What's a Good Writing Goal?

​Writing goals can be tricky, especially for a new writer who doesn’t know how long it takes for them to write a book. But goals are important and they’ll help you write even if you’re “not in the mood.” As soon as I start writing, 8 times out of 10, that drabby mood disappears and I’m in love with the words again. 

What's a good goal?

​A good goal is realistic and something that you can achieve each time you try. If you’re consistently failing at your goal, then change it. 

Timed Goals vs Amount-of-Words Goals

1. Timed Goals: Sitting at your desk and writing for a particular amount of minutes or hours.
2. Amount-of-Words Goals: Sitting at your desk and writing until you reach a specific amount of words set forth. 

​Is one goal better than the other?

No. Each goal works, but for busy writers, a Timed Goal works best. This will allow you to fit hour(s) into your schedule without being bogged down by needing to hit a certain amount of words. So if you’re not on a time crunch, and you don’t have a deadline, then this goal seems to work well.

But if you’re on a deadline, hoping to finish your book by a specific day, then the Amount-of-Words Goal works better. If you know how many more words you need to write, then you’re more likely to reach your end goal faster by writing a specific number of words per day. 

Tell me in the comments, what sort of goals do you set for yourself? Do you use a timer, or do you try to reach a certain number of words?

For my writing tips, purchase A Wordy Woman's Guide for Writing a Book on Amazon! Spread the love with other aspiring authors by sharing this post. Thank you!

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Dawn Husted

Dawn wrote her first book in 2008. Now, she’s the author of 5 books, owner of Yaupon Berry Press, and a member of SCBWI and Texas Association of Authors. She's passionate about the Oxford comma and loves a well-structured plot.
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A Wordy Woman's Guide was created with a tenacious spirit and an enormous vision to offer resources that empower aspiring authors.

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