How To Set Writing Goals (And How To Achieve Them)

If you want to improve your writing skills or finally finish that novel you’ve been working on for years, then it’s time to set a writing goal. 

But the journey to completing a goal isn’t always straightforward. Many of us set ambitious goals only to lose momentum somewhere along the way. So here’s how to set meaningful writing goals and some tips to help you achieve them. 

 1. Start With Your ‘Why’

One of the biggest reasons writing goals fall flat is a lack of purpose. It’s tempting to set goals simply because they seem like what ‘serious writers’ should do. But without a clear reason, a goal becomes just a chore!

Think about what truly motivates you about your goal. Perhaps you want to enjoy the mental and creative benefits that accompany a writing habit or your passion for a particular topic compels you to share your knowledge in a blog and create a community. There will be many benefits and reasons for you to accomplish your writing goal, so dig deep and write them all down. 

Pinpointing this deeper purpose will anchor your goals in something meaningful, making it easier to stay dedicated when the initial excitement fades.

2. Set SMART Goals

Vague goals such as ‘I want to write better’ won’t get you anywhere. 

While passion drives writing, structure keeps it on track. SMART goals which stand for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound – will help you set achievable goals with a plan. 

For example, rather than saying, ‘I want to write a novel this year’ make it SMART:

• Specific: ‘I’ll write a 70,000-word novel.’

• Measurable: ‘I’ll track my progress and aim for 5,000 words each week, which is about 700 a day.’

• Achievable: ‘I’ll commit to writing for one hour every weekday.’

• Relevant: ‘This novel fits with my goal of becoming a published author.’

• Time-bound: ‘I’ll complete the first draft in six months.’

Outlining your goal like this, makes it far more manageable as drastically increase your chance of success. 

As Jodi Picoult famously said, ‘You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.’ By breaking down your objective into smaller goals with a deadline, you’ll experience regular wins that encourage you to keep going.

Tip: Tell your friends about your specific goal and ask them to hold you accountable to it. We naturally don’t want to admit that we’ve not made any progress and sharing your milestones can be very rewarding. 

3. Break Goals into Bite-Sized Tasks

A common mistake in goal setting is overwhelming yourself with a massive objective without breaking it down. Reading every book on writing, starting a newsletter, or completing a short story collection all sound exciting – but without manageable steps, they can feel daunting.

Instead, think of each goal as a series of small, achievable actions. Let’s take ‘finish a novel’ as an example. You might set tasks like ‘outline main plot points,’ ‘write character bios,’ or ‘draft one chapter each week.’ These bite-sized tasks make the goal less intimidating and give you clear steps to focus on daily or weekly.

This method keeps you consistently moving forward. Even on days when the end goal feels miles away, completing a small step can feel like real progress.

4. Start A Writing Routine

Consistency is the lifeline of achieving writing goals. Without a routine, you’re constantly negotiating with yourself about when and how much to write, which leads to indecision and, most likely, a whole lot of nothing (I’ve been there). But by establishing regular writing time, you’re training yourself to show up without second-guessing. Even if you don’t have what you deem to be a ‘productive’ session, you still showed up and ingrained the habit. 

Pay attention to what works best for you, whether you focus better in the morning or evening, thrive in longer sessions, or benefit from shorter, frequent breaks.

Make sure that your writing setup supports your daily goals, too. Clear the clutter on your writing desk, put your phone to the side on silent, get whatever drinks you need and get comfortable. A great setup doesn’t just provide a physical workspace; it signals to your mind that this is time for focus. 

Remember, it’s the habit of writing  – not the bursts of inspiration – that will keep you progressing toward your big goal. 

5. Be Flexible

Even the most motivated writers face days when their goals need adjusting. Maybe a new project comes up, you’re having a bad day or feel ill. Having an off day or two won’t doom your goal, but seeing them as a failure that stops you from continuing will. So embrace flexibility. Maybe you don’t write anything on Monday, but you have a very productive session on Wednesday; just trust your own flow. Your goals are there to guide you, not restrict you.

Everyone has been guilty of creating a goal that’s too ambitious and not attainable. But just edit and keep moving. if your original goal was to write 1,000 words a day but you’re struggling to keep up, scale it back to 500 words. Adjusting your goals doesn’t mean abandoning them; it means respecting your process and acknowledging that writing, like any art, is rarely straightforward. 

Set Your Writing Goals Today 

Remember, it’s not about having flawless dedication or being productive every day. You’re human; you’re going to have days where you don’t achieve your daily or weekly goals.

What matters is staying connected to your purpose, using the SMART technique, breaking down your goals into manageable steps, and being flexible when necessary. Each small step, each routine, and each word written brings you closer to your goal, whether it’s writing a book or improving your grammar. 

Not many goals simultaneously invest in your voice, your stories and your potential as a writer, so create your writing goal today!