Do you ever wish you were like the spies in movies? With their cool gadgets, their knack for problem-solving (whether using their brains or a swift kick) or, of course, the secret weapons that always seem to be in stock? Well, my supplier seems to have run out of the gadgets, and the problem-solving potion is on backorder. BUT! I may be able to pass off a secret weapon, if you’re really interested.
Not everyone writes spy books (if they did, I’d be reading, not writing this 😂) but even if your cuppa is contemporary with a double shot of romance, or an iced thriller with a side of suspense, you need a secret weapon. Everybody needs a secret weapon up their sleeve! And you’re in luck: mine isn’t dependent upon genre. 😉
An Accountability Partner!
My writing genre started off rather slow. That was back when I struggled to even get down words. 100 a day was like a dream.
Thankfully for my sanity (and my writing), shortly thereafter I met one of my best friends, and guess what? Besides being as much of a nut as I was, she was a writer!
That was something that was much more than a shared interest. One minute we were sharing about our stories, and the next, she was like, “Hey, let’s write a book in a month!” (Okay… maybe not quite how it went, but you get the idea.) Now, I’m not suggesting you go out and copy us. 😂 That fit us where we were at. But the point is, we were doing it. Together. Taking action and keeping each other accountable.
Aha! Accountable! Yes, we were each other’s accountability partners. And, in all honesty, we were doing that for each other back before we (or at least I) even knew what an accountability partner was or that it was a good thing to have! Sometimes I’m smart like that. 😉
This Secret Weapon Includes…
An accountability partner will be such help to your writing! I knew it did mine! I went from not really minding if I didn’t make my word count to racing to get mine before she got hers in for the day! (Yes, we are both very competitive, so that’s what we use to motivate each other. I can’t count the number of times we’ve raced to a word count or held a challenge!)
And that’s the beauty of having that somebody to help push you to be your best and keep you, you guessed it, accountable with your writing. They are there to help and encourage you to get those words down, rain or shine, good day or not. Especially for those of us who find they lose inspiration for an idea or are easily distracted.
Like I said, I am competitive by nature. So having an accountability partner there to issue threats and challenges spurned me into motion like not much else could (no authors were harmed in the making of their writing journeys 😉). She was there to cheer me on when I was juuuust shy of reaching that whopper of a goal, yet she was also there to encourage me when life threw a curve ball and I couldn’t even think about my writing all day.
Some people think being a writer is a solo effort. Boy, do I have news for them! We might squirrel away to get those ideas down before they escape us, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have a killer of a support team behind us. I know I do! (Give it up for Allyson here, one of my bestest buddies in about every aspect of the word.). Remember what the Bible says? Two are better than one? A three-strand cord isn’t easily broken? (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 KJV, by the way). That goes for every aspect of life–especially writing!
Where to Find This Secret Weapon
Well, that’s going to look different for everyone. Mine came in the form of Allyson here. (Love ya, girl!🤎) Yours might be a fellow writing buddy, your sibling, or your grandparent. The things to keep in mind are these: Is this person genuinely interested in my writing? Will they motivate me without being discouraging? Are they available to keep up with my progress?
Having someone who’s willing to be there for you and your writing is no small deal. Don’t limit yourself, but don’t agree to be accountability partners with someone you don’t feel will be a good fit. This is your writing and your journey! Team up with somebody who will help you reach your goals and celebrate every little win along the way.
And to the one who might not have someone who fits any of the above criteria. Well, I want you to know that you’re not alone. No, really. I’m not just talking figuratively here. Though you may not have a living breathing human by your side, don’t forget the One Ultimate Secret Weapon–God Almighty. The Author. The Secret Weapon. Well, technically, He’s not a secret, but I can’t think of a better weapon than Him.
If you’re alone in your writing, pray. If you’re desperately looking for somebody to encourage you in your writing, pray. Because aside from the Lord, prayer is the best weapon I can hope to offer you. He hears you! Give your writing to Him. Your missed days, your epic scenes, your woefully stubborn characters, your hopes and dreams and struggles, everything. He wants to hear. He wants to help. Welcome Him into your writing and you cannot go wrong.
A reader of as many genres as she pens, M.L. Milligan is on a quest to bring about stories that both excite and inspire. Her Lord and Savior is her strongest weapon, her favorite treat either a cup of coffee or a bowl of popcorn with a movie—Okay, and getting a new book. This desert-loving gal makes her home in the Sagebrush state, surrounding herself with endless amounts of books and an increasing number of rescues.
You can connect with her here:
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Your turn!
Do you have an accountability partner? Are you currently looking for one? Have you checked out M.L. Milligan’s blog yet?
Blessings, Allyson
allysonjamison.wordpress.com 
Yess, having someone to be accountable to is so helpful and motivating and just all around awesome! 😀 Such a good post, M.L!
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So true!! Aww, thank you so much, I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
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Yes, it truly is!! I never realized just how much until Mac here became my accountability partner. She changed my writing so much!!
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