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Question: How do you stay accountable to your writing goals, and what advice do you have for trainees? 

As trainees and faculty, one of the biggest challenges we face is writing. Manuscripts, dissertations, fellowship applications, grants, and abstracts all compete for attention alongside experiments, coursework, mentoring, teaching, and service. Unfortunately, we frequently postpone or procrastinate writing until the deadline is near. Consequently, these important documents are frequently written in binges at all hours. As scientists, these scholarly outcomes are our currency and we should be writing every day. Whether you’ve played a sport, learned an instrument, or pursued a creative hobby, you know that improvement doesn’t happen overnight. It comes from consistent practice, good habits, and repeated effort. Academic writing is no exception. 

As a postdoctoral fellow, I was introduced to Writing Accountability Groups (WAGs) by Dr. Kimberly Skarupski who at the time was Associate Dean of Faculty Development at Johns Hopkins University – School of Medicine. A WAG is a small group of individuals who meet regularly to set writing goals, report progress, and encourage one another. Their primary goal is to help members establish a sustainable writing practice. Dr. Skarupski recommends groups of 4-8 members and meeting weekly over a 10-week block. Additionally, a strict agenda of 15 minutes of updates and goal-setting followed by 30 minutes of individual writing, and then 15 minutes of reporting and wrap-up is recommended. WAGs are most productive when members commit to attending at least 7/10 weekly sessions. After participating in a 10-week WAG, Dr. Skarupski reported over 70% of participants were writing daily and they increased the time they spent writing each day.   

WAGs are successful in improving writing productivity and habits for many reasons. They establish recurring writing commitments and create external structure. The group members hold each other accountable to meet the goals set for that week and it is easier to protect and prioritize writing time knowing that you need to report your progress. WAGs can build community. Accountability groups provide an opportunity to connect with peers who are facing similar obstacles. Simply hearing that others also struggle with writer’s block, revisions, or balancing multiple responsibilities can reduce stress and foster a sense of community. They encourage members to set realistic goals each week. Rather than setting a goal of “finishing my manuscript”, members can commit to SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) such as drafting the introduction outline, write for 30 minutes each day, edit two pages of a dissertation chapter or draft methods section. These smaller goals are easier to accomplish and create momentum over time. Finally, WAGs promote writing consistency. Research on productivity suggests that regular, scheduled writing is often more effective than waiting for large blocks of uninterrupted time. Accountability groups help members develop habits that support steady progress, even during busy periods. Writing for 30 to 60 minutes several times per week can ultimately produce more work than occasional binge writing sessions. 

There are several resources for starting your own WAG. Dr. Skarupski has published a book “WAG Your Work: Writing Accountability Groups Bootcamp for Increasing Scholarly Productivity”. There is also a manuscript outlining how to start a virtual WAG (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35042596/). To start, find 4-8 members of any discipline that are willing to support each other and participate consistently. Then establish meeting frequency, duration, and goal-setting practices. Clear expectations help prevent misunderstandings and maintain engagement. Decide whether you will meet in person or virtually, the format of your meeting and make sure to make SMART writing goals each week. Remember that writing productivity is not measured by occasional bursts of output but by sustained progress over time.  

Writing is central to academic success; however, it is a difficult skill to develop during graduate and postdoctoral training. WAGs offer a simple strategy for building productive habits, reducing isolation, and making steady progress on long-term projects. Whether members are revising a manuscript, drafting a dissertation chapter, or preparing a fellowship application, accountability groups can transform writing from a stressful, last-minute activity into a regular and rewarding daily habit. For trainees seeking greater productivity and community, a WAG is great place to start. Please reach out to me (hannan@urology.wisc.edu) if you have any questions or need help setting up a WAG. Happy writing!