How to Set Writing Goals that Pay Off: Plus an Action Plan to See it Through

Are you setting yourself up for success with your current writing goals?

If we’re not careful the way we set our goals, we can find ourselves in a discouraging situation. People are usually more driven and accomplish more when they already feel successful. When we feel discouraged and think, “What’s the point?” is when we throw in the towel.

Use the following ideas to guide you to goals that will keep you motivated and pay off in your writing life.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a small commission on purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you.

Set goals you can control.

“My goal is to get published this year.” This is not something you can control unless your are planning to self-publish. In that case, change it to “My goal is to self-publish a novel.”

When you set a goal for which the outcome is out of your control, you’re not setting yourself up for success. Instead choose a goal that is within your control.

Don’t say: “I’m going to get published this year.”

Do say: “I’m going to submit my manuscript this year.” (We’ll refine this goal as we continue.)

Be specific, but not too specific.

Let’s say it’s always been your dream to be published by one of the big 5, so you make that your goal for this year, but when you do your research, you realize a small independent press is actually a much better place to submit your manuscript. Will you feel like you haven’t accomplished your goal if you do publish a novel, but not with one of the big 5 publishers? You don’t want to feel even the slightest regret about your decision. You want to check off your writing goals with gusto and confidence. Bottom line: build some flexibility into your goals.

Don’t say: “I’m going to sign with one of the big 5 publishers this year.”

Do say: “I’m going to submit my manuscript to publishers that are a good fit.” (Still needs refining, though)

Make it measurable.

Ok, I’ll be honest, I hate it when I hear this. But I have to admit, it’s good advice. If you can’t measure your goal somehow, will you know if you’ve achieved it and can check it off the list? Let’s continue with the example above.

Don’t say: “I’m going to submit my manuscript to publishers that are a good fit.”

Do say: “This year, I will submit my manuscript to ten publishers that are a good fit.”

Set realistic timeframes.

The ultimate goal for us writers is to get published. (Well, okay, maybe it’s having people buy/read our books.) But is it realistic for you or I to expect to get published this year? Maybe. I hope so. But if you haven’t even finished writing your manuscript, you may be biting off more than you can chew. You’ll have to have a really good plan in place (see below) to be able to cross this goal off your list by the end of the year. It might be better for you to set a more attainable goal. If you haven’t written the manuscript…

Don’t say: “I’m going to get published this year.”

Do say: “I’m going to write and revise my manuscript this year.”

Break it down.

Writing a novel is a huge goal (and a little vague). Break it into chunks. Even if you get specific and say, “My goal is to write the first draft of a 50,000 word novel,” that is still a BIG goal. Big goals can be daunting.

Make big goals less daunting by breaking them down into manageable chunks. Create micro goals that lead into your big goal. “My goal is to write 10,000 words toward my novel every month for the next five months.”

In a bullet journal (or a Google doc) write the big goal at the top of a blank page. Then write a list of necessary micro goals.

Then put each micro goal on a separate page and list out action steps (get into the nitty gritty details) that are required to meet this micro goal. Designate whether each action step is a repeating goal. For example, one of your micro goals might be to check in with an accountability partner (see below). This would involve ongoing action. You could write a “W” next to this action step (or highlight it in a certain color) to remind you that this step requires weekly repetition. Revisit this set of pages each week, or transfer the necessary tasks to your weekly to-do list, to make sure you stay on track.

Know where you’re headed.

There are lots of opportunities that come up for writers: contests, anthologies open for submissions, conferences, etc. The fear of missing out can cause us to feel like we need to make use of every opportunity that comes our way. It is very easy to go down rabbit trails, but these can easily turn into big distractions that keep us from working toward our goals. Only pursue writing opportunities that align with your goals and the direction your writing life is headed—or where you want it to be headed. (Don’t have a clear idea of where you’re headed? You might want to spend some time visualizing your writing life. Head here to read more about vision boards and setting your intention for the year.)

Make a plan.

When will you write?

No, you don’t have to write every day. I’ve heard plenty of established, successful, published authors say they don’t write every day. But you do need to write consistently enough to feel the sense of accomplishment that comes from seeing progress. Do you already have a writing routine in place which will allow you to easily stay on track with your goals? Or do you need to come up with a better routine/system to help you be more productive? Take some time to analyze what’s working already and what’s not working. Pay attention to your energy levels and circadian rhythm. For example, I am most productive in the morning, but I’m barely awake in the late afternoon and early evening. This means I write first thing in the morning and I read or watch webinars in the evenings. What changes should you make to your writing schedule to set yourself up for success?

Where will you write?

When inspiration strikes, you need a writing space clear and ready for you to start getting the words on the page. In the past, I struggled with having a dedicated writing space that worked for me. I finally realized just how much this was keeping me from writing and did something about it. You can read about how I addressed this problem in my post Create a Writing Space that Works for You.

How will you write?

Was something getting in the way of your writing last year? Will a new tool help? Tools that have helped my writing progress significantly include my (extremely affordable) subscription to 750words.com (not an affiliate), my portable standing desk, and my subscription to Plottr (affiliate link). The gazillion plot templates inside this app are extremely helpful. Whether you’re writing romance, mystery, or a hero’s journey (or anything else you can dream up), you’ll be sure to not miss a beat when you use their templates. Or if you're a pantser, you can use the app for revision purposes.

Who will help you?

Writing is a very isolating endeavor. That doesn’t mean you have to, or even should, do it alone. Get involved in community and share your words (or at least your word count) with others. There are plenty of Facebook groups geared toward writers. (You can connect with likeminded writers on just about any social media platform.) There are also online critique groups you can join. Ideally you’ll find a group of writers you can (at least occasionally) meet in person to discuss your work. Alternatively, check out my affordable book coaching packages. I offer three different levels: Accountability Partner, Critique Partner, and Planning Partner.

So what are you waiting for? Set some writing goals. Break them down into strategic action steps. And design a writing plan that will help you achieve your goals. Remember to tell someone about your goals. I’d certainly love to hear them. You can leave a comment here or send me a DM on Instagram. I’m @tiffinysbookshelf.

Happy Writing!

Tiffiny