Amazing accountability secrets to write your autobiography
First published September 2017. This article has been updated and improved.
Writing an autobiography, memoir or life story can be exciting and fun but it can also become a chore if you are not careful.
Sometimes it can feel like you are muddling along at your writing desk without any clear direction for weeks, months, even years.
Don’t let this happen to you!
Here are some writing accountability suggestions to help keep you motivated to finish your story.
Writing accountability: Get it off your chest
Maintaining enthusiasm to write can be hard, especially if you haven’t done it seriously for years, if ever!
A good writing accountability tip is to let others know about your project so they can encourage, support and inquire about your efforts.
This might include your immediate family but can be friends too.
Telling people about your plans can spark you into action and to live up to your word.
For example, this month you might aim to write your next chapter.
You can break this down into manageable micro goals that you can assign to each of the four weeks.
Write each week’s goals down on Monday and then on Friday update your partner or friend on your progress.
This way you will move along steadily and eventually cross that major monthly goal off your writing list.
As an added bonus you could even plan to reward yourself for achieving each weekly or monthly goal.
Perhaps the ‘treat’ could be going to see a new movie, cooking a special dinner or arranging a memorable outing.
The more productive you are the more rewards you can enjoy!
Related article –Surefire tips to end feeling overwhelmed about writing your life story
Buddy up with a writing accountability partner
Writing can be a difficult and lonely task if you let it get to you.
To avoid becoming too isolated, find someone else writing their autobiography so you can buddy up.
You might already know a friend who is writing their life story or you could meet a buddy through a writers’ group or even over the internet.
A writing accountability friendship has many benefits.
A buddy can help motivate you to write, give you feedback on your work, help you with ideas and most importantly celebrate your successes.
Maybe once a week get together in person or online (email, Skype, Facebook etc) and check on each other’s progress, have fun and keep each other honest!
Related article –How to realign your memoir-writing goals in five simple steps
Check your diary for personal accountability
A creative writing accountability tactic is to try a ‘date night’ with your book.
I know it sounds a little crazy but it can work!
The essential part is to schedule writing time in your diary or routine as you would a date or appointment.
Of course it doesn’t have to be at night and can be for as little or as long as you like, wherever you want.
Just make sure you set yourself do-able goals.
- How long do I want to write for?
- Or how many words or pages do I want to write?
Keep a log of how much you write and even race yourself against a 60-minute eggtimer or phone timer!
Sometimes there is nothing like a self-enforced deadline to get you powering along.
Related article –Writing motivation: How to finish writing a book about your life
Final say
Working the magic to complete your autobiography or life story project can be challenging.
But it will definitely help to talk about your work with others, find a writing buddy and schedule your writing time.
Give these writing accountability tactics a try today to keep working towards completing one of your finest achievements – your life story.
Happy writing!
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Your say
What is your fave writing accountability tip? Let me know what works for you! Drop me an email or leave a reply in the comments section at the end of this article.
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This article first appeared on the website Forever Young Autobiographies.com.
