Goal setting for writers – a seven step approach

Did you set New Year resolutions related to your writing? Are you on track to achieve them? If not you need to identify achievable goals in order to improve your productivity, hit your deadlines and achieve your dreams.

Step One - start by making a list of what you want to achieve over the next year, at this stage they can be general statements. These might include:

·         Write a book
·         Enter more competitions
·         Write a submit article pitches and short stories to magazines.

Step Two - make these SMART – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time bound. Your list might now look like this:

·         Write a 70,000 word novel by November 27^th 2014
·         Enter one writing competition a month
·         Submit two article pitches to magazines each week
·         Write and submit one short story a month.

Step Three - where necessary break the bigger goals into smaller chunks; these should be written as SMART goals e.g. complete first draft of novel by August 14^th 2014. Write 10,000 words of first draft of novel each month.

Step Four – identify any individual tasks needed for each goal; your tasks for writing articles may look like this:

·         Select topic
·         Identify/select suitable magazine
·         Research detail
·         Write first draft
·         Complete and submit.

Step Five – plan and diarise when you will complete each task. You can choose to work on one project at a time or add variety to your week by working on a different project each day. Aim to plan the month ahead.  Your diary entries may look something like this:

·         Monday 19.00 – 20.00 – write 500 words (novel). Note that based on 10,000 words a month and 500 words in a three hour session you will need twenty sessions a month; ensure you diarise these.
·         Tuesday 06.00 – 7.30 – write first draft of short story.

Step Six – do it. During each diarised session sit down and write. Do not get distracted.

Step Seven – monitor your progress. Tick off each session as you complete it. If you miss your daily target then decide how you are going to stay on track. Do you need to add additional writing sessions? Do you need to turn off your Internet connection (emails, social media)? Or do you need to review you goals, maybe a novel in a year in not realistic for you at this time. If you review your goals you need to go back through the steps to ensure you still have daily actions.

Adopt this approach and write every day and you see real progress being made towards your dreams and goals.

Happy writing.