First Things First: Writing Strategies--Accountability

How do you keep yourself on the writing path? Writing requires persistence and determination. Writing is a lonely task. Who are you accountable to when you are writing? First, you are accountable to yourself. Only you know what your writing goals are. You set the goals; you monitor the accomplishment of the goals. How clear are you about establishing your writing goals? Do you write everyday? Do you write on Tuesdays and Thursdays? Do you write in two-hour blocks or do you have the luxury of taking a whole day or more for writing? Do you make a list of your writing goals and publish them prominently? Do you review the goal list daily? Second, you may be accountable to a publisher or an editor. Deadlines are a great asset to goal achievement. Working to meet a deadline is a powerful inducement to productivity. Third, have you shared your writing goals with others? If you announce your goals to others, they will remind you of your commitments. Fourth, are you a member of a writing group? If you meet regularly with others who are committed to writing, the focus on writing may help you meet your writing goals. A writing group provides an opportunity to share your goals and report on your progress in meeting the goals. Goal specificity and a steady focus on the goals are essential to your writing success