Writing Buddy - also called Accountability Buddy, Writing Partner, Creative Companion, Writing Bestie, Cheerleader, Creative Collaborator.... whatever suits your fancy!

• The main goal is a supportive relationship with another writer - not to swap pages
• You check in, cheer each other on, and talk goals
• Great for motivation, consistency & emotional support
• Can still brainstorm/get help on story -related thing

Think of it like having a writing bestie: someone who gets it, and keeps you doing the work—especially when it gets hard.

This kind of relationship is powerful for taking yourself seriously.

You can still talk story & craft with this person! But the main goal isn’t that you have to swap pages and offer feedback/critique.

Critique Partner - feedback partner, developmental partner. You choose your terms!

• Feedback & craft support on pages
• You swap pages and give feedback
• Talk plot, pacing, characters, and revision ideas
• Great for writers ready to improve their work and grow their craft

A good CP doesn’t just tell you what works or what doesn’t. They help you become a better writer.

They challenge and support you and help you level up. They’re your first reader, your revision brainstormer, your “this part isn’t landing yet” truth-teller. Think of them as a creative partner.

Every writer is at a different stage in their journey. Some are still learning their voice, want to practice in private, and simply aren’t ready to share their art with others.

Those writers want to make writer relationships, but there aren’t a lot of spaces online for this.

Most spaces are built to help CPs match - which is great! But that often leaves writers who just want writer friends feeling left out.

It’s also important for me to note:

Sharing our writing is extremely vulnerable. I see a lot of writers in my practice who shared “baby art” and had poor experiences, and so they were left traumatized & put writing away for a long time.

Some writers want to keep their work close to them as they build confidence and skills.

I want to welcome those writers into this space. I want them to find creative relationships too.

Totally valid! A lot of writers are in this place of uncertainty.

If this is you, I recommend signing up for a Writing Buddy first, depending on your goals. You can reach out to a CP in the future (by checking out the profiles of others in the community).

How the Matching Process Works

Whether you’re looking for an accountability buddy, a critique partner, or both, our goal is to match you with someone whose writing goals, communication style, and experience level complement yours.

Step 1: Watch the Masterclass To Set Yourself Up for Success With Your Future Buddies

Watch "How to Be a Good Writing Buddy/CP Masterclass" on the membership portal. This is an hour masterclass required to watch in order to participate in the program. This ensures a strong foundation for everyone entering a match.

Step 2: Watch the Instructions Video to Know What to Expect 

Watch the "Instructions on Writing Buddy/CP Matching" video (about 10 minutes long) so you know what to expect in the matchmaking process.

Step 3: Fill Out the Form (s)

Once you sign up for the membership, you’ll receive an in-depth intake questionnaire. This is the most important part of the process, so take your time!

We’ll ask about:

• Your genre(s) and tone/style

• Your current writing project(s)

• Your experience level (beginner, intermediate, advanced)

• What kind of support you’re looking for (accountability, critique, co-working, etc.)

• How often you want to check in or swap work

• Your preferred communication style (email, Zoom, messaging, etc.)

• Your availability and time zone

Step 4: We Review & Match You Thoughtfully

Using the information from the forms, we’ll match you with someone who aligns well with your writing journey. It’s not just about genre—it’s about pacing, tone, goals, and personality fit.

We look for:

• Similar or complementary goals and commitment level

• Compatible communication preferences

• Overlapping writing stages (e.g., both in drafting or revising)

• Genre matches or openness to cross-genre feedback

• A balance of give and take in critique expectations

Step 5: You Get Introduced

Once you’re matched, you’ll receive an introduction email or message connecting you and your potential buddy/CP. This includes:

• The answers your match provided in the survey

• A checklist or guide to help you navigate the first meeting (such as goal-setting prompts or boundary-setting tips)

Step 6: Trial Period (Optional)

You are free to do a 2- to 4-week trial period. During this time:

• Schedule at least one live check-in (Zoom, call, or messaging)

• Share a small writing sample (if critique is part of your agreement)

• Assess how well you communicate and support each other

Rematches and Re-Matching Policy

Sometimes partnerships just don’t work out. That’s okay! If you and your buddy are mismatched or your schedules change, you can go to the online portal for members and check out other profiles. If you’d like more matches in the future, you are responsible for browsing other members in the portal and reaching out to them.

To help everyone create strong, meaningful connections, we cap one-on-one matches at 4 total per person. You can let us know how you'd like those split between writing buddies and critique partners.

If you're also interested in being part of a small group (3–4 people), you'll have the option to indicate that! Group matches are a great way to get extra support and community vibes — and you can opt in without it affecting your 1:1 match cap.

We can’t guarantee group matches for everyone, but we’ll absolutely try to make it work when we have compatible groups.

Writers at all levels are welcome! We ask about your experience level to ensure you’re matched with someone compatible. 

Yes! Writing Buddy matches are perfect for writers at any stage — from idea to final draft. Critique Partner matching is better suited if you have pages ready (or nearly ready) to exchange, but you don’t need to be done with a draft to participate.

Yes! Writers of all genres and formats are welcome to join the program—whether you’re working on fiction, nonfiction, memoir, poetry, screenplays, graphic novels, or even cookbooks. We celebrate creative diversity and believe every writer deserves community and support.

That said, some genres are more common than others, so while we do our best to match you with someone who shares similar interests, we can’t always guarantee a perfect genre match—especially for highly specialized formats like cookbooks, graphic novels, or experimental hybrid work.

In these cases, we focus on matching you with someone who:

• Respects and appreciates your format

• Shares similar writing goals or feedback needs

• Is open to learning about or working outside their usual genre

You can also specify if a genre match is important to you, and we’ll take that into account when matching.

No worries! Not every match will be perfect. We encourage you to allow time for your buddy/CP to make a true relationship first, before moving on. If you'd like a new match, you can head to the online portal and browse other members to reach out to new folks.

This varies by partnership. We ask lots of questions about this in the questionnaire so we can match you with someone who is compatible.

Some common things include:

• Setting writing goals & keeping each other accountable 

• Checking in on progress

• Swapping pages for feedback (if you get a CP, specifically)

• Co-working or writing sprints

• Talking through plot problems or mindset blocks

• Brainstorming 

While we can’t guarantee when the next round will open, we aim to offer it every 2–3 months. In the meantime, you can always browse and connect with others via the portal. 

It’s a searchable, private space on our membereshop portal where you can view other writers’ survey answers and reach out to anyone who feels like a good fit. Think of it as a bonus matchmaking tool you can use anytime.

No. You'll have the option to opt in to have your profile included in the private membership portal. This gives you the opportunity to be discovered for future matches, even beyond this current round. Since we aren't guaranteeing that we'll offer the matchmaking program again, this is a great option for keeping the door open for new writing buddies later on.

If you prefer to stay more private, you can opt out, and your responses will only be used for your initial match.

If you do choose to opt in, you can still stay anonymous. You’re welcome to use a nickname or pen name, and we recommend using an email that doesn’t include your real name if anonymity is important to you.

Yes. Due to the labor-intensive work of matching, and the security needs involved, you must be an active member.

Security, baby! Because relationships work best in a trusted, shared space. Hosting the program inside the community allows for more accountability, safety, and ease of communication, and ensures everyone has access to the portal and shared resources in a closed environment (aka, not where the whole internet can see).

The portal is only accessible to people who’ve opted into the community, so it's a secure space. 

That’s totally okay. Just be honest—there are no wrong answers. The more clarity you have, the easier it is to match you, but we understand that creative journeys evolve.

All members are required to watch the “How to Be a Good Buddy/CP” Masterclass before participating the matching program, and they're required to watch the Instructions Video.

That said, we don’t do background checks or monitor conversations — you are responsible for your own boundaries and decisions.

That’s also why participation is only open to active members of The Writer’s Way community. Limiting matches to paying members helps create a secure, intentional space—so you’re not being paired with random internet strangers. It ensures that everyone involved has taken a clear step to watch the masterclass, answer the surveys intentionally, and join a values-aligned community. This added layer of protection helps reduce the risk of inappropriate behavior, ghosting, or mismatched expectations, and increases the likelihood that you're connecting with respectful and committed writers.

No. These partnerships are self-directed. You are responsible for your own communication, boundaries, and relationship. We trust our members to act with integrity and respect as adults.

Yes. These matches are your relationships -- you can stay in contact with anyone you've been matched with whether or not you are an active community member!

That said, we'll remove your profile from the members portal, and you won't be able to browse more matches since you won't have access to the portal. 

Yep!