Get Specific With Your Writing Goals

By Jennifer Blanchard

When a marathon is being planned, one of the most important steps in the process is deciding on an end point. Runners need to know how far they have to run and where they will end up when the race is finished.

The same thing goes for your writing.

In order to fully commit to your writing, you first need to know what your goals are.

What are you trying to accomplish?

• Do you want to finish a novel?
• Do you want to start a novel?
• Are you trying to write a screenplay?
• Do you want to start submitting your short stories to literary magazine competitions?
• Are you ready to try publication?

Spend some time really thinking about what you want to achieve with your writing. Here are some steps to get you started:

1. Make a List–Write down all the writing goals you want to achieve in your career. Anything goes at this point in the goal-setting process.

The reason why it’s important to be specific with your goals is so you know exactly what you are working toward. It’s much easier to procrastinate on your writing when you have no idea what your end goal is.

But when you have a clear plan, and a bigger picture in mind, you’ll be more likely to actually sit down and write.

Also, having an end-goal in mind will not only motivate you, but will give you a reason why you should sit down and write every time you feel like procrastinating.

My current wrting goal is to start and finish my second novel. What are your writing goals?