Show Notes 

Episode #44: Why Every Writer Needs a Buddy

You may feel like such an introvert, you don’t want or need a writing buddy.

And it’s true that most of the time you do the work of writing all by yourself. When you write, it’s just you and the keyboard...it’s just you and the screen.

But let’s say you finished the draft of an essay you plan to submit to a literary journal, and you really want another set of eyes. Wouldn’t it be nice to phone another writer—someone who could provide a little input? You could swap projects and offer a few thoughts on each other's work. Wouldn’t that be a great gift to both of you?

Or maybe you simply hold each other accountable to deadlines and goals in a weekly or monthly check-in. If one of you is stuck on a project, the other could offer ideas as you talk it through.

In this episode, I suggest where to find a writing buddy, when you should ask someone to be a mentor or coach instead of a buddy, and what you can gain from forming this relationship.

I hope you can find someone you trust, who asks about your projects and cheers you on—someone who trusts you, too, as you cheer him on.

Listen for the full podcast.

Resources:

Bless, Assess or Press (a way to ask for input from someone reviewing your work)

How to Write Together (the day my writing buddy Charity Singleton Craig and I wrote together)

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Image by Isabelle Kroeker.