Writing Team

A goal is a dream with a deadline.—Napoleon Hill

Writing is Hard

It's lonely business. Like exercise, it's hard to get started. And then it can be hard to keep going. When you've worked a full day, fed the family, done homework with the kids, sometimes it's just easier not write. Or tell yourself you'll write more tomorrow. And then a month goes by, and you haven't written anything. Does that sound familiar?

Welcome to the Writing Team page. Writing Team Buddies use accountability to make the writing process more enjoyable and create a writing habit. Writing Buddies agree to contact each other at certain intervals to make sure they are both reaching their goals. A Writing Buddy can keep you moving forward toward a long term writing goal, even when the writing is no fun. Just having someone who expects you to complete something at a certain time increases the odds that you will finish.

Not only can you update your Writing Buddy on your progress with our project, you can discuss the struggle of maintaining steam under the project. Just talking about it sometimes relieves the pressure and allows you to keep writing. Having a Writing Buddy makes writing a little less isolating. At the very least, a buddy is someone to bounce ideas around with and someone to celebrate with when you complete your goal. But they can also be the person who gently reminds you how good it will be when you meet your goals so you can keep your eyes on the horizon and not get bogged down in the swamps.

Collaboration

What is the overall goal? Finishing a novel manuscript? Writing 10 short stories? Getting your manuscript in the hands of an agent? Set tangible goals and declare them to somebody. Hopefully a writing team, but you could also use a family member or your social media community.

• Where are you now in the project?
• What resources are available to you to complete this project?
• What does the finished project will look like?
• What is your deadline? Be realistic.
• Help each other prioritize the projects.

Empowerment

What kind of writing habit are you trying to achieve?

• How can you break down your overall goal into mini-goals that show progress to the end? Set dates for each mini-goal.
• How often will you check in with each other?
• What progress should be done at those check-ins?
• How do you want to connect? Face-to-face, email, text, phone call, webpage, chat, IM, Google Hangout? A "work-blast"?: A common two-hour block of time to write, which is started and concluded by text message or Tweet on Twitter. Debrief occurs immediately following the writing session on Twitter or conference call or Google Hangout.
• Set check-in times and keep them. Encourage your buddy to reach their goals by gently nudging them forward.
• Identify the limiting beliefs and behaviors that hold members back from productivity.
• Document your progress so your team can see it. Do you want some online documentation of your plan and your progress? This can encourage buddies to offer encouragement on the recorded accomplishments and progress.
• Will you keep a record of questions and answers to refer to later?
• Will critique of the work be part of the process?
• Set a regular time for reviewing your overall goals, where you are and make adjustments as necessary to stay on track.
• Celebrate when a mini-goal or major goal is reached. How will you reward yourself?

Support

... some people need to physically share space with others while writing, some need a stern authority figure to answer to, some need solitude and the kind of support that is silent, some need a quantitative accounting of their progress, some need to be in groups with similar others, some need to be regularly inspired, some need ongoing substantive feedback by those in their specialty field, some need regular cheerleading, some need therapy, and some need an occasional exorcism (from the demons of bad academic socialization). It’s even OK if you need all of these things at different times! The important thing is to identify what you need without judgment, shame, or self-flagellation. Knowing what you truly need to maximize your productivity is what will allow you to construct a writing support system that is effective for YOU." — Kerry Ann Rockquemore at Inside Higher Ed

What do you expect?

• A safe space to discuss your work and get social support?
• Broadening your scope to get new ideas?
• Mentorship in structure of writing or the writing process? Or perhaps you want to pass on hard won knowledge to someone else?
• Help organizing and prioritizing your goals?
• Support while establishing your boundaries around your writing time?
• Answers to questions about the writing and publishing process?
• Shared experiences, insights, and how to move along the career plan?
• Other topics, such as developing plots, teaching, advising, prioritizing, conferences, etc.?
• Professional, personal, and social topics of discussion?

Get Started

If you need a writing team to keep you accountable to your writing, leave a message below or respond to someone who has left a message.

Include:

• Name:
• M or F
• Age:
• What are you writing?
• Genre
• Writing Goals
• How often and how big are the increments of writing you want to do?
• How do you want to touch base?
• How many buddies do you want on your team?