by Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes, Ed.D. @khutch0767

Recently, I set a timer in thirty-minute increments to begin an edit I was absolutely dreading. Three hours later I’d also rewarded myself with a pile of snacks, a hot cup of tea, music, and the promise of an epic Hallmark binge. We each have tactics that work to get us to the finish line of our various writing projects. The issue is we sometimes run out of fresh ideas and motivation.

Having well-defined goals is crucial for achieving success in any endeavor. Goals provide a clear direction and help us identify what we truly want. They enable us to focus our energy and resources on what matters most and guide us toward realizing our dreams. For instance, if we aspire to write a novel, it’s not enough to have the desire to do so. We need to set specific goals and create a plan of action to enable us to progress towards completion. This may involve breaking down the writing process into smaller, more manageable steps, such as outlining the plot, developing the characters, setting a daily word count, etc. By setting clear goals and taking deliberate steps towards achieving them, we can stay motivated, track our progress, and ultimately bring our dreams to fruition.

If we want to complete our venture, it’s essential to establish specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals. We can stay motivated and on track by breaking down the larger project into smaller, more attainable milestones. One way to do this is by setting daily word or page count targets that align with our writing goals. This approach helps us stay focused and ensures that we’re making steady progress toward finishing our writing projects.

Ways to do this are:

Create achievable goals

When setting targets for ourselves, it’s essential to create achievable benchmarks. Rather than setting lofty goals that may seem unattainable, it’s often likelier to start with smaller, more manageable targets and gradually work up to more significant objectives. We can stay motivated and track our progress by breaking down our larger goals into smaller, more measurable ones. This helps us stay focused and encourages us to keep moving forward, even when faced with setbacks or obstacles. When setting goals, remember to start small and build up gradually, using achievable benchmarks to guide progress.

Setting measurable goals

Setting measurable goals is an essential part of achieving success. When we set clear, specific, and quantifiable goals, we are more likely to remain focused and motivated, and we can track our progress effectively. Measurable goals help us identify the quality and quantity of our work to determine whether we are on track to achieving our desired outcomes. Therefore, it’s crucial to define our goals in a way that can be measured and evaluated objectively. This will enable us to stay accountable and make any necessary adjustments to our approach along the way.

Track progress

Incorporating efficient methods to monitor and evaluate our writing progress can significantly aid in determining the most effective patterns and techniques that work best for us. By analyzing our progress, we can identify areas where we excel and which areas require improvement. It helps us understand the reasons behind our successes and failures, ultimately leading to enhanced writing skills and better productivity.

Develop ways to be accountable.

Writing can be a solitary and isolating activity, making it challenging to stay focused and motivated over time. With external sources of accountability, it can be easier to maintain a consistent writing schedule and stay on task. This is why it is essential to find ways to remain accountable for our writing, whether by setting personal deadlines, joining a writing group, or working with a writing coach or mentor. By staying responsible and committed to our writing goals, we can progress and achieve the desired results.

Find motivation

Maintaining inspiration can be challenging, and it often requires us to be creative and resourceful. There are many ways to keep ourselves motivated and engaged with our creative pursuits. For example, we could consider entering a writing contest or experimenting with a new genre to keep things fresh and exciting. Alternatively, we could seek the guidance of a book coach who can help us develop strategies for staying focused and motivated throughout the writing process. Ultimately, the key to staying inspired is to remain open to new ideas and willing to try different approaches until we find what works best for us.

Reward ourselves

Setting up rewards for ourselves can be a great way to keep ourselves motivated and focused on our writing goals. There are a lot of different rewards we could choose from depending on our preferences, ranging from simple treats like a cup of hot tea or a relaxing massage at the end of the week to something more extravagant like a fancy dinner or a weekend getaway. When deciding on a reward, we must choose something meaningful to us that we’ll look forward to. Doing so gives us a sense of accomplishment and an added incentive to keep pushing ourselves toward our writing goals.

When working towards long-term goals, setting objectives is a crucial step. However, it can be challenging to maintain motivation and focus for an extended period. That’s where incorporating a reward plan can be helpful. We can keep ourselves motivated and accountable by offering ourselves tangible and enjoyable rewards for reaching certain milestones.

For example, if we’re trying to establish a daily writing habit, we could set a goal to write every day for a month. To make this goal more enticing, we could decide that if we succeed, we will treat ourselves to something we’ve been wanting, like a new book or a massage. Additionally, if we want to set more specific goals, we could reward ourselves based on word count. For instance, we could take a day off if we achieve a specific word count goal, like 1,000 words in a day.

Incorporating a reward plan can help us stay motivated and enthusiastic about our long-term objectives while also helping establish healthy habits and routines.

If we ever find ourselves feeling down or lacking the motivation to write, there are a few things we can do to get ourselves back on track. One idea is to tune into a podcast that is focused on writing or creativity. There are many great podcasts out there that feature interviews with successful authors, discussions about the craft of writing, and tips on how to overcome common writing obstacles.

Another option is to seek out blogs by fellow writers who are working on their own writing projects. Reading about their struggles and successes can help us feel less alone in our writing journey and give us ideas for how to approach our own work. We might also consider watching videos of authors speaking at writing conferences or giving talks about their writing process. Seeing how successful writers have achieved their goals can be inspiring and motivating.

Learning from skilled writers is not just about getting inspired. There is much to be gained from studying their techniques and approaches to writing. By observing how they establish practical writing goals, manage their time, and hone their craft, we can become more proficient writers.

It can be helpful to seek out local groups of writers who can provide support throughout the writing process. Joining a writing group or attending a writing workshop can help us connect with other writers, get feedback on our work, and stay accountable to our writing goals. With the right support and resources, we can overcome any obstacles that come our way and achieve our writing objectives.

Author, speaker, educational consultant, and editor–Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes, Ed. D. has had her hand in leadership for many years. She loves speaking to groups and delivering messages with a quick wit and real-life stories. Katherine is a freelance writer/content editor, a content editor/writing coach for Iron Stream Media, and a sensitivity reader for Sensitivity Between the Lines. She is a review board member and contributor to Inkspirations (an online magazine for Christian writers), and her writing has been published in Guideposts. Her work in art/writing is distinguished by awards, including the New York Mayor’s Contribution to the Arts, Outstanding Resident Artist of Arizona, and the Foundations Awards at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer’s Conference (2016, 2019, 2021, 2022). She was a finalist in the Genesis Contest ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers/Romantic Suspense 2022). She is a finalist for the Claymore Award 2022 (Thriller Division) for the best-unpublished manuscript. She is a member of Word Weavers International and serves as an online chapter president and mentor. She belongs to FWA (Florida Writers Association), ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers), CWoC (Crime Writers of Color), AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association), and AASA (American Association of School Administrators). She serves on the board of the nonprofit organization Submersion 14 and is an art instructor and virtual exhibition specialist for the nonprofit organization Light for the Future. Katherine is the host of the podcast Murder, Mystery & Mayhem Laced with Morality. She has authored a Christian Bible study for women and is currently working on the sequel and prequel to her first general market thriller novel, “A Fifth of the Story.”