We’re All Human: Accountability for Writers

Tick…tick…tick…accountability doesn’t have to be so brutal!

I’ve been conducting informal research amongst Maximum Impact’s private students, writers I meet at Interlochen Center for the Arts, and fellow creatives whose work I admire. More than anything else related to process, this is what I want to know right now: How does accountability work for you, as a writer?

Because at the end of the day, whether you’re Jack Driscoll or Joe Schmoe, at some point in time, you have to actually finish something. And no matter if you’re making your living full time as a writer, or eeking out a few minutes here and there between other obligations or a career in a different field…you still have some sort of internal or external pressure that urges you forward, to the next page, the next chapter, the final resolution. In short: No writer starts a story hoping that it will never end.

The answers I’ve been getting are as varied as the stories we’re all writing. Some writers have “text buddies” they check in with daily, sharing word counts or revision goals. Others use apps or online organizers such as Submittable to nudge themselves toward contest deadlines or themed calls for submission. Many attend conferences or workshops that require writing samples or assignments, because a hard deadline will guarantee a completed draft. Still others will enroll in online classes or receive prompts by email, to assure they stay engaged with their creative sides and start new work inspired by new craft tools or community experiences.

If you’re looking for effective, sustainable accountability with a low price point, high return, and low-pressure commitment, you’re like about ten thousand other writers I know…and you’re in luck, because Airstream Dispatches offers exactly this balance. Get my free resource guide now, for an example of my teaching style, or check out the course page and sign up while early bird pricing is still in effect!