(That Don’t Kill Your Soul)
Let’s be honest: most writing advice is either wildly unrealistic or aggressively perky.
“Write every day!”
“Finish your novel in 30 days!”
“Just wake up at 4AM and make time!”
Okay. Sure. And while we’re at it, let’s also grow our own coffee beans and learn Icelandic before lunch.
The truth? You can set meaningful writing goals without losing your mind, your joy, or your will to write.
Here’s how to do it like a real human being, with a life, a brain, and limited energy.
Step One: Figure Out What You Actually Want
Before you set goals, get clear on the why.
Do you want to write a book because:
- You’ve had a story inside you forever?
- You want to self-publish and build a reader base?
- You just need a creative outlet that isn’t doomscrolling?
All goals are not created equal. Be honest about what matters to you. Not what your writing friends are doing. Not what TikTok says is impressive.
The more personal your goal, the more likely you’ll stick with it. And if part of what you want is a clearer sense of what “finishing” might look like, you’ll find it helpful to explore How Long Should Your Book Be? (And Does Genre Matter?)
Step Two: Shrink the Goal (No, Smaller)
Let’s say your big dream is to write a novel. Great.
Now instead of putting “write a novel” on your to-do list, which is vague and terrifying, break it into tiny, doable steps:
- Brainstorm your idea
- Write a character sketch
- Draft one scene
- Write 100 words today
- Open your document and just reread what you wrote yesterday
You want your goals to feel so small they’re almost laughable. That way, when you complete them, your brain gets a little hit of “look at me go” instead of a wave of “I’m a failure.”
Step Three: Choose Progress Over Perfection
Perfection will kill your writing momentum faster than a phone call from your dentist.
Set goals that focus on showing up, not performing at your peak.
Try things like:
- “Write for 15 minutes every other day”
- “Finish a rough first draft, even if it’s messy”
- “Keep going, even when it’s awkward”
You’re building a writing habit, not auditioning for a genius award.
Step Four: Plan for Life to Happen
Some days you’ll feel inspired. Other days you’ll feel like a sentient bag of laundry. Welcome to being human.
When setting writing goals, build in room for chaos.
- Don’t expect to write every day if your life is unpredictable
- Don’t beat yourself up if you miss a week
- Do allow for real-life interruptions, messy moods, and Netflix binges
Make a plan that includes failure, because you’re going to have off days. That doesn’t mean the plan is broken. It means it’s working for a real person.
Step Five: Track Your Wins (Even the Tiny Ones)
Progress can feel invisible when it’s slow.
So find a way to see what you’ve done:
- Keep a sticky note tally of words written
- Journal one sentence about your writing session
- Make a “done” list instead of a to-do list
- Text a friend and brag a little (“Wrote 300 words and didn’t cry!”)
The goal isn’t just to write; it’s to keep wanting to write.
Celebrating yourself helps with that.
Step Six: Adjust Without Quitting
Set a goal. Try it for a week or two.
Then ask: is this working?
If it’s not? Adjust. Don’t trash the whole dream.
- Too much? Scale back.
- Too easy? Push a little.
- Totally forgotten what your goal even was? Cool. Pick a new one.
You don’t need to be rigid. You need to be responsive.
There’s no shame in pivoting. That’s not quitting; it’s strategy.
Step Seven: Don’t Confuse Productivity With Progress
Writing more doesn’t always mean writing better.
And tracking words doesn’t always equal growth.
Progress can look like:
- Solving a plot problem in the shower
- Scrapping a chapter that wasn’t working
- Daydreaming about a new character
- Taking a break to refill your creative tank
You don’t need to “hustle” to be a writer.
You just need to keep coming back to the page.
Step Eight: Choose Goals That Make You Feel Like a Writer
At the end of the day, the best writing goals are the ones that make you feel like you belong here.
Not the goals that make you feel behind. Not the ones that drain you.
Ask yourself:
- What makes me feel connected to my writing?
- What helps me feel proud of myself, even on off days?
- What would future-me be glad I did?
Start there.
Final Thoughts: You’re Allowed to Go Slow
Your writing goals should serve you, not the other way around.
So set the kind of goals that fit into your life.
The kind you can stick with, laugh through, take a break from, and come back to when you’re ready.
Because slow progress is still progress.
And realistic goals? Those are the ones that actually get you to “The End.”
You might also enjoy:
Writing routines for people with actual lives
Imposter syndrome: Why it’s so common (and how to shut it up)