November Write Club Week #3: Challenging The Writer In You!

Brooklynn Fields and I, the co-hosts of Stage 32’s Writer’s Room Pitch Practice Tank Sessions, put our thoughts and opinions together in writing this blog for our community. Writing is sometimes made a solitary pursuit, but writers don’t have to go it alone. Accountability and support are key components of success for writers. Let’s talk about the concept of writer accountability and the various forms of support that can help writers achieve their goals during November Write Club and beyond.

Writer Accountability

Writer accountability is taking responsibility for one's writing goals and progress. It involves setting clear, attainable goals, tracking progress, and striving to meet those goals. It’s challenging for writers who work independently and may struggle with self-discipline and motivation.

Accountability is easily one of the most important words you'll need on your creative journey. Sometimes we are creating our characters and worlds on paper and in our real world, we feel alone because we feel no one understands us.

Setting Goals

Accountability is important for writers because it helps them stay motivated and focused on their goals. The goals can be straightforward and realistic, “I want to complete five pages in my script by the end of the week”, or “Let’s complete the third rewrite of my script by month’s end”.

Accountability helps writers build confidence, gives them a sense of accomplishment and pride in their work, and increases self-esteem and a willingness to take risks and try new things in their writing.

Here’s an example of holding yourself accountable and the productivity from it: If I wrote for one hour a day during the month of November, which has thirty days in it, I would have written for thirty hours during the month, and if you wrote three pages in that hour, you would have written the first draft of a ninety-page script. Pretty great, right? What an accomplishment!

SMART goals and support of those goals go hand-in-hand. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals and expectations in your writing. SMART, right? Set short-term goals which can lead to a long-term one. Here are a few suggestions to get the support to attain these goals.

Tracking Your Progress

Track your writing progress regularly, daily, or weekly. Share that progress with other writers, and listen and comment on their progress as well. There’s mental and emotional strength in a community with common goals. Break a large writing project into smaller, manageable steps to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Take care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Finding Your Support System

Joining a writing group can be an excellent source of support for writers. These groups can provide a safe environment for writers to share their work, receive feedback, and stay motivated to achieve their goals.

The Stage 32 Writer’s Room and our weekly Pitch Practice Tank Sessions not only help people with their stories and pitches but also build that community of accountability and space where people don't feel so alone on their journey. A word from the wise, however, you can't only rely on those around you to hold you accountable. It's in your daily habits and setups that you have to hold yourself accountable so that there is forward progress. Accountability with like-minded people and a common goal will always be where the magic happens.

Believe in your abilities as a writer, and nurture them through your community that can give you honest, constructive, and valuable support. Contribute to that community as much as you receive from it. This is something that you can start doing right now in the comment section of this blog and in the Stage 32 Lounges! Someone else will benefit from your support. Never stop writing, you have far too many stories to tell.

Let's hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Got an idea for a post? Or have you collaborated with Stage 32 members to create a project? We'd love to hear about it. Email Emily at blog@stage32.com and let's get your post published!

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