Little by Little, Done: A Writer’s Accountability System

Intro

Hi! I'm Alfredo, a Peruvian who's been living in Tenerife for a long time. I work in hospitality, but also write Spanish fiction and non-fiction books. I joined Boss as a Service in 2022 to help me publish my first novel, and I’ve stuck around ever since to keep my writing (and now my workouts) on track.

In the past three years, I've learned that no matter which goal I have, productivity becomes much easier when I have some form of accountability in place. Even if I only do a little each day, I can achieve great things in the end. Let me break it down:

How it all began

I grew up in houses stacked with books, and I loved spending hours reading. I adored stories, but I read everything – from novels to poetry to encyclopedias. And somewhere in there, as a child, I decided to write my own.

Why I wanted an accountability partner (and how I found BaaS)

When I started my first novel, I spent months trying to finish it and get it published. One day, I heard about Boss as a Service on a forum, and the idea of having a real person checking in on my progress just ... made sense.

Just a couple of months after I joined, I finished the manuscript and published it (Yay!). I've stuck around since then — not just for writing, but also to keep my exercise routine alive.

I’ve achieved much more in the past few years with Boss as a Service than I would have on my own. I like the fact that my boss, Harshita, will be there to help set my goals every day, and also send gentle nudges to get them done.

The writing accountability system we've built over time

I usually start with an idea for a character or the ending of a novel. I spend hours of days thinking about that idea and shaping it into a complete story, which I then turn into an outline. This part usually comes easily to me – and it's fun.

The hard part is writing the first draft, chapter by chapter – especially the middle. When I reach the middle of the book, momentum has dropped considerably, and I’m tired of the story – this is when the Boss as a Service motivation really kicks in, without which I would have abandoned more than one book.

I often finish the first draft exhausted and thinking the novel is unpublishable. But I take a leap of faith, by handing the first draft over to my beta reader to get feedback. That also allows me to take at least a week’s break from the characters, the story, and writing. I then begin the second draft with the suggestions and comments from my beta reader.

Rewriting and editing have always felt tedious to me, but they’re quicker than writing the first draft. When I reach the final version, I always think: “done is better than perfect.” From there, I just have to format the novel for publication, outsource the cover design, and publish it.  

Why it's good to be imperfect but done

My grandfather used to say: Piano piano si va lontano. It’s an Italian proverb that means “little by little, you go far.”

Most things don’t need to be perfect; they just need to be completed. And I try to remember this every day.

So far, I've come to know that I can finish a novel if I just stay consistent throughout the week. But it can be complicated with a full-time job. Work often leaves me mentally exhausted for the rest of the day, but when this happens, I set just two or three basic goals for myself: write at least 1,000 words, exercise, and fast.

With Boss as a Service, I've also learned how accountability tools can help me complete these basic goals. If it’s workout day (I work out 3 times a week), I try to make it the first thing I do after waking up (a little accountability hack called eating the frog). Then I set my goals for the day.

I often use a pomodoro timer when I write, and the Zero app to track my fasting, so I just start or stop whenever the timer tells me to (No overthinking, just deep work).

Of course, procrastination still creeps in sometimes, and sometimes I’m just too tired or unmotivated to do anything, and all I want is to stay in bed watching YouTube. When that happens, I take a shower (a hot one, I'm not a cold plunge person) and then I let Harshita know what my goals are for the day (because she will ask!).

And finally, I find a balance by really resting during my downtime. Because of my job, my days off are sometimes in the middle of the week. So I try to sleep in a little more than usual, and I make the most of the sunshine outside. I also play video games and, of course, read a novel.

Now, I've got a new goal: To create content for YouTube. Let’s see where a little accountability, and a lot of curiosity, can take me next.

One last piece of advice

If you've got goals and you're struggling to meet them, start by remembering the WHY – the reason behind them. Make sure you’re aligned with them; otherwise, it’ll be an uphill battle. Second, trust in the power of daily or weekly accountability. It helps you keep growing and moving forward every day.

Read Alfredo's books here on Amazon!