Accountability Posts are Important

Accountability Lesson One.

Written by Kenneth Shumaker.

For Patreon.

Produced with InUPress Ltd.

On October 8, 2018

 

 

ACCOUNTABILITY POSTS ARE IMPORTANT

Judy L Mohr wrote:

There are some writers who have asked me about the benefits behind taking part in our regular accountability thread. Well, in my mind, accountability is an important part of the writing process.

1) It forces you to review what you have achieved.

2) It forces you to constantly review your own writing process.

3) It keeps your fellow writers (and cheerleaders) informed on your progress. (People do notice when you suddenly drop off the radar.)

4) If helps me, and the other MLs, to get an understanding of what information you want (or need) to help you progress your writing to the next level.

Your posts are useful. Remember that.

Kenneth writes:

Hum, guilty as charged! I asked Judy if there was any point of my posting. I used to post to a strictly tight group for accountability, that both Judy and I belonged to. I posted every other day and was engaged on almost every post. The group terminated when the moderator became crunched for time and was no longer able to maintain the group. During our time on the group, some fellow members challenged each other to achieve certain goals, some engaged others, asking how we achieved a goal, and some congratulated others on particular goals.

The point is I too engaged others in their posts and we were an engaging community. But I post on some groups and nearly hear crickets.

I asked Judy if I was aiding anyone or anyone even viewed the posts I made. The results are, I see the above post made by Judy. I’m sure I’m not the only one to ask her.

We post on groups for feedback and to help one another in encouragement to continue writing in whatever way each of us can.

Some of us can only spend ten minutes here or there two or three times a week writing or creating, not as I do with an hour or more a day writing/creating.

On Sunday October 7th, I wrote for 2.16 hours getting a first draft of an episode of Eren’s Challenge with 2,856 words into my computer files. The Saturday before, I wrote three articles worth 873 words in total with copywriting. And also, that Saturday, I produced three videos for Del Rey and InUPress Education series for writers, publishing the introduction, the first episode posted on Patreon, YouTube and Vimeo. As well as I published there the second episode.

I did some publishing work on a novel with Kobo as well as IngramSpark but ran into a formatting dilemma with IngramSpark on final submission with the interior manuscript. Their software seems to dislike the pdf. software format I used on this manuscript, of which I never had issues with on past novels published. So, I need to dig deeper into this to determine the actual issue, an email was sent. But it was Friday of a long weekend when I tried to publish the novel.

I also continue my lifelong learning with daily learning studies of courses like my financial agent certification course, plus Mark Dawson’s SPF 101 Masterclass. And this week I completed three Skillshare Classes and one LinkedIn Lynda Learning Class.

I wonder if any of this inspires you?

Judy L Mohr wrote: You are really dedicating yourself, Kenneth. That’s awesome …

Kenneth writes:

This is how I’ve always ran my life.

In college, I did a double course load and also held a job to pay my way.

Then in later years, while I was a partsman for dealerships and doing freight, I was working ten hours a day, six days a week, plus I wrote for a blog that published every Friday at 5 pm. The blog was a challenge to post 500 or more words each time from October 2009 till February 2014.

My Blog hit its peak of 8,627 followers from all over the world in January 2014. The audience consisted of: 23% from South America, 14% European, 11% North America, then Asian, African, Australia/New Zealand, the Middle East/Arabic States. finally, 3% in the Russian countries.

As a marketing strategy, you learn to track everything, such as the items like: 56% of my readers are female. 36% are between 24 – 56-years-old, only 31% are over 56, the remainder are younger than 24. Most readers (83%) of my work are interested in politics or religion, and a high level (97%) earn incomes under $120,000 annually. Yet slightly over 1% earn more than one-million dollar annually.

If you’re serious about publishing and marketing written or creative works you should know these things and keep tracking them as they may change with time.

So, a writer should understand that an author’s work is not just writing. It may include such items as: editing, layout, formatting, statistics, marketing, promotions and knowledge of publishing, if one wants to be successful, especially when indie or self-publishing.

Other abilities and skills will help, especially project and time management and organization. Productivity and motivation by keeping accountable, and consistently learning and self-improving.

I suggest one finds a buddy to be accountable to, or a group to study with. Try to be coachable, but not necessarily reliant on others. Also know when to delegate things you have no skills or abilities with.

I advise that you know when and what advice to take that fits your work style and your abilities. There is so much to add to this that whole books can be written, Judy L Mohr has books, services and courses, as do Joanna Penn, Jeannette Spohn, Kevin Johns, Mark Dawson, and so many more. So, study books and courses to learn and improve.

May the words stay with you!

Go the extra mile … it’s never crowded!

© 2018 by Kenneth Shumaker

www.inupress.ca www.kennethshumaker.ca ken@kennethshumaker.ca