I talk and teach a lot about goals and about how if a person can name a goal and then make steady and measureable progress towards that goal, then that person will achieve the goal. In hearing myself and reading my own words, I’m reminded of a writing conference session I attended several years ago in which the presenter said that though he was providing a strong blueprint for writing a book, few attendees would actually follow his plan.
He was right; I didn’t take his advice. Though I’ve written two (2) books since then, I have no doubt I’d be further along had I taken his teachings and applied them to my own writing life. Plus, I figure I need to show how goals work, rather than simply write about them. To that end, I am starting a writing program today. I’m following the plan laid out in a book called, “90 Days to Your Novel,” by Sarah Domet. The goal of this writing program is to complete a draft of a novel in, well, ninety (90) days.
Through the lens of “SMART” goals, I believe this goal is viable: the goal is Specific because there is a hard product that should come of the program; the goal is Measurable because I should be able to see how far I’ve come by sticking to the writing assignments laid out in the book; the assignments seem to be Achievable, as long as I actually do them; I am a writer and have written a novel before so the goal is Relevant; and lastly, the ninety (90) days provides a Time-box in which the goal should be completed.
My plan is to do the exercises included in the book and write a post about my progress. If the assignments are share-able, I’ll do so as well. I figure I should take my own advice and flow through the SMART goal process as a means to show others that goals can in fact be achieved. Stay tuned.
April 22, 2014 at 7:47 pm
Some advice given to me and I’ll pass on to you: Write like no one’s judging you, with the door closed, and quickly-until you get to your goal pages or word count number. Don’t stop to revise until the draft is done.
You might be done before the 90 days, it’s the revision process that takes months. Good luck, I know you’ll do it.
April 22, 2014 at 7:47 pm
Some advice given to me and I’ll pass on to you: Write like no one’s judging you, with the door closed, and quickly-until you get to your goal pages or word count number. Don’t stop to revise until the draft is done.
You might be done before the 90 days, it’s the revision process that takes months. Good luck, I know you’ll do it.