Thank you, Kalhh. and Pixabay. for this goal image.
“What Are Your Writing Goals? by Joan Y. Edwards
You are a great writer. You are a professional writer. Everything you do helps promote your career as a writer. “But,” you tell me. “I haven’t written a single word all week.”
Aha. That may be true. But you have done what every writer must do. You have experienced, witnessed, or documented emotion. You keep it in your mind or on paper. You might be note how something looks, tastes, smells, feels, or sounds so that you can describe it better. Everything you do in life helps with your writing.
It is good to set writing goals to help you achieve publication.
There are five stages to publication for writers:
Stage One
Consistently and continuously
Live
Love
Laugh
Experience, witness, and document emotion
Celebrate
Network – Grow the number of people who know you and might buy or spread the word about your publications
Stage Two
Read
Study
Stage Three
Write pitch and story
Critique by individual or group; paid or exchange
Edit and Revise (Do this at least three times, when it’s the best you can do, go to Stage Four – Remember when you send it out that it’s the best you can do at this particular time with this particular story with the skills and knowledge you have at the time you submit it.
Stage Four
Choose 3 possible markets.
Study guidelines.
Choose one for submission
Write pitch, query or cover letter, proposal, outline, summary, synopsis
Like a spider web each of these activities can be done in a different order. There might be a few you’d like to add of your own. But when you’re finished, you will have woven a beautiful design, a tapestry of part of your life dedicated to one blog post, one children’s book, one non-fiction book, etc. In a particular day, you may only do a few. On other days, you might do a bunch. Enjoy whatever stage you are going through. Celebrate where you are at every moment.
You will have a feeling of accomplishment if you make goals that you can measure. Keep a record either in your head or on paper. When it’s written down, you have proof. When you write down your goals, your subconscious mind takes note of it and leads you to your goal. You may have a few detours. However, if you keep your goals in your mind and believe in yourself and your capabilities. You will find the people, places, and things to make it happen.
For instance, last year I wrote 98 blog posts. During 2013 my goal is to write 130 blog posts. 52 weeks times 2.5 blogs a week equals 130 blogs. That will be 32 more blogs than I did in 2012.
Can you measure it? You don’t want a vague goal like “I will write more.”
Is your goal attainable? Could anyone in your shoes accomplish this goal?
Do you really want to do it?
How many words a day? a week? A month? 90 days? 6 months? A year?
How long will you write each day? 5 minutes? 10 minutes? 20 minutes? 1 hour?
What genre?
How many books?
How many magazine articles?
How many blog posts?
How many guest interviews?
How many submissions?
How many books will you read?
How many workshops will you attend?
This is only a guide for you. Make you own goals. Write them down. Write down the steps you plan to take. Write it down when you take the steps. Voila! You will make it. I know it.
Thank you for reading my blog. I hope it helps you relax and enjoy life and writing.
Thank you to Becky Shillington, Claire Iannini, Dr. Bob Rich, Mary J. Lash, Kassie aka Mom, Caitlin Ritz, Ann Eisenstein, and Linda Andersen for writing a review of Flip Flap Floodle on Amazon for me.
Joan,
I love the image of writing being like weaving a tapestry. Is the lovely illustration your own creation? Setting goals that are measurable is certainly important. Thanks for the reminders of how to reach our goals. You have outdone yourself with your recent goal setting blog posts.
Dear Linda,
Thanks for writing. I’m glad you love the image of writing being like weaving a tapestry. The illustration comes from Hemera’s The Big Box of Art 1 Million…that’s why it says Copyright 2013 Joan Y. Edwards and Her Licensors. That’s what they require when I use them. They give me a license as the owner of the software to use it as long as I recognize them when I use it. I’ve got one more blog post about goal setting coming up. It’s encouraging to me that you said I had outdone myself on these goal setting blog posts. Thanks.
Thanks, Joan, for your continued ideas. Love the idea of measurable goals. But sometimes I find the numbers I set are too confining. I allow myself a day to play hooky ever once in awhile. It’s okay to be flexible and not worry about them if your creativity is stymied. As long as you get back on track, that is. That’s why pubsubbers is such a great group.
Dear Juliana,
Thanks for reading my blog and for writing. You’re welcome for my ideas. If you find the numbers are too confining, add the words “or more.” Make sure the number you choose is achievable. If it’s stopping you in your tracks, chances are the problem is in your belief system. Choose a lower number and see if it aligns with your belief. Or change your beliefs. For instance, I could make my goal to write 365 blog posts a year – one every day. But if I did that, I would have to let my other writing spin its wheels. So I added a little more than I did before. Of course, I can do more than the goal I set. You want a goal that sets you in motion…one that you believe in and want very much. As much as one of your characters wants her goal in a story.
Celebrate where you are and be thankful for each step you take toward your goal, even if you think it’s a detour. You might discover that this experience was what you needed before you could go forward to that goal again.
I’m glad that you like Pub Subbers. The members of Pub Subbers are very encouraging to other writers in reaching their writing goals and their celebrating their lives. Thanks for saying that Pub Subbers helps you.
Dear Carol,
Thanks for writing. Your goals can be wide or specific. Everyone doesn’t work the same way or think the same way. It’s all good. Here’s what you say for your goal: I allow myself to have an abundance of time to finish my book and give the title of it. You can put a date in it if that helps you. Specific is good. Enjoy your writing. You are on a roll.
Thank you for reminding me that creative thinking, jotting down ideas, blogging, and of course all the other items you mentioned, are indeed part of the writing process.
Dear Tracy,
It is good to hear from you. You’re welcome for the reminder that creative thinking, jotting down ideas, blogging, and other things are actually part of the writing process. It is healing to put everything in perspective, isn’t it?
Joan,
Happy New Year! Happy Writing Year!
Thank you for all the encouragement all year long-I must now implement at least pieces of your schedule instead of thinking I will!
Mona
Dear Mona,
You’re very welcome. I’m glad I encourage you all year long. Thanks for telling me that. Write down what you think you will do…even one will do. Say it’s okay if you do it. And it’s okay if you don’t do it. That’ll stop the opposition inside. You’ll relax and achieve that goal easily.
Celebrate each moment
Never Give Up
Joan Y. Edwards
Dear Rebecca,
Good luck with your writing goals. I am proud of you for writing them down. That helps you achieve them or decide it wasn’t what you really wanted to do.
Thanks for linking to my blog post “What Are Your Writing Goals for 2013?”
Dear Maureen,
Thanks for writing. I’m glad you thought this was a great and encouraging post. I wish you luck with all your writing goals in 2013. Celebrate your love of writing.
Never Give Up
Joan Y. Edwards
Joan,
I love the image of writing being like weaving a tapestry. Is the lovely illustration your own creation? Setting goals that are measurable is certainly important. Thanks for the reminders of how to reach our goals. You have outdone yourself with your recent goal setting blog posts.
Dear Linda,
Thanks for writing. I’m glad you love the image of writing being like weaving a tapestry. The illustration comes from Hemera’s The Big Box of Art 1 Million…that’s why it says Copyright 2013 Joan Y. Edwards and Her Licensors. That’s what they require when I use them. They give me a license as the owner of the software to use it as long as I recognize them when I use it. I’ve got one more blog post about goal setting coming up. It’s encouraging to me that you said I had outdone myself on these goal setting blog posts. Thanks.
Celebrate you.
Never Give Up
Joan Y. Edwards
Thanks, Joan, for your continued ideas. Love the idea of measurable goals. But sometimes I find the numbers I set are too confining. I allow myself a day to play hooky ever once in awhile. It’s okay to be flexible and not worry about them if your creativity is stymied. As long as you get back on track, that is. That’s why pubsubbers is such a great group.
Dear Juliana,
Thanks for reading my blog and for writing. You’re welcome for my ideas. If you find the numbers are too confining, add the words “or more.” Make sure the number you choose is achievable. If it’s stopping you in your tracks, chances are the problem is in your belief system. Choose a lower number and see if it aligns with your belief. Or change your beliefs. For instance, I could make my goal to write 365 blog posts a year – one every day. But if I did that, I would have to let my other writing spin its wheels. So I added a little more than I did before. Of course, I can do more than the goal I set. You want a goal that sets you in motion…one that you believe in and want very much. As much as one of your characters wants her goal in a story.
Celebrate where you are and be thankful for each step you take toward your goal, even if you think it’s a detour. You might discover that this experience was what you needed before you could go forward to that goal again.
I’m glad that you like Pub Subbers. The members of Pub Subbers are very encouraging to other writers in reaching their writing goals and their celebrating their lives. Thanks for saying that Pub Subbers helps you.
Celebrate you.
Never Give Up
Joan Y. Edwards
Not sure I can be as specific as you, Joan. To be honest, I just want to use the time I have to keep working on my book!
Dear Carol,
Thanks for writing. Your goals can be wide or specific. Everyone doesn’t work the same way or think the same way. It’s all good. Here’s what you say for your goal: I allow myself to have an abundance of time to finish my book and give the title of it. You can put a date in it if that helps you. Specific is good. Enjoy your writing. You are on a roll.
Celebrate you.
Never Give Up
Joan Y. Edwards
Thank you for reminding me that creative thinking, jotting down ideas, blogging, and of course all the other items you mentioned, are indeed part of the writing process.
Dear Tracy,
It is good to hear from you. You’re welcome for the reminder that creative thinking, jotting down ideas, blogging, and other things are actually part of the writing process. It is healing to put everything in perspective, isn’t it?
Celebrate you.
Never Give Up
Joan Y. Edwards
🙂
Dear Tracy,
Thanks. You make me smile.
Celebrate you.
Never Give Up
Joan Y. Edwards
Joan,
Happy New Year! Happy Writing Year!
Thank you for all the encouragement all year long-I must now implement at least pieces of your schedule instead of thinking I will!
Mona
Dear Mona,
You’re very welcome. I’m glad I encourage you all year long. Thanks for telling me that. Write down what you think you will do…even one will do. Say it’s okay if you do it. And it’s okay if you don’t do it. That’ll stop the opposition inside. You’ll relax and achieve that goal easily.
Celebrate each moment
Never Give Up
Joan Y. Edwards
Dear Rebecca,
Good luck with your writing goals. I am proud of you for writing them down. That helps you achieve them or decide it wasn’t what you really wanted to do.
Thanks for linking to my blog post “What Are Your Writing Goals for 2013?”
A great and encouraging post for old and new suppress alike !
Dear Maureen,
Thanks for writing. I’m glad you thought this was a great and encouraging post. I wish you luck with all your writing goals in 2013. Celebrate your love of writing.
Never Give Up
Joan Y. Edwards