How to Achieve your 2018 Writing Goals

2018 is upon us and I’m sure most of us are aiming high for a successful year of writing. Whatever stage you’re at as a writer; plotting, first drafts, editing or submitting, there are always goals to be set and targets to reach.

I have set myself some goals this year, including finishing all edits of my novel (of which I am on the second draft) and plotting out the next one in time to do NaNoWriMo in November. To help you (and myself!) I have listed some tips for achieving your 2018 writing goals. I hope they help!

1. Aim High
There’s a wonderful, famous quote by Norman Vincent Peale that insists; “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.”
I love this quote and think it is totally true for all life goals. If you aim high, even if you don’t achieve your top goal, chances are you’ll still have achieved a lot! Don’t be afraid to shoot for the moon.

2. Be Realistic
Aiming high does not mean setting yourself unrealistic targets. A challenge is good, but setting yourself impossible goals will only leave you feeling disheartened if you don’t achieve them. To stay motivated, you need to set realistic short term goals and work to meet them. By doing so, you could very well end up achieving the “impossible!”

3. Set Deadlines
I have spoken before about the importance of deadlines for writers and I stand by its success rate. Setting deadlines is a sure way to keep you motivated, make you push yourself and see those targets met. You can reevaluate deadlines if necessary, because life is obviously full of surprises, but always set them.

4. Evaluate
As I mentioned above, life can be unpredictable and sometimes it simply gets in the way of writing. Every few months evaluate your goals and deadlines to see if it’s still possible to meet them. Extending deadlines and modifying goals is no bad thing at all.

5. Get Support
It is always easier to reach your goals when you have people rooting for you. This can be friends, family or the online writing community. I have said several times that I couldn’t be without my fellow bloggers and instagram friends. Giving and receiving support and advice will help you achieve your dreams!

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I sincerely hope that 2018 is a fantastic year for you all. I’d love to hear your goals and plans for the year, so please comment below and let me know!

Until then,
Keep writing,
M
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