Write SMART: How to Create Terrific Writing Goals — And Achieve Them!
By Katey Coffing, Ph.D.
Open up your favorite calendar and circle today’s date.
Why? Because no matter what day it is, you’ve been given a wonderful gift: a bright and shiny year ahead to make your writing dreams come true.
What are your writing goals for the coming year? If you don’t have any, this is the perfect time to create them. Clear goals help you stay focused as a writer. If you choose what you want to accomplish, you can arrange your time and priorities to get them done.
Take five minutes right now to decide what big things you’d like to achieve this year. (I’ll focus on your writing, but this technique can work for any area of your life.)
A long-established acronym, SMART, can help you create great goals. SMART stands for
- Specific
- Measurable
- Action-Oriented
- Risk/Realistic
- Timed
Here’s how each of these words can help you succeed.
Specific
When determining your goals, be precise. Instead of “I’ll write more this year,” consider “I’ll complete a new chapter every two weeks.”
Measurable
For each goal you choose, make sure you can measure progress. For example, how will you know you’ve completed it?
Action-oriented
Choose goals you control so they’re not at anyone else’s mercy. Rather than “This year I’ll get a book contract,” set goals to complete and polish two novels or mail 30 queries to agents.
Risk/Realistic
It’s always good to stretch yourself. However, if writing ten pages usually takes you several weeks, don’t count on writing six novels this year. Unrealistic expectations can get you so frustrated you’ll lose momentum. Instead, create goals that motivate you without being burdens.
Timed
Setting a particular deadline will help you pace yourself to get things done. For each of your goals, establish a completion date.
Next, take these big SMART goals and figure out what smaller steps you’ll need to achieve each of them. Design these subgoals to be SMART too!
Once you have a list of goals for the year, put them where you’ll see them every day. Print them out and tape them to your computer, your office wall, even your bathroom mirror.
See them, know them… do them.
Writers, I hope this coming year brings everything you wish for. More importantly, I want you to make your dreams come true!
Katey Coffing, Ph.D. is a novelist and book coach who helps women delight in writing (and finishing!) their books. Visit her website and subscribe to her ezine, The Write Calling, for additional articles and tips for women writers.
SOURCE: Wordpreneur.com — How to Make Money Writing!
