I have been writing for over twenty-five years and have successfully published thirty-six books. I couldn’t have done this without setting goals–long and short range ones. Every year at the beginning I think of what I want to accomplish during the year and I map out a plan. Then I break this yearly goal down into steps that can be taken each month.
If I decide I am going to write three books in a year, I loosely plan how that will be done. You do have to take into consideration that surprises happen along the way all the time. As a teacher I have learned to go with the flow. It is just as important as a writer. Sometimes you have to spend more time on a book than you originally thought. Or, sometimes you have to do extensive edits on a book you sold. Or, more research. You get the picture. Things don’t always go as you plan, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a plan.
In all walks of life goal setting is done. It is just as important to a writer. Picture what you want and work toward it. Make your goals attainable–something that you can control. I would love to have a goal to sell the next bestseller, but I don’t have control over that. I do over what I write. I can set a goal that I will stretch myself with my next book, demand more of myself. I can’t control what an editor does or an agent, but I can control what I do. Keep that in mind when you are setting your goals.
And remember if you don’t write, you won’t sell, no matter what goals you set for yourself. So make one of the goals that you will write every day or at least every other day, even if it is just a few sentences.
