How to Finish What You Start

Chelsea Hodson’s secrets for establishing accountability in your writing life.

In the previous issue of Lonely Victories, I wrote about turning one of my biggest weaknesses—a chronic case of people-pleasing—into one of my biggest strengths.

One person, a teacher and friend of mine, helped me build a sustainable writing practice with just enough accountability sprinkled in. That person is Chelsea Hodson.

Chelsea is the author of the gorgeous collection of essays Tonight I’m Someone Else. She’s the co-founder of the Mors Tua Vita Mea workshop in Italy (which I attended in 2018 and urge you to apply to the moment we get this pandemic behind us) and she also teaches at Bennington College.

She’s touted the power of accountability in her own writing practice, so I was excited to ask her more about her accountability measures.

What effect does accountability have on your writing?

My first accountability partner was a friend I met in a workshop a couple years ago—we really hit it off, and we agreed to email each other our word count every day as a way of keeping in touch. He was in medical school at the time, so it was really motivating—I was working a lot, but if I saw him email his word count number, I felt that extra push to write that evening if I hadn't already. I thought, if he's writing his book in medical school, surely I can manage to write mine, too!

And it worked: we both finished our books after a couple of years. Even though it was a private interaction between the two of us, the partnership really drove me to not let him down.

That’s Kendall Jenner! Reading Chelsea’s book! On a boat! Whaaaat!

In addition to writing and teaching, you also run an accountability program called Finish What You Start, which helped me finish a draft of my novel. What inspired you to start this program?

I sometimes do private manuscript consultations in which I read, edit, and discuss a book or shorter writing project with the writer. I noticed that these interactions always seemed to encourage the writer and give them ideas for next steps, but I thought it was a shame that they were usually alone in those next steps. I noticed there were a lot of workshops available online, but not many programs that catered to the kind of writer that was well on their way with a book, but just might need more of a structure to get through to those final steps. You're a perfect example of that kind of writer: someone who has taken workshops, been to residencies, and just needs a little extra push towards the finish line. 

So, I imagined a program that paired personal weekly coaching with a weekly craft newsletter, and Finish What You Start was born. It's been a great way for me to work with writers in a different capacity than I do at my teaching job—I can help people look at their project with fresh eyes and a realistic approach to finishing it.

Chelsea with Tyrant Books editor Giancarlo DiTrapano during the Mors Tua Vita Mea workshop.

What advice do you have for writers who find themselves in need of accountability?

All you need is one reliable person that wants to work at a similar rate that you do. Ideally, you admire this person in some way and don't want to let them down. I would recommend setting up the constraints (do you email each other every day? every week? for how long?) and beginning as soon as possible. Procrastination is fear, and the only way to overcome that is to face it immediately.

Order Chelsea’s book, Tonight I’m Someone Else, and prepare yourself for stunning essay after stunning essay.

She’s going to offer her Finish What You Start accountability program again soon, and I’ll link to it in a future issue when she does.

If you haven’t already, subscribe to Lonely Victories so you don’t miss out!

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How do you hold yourself accountable to write?

“I have a friend who I meet for boba once a week. He acts as my editor, expecting some progress on the poems I've been saying I’d finish. I write so I can show up to our weekly boba without shame!” —Shan

“I've made a deal with myself that I can't have my evening glass of wine unless I've written that day.” —Mara

Love that both of these accountability tactics are beverage-related. Cheers, y’all.

Do you have a great accountability tip? I want to hear it. Leave a comment on this issue of Lonely Victories!

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Really Digging This

Here’s what I’ve been reading and loving lately.

For me, a socially-distanced summer has been great for reading lots of books that have been on my list for ages. 

I started with Pam Houston’s memoir, Deep Creek: Finding Hope in the High Country, in which she chronicles her fascinating and adventurous life on her Colorado ranch. 

I also finally read Elif Batuman’s novel The Idiot, which I wish I’d read sooner—this “portrait of the artist as a young woman” was a fast-paced and darkly funny treat.

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Tell me about your Lonely Victories!

“You know that moment when inspiration hits and not only do you know you have a story or essay to write, but you can suddenly hear the first sentence or two in your head? Confidence over what to write and where to start are not always readily accessible for me, but I had two of those moments this week! I haven’t written anything yet, but I wrote the ideas and sentences—it's a start!” —Alison

What’s a Lonely Victory you’ve had in your writing process recently? Tell me all about it in the comments!

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Special thanks to Aysha Miskin for designing the banner image for this newsletter.

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“Writing alone can give you a very deep sense of satisfaction and lonely victory.” —Greta Gerwig