As a writer, it can be easy to get lost in the creative process and lose sight of what you want to achieve. However, setting writing goals is essential for improving your skills, staying motivated, and ultimately achieving success.
In this blog post, we’ll explore five practical writing goals that will help you stay on track and make progress in your writing journey:
- Write Every Day
- Finish a Writing Project
- Submit Your Writing for Publication
- Attend a Writing Workshop or Conference
- Read More
Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting out, these goals are designed to be manageable and effective in helping you reach your full potential. So let’s dive in!
Goal #1: Write Every Day
Writing is a craft that requires regular practice to improve. Setting a goal to write every day can help you establish a writing habit and improve your skills over time. Here are some tips for achieving this:
- Set aside a specific time each day for writing, such as early in the morning or in the evening before bedtime.
- Start with a small amount of time, such as fifteen minutes, and gradually increase the duration as you become more comfortable.
- Use a writing prompt or exercise to help you get started if you’re feeling stuck.
- Keep track of your progress in a journal or an app such as Writing Analytics or Bookflow.
- Celebrate small victories, such as completing a writing session or reaching a word count goal.
By writing every day, you’ll build momentum and develop the skills necessary to become a better writer. An excellent book that can help you with this is Daily Writing Resilience: 365 Meditations & Inspirations for Writers by Bryan Robinson. It provides daily meditations and inspirations to help writers establish a daily writing practice and overcome obstacles such as writer’s block, self-doubt, and distractions. It includes practical tips and exercises to keep writers motivated. With its daily format, it will help you develop a consistent habit and make progress towards your writing goals.
Goal #2: Finish a Writing Project
Starting a writing project is easy, but finishing one can be a challenge. Setting a goal to complete a project can help you stay focused and motivated. Here are some tips for achieving this:
- Break down the project into small, manageable tasks.
- Set deadlines for each task to stay on track.
- Use an outline or storyboard to organize your ideas.
- Take breaks when you need them, but be sure to get back to work.
- Celebrate your progress along the way, such as completing a chapter or reaching a milestone in your project.
By finishing a project, you’ll not only have a sense of accomplishment, but you’ll also have a tangible result of your hard work. In his book On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, Stephen King includes practical advice on the craft of writing. One of the key takeaways from the book is the importance of finishing what you start, and King provides excellent tips for staying focused and seeing a project through to completion.
Goal #3: Submit Your Writing for Publication
Submitting your writing for publication can be a daunting task, but it’s an important step in becoming a professional writer. Setting a goal to submit your writing can help you get your work out there and receive feedback from others. Here are some tips for achieving this:
- Research appropriate publishers and publications for your work, taking into consideration the style, genre, and audience.
- Read the submission guidelines carefully and follow them closely.
- Craft an effective query letter that highlights your strengths and introduces your work.
- Submit your work to multiple publishers or publications simultaneously to increase your chances of acceptance. Just be sure to inform people that it is a multiple/simultaneous submission. Also make sure that this doesn’t go against the submission guidelines.
- Track your submissions and follow up if you don’t hear back within the stated timeframe.
By submitting your writing for publication, you’ll gain valuable feedback and experience that can help you improve your craft and increase your chances of success. I highly recommend using a guide such as Writer’s Market 100th Edition: The Most Trusted Guide to Getting Published. This annual guide is a must-have resource for writers who want to submit their work for publication. It includes listings for publishers, literary agents, and magazines, as well as articles on the publishing industry and the craft of writing.
Goal #4: Attend a Writing Workshop or Conference
Attending a writing workshop or conference can be a great way to connect with other writers, learn new skills, and gain inspiration. Setting a goal to attend an event can help you take your writing to the next level. Here are some tips for achieving this:
- Research relevant events in your area or online.
- Choose an event that aligns with your interests and writing goals.
- Prepare for the event by reading the schedule, researching speakers, and setting goals for what you want to achieve.
- Network with other writers and industry professionals.
- Take notes and apply what you learn to your writing.
By attending these events, you’ll gain new insights and connections that can help you grow as a writer. But before going to one, consider reading The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing: Everything You Need to Know to Create & Sell Your Work. It covers everything from finding the right workshop or conference to formulating your pitch and preparing your manuscript for submission.
Goal #5: Read More
Reading is essential for improving your writing skills and expanding your knowledge of the craft. Setting a goal to read more can help you discover new writers, styles, and techniques. Here are some tips for achieving this:
- Make a list of books or authors you want to read and set a goal for how many books you want to read in a certain timeframe.
- Read widely in different genres and styles to expand your understanding of the craft.
- Analyze the writing as you read, paying attention to the author’s use of language, character development, plot structure, and more.
- Join a book club or reading group to discuss and share your insights with others.
- Take notes and apply what you learn to your own writing.
By reading more, you’ll gain new perspectives and become a better writer. To become a better reader, consider taking a look at Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them by Francine Prose. This book teaches you how to read with a critical eye and learn from the masters. It can help you develop your own writing skills by studying the techniques and styles of great writers.
Your Writing Journey
Setting practical writing goals can help you stay motivated and make progress in your journey. By writing every day, finishing a project, submitting your work for publication, attending a workshop or conference, and reading more, you’ll develop the skills and habits necessary to achieve success as a writer. So start setting those goals and working towards them today!
Recommended Reading
Note: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases of this book, the books linked above, and more.