If you google 'setting writing goals' you'll find lots and lots of advice, most from more successful writers than me. I can only share what works for me.
When I first started, I received a lot of advice on setting goals involving word counts. One thousand words a day, five thousand words a week, thirty thousand per month, two books per year, lots of numbers. And I try to make those numbers though that's not how I set my goals day by day or writing session by writing session.
I set goals by scenes or chapters. Sometimes they might be 10K or 1K. By finishing a scene, I feel like I've moved the story forward no matter how large or small the word count. Then I usually walk away, do chores, sleep on it, do some shopping, all the while thinking on that next scene. When I sit at the keyboard again, I'm ready to dive into the next scene. There are occasions when I already have that next scene ready in my mind. Those are days when the numbers really add up.
Some people have a certain amount of time to write and their goal is to spend that time wisely. I'm not sure how that works out.
But if you're not meeting the goals you set for yourself, perhaps you need to look at different styles of goal setting. Not making your word count? Try setting scene goals.
Do you set goals by words count? By time? By chapter or scene? What works for you?
14 comments:
I don't set goals by word count, I just try to get as much done in the rare free time that I have. I have found, though, that I can get a lot more done by dictating while I'm driving to work in the mornings into my iPhone recorder, then typing it up in my lunch break.
My writing goals depend on the project or if I'm participating in a challenge. During NaNo, I focus on word count. Once I did Story a Day, where I wrote a story every day for the month of May. When I did Write 1 Sub 1, I wrote and subbed at least one story a month.
As long as we're making progress - whatever we define progress - then it's all good. :)
I need to get into the practice of setting, and keeping, writing goals. When I do I feel better and can see that I actually am making progress.
I do it by chapters. I like the feeling of completeness.
mood
I just try to get done as much as I can each time I sit down. I'm happy if I get 5-7k each week.
I've tried words and hours but I like the sound of going by scene. I'll try that. Thanks.
For my sci-fi novel I set goal by word count. For my serialized one that I post for free online, I do it by chapter (as the chapters are generally very short).
I'm terrible at sticking to writing goals. It seems if I have one I become even more determined to avoid it. I like your idea though and also what someone commented, about dictating into their phone and typing it up later. I might have to give both a go. :)
I've never set word count goals. I either set scene goals or time goals.
Kellie, that is a great idea. I do scenes in my head when I'm running and then try to put them down when I'm done.
It's interesting how many different methods there are even with 9 comments above.
Setting a word count goal has worked pretty well for me when I'm in the full swing of writing. I try to hit 5000 a week so I have flexibility. I like the scene goal though; I hadn't thought of that.
I used to be religious about using a daily word count, but this past year I've been working differently. I've been accomplishing my goal of finishing a chapter a week (at least - depending on the length) and working on an outline. That means putting in the scenes and foreshadowing, backstory etc. I never thought to go by scenes, but it's a good idea. I might try that.
Although I'm a natural goal-setter, I never do that with writing. I write until I finish that chapter and then I start the first couple of sentences to the next chapter so I have a good jumping off point the next day.
Back when I was writing non-food stuff, I set hourly goals. I treat my writing like a job, and use the ass to chair method for a set period of time.
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