By Angela Atkinson

Since I met my friend and writing buddy, Alyssa Ast, I’ve written more, made more money and been published more often than I ever was before we started working together.

Not only did we found the WM Network together (and continue to manage it, along with our new co-owner Pam Houghton and our amazing bloggers), but we also encourage and push each other to keep writing.

Sure, we have those days where neither of us feels like doing anything–but most of the time, we manage to get our work done. And, I can’t technically speak for Alyssa, but I know that for me, our partnership and “writing buddy” status has significantly increased my level of dedication and productivity in my work.

We discuss and set goals together–for our WM sites as well as our own individual goals. And we check in with one another pretty often.

The Lone Freelancer

The life of a freelance writer is often pretty solitary, at least in terms of people to whom we’re not married or otherwise related. And, while many of us join really supportive online communities to share ideas and get advice from other writers, there’s something to be said for a personal relationship with a writing buddy.

In addition to our responsibilities at WM, we’re each work-at-home moms who are actively freelance writing. Sure, we’re a few years apart (she’s younger–you’re shocked, I know), but we’re kindred souls. We even share an astrological sign. More often than you’d believe, we seem to read one another’s minds.

As “writing buddies” and partners, we talk work and business a lot. But we’re also friends, so we discuss life in general–and since we have so much in common, we understand one another very well. We get excited about the same things, and we share in one another’s successes, whether shared or not. And we commiserate on the hard stuff too.

We’re not alone–many writers report that working with a writing buddy helps to increase their productivity and even dedication to their work.  While my working relationship and friendship with Alyssa happened sort of by accident, I’ve learned to seriously appreciate the many benefits that come along with such a relationship.

Tips for Choosing the Right Writing Buddy

First things first, decide what you want from this buddy thing. Do you want someone with whom you can discuss anything, or would you prefer to only talk “shop?” Ideally, your writing buddy will work in the same (or similar) primary genre. While it’s not absolutely necessary, two freelance writers might understand one another better than, say, a freelance writer and a poet.

You’ll definitely want to choose someone who is honest and who isn’t afraid to tell you the truth about your work–good or bad. Even when it’s not pleasant, honest feedback can improve your work significantly, and that improves your ability to make bank.

About Communication & Commitment

Decide how (and how often) you want to communicate. Once you’ve found your writing buddy, you’ll need to decide how to communicate. If you’re chatty like Alyssa and I, you can check in at various times throughout the day via IM or text messaging. We often check in each working hour to discuss our progress.You might also have weekly phone calls or just email back and forth. Just make sure it works for both of you and that you’re both committed to the “buddy system.”

You’ll also want to talk level of commitment–are you just critique partners? Do you discuss goals and aspirations, or do you stick to weekly check ins and progress reports? Depending on the amount of time you have to dedicate to your writing careers and the type and amount of communication you each prefer, you and your your new writing buddy can set the tone for your working relationship.

Branch Out

It never hurts to have more than one writing buddy. Alyssa and I each talk shop with several other writing colleagues as well, including many of the WM bloggers. Networking with a wide variety of writers can encourage growth in your career as well. There’s no reason to limit yourself.

Let Us Help You Find a Writing Buddy

While there are a number of ways to find your own writing buddy, such as in online and local writing groups and associations or even personal ads on Craigslist (though you’d need to be super careful), The WM Freelance Writers Connection has a free writing buddy matching service.

We ask interested writers to fill out a brief questionnaire, and we’ll try to match each with a compatible writing buddy. Get the details here.

Do you have a writing buddy or are you thinking of finding one? Tell us in the comments!

Related articles

• What You’ll Find at the WM Freelance Writers Connection (alyssaast.com)
• Lessons in Freelance Writing and Life (wmfreelancewritersconnection.com)
• Announcing Our New Freelance Writing Jobs Board (wmfreelancewritersconnection.com)