Setting realistic goals in writing

So you want to write? You’re thinking of a story but you can’t just get it out of your head. Or maybe, you’ve been already been writing but it’s been a long time now and you haven’t even finished your story’s first act. Kinda frustrating, yes. Because the truth is, goals in writing can be a tricky thing. One minute you’re inspired and typing furiously, and the next, you’re staring at the blinking cursor wondering where the hell all your motivation went. 

I should know. I’ve been there. 

Setting realistic goals in writing is the key. And when I say realistic, I mean goals that are actually achievable based on your lifestyle, energy levels, and available time. Gone were the days when I believed in “shoot for the moon; you will land among the stars” (well, at least in writing), because when my target feels overwhelming, I tend to get frustrated and just give up altogether. 

Why is setting realistic goals in writing important?

Believe it or not, writing isn’t always about waiting for the inspiration to strike. If it is, I’d be jobless for a long time now. If you really are serious about finishing your novel, or even your short story, it is important to create structure. Setting goals gives you a roadmap, so it doesn’t feel like you are wandering around aimlessly. Add the fact the it feels amazing to check things off your list (trust me on this, it’ll make you feel like a rockstar!).

Ready, get set, go!

Know your capacity

Aiming to write 5000 words a day is a regal move, but is this something that can be done without using too much time and energy? What if you only have 30 minutes during lunch time, or maybe an hour before bed time? Or what if, like me, you have all the time in the world but perpetually distracted by fanmade Sebong clips on Tiktok?

Again, the key is to set a target that’s doable for you. 

My ultimate pro-tip here is to really start small. It is better to hit a modest goal regularly than to get discouraged by something ambitious.

Break ‘em down into chunks

If you are writing a novel, the best move is to break it down into smaller chunks. Let me tell you a secret—when I am working on a story, I’d make an outline for it by chapter, and aim to write 2000 words per chapter. It doesn’t matter if one chapter is more or less than the number of words I require myself to produce, but it does matter that the total number of chapters is divisible by 5.

You see, it is easier to say, I’d write 2000 words a day than saying, I’d write a 50,000-word story.

Here's how I track my progress these days. I would aim to write 2000 words per chapter each day, but some chapters didn't even reach the number of words I set for myself and that's okay! I don't even write everyday because life also happens.

Track your progress

For me, this is the fun part. I used to tweet my progress by using the #DraftAt<number>Words. These days, I like to keep it to myself. I have a spreadsheet that contains the outline of my story and the number of words of every chapter. This allows me to track how many words I’ve come up so far, and gives me the rough idea on how many words I am going to have in total. It feels good to know that I have progress, no matter how small. And it feels even better that by just my projected total number, it gives me the idea on how the book would look like once it’s published. Like, how thick it’s gonna be and how much am I going to spend for self-publishing.

Allow flexibility

Life happens. There would certainly be days when you won’t be able to hit your daily target, or you won’t be able to write anything all because one of your friends would call for a meeting to talk about heartbreaks and how to deal with it. And it’s okay! Never beat yourself up for missing a day or two of writing session. Keep in mind that the whole point of setting realistic goals is to build consistency and make your writing journey as fun as possible. 

Remember: Writing is a journey and just like any other journeys, it has its ups and downs.

Celebrate small wins

I am an advocate of happiness and celebration. For me, everything calls for a celebration, including my small wins. I would always buy myself a cupcake or an artisan cookie when I successfully finished writing significant scenes (bed scenes, battle scenes, etc.). I would treat myself to a seafood pasta and specialty coffee when I finish the book. Small treats like this helps so that I look forward to the finish line. They make me feel more excited about finishing my project.

It makes you feel more excited to finish when you are looking forward to something when you're done.

So how do you stick to your goals in writing

Create a routine

Routines never fail. If routines helped me organize my entire life, it can help you achieve your goals in writing.  Writing at the same time every day can help you get into the habit and make it feel more natural

Find your schedule

I remember Ricky Lee said he writes at four in the morning. I, on the other hand, have my creative juices ooze when half the world is sleeping. Discover your peak writing time and make the most out of it.

Limit distraction

Social media is my number one distraction, and sometimes I just simply put my phone away when I start writing and resist the urge to open Facebook on my laptop browser. Although most of the time, when my keyboard starts to get on fire, there is no stopping me, even phone notifications. 

Buddy up

Accountability partner helps a lot. I call this “barkadahan system.” It works all the time, I swear! Find other people in the writing community or better yet, join a writing group (again, Pinoy Indie Authors Collab is just there in the corner!). I kid you not, doing this helped me unleash the kind of creativity I didn’t know I had in me. 

Fire up that keyboard and start writing already!

In reality, setting realistic writing goals is all about balance. It keeps your momentum going and prevent burnout, but it still challenges you to make progress. And it doesn’t matter how many words you can write in a day, because every word you write brings you closer to finishing your story, which is basically the ultimate goal of all of this. 

What are your writing goals? Drop them in the comments below! Let’s keep each other inspired. ✍️