It can be easy to come up with writing goals for the year. What isn't so easy is sticking to them. In 2020, we're encouraging writers to stick to their goals by holding themselves accountable. If you're ready to tackle your writing goals for the year, we encourage you to try out our best ways to continue hitting your goals after the magic of the new year has worn off.
Be specific about your goals
Instead of saying your goal is to finish a book, state how many words a week you'll write and set deadlines for yourself. By setting up a calendar or a planner to track your progress, you'll find that you will be more apt to hit your goals and be more organized in the process.
Get an accountability buddy
If you're afraid that you won't be able to keep yourself accountable alone, make a writing friend that you can share your goals with. Make a plan to check in with each other on a regular basis and go over the progress you've made towards your goals. When you have someone to report your successes and failures to, it makes it easier to stay committed to the things you want to accomplish.
Announce your intentions publicly on social media
If finding an accountability buddy isn't your thing, you can announce your goals on social media and have your followers keep you on track to make your goals a reality. Sharing your intentions on social media can also bring in new inspiration from fellow writers, readers and friends.
Write everything down
Holding yourself accountable without the help of others can be difficult but writing everything down and checking in with yourself each week can be a quick way to make sure you're following up on your short-term goals. Try to plan out a to-do list each week and work towards checking off tasks as you complete them. By the end of the month, you'll be able to look back at all of the things you accomplished and that momentum will catapult you into completing your goals for the next month and onward.
