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One of the many beauties of the writing community is its diversity. Writing connects people across different genres, ages, nationalities, languages, genders—the list goes on and on.
Another factor that varies between writers: goals.
Don’t be fooled: There is no single endgame for writers. Each writer follows their own trajectory and seeks personally meaningful accomplishments. Many writers wish to become published, while others simply want to write more often. Some care about earning writing awards and recognitions, others prefer to garner the approval of their friends.
There is no “correct” target to aim for.
And remember: Your desires as a writer are not bound by age restrictions or arbitrary deadlines. Everyone develops their writing practice on their own timeline, independent of other writers. Whether you’re 9 or 90, you can chase the dreams you wish to.
You’re never too late (or too early) to start pursuing your writing goals. But first, you need to understand what you wish to achieve.
Why goals matter
While the goals themselves may vary, their importance remains the same. Setting writing goals helps you observe and channel the intentions behind your practice. If this blog series has taught you anything, it’s that being more aware of your writing habits will enhance your work.
Goals also help you measure and prioritize your progress. It’s easy to miss or disregard how far you’ve come as a writer when you don’t track it actively. Goals allow you to try new writing methods, find ones that work, and avoid ones that don’t—all in the name of improvement.
Above all, goals keep you accountable.
Goals don’t judge you. Goals don’t reprimand you. Goals are simply tools to motivate you and inform your practice. Follow a goal only as long as it serves your needs.
With that, let’s set one together.
How to set a writing goal—and stick to it
As we’re nearing the end of the year, you might have New Year’s bells chiming faintly in your ear. If uttering the phrase “New Year’s resolutions” sends a shudder down your spine, don’t worry—I will explain how to set goals that you can actually stick to, no matter what time of year you set them.
A tried and true goal-setting strategy is known as SMART goal setting. A SMART goal is:
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Relevant
Time-bound
Let’s use an example. One of my writing goals has consistently been: “I want to write more.” As is, this is less of a goal and more of a desire. But when we apply the SMART goal-setting strategy, it becomes something you can follow, measure, and accomplish:
Make it more specific – What does “writing more” actually mean? Do I want to write more words? Write more days of the week? Write more kinds of work? For me, I want to create a consistent, daily writing practice. So first, let’s change “I want to write more” to “I want to write every day.”
Add measurements – We can make this goal even more specific—and measurable—by adding some things to measure. In this case, we’re measuring time. How long do I want to write each day? I’ll start with 30 minutes. Now my goal is “I will write for 30 minutes every day.”
Pick something achievable – Why 30 minutes? If I want to write more, why not go with two hours a day? It’s because I believe that 30 minutes is something I can stick to conceivably. Currently, my writing practice is inconsistent, so 30 minutes a day is already a big change. Additionally, I have a job and other responsibilities which limit my free writing time.
Think: Is it relevant? – Before I settle on my goal, I need to consider if it aligns with my overarching desires as a writer. Will writing more help me improve my craft and get my work published? Yes! Does this goal make sense for my current lifestyle? Also yes!
Give yourself a deadline – Finally, my goal needs a stopping point—at least temporarily. Let’s give it one month. Making my goal time-bound will help me assess my progress and adjust my goal as needed. If I’m consistently writing 30 minutes or more a day by the deadline, I can increase my daily goal to an hour, or even attempt a higher word count.
Now, instead of merely wishing to write more, I have an actionable, measurable, achievable goal: “I will write for 30 minutes every day for one month.”
What if you have a larger goal? One that doesn’t fit neatly into these parameters? While writing this blog, I started with the goal, “I want to get published.” I quickly realized that this requires several steps which could each be their own goal: writing more, polishing complete stories, researching appropriate publications, submitting to them, and finally, playing the waiting game.
How do you achieve a goal like that? By doing what I just did above: breaking it down into smaller, more manageable actions. Suddenly, a big, intangible goal doesn’t seem so overwhelming to pursue when you have the steps laid out neatly before you.
The next time you think, “I want to do that thing,” remember to mold it into a goal you can follow. What do you want to accomplish? And what methods will help you succeed?
About the author:
Lindsey is almost always writing, whether it’s a short story, copywriting project, Writer’s Workout blog post, or carefully crafted Instagram comment. With the spare time she digs out of the couch cushions, she’s usually crocheting, adventuring with her friends, or thinking about how she should be reading more. She splits her time between Upstate New York, where she grew up, and Boston, where she'll continue to grow.