You may have an image of what an author does in your heed: He or she sits downward at a computer, powers it on, and gets to work. The author does not leave his or her computer for days, shutting out all distractions and totally neglecting all social obligations.

In the end, the author has created a fantastic book that people fall in love with instantly.

Well, there are some authors out there who may fit this neb, but it doesn't fit reality for the average author similar y'all and me.

With each volume that I write, I spend time before I begin with a set of writing goals to help me stay on job, and I'm here to help yous find how to set and stick to your own writing goals.

How to set and stick to your writing goals:

  1. Start slowly
  2. Know that writing goals vary
  3. Break upwardly your writing goals
  4. Put your writing goals on paper
  5. Don't be too hard on yourself
  6. Trust your intuition
  7. Cut out distractions
  8. Psych yourself up
  9. Fill your life with writing
  10. Celebrate every victory

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Here'southward the thing–y'all may not have the luxury to go into reclusion and prefer an exhaustive practice, where yous tin can finish a book in one sitting. Y'all have work, family, and other commitments that may prevent y'all from shutting yourself in a room with a computer or typewriter for days on end.

This biggest hurdle yous may take is believing you do not have time to become your writing washed!

In my experience as a writing coach, this is the nigh common conventionalities. Thinking and believing you don't have time to write can exist your worst enemy when it comes to achieving your dream.

Delight don't listen to your mind chatter. Instead please know you tin can….

  • Change this heed chatter by creating writing goals
  • Balance writing with other commitments with achievable goals.
  • Exist an author, so long as you lot set and follow your writing goals.

Let's go started with ten of my surefire ways that get into developing writing goals…

#1 – Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Writing goals assist yous decide what y'all tin realistically accomplish in a day. As y'all build your goals you volition immediately brand headway on your book, and finish information technology earlier you realize information technology!

Having clear and specific writing goals volition set y'all up for success to get a petty flake washed each day.

Continue in mind…a writing goal is just a goal yous set for each mean solar day. Y'all make up one's mind a realistic time frame that fits your schedule. Then you figure out what you want to accomplish in that fourth dimension frame.

You might want to write a certain number of words, or yous might want to finish a affiliate, or you might want to spend an hour brainstorming and formulating your book.

#2 – Writing Goals Vary From Person to Person

When you set your writing goals, you must recall of what you want to accomplish. Your goals are personal and unique.

When thinking about your goals accept into consideration the following:

  • Do you want to piece of work on a certain role of your book each day?
  • How many words do you want to write each day?
  • What time of day are you lot going to write?
  • How can you publish within a certain time frame?

Think of what you desire to accomplish. Then set basic writing goals that will aid you get your ultimate task accomplished by your deadline.

For instance, if your book is due in 2 months, prepare aside a logical amount of words you can create each twenty-four hours over the adjacent two months that volition have your book finished by the deadline.

Be sure to set up realistic goals. You lot tin't wait yourself to write your volume in a day. Your creativity and quality volition suffer if you rush it, and you'll hate your project! You volition exist much happier if you piece of work at a footstep that is comfy for you.

Besides, be sure to cut yourself some slack. Not everyone wants to write every day. If y'all have other commitments, make time for them. Only always set aside a scrap of time for writing out of your week, preferably every other twenty-four hour period.

A good writing goal is measurable. "I will finish 10 pages past Fri" is an example of a measurable goal. You set a timeline and an amount, and so you lot see if y'all accomplish it.

Setting deadlines past which you finish certain blocks of writing or writing tasks helps yous see if yous are making adept progress. When yous see how much progress you have made, you will feel more accomplished and more encouraged to continue plugging on!

#iii – Suspension Big Goals into Seize with teeth-Sized Chunks

You desire to write a book. OK, that'southward a not bad goal, merely information technology'south a huge goal. You are less likely to complete that goal because information technology is just also large and vague.

Rather, y'all should interruption that big goal into smaller goals. Your brain gets less overwhelmed. "I want to write a chapter a calendar week" is a way that y'all can suspension this huge goal of writing a book downward into smaller pieces.

Here are the smaller pieces you lot can start with…

  1. Outset with brainstorming your ideas.
  2. Then create an outline.
  3. Next, focus on individual sections or chapters.
  4. Then set aside time for cocky-editing and revising.

Over time, all of your fiddling accomplishments pile up into 1 huge 1. Earlier you know it, your volume is finished and ready for the editor!

#4 – Prepare Your Writing Goals Down on Paper

As you set writing goals, exist sure to write them down.

I recommend using a daily planner. Prepare bated a block of fourth dimension when y'all have nil else going on. And so determine how much you will write.

As well, schedule times to perform writing goal reviews. This is where y'all check your progress.

It can be helpful to write down trivial pep talk notes, too. A writing motivational quote or a overnice mantra to recite when you lot feel like giving upward tin can help you lot stay on track.

Add these motivational quips next to your written goals.

#5 – Self-Review: Don't Exist Your Own Worst Critic

At that place is no doubt that we writers can be difficult on ourselves! Only to keep goals, you must review your progress. Self-review is not a time to beat yourself up for non meeting a specific writing goal.

Instead, use your self-review fourth dimension to reflect on all that you have accomplished. Reward yourself for a task well-done. Think, "I did it! I actually wrote something!" Follow it upwards with a niggling commemoration that you will enjoy.

If you are constantly falling curt on your writing goals, that is a sign that your goals are unrealistic. The only way to keep a writing goal is to set a realistic one. Then if you go along setting a writing goal to write a thousand words a 24-hour interval, and you unremarkably only write iii hundred, that is OK.

Merely change your writing goal to be 3 hundred a twenty-four hours!

If you lot are exceeding your writing goals, on the other hand, perhaps y'all should pace up the challenge. Increase your daily give-and-take count, for case.

Have a review date. I similar to review my progress every Fri. Your review date should be a mean solar day when you have little else going on and you have managed to make some progress. Go far consistent, such as a sure day of the week or month.

#half-dozen – Trust Your Intuition

A practiced writing goal is to write intuitively for a while, at least at the get-go of your scheduled writing session.

Intuitive writing is where you just let your ideas period. You beginning with a bare page and write whatever comes to mind. The results will surprise y'all!

Don't block your stream of consciousness past writing virtually a specific topic, or past worrying about grammer. Just write!

After an intuitive writing session, you tin can starting time editing. Trim the fat of excess words. Right spelling and grammar mistakes. Come across how you tin logically organize your work into an outline.

#vii – Cut Out Distractions

When y'all sit down down to come across a writing goal, don't let distractions get in the way. This is a skillful time to plough your phone off and close off the TV. Emails can await.

Distractions derail your thoughts. They tin can also suck yous into a vortex of paying attention to things other than your writing goals.

The fourth dimension you gear up aside to write should exist used solely for writing. Just focus on your writing goals and your creativity. Don't let distractions take your heed away from the task at manus.

A routine is important when you desire to become something washed without distractions. Having one is the merely mode I am able to accomplish my goals and I can't stress this enough.

#8 Psych Yourself Upward

You but had a long day. The last thing y'all want to do is write. Existence a burrow potato in front of your favorite prove seems far more than alluring, right?

We take all been there. But you volition ultimately feel guilty if yous sacrifice writing time to vapidly watch TV.

To get motivated for a writing session, recall about your writing goals and how badly yous desire to accomplish them. Recollect almost how great you will feel when you stop your book or article.

Also, think virtually how badly you will feel if you don't meet your writing goals. That sense of thwarting can be crushing. Avert it birthday past just working on your writing goals!

You should give yourself a pep talk every day before your block of writing fourth dimension. Tell yourself, "I can do this!"

A back up network of some sort is also very helpful. Friends, family, and other writers can all cheer yous on when you don't want to write.

Finally, use a writing prompt to get inspiration if your mind feels dry. I observe daily writing prompts or story writing challenges featuring prompts can actually become me going.

After I write a fleck on a prompt, I'm officially in writing mode and set up to tackle a writing goal.

#9 – Make full Your Life with Writing

One way I stay focused on my writing and gain motivation to complete my writing goals is by filling my life with writing.

I may non write every infinitesimal of every day. I spend time with my pets, talk to friends, take trips, and other hobbies I enjoy. I have a life outside of writing that keeps me from getting burned out.

But, I practise brand certain writing infuses my life.

I read a lot. Books inspire yous and teach you how to be a better writer. Read inside your book genre and watch your inspiration flourish. Read any enlightening new blogs and new books that grab your involvement, likewise.

I also focus on writing a lot. When I'one thousand non writing, I'1000 talking to people nearly writing. I am sharing my writing with my autobus or in writing groups. I post in forums. Sometimes, I join contests or challenges and follow writing prompts.

My social media is total of writers and writing groups. That way, I'k always thinking almost it at some level, always connecting with other writers for inspiration and communication, and always sharing my writing to gain insights into how I can improve.

#10 – Celebrate Each Victory

When y'all tick a writing goal off of your list or planner, you should not move on to thinking about the next goal. That's how you become overwhelmed.

Instead, think nigh how great you are. Think about your success so far. Congratulate yourself.

writing-goals-motivations

Take a break and celebrate somehow. Y'all have every correct to advantage yourself and strut your stuff!

Celebrations are not wastes of fourth dimension. They are crucial to writing. If y'all celebrate each goal, and so your brain will be more probable to desire to complete more than goals. Then you create an internal well of motivation to complete all of your writing goals.

Word of Wisdom to Live Past

I leave you with this: Anyone can exist an writer, and you are more than capable of accomplishing your heart'due south desire to write a book.

The whole key to writing is setting writing goals that you tin can hands attain and mensurate. Review yourself and congratulate yourself on progress fabricated.

Writing goals build on top of each other. So, equally you complete one goal, you slide closer to the overall goal: Finishing a piece.

With time, you kickoff to build momentum. Writing goals turn into routine. Yous become bit by bit done, and before you know information technology you have finished!

Just set aside some fourth dimension for your writing goals. So throw yourself into them. Motivate yourself however you must, merely don't skip out on writing. The sense of accomplishment you lot earn in the terminate makes information technology all worth information technology!

What are your tiptop five writing goals to get yous to the terminate line of writing your volume?

Demand a little assistance? Take hold of our done-for-you volume outline template and piece of work on a chapter a day, or a affiliate a week!

Gratis TOOL

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