Ready with Your 2020 Writing Plan?

Here you go again. A new year is here and you’re ready to turn over a new leaf. You’re ready to get serious about your writing goals. Before you sit down in front of your computer or tablet and say you’re going to start writing, start with a plan of what you want to accomplish. Here are 5 tips to get you started.

1. Make specific writing goals.

Begin with a target you want to hit. Start with small steps. The goal of having a best-seller by the end of the year if you’re writing your first novel is not realistic – unless you’re a celebrity with a big marketing budget behind you.

Make writing goals that are measurable in some way. Set daily and weekly writing goals. I would suggest a word count rather than time spent in front of your computer. Make this a NO social media or phone time. Let yourself concentrate only on your writing. If it’s hard to stay away from your phone, do short writing sprints. The important part of your goals is to make them doable, so you won’t give up.

2. Visualize achieving your goals.

You need to be motivated. Imagine yourself at the end of the year and make a list of the benefits you’ll receive in meeting your goals – and the drawbacks of not meeting it. How will your life change if you meet your writing goals this coming year? Will you feel more fulfilled, creative and happy? Make the goals have meaning to you.

3. Stretch your goals – but not too much

Your writing goals need to energize you but also be winnable or you’ll lose heart. It’s good to be ambitious but if you’re too ambitious – you risk falling at the first hurdle.

So, don’t get carried away. Set a goal that stretches you in some way but is also realistic. Setting a goal that excites you is a good way to keep you motivated.

4. Plan and schedule it

Most of the writers I’ve talked to say that allocating a time to write matters far more than the amount of time you assign to writing. It doesn’t matter whether you write in daily chunks, binge write to a deadline, or block out a portion of your day, week or month for writing. The key is identifying your writing time in advance – in whatever way works for you.

5. Have a passion for what you are writing

You’re going to be spending a lot of time with your writing project. Make sure you’re committed to it in some way. Without enthusiasm and passion for a project, you’ll make excuses for not getting the work done.