Setting Writing Goals in 7 Simple Steps for Better Results

We both know writing can feel overwhelming. Maybe you’ve set goals before, only to watch them fade into oblivion, or you’re just not sure where to even start. Trust me, I’ve been there.

The good news? Stick around, because I’m sharing simple, doable steps that’ll help you finally get clear, organized, and motivated about your writing. Ready to actually hit those writing milestones? Thought so.

Let’s jump right into seven easy steps to set and actually keep your writing goals.

Step 1: Set Clear and Realistic Writing Goals

Writing goals are targets or objectives you decide ahead of time to help you produce better writing, track productivity, and keep up motivation.

Think of writing goals like picking a destination before you start a road trip—you’ll arrive sooner and have fewer detours.

The big secret here isn’t just setting goals but writing them down onto paper or even a digital note.

According to Dr. Gail Matthews’ study in 2007, you’re actually 42% more likely to reach your goals if you write them down.

Don’t just scribble vague stuff like “become an awesome writer”—make goals specific and easy to measure.

For instance, instead of aiming to “write more,” commit to writing two pages a day or one chapter a week.

Another tip: visualize your goals clearly. A Leadership IQ study found people who visualize their goals are 52% more likely to love what they do—so picture yourself proudly finishing that manuscript or hitting “publish” on Amazon.

Your goals should also be realistic: maybe writing a full-length novel in a month isn’t feasible if you’ve got a busy job and family.

Instead, set something achievable, like writing a short story each month or finishing a first draft in six months.

Step 2: Break Down Writing Goals into Smaller Tasks

When you’re staring down a big, ambitious writing goal, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and even give up before you start.

Focus on breaking your goal into manageable little bites—tasks you can tackle in a short time frame.

Say you want to publish a children’s picture book on an online publishing platform like Smashwords.

Instead of seeing it as a big intimidating project, split it up:

• Week 1: Outline the basic storyline and characters.
• Week 2: Finish writing a simple first draft.
• Week 3: Create or commission five illustrations.
• Week 4: Edit and format the book’s layout and design.
• Week 5: Proofread and finalize it for publishing.
• Week 6: Upload, publish, and begin marketing.

By breaking your project into weekly tasks, you can monitor progress easily and celebrate quick wins.

Small, manageable tasks keep you motivated rather than overwhelmed and frustrated.

Plus, each completed step fuels confidence, keeping you pumped up for the next one.

Step 3: Create a Writing Schedule You Can Follow

The trick to making steady progress is routine—not randomness.

You wouldn’t just roll out of bed spontaneously and decide to run a marathon that day, right? Treat your writing project similarly—establish a consistent schedule.

Find the times when you’re most energized, creative or inspired—morning person, late-night owl, or maybe lunchtime warrior—and use those slots to write regularly.

For example, you might choose to write every weekday morning before work from 7:00 to 7:30 a.m., or every Sunday from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Set specific, consistent appointments with your pen (or keyboard) and stick to them like you’d stick to important meetings.

Make your schedule realistic and doable—if you’re too ambitious, you’ll skip sessions, lose momentum, and end up discouraged.

Start smaller and build slowly; it’s easier to ramp up than scale down.

If writing every day isn’t feasible, no worries—a couple of solid sessions per week can produce steady progress if you’re consistent.

Your schedule is your friend, not your enemy, so personalize it to your actual life (not what you wish your life looked like).

Step 4: Track Your Writing Progress Regularly

Wondering how to actually know if you’re hitting your goals? Simple: track your progress regularly.

Keeping tabs on your writing progress isn’t just about being organized—it’s about maintaining motivation.

One smart trick is making a progress chart where you note down how many words or pages you’ve written each day or week.

You can use apps like Notion or simple tools like Google Sheets to visualize your progress, which can boost your satisfaction big-time since visuals make people 52% more satisfied in their work.

If graphs aren’t your thing, maintain a simple writing log in your favorite notebook where you jot down your daily or weekly output.

You could write something like “Monday—300 words outlining chapter 2,” easy and straightforward.

The point is having records because knowing your exact progress helps you avoid feeling stuck or unproductive.

A quick glance can remind you how far you’ve come—even if you’re a bit behind, seeing growth over the long term helps you keep at it.

Step 5: Adjust Your Writing Goals as Needed

Should you adjust your writing goals from time to time? Absolutely!

Your goals aren’t carved in stone—you should revisit them frequently and adjust based on what’s realistically doable.

If you notice you’re consistently unable to write your planned amount each week, it’s worth tweaking and scaling back rather than feeling frustrated and giving up completely.

Maybe you’ve just shifted jobs or your family schedule got busier—life happens. Adapt your goals accordingly so you’re pursuing something achievable, not impossible.

On the flip side, if you’re easily surpassing goals each week, consider stepping things up a notch or exploring areas to challenge yourself further, like trying new genres such as learning how to write a dystopian story.

The key here is remaining flexible, routinely checking in with yourself to see what’s working and what’s not.

Adjustments aren’t setbacks—it just means you’re human and being smart about managing expectations.

Step 6: Get Support and Stay Accountable

Ever noticed how you’re more likely to stick to something when someone else knows about it? That’s accountability at work.

A whopping 76% success rate can be achieved when you write down your goals and share your progress.

The best way to keep yourself on track with writing goals is to tell someone about them—a friend, a family member, or a writing buddy.

Find a writing partner to schedule check-ins or even create a writing group online where you regularly post updates.

Posting about your goals and updates on social media can be a powerful motivator too (just make sure it’s something you’re comfortable sharing publicly).

Joining online writers’ forums or platforms like Reddit’s r/writing can offer major encouragement and practical support when you’re feeling stuck or unsure of what to work on next.

Remember, writing doesn’t have to be solitary—even just knowing someone else is aware of your goals can motivate you considerably.

Step 7: Reward Yourself for Achieving Writing Milestones

You did the work, now comes the fun part—rewarding yourself!

Celebrating milestones makes the entire writing process more enjoyable, less tedious, and gives you something exciting to anticipate.

You don’t need fancy rewards (though you totally can if that’s appealing).

Maybe finishing the rough draft of a novel deserves a nice dinner out, or reaching a daily writing streak earns your favorite coffee drink in the morning.

Customize rewards based on what personally motivates you—new stationery, a book you’ve been eyeing, a night at the movies—the choice is all yours.

No accomplishment is too small—every step matters, so take each opportunity to celebrate personal victories.

Acknowledging your hard work regularly helps to keep motivation high, energy levels good, and spirits bright throughout your writing journey.

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