If you're in an accountability group, go you! You're the kind of person who likes to get things done. You and your accountability group buddies have explicit writerly goals. The goals might be the number of words, or time spent, or project milestones. According to a schedule you set together, your group shares progress and results with each other, then starts the next cycle.
This is a terrific type of group, which can keep you on track with your work. From my personal perspective, accountability groups have been incredibly motivating, and writing buddies in these groups have helped me make progress. I have lots of tips and advice for accountability groups in my ebook, The Write Group, but here's my recent example: For the past few months, I've been working on a gothic mystery, and left to my own devices, my progress was spotty. In September, I joined a Discord accountability group, with weekly check-ins, and I've been working regularly ever since.
However, just being in a group isn't enough for me to do my work. I need a writing schedule and some interim support to fulfill my plan. That's why I really appreciate these two tools from The Write Practice:
I used the calculator to estimate where I wanted to be and by when, and how much I needed to progress, according to what increments to get there. And I now I'm using the sprint timer to keep up the daily practice. Finally, I've shared my weekly aims (which are based on a realistic plan, instead of numbers pulled out of the air) with my Discord group, and I'm in great company, where we don't judge each other but cheer each other on.
BTW, this doesn't mean I always reach my daily or weekly targets. Good grief! I fall short! Life happens, and I miss a day here and there, or the plot takes a turn and I go down a rabbit-hole of a scene, which I didn't expect, or my mind just isn't in the game. I'm constantly re-calculating my writing schedule plan to accommodate where I'm at in the book and what my personal calendar can bear. But on the upside, between the tools and the group, I've kept at my work more often, which is a win for me and I'll take it.
So, the calculator and timer are my hacks to make the most of my accountability group. If you're in a group, what are the ways you're getting the most out of it? Do you use tools to set targets and then enlist your writing group buddies to help you achieve them? Let me know in the comments below!
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