By Larry Leech @LarryJLeechII

Man, us Americans do love our celebrations. Not just the big ones like birthdays, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, Easter, and New Year’s Eve. We love celebrations so much that Cinco de Mayo, Super Bowl Sunday, St. Patrick’s Day, and Halloween have grown in popularity during the last 10 to 15 years. And let’s not forget National Coffee Day, National Hot Dog Day or National Donut Day. Seems like there is something to celebrate every day of the year.

With all the celebrating going on, why not celebrate when you reach a writing goal? Goals for the year are great and many of us do it. If you don’t already, set goals for each project. For instance, set a date to finish the first chapter or a section of your book proposal. Or set a goal of writing 500 words for five days in a week. When, notice I wrote when and not if, you achieve that goal, celebrate.

Doesn’t matter how you celebrate. Whatever makes you, and your family, happy. Maybe you indulge in a beverage from the best coffee chain in the U.S. or a donut from that other one.

For me, I like to binge-watch Castle. Or dine out with Wendy. Well, not right now because we aren’t comfortable sitting in a restaurant with others. Another go-to celebration is to chill on the couch and watch golf or a movie, usually a mindless comedy, Star Wars, or something from the Marvel franchise.

This writing thing can be a grind. So why not celebrate the small victories along the way?

In my experience, I sometimes get so focused on the end goal that I don’t take time to celebrate. Then the grind becomes more difficult if I don’t come up for air and appreciate what has been accomplished.

While we lived in Florida, my wife Wendy often said that I saw what needed done around the house and missed out enjoying what had been completed. She wasn’t wrong. Her comments and other life circumstances encouragement me to step back and celebrate progress.

I learned that valuable lesson that life is too short to keep my nose to the grind all the time. So now we celebrate big—and little things. Which reminds me, it’s time to wrap this up and celebrate finishing another blog.

Writing coach of award-winning novelists, Larry J. Leech II has spent nearly 40 years working with words. After a 23-year journalism career that began in 1981, Larry moved into freelance writing and editing in 2004. He has ghostwritten nearly 30 books and edited more than 250 manuscripts. Larry teaches at numerous conferences nationwide and can be found online on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and his website, www.larryleech.com.