover a partner isn’t being 100% honest or dislikes your feedback and is making it personal, this partnership probably won’t be a good fit for you. It’s time to exit the relationship.

But, should the partner show an interest in wanting to improve and will be honest going forward, then it may be worth taking the time to grow the relationship to where you can improve together.

How to Find an Accountability Partner

Once you know what type of accountability partner you want, I liken that search to finding a marriage partner. You have to date. In other words, go through a test period to determine if a potential partner’s accountability is compatible. That you’ll be a good fit.

If you belong to a writing group, that is your ideal dating pool. Approach individuals within the group, rather than making a general announcement. Do the same in social media writing groups unless you’re not allowed to message privately. Be sure to state what type of partner you’re looking for: a brainstorming partner, a reporting partner, an alpha reader, a beta reader, and so forth.

Before you ask, you can vet writers by checking their profiles, websites, and read some samples of their published work. Another way to evaluate a good fit is to ask for a writing sample—about 10 pages. Give them 10 of yours and ask for their feedback.

Once You Find Your Accountability Partner

• Decide how often you’ll communicate.
• Determine how you’ll be accountable to each other.
• Ascertain whether you’ll share writing, how many pages, and how often.
• Determine where your communications will take place.
• Share your goals.

How to Start a Write-In Group

If you’re interested in wanting to commit to specific writing times with other writers, first determine how much time you’re willing to devote to the group each week or each month. Then, determine how and where, and on what platform you’ll host it, or if you’ll meet in person.

My goal in starting a Zoom write-in group was to include like-minded individuals who were actively writing regularly. The number of people who participate in my daily write-in varies from day-to-day, season-to-season.

Take Action!

Do you think having an accountability partner or being in an accountability group could help your situation?

About Dr. Diana

An award-winning writer in multiple genres as a screenwriter and author, Dr. Diana attributes her ability to publish 19 books, edit one anthology, and take part in another during an eight-year period to her write-in group and accountability partner.

At work on a psychological paranormal thriller and a grammar/punctuation resource guide as the third book in her Finding Your Fire series, she hopes to be publishing these two books by the end of the year.

Earlier this year she spent 3 weeks developing an extensive outline for the thriller, which allowed her in July to write a fast first draft of 45,000 in 4 weeks by following her own advice in her recent resource-guide publication of CPE: Character, Plot, & Emotionand its companion, the CPE Workbook. Michael Hauge, author of Selling Your Story in 60 Seconds and Storytelling Made Easy, states that “Diana brilliantly reveals and edifies the uniquely powerful principles of plot and character.”

To learn more about Diana, visit her Sharpened Pencils Productions website.

Top Image by Tung Lam from Pixabay