Many people find that setting writing goals is an effective way to improve their writing skills. However, it can be difficult to know where to start. One helpful approach is to begin by thinking about your overall writing goals for the year. What do you hope to accomplish? Once you have a general idea of your goals, you can break them down into smaller, more manageable pieces. Here are some fun ways to get you started!
Decide how many words you want to write each day
An excellent way to improve your writing is to set a daily word goal. But how many words should you aim for? Well, that depends on a few factors. First, consider how much time you have to write each day.
Don’t be too hard on yourself if you can only allocate 15-30 minutes to your task; it is still possible to accomplish outstanding writing goals. In fact, I find that time constraints help me focus and work more efficiently. Even when I have two hours in my pocket, instead of using this duration continuously, I break up the working period into several sessions with short breaks in between! You’ll see that there are many advantages even with a shorter timeframe at hand.
Second, think about the type of writing you’re doing. If you’re working on a novel, you’ll need to write more than if you’re working on a blog post. For blog posts, I typically write 300-500 words a session as these posts are short and punchy. When I’m writing a novel, my aim goes a little higher. I typically don’t write more than 750 words a day. I’ve found this to be a good average, particularly when I’m writing less on motivation and more as a discipline. However, when the muse strikes, I don’t let this goal limit me, I go well beyond it.
Finally, consider your skill level. A beginner writer will probably want to start with a smaller goal than a more experienced writer. This was always a challenge for me. I had to remind myself that my writing was not as good as I wanted it to be and that a smaller goal that was achievable was better overall for my morale and mental health. As my skills have improved, I’ve slowly increased my word count until I reached my desired level. There are still days I don’t reach my goal, but I don’t let it get me down. Tomorrow is another day, and I aim to bring an optimistic spirit with me each day.
So what’s the bottom line? There’s no magic number of words to write each day. It all depends on your individual circumstances. Just pick a goal that feels challenging but achievable, and then stick to it. You’ll be amazed at the progress you’ll make in no time.
Set a SMARTER deadline for yourself and stick to it
One of the best pieces of advice I ever received was always to set a deadline for myself and stick to it, but I found it amazing how easy it was to blow past my deadlines without ever getting close to my intended goal. So I decided to start setting SMARTER deadlines. Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Risky, Time-Keyed, Exciting, and Relevant. Much like smarter goals, the idea is to set a smart deadline that works with you and not against you. Remember that life rarely goes as planned, so be prepared to adapt accordingly.
When planning a project deadline some of the factors I consider are my existing work schedule, the complexity of the project, my available resources, and any potential roadblocks. For example, sometimes we get sick! Your deadline should be set up in a way that if you missed a few days due to sickness won’t add unnecessary stress on you! Sometimes you just need to take a break. Don’t punish yourself for it! Once I have a clear timeline in my head it’s easier to keep track of my progress and make adjustments where necessary.
Take some time to think about the type of project you’re working on and how much time it will take to complete. Don’t be afraid to push yourself, but also don’t be too hard on yourself if things don’t go as planned. You know what they say – life happens! If your deadline isn’t achievable for some reason, adjust it accordingly. After all, the point is to get your project done, not to beat yourself up over a missed deadline.
Overall, setting a SMARTER deadline is an excellent way to ensure that you are always on track. When deadlines are achievable and realistic, it’s easier to discipline yourself to achieve the desired outcome whether or not you’re feeling motivated.
Break your novel into smaller goals so you don’t feel overwhelmed
One of the biggest challenges of writing a novel is keeping the momentum going until you reach the finish line. It’s easy to get bogged down in all the work that still needs to be done, and this can lead to procrastination due to perfectionism, which is what I define as writer’s block. Perfectionism can also lead to you getting really nitpicky during the early stages of drafting your novel! I once spent a whole year rewriting the opening chapter of the first novel I ever completed! I know, pretty stupid, right? Never again. Once I recognized the problem, to combat my perfectionism, I chose to break down my novel into smaller goals and managed them one by one. To my utter amazement, the first draft of the book was finished in a month’s time – it wasn’t excellent but that didn’t matter! After all, this was just an initial version – edits could come later on. With this method, I was able to stay focused and I didn’t feel overwhelmed by the entire task.
These are just a few of the ways I set writing goals and managed to get my novel done. It’s important to remember that everyone is different so it’s up to you to figure out what works best for you. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try different strategies – you never know what could work!
You might try focusing on completing a certain number of chapters or pages each week or setting a goal to write for a certain number of hours each day. By chunking down your goals, you’ll feel more motivated and productive, and less likely to get overwhelmed. And before you know it, you’ll have reached your final destination: a completed novel!
Create a writing schedule and stick to it
Anyone who has ever tried to break into the world of writing knows that it is not an easy task. In addition to mastering the craft of writing, you also need to be able to market your work and build an audience. However, the most important part of being a successful writer is simply consistency. Creating a writing schedule and sticking to it is vital if you want to make any headway in the writing world. The good news is that a writing schedule does not have to be complicated or rigid. Simply set aside a few hours each week to sit down and write, and try to stick to that schedule as best you can. Of course, there will be times when life gets in the way and you are unable to meet your goal. But as long as you are consistent overall, you will be well on your way to becoming a successful writer.
Challenge: Create a schedule to write a minimum of 6 hours per week
Find a writing buddy or group who will help keep you accountable
Writing can be a lonely process, but it doesn’t have to be. One of the best ways to stay motivated and accountable is to find a writing buddy. This is someone with whom you can share your work, give and receive feedback, and set deadlines. Having someone to bounce ideas off of can also be a big help when you’re feeling stuck. Not sure where to find a writing buddy? Try reaching out to other writers in your community, or joining an online group. There are also plenty of professional organizations that offer mentorship programs. So whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been writing for years, there’s no excuse not to have a writing buddy.
Celebrate your accomplishments along the way!
It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day grind and forget to celebrate your accomplishments. But did you know that taking time to celebrate your achievements can actually help you be more productive? That’s because when you take the time to pat yourself on the back, you’re also giving yourself a much-needed morale boost. When you feel good about yourself, you’re more likely to be motivated to keep going. So next time you hit a milestone, big or small, take a moment to celebrate. Get a treat, take a break, or just allow yourself a few moments of pride. You deserve it! And who knows, maybe your celebration will give you the boost you need to keep going and achieve even more.
Conclusion paragraph: These are just a few tips to get you started on your novel-writing journey. As with anything, it will take practice and patience to perfect your process, but eventually, you will find what works best for you. Remember to set reasonable goals, break the project down into manageable chunks, and most importantly, have fun! Writing a novel can be an incredibly rewarding experience, and I hope these tips help make the process a little less daunting. Congratulations on embarking on this new adventure – I can’t wait to see how it turns out.
