Goal Setting for Writers
We all know the importance of goal-setting. We are taught from a young age whether it’s in school, on a sports team, or playing an instrument, that goals give us purpose and focus.
And if you’re reading this, you probably have the big goal - to write a book.
It’s a great aspiration to have! But it’s not actually a goal. It’s a dream. And it will stay a dream if you don’t set smaller goals to help you accomplish it.
Dreams are wonderful, don’t get me wrong. But making it a reality takes work and planning. They don’t just happen on their own.
So now what? You want the dream of writing a book to become a goal that you’re going to accomplish, but you don’t know where to start.
The best first place to start is with prayer. If God has called you to write this book, He will provide a way. He may not give you the step-by-step instructions, but He will be there guiding you. Pray about who He wants this book to reach and minister to. Pray about the organization of it. Pray for fresh wind and revelation when you’re feeling stuck.
Option 1
The second step may vary depending on where you are in the process. But it involves setting a date for completion! If you’re still in the beginning stages (i.e. developing ideas, maybe an outline written, or a chapter started) I would recommend setting a date of completion for your first draft. If you are a bit further along in the process (i.e. more than halfway through writing the first draft) then I would recommend setting a date of completion for your first round of edits.
Once you’ve set a bigger goal of a date of completion, wherever you are in the process, then start doing some backwards math. Look at what you have done so far, estimate how long it’s taken you to complete, and get going on that math.
Let’s say you want to complete your first draft in 6 months, you estimate that your book will be 10 chapters, and it’s taken you 3 days of one-hour work sessions to complete a chapter. So it will take approximately 30 days of focused work sessions to complete it. That means that if you write 1-2 days a week, you should meet your goal of finishing your draft in 6 months.
Option 2
Another option for the second step is to make consistent writing your goal. If you aren’t quite sure of the organization of your book yet, but you know you’re supposed to write, then the best thing to do is consistently put yourself in the chair and do it. (this is the stage I found myself in when writing my book). It can be daily time or weekly time, but don’t make it more infrequent than that. In order to build good habits and work that writing muscle, it needs to at least be weekly. Find a time and place (see my other article about the importance of your writing space) and keep that appointment with yourself.
The last thing I want to mention about setting goals for your writing is this - be realistic. You know your lifestyle. You know the demands on your time. Don’t set unrealistic or unattainable goals because it will only lead to discouragement if you’re not able to keep juggling all of the balls.
At the same time, be confident in what God has called you to do. Show me your schedule and I’ll tell you what’s important to you. Focusing on your writing may mean pausing some other things in your life for a season. This is also where prayer for wisdom and discernment is vitally important.
For more help with setting realistic and attainable goals, book a free 20 minute call with me! I’d love to chat about how I as a writing coach can help you achieve your big goal of writing that book!
