As I’m writing this blog post, I’m in the process of assessing my writing goals for myself and my students. I think writing goals are important so that we know what we hope to accomplish and can schedule time to make that happen. Without a plan, we often become a bit disorganized and disheartened. Here are my tips on setting writing goals.
First, your goals should be realistic. If you plan to write 1,500 words a day for four days a week, you may think that is doable since you reached that goal on a day off. Sometimes, though, we set that plan without being realistic about our other obligations. Can you really wake up an hour earlier than usual before classes? Do you really have two extra hours every day after work? When we set unrealistic goals, we usually just become frustrated and burn out before we reach our goals. Write for a couple of days in a time slot that actually works for you and see what word count you reach. Base your goal on what is realistic. Writing 400 words a day will still help you reach your goal even if it takes longer.
Next, make sure you build in some time to edit. You can start each writing session editing what you wrote the day before or end your day with a quick edit. You can also just set aside a day every month to do nothing but edit. Working through your manuscript a little at a time will save you many headaches at the end. You will still have to edit and proofread when you are done, but the job should be manageable if you have worked through some of the issues and mistakes along the way.
Finally, don’t feel chained to a goal or a project if it isn’t working for you. Recently, a student abandoned a short story they had been working on for about two months. We agreed it was the right decision. The story just didn’t feel right to them anymore. Instead, they filed that one away and started a project that felt more in line with what they wanted to write. I recently stopped writing for a few days when our city was hit with a major winter storm. Our lights were out for 16 hours, and the water supply was questionable for a few days. I had too much to worry about without trying to write my novel. I have also lessened my word count goals due to a change in our family dynamics that needed my attention. Don’t pressure yourself to keep a goal that would cause you more stress. You can adjust your goal without stress or guilt.
If you are having trouble meeting your goal, find some form of accountability that will work for you. You can set up an hour-long Zoom meeting with another writer with both of you writing during that time. You can reward yourself with your favorite snack or drink if you reach a weekly goal. Sometimes something as simple as emailing your word count to a friend can help keep you motivated to reach your goal.
Happy writing! I hope you reach your goals this year!