Though we’re narrowing toward the end of our first month of 2024, now is one of the best times to review your “resolutions” and look at how we can use the dimming momentum to truly build sustainable goals for the rest of the year ahead.
Goal-setting isn’t just about ticking boxes; it’s about orchestrating a symphony of aspirations that harmonise with our creative and professional quests.
Here are the top five strategies to set impactful goals as an author in 2024.
1. Define Clear Objectives
The cornerstone of effective goal-setting is clarity. A well-defined goal acts as a beacon, guiding your daily actions and decisions. Utilise the SMART criteria to outline your objectives:
- Specific: Narrow down your goals. Rather than “write more,” aim for “complete the first draft of my novel.”
- Measurable: Quantify your goals. Decide how you’ll measure progress, such as word counts or chapters completed.
- Achievable: Be realistic. Setting the bar too high can be discouraging, but too low, and you won’t be challenged.
- Relevant: Align your goals with your broader writing aspirations. Each goal should be a stepping stone towards your ultimate vision as an author.
- Time-bound: Set deadlines. A timeline adds urgency and helps prioritise tasks.
2. Understand Your Motivations
The fuel behind your goals is your motivation. Dig deep to unearth the ‘why’ beneath each objective. Is it to share your story with the world, to inspire others, or perhaps to achieve financial independence? This introspection ensures that your goals resonate with your inner values and aren’t just superficial desires. When the path gets rocky, it’s this underlying motivation that will keep your pen moving across the page.
3. Assess Your Resources
Writing is an art, but it also requires practical resources. Assess what you have in your toolkit:
- Time: Look at your daily routines and carve out dedicated writing slots.
- Finances: Budget for courses, editors, cover designers, or marketing.
- Support: Identify who in your circle can offer feedback, encouragement, or a listening ear.
- Energy: Be mindful of your creative energy cycles and plan accordingly.
Balancing these resources against your goals will help you craft a more attainable and sustainable plan.
4. Flexibility and Adaptability
The literary landscape is ever-evolving, and so should your goal-setting approach. Flexibility allows you to seize unexpected opportunities or navigate unforeseen hurdles. If a goal no longer serves its purpose, don’t hesitate to amend it. The agility to adapt your strategy is a powerful tool that keeps you moving forward, even if it’s on a path you hadn’t originally planned.
5. Create a Support Structure
Goal-setting is a solo activity, but achieving them needn’t be. Building a support structure is invaluable:
- Writing Groups: Join communities that offer critique, advice, and camaraderie (did we mention you can join us for FREE in our Activated Authors community?)
- Mentors: Connect with experienced authors who can provide guidance.
- Accountability Partners: Team up with someone to share progress and hold each other to your commitments.
- Readers: Engage with your audience early; their feedback can be both motivating and insightful.
Incorporating these strategies into your goal-setting process is like sketching a map for a treasure hunt. Each step you take is a plotted point on your route to success. As writers, our aspirations are often as boundless as our imaginations, but with these five strategies, we can navigate the journey of the coming year with purpose and precision. Let’s raise our pens like swords and charge into the fray, armed with goals that will carve our names onto the blank pages of the future.
Here’s to a year of milestones, manuscripts, and most importantly, making our writerly dreams a reality!
If you’re ready to take that next step or fancy some unpressured accountability, then why not jump over to our free Discord community?
You’ll get access to Founder and bestselling author Daniel Willcocks, as well as our diverse family of Activated Authors who each know what it takes to navigate the dizzy heights of creative success.
