Finding and Working with Accountability Partners
One of the biggest mistakes I see writers make when writing a novel is trying to go it alone.
Yes, writing is, by nature, a solitary endeavor, but it doesn’t have to be lonely. In fact, I’d argue that the more you surround yourself with supportive people during the writing process, the easier it gets.
Today, I want to talk about, what I believe is the most important person to recruit to your support team, especially while writing a first draft:
The accountability partner.
Why You Need an Accountability Partner
As I describe in my book, Page One to Done, about how to fast draft a novel in as little as 30 days, when we attempt to “go it alone,” we become the only person holding ourselves accountable to our goals. This makes it far too easy to skip writing sessions and make excuses not to write. Especially when we don’t feel motivated or the book is giving us trouble or inspiration takes an unannounced vacation (which it’s bound to do! Inspiration is infamously flaky like that!)
That’s when an accountability partner becomes not just your best friend–but you’re secret weapon!
It’s much harder to make excuses and skip writing sessions when you know someone’s going to be checking in on on you to ask how your writing went.
And sadly, it’s often easier to let ourselves down than it is to let down someone else.
Which is why accountability partners are essential.
The Role of an Accountability Partner
An accountability partner has one job: to hold you accountable to your writing goal (like finishing a first draft.)
They don’t have to read your pages or even know anything about your story. They don’t even have to be a writer (although it can be helpful if they are). The accountability partner is there to encourage you when things get tough, and celebrate with you when things go well.
In this post, I’ll share where to find accountability partners, the best questions to ask when defining your relationship, and some questions to explore during your daily and weekly check-ins, to help each other make steady progress from page one to done, no matter what obstacles you hit along the way.
Where to Find Accountability Partners
Online Writing Communities:
One of the best places to find accountability partners is in online writing communities. Here are a few to explore, but feel free to branch out and find your own niche.
- Writing Mastery Community — My community of writers, many of whom are actively working on first drafts and looking for accountability partners right now. (Bonus: If you’re taking the Page One to Done challenge, we have a dedicated space for you to connect with other fast drafters!) We also have dedicated spaces for accountability and for connecting with writers based on genre.
- r/wordcount on Reddit — A subreddit specifically focused on word count tracking and accountability. Writers post their daily and weekly progress and keep each other honest.
- London Writers’ Salon — A global writing community that hosts free daily “Writers’ Hour” sessions across multiple time zones, plus weekly facilitated check-ins. A great place to meet other writers and form ongoing accountability partnerships.
- Shut Up & Write — Free online (and in-person) writing sessions in 75+ countries using timed sprints with group check-ins. Many writers exchange info and pair up for ongoing accountability after attending a few sessions.
In Person:
- Meetup.com — Search for writing groups in your area. Most cities have several, and many are free.
- Your local library — Many host free writing groups and workshops. Check their events calendar.
- Local bookstores — Independent bookstores often host writing meetups and events.
- Writing conferences – a great chance to network and meet other writers
Virtual Co-Working:
- Focusmate — Pairs you with someone for timed work sessions (25, 50, or 75 minutes). You show up on camera, state your goal, and write. Free tier includes three sessions per week.
Non-Writers:
A friend or family member can work great too. Just be specific about what you need: tell them your goal, ask them to check in at a set time using some of the questions below, and give them permission to be persistent if need be!
Defining the Relationship
Before you dive in, a quick conversation up front to define the relationship and get you both on the same page saves a lot of confusion and potential conflict later. Here are some questions to get you started:
- What are your goals? Are you writing a first draft? Revising a third? Brainstorming a new idea? Although it can be helpful to have the same goal as your partner, it’s not necessary, as long as your both clear on the details of each other’s goal.
- What kind of support are you looking for? Just periodic check-ins, or something more involved like exchanging feedback on ideas?
- How often should we check in? Although I recommend daily and weekly check-ins for writers following my Novel Fast Drafting method, do what works with your project and schedule. Daily check-ins can be helpful while writing a first drafting, but weekly might work better for you, especially if your schedule is a bit less predictable.
- How should we communicate? Text, email, video call, phone, voice memo, Slack or Discord channel—whatever feels sustainable for both of you. The best method is the one you’ll actually use.
- What does a check-in look like? A quick two-line text or a longer phone call? Set expectations early.
Suggested Questions for Daily Check-Ins
Daily check-ins should be quick and encouraging. Here are some questions to keep you both on track (feel free to update the language to fit your specific goal):
- Did you write today?
- How much did you write? (Did you hit your word count goal or fall short?)
- Are you on pace to finish when you planned to? (Do you need to make any adjustments to your target end date?)
- How did you feel about today’s session? (If you’re using mood tracking as described in Page One to Done, feel free to share today’s number!)
- What went well? What was hard?
- Did you resist the urge to go back and edit? (If you’re following the fast drafting method in Page One to Done)
Remember, encouragement is the whole point. If your partner had a rough day, cheer them on. If they crushed it, celebrate with them!
Suggested Questions for Weekly Check-Ins
Longer, weekly sessions are your chance to zoom out and look at the bigger picture together with questions like:
- What’s your total word count? Are you on track to reach your goal?
- How has your energy and motivation been this week? What’s driving it up or pulling it down? (Again, if your using mood tracking, feel free to share your mood chart!)
- What are your biggest challenges right now, and what could you do to remove them?
- On the days you were excited to write, what excited you?
- What are you loving about your story right now?
- What’s giving you the most trouble in the story? (If your following Page One to Done, have you been using invisible revisions or any of the other strategies in the book to push through?)
- Have you discovered any new strategies for writing forward and maintaining momentum that have helped you?
- What’s one thing you learned about your writing process this week?
- How many words (or pages) will you commit to between now and our next check-in?
Above all else, be supportive, open-minded, and encouraging. No one understands the ups and downs of writing better than another writer, and sometimes just knowing someone else is going through it too is enough to keep you going.
The truth is, writing a novel is always going to be hard. But it gets a whole lot easier when you’ve got someone whose sole purpose is to keep you from quitting. So go recruit your accountability partner, set up those check-ins, and get writing!
*Want to connect with writers who are working on their first drafts right now? The Writing Mastery Community has dedicated spaces for finding accountability partners and supporting each other through the entire writing process from idea to finished novel…and beyond!
Filed under: Tips for Writers Writing Mastery Tagged with: fast drafting novel fast drafting page one to done
