Setting Goals That Actually Work - From Dreaming to Doing

Last week, we focused on defining what success looks like for you as a writer. Now that you have a vision, it’s time to make a plan. Without clear goals, it’s easy to feel lost, overwhelmed, or stuck in an endless cycle of “I’ll write when I have time.”

The truth is, writing success isn’t just about talent - it’s about consistency and direction. This week, we’ll break down how to set goals that actually work so you can make steady progress toward your writing dreams.

Why Writers Struggle with Goals

Have you ever set a writing goal like:
“I want to write a book.”
“I’m going to write more this year.”
“Someday, I’ll finish my novel.”

These are great ambitions, but they lack structure. They’re vague, unmeasurable, and have no clear deadline. That makes them easy to ignore, and over time, you may feel frustrated or like you’re failing - when in reality, you just didn’t have the right system in place.

What Makes a Goal Work?

The key to making progress is setting SMART Goals:
✔ Specific – Instead of “I want to write more,” say “I will write 500 words a day.”
✔ Measurable – Can you track your progress? “Write a novel” is vague, but “Write 20,000 words in two months” is measurable.
✔ Achievable – A goal should challenge you, but be realistic. If you’re juggling a full-time job, a daily goal of 5,000 words might not be practical - but 500 words might be.
✔ Relevant – Make sure your goal aligns with your bigger writing vision. If your dream is to publish a fantasy novel, spending all your time writing poetry might not help.
✔ Time-bound – Give yourself deadlines. “Finish my first draft in 6 months” is better than “Finish it someday.”

Turning Dreams Into Actionable Steps

Let’s take a big, intimidating goal and break it down.

Example Goal: “I want to write a novel.”
SMART Version: “I will complete a 70,000-word first draft in six months by writing 3,000 words per week.”

Here’s how you might break it down further:
Month 1: Outline your book, develop characters, set up a writing schedule.
Month 2-5: Write an average of 3,000 words per week.
Month 6: Finish the first draft and prepare for revisions.

By breaking it into smaller, manageable steps, you eliminate overwhelm and create a clear path forward.

Your Challenge This Week

Set one big writing goal for the next six months. What do you want to accomplish? Be specific!
Break it down into smaller weekly and monthly milestones.
Write it down and track your progress. (Use a notebook, a writing app, or the printable PDF below.)

📄 Download the "Writing Goal Tracker" – A printable tracker to help you set and track your writing goals.

Next Week: Finding Your Productivity Style

Now that you have a solid goal, the next challenge is figuring out how to make it happen in a way that works for you. Not all writers are the same— - some thrive on structured schedules, while others need more flexibility.

In Week 3, we’ll explore different productivity styles and how to find the best system for your writing routine.

Hint: The key to consistent writing isn’t forcing yourself into someone else’s routine - it’s discovering what works for YOU.

See you next week!