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Goal Setting for Writers I

© Kim Applegate

A professional writer is an amateur who didn't quit.
Richard Bach

Is being a writer some hazy, romantic notion of spending evenings plucking grand notions out of the air ~~ Creating elegant prose out of mayhem? Or is writing something you have always done? Have you always had a journal, penned poetry in your spare time, or are you jabbing away at a first novel? Possibly you are a published writer taking a breather from the pressure of an upcoming deadline.

Knowing where you are, is the first step in choosing where you want to go. Why are you a writer? Is it for fame or is it for fortune? Probably a bit of both is in the mix driving you to write. And we do need drive to be writers. Anyone who has put words on paper with the goal of having it published, knows how gruelling the process can be. So many things have to come together to make an article or story work.

To write successfully, you must know why you write. To have longevity as a writer, you need an irresistible vision pulling you forward and keeping you on the writing track.

It is easy to become excited and passionate about a new pursuit or hobby. Genuine achievement is sticking with your passion through the years.

Give your passion a focus.

To have focus, you must be specific. I suggest you describe exactly what outcome you want for your writing and for yourself as a writer.

• Do you want to be a part-time travel writer? Perhaps funding your passion for travel with an article or two from each trip.
• Do you want to be a book author?
• Do you want to be a full-time freelance writer? Your goal: To leave your 9 to 5 job for the adventure of freelancing.
• Do you want to see your words and ideas in print, with little or no concern of making money from your effort?

Now, take the time to brainstorm on the reasons you write. Once you have a healthy batch of ideas, start working them into an ultimate image of you as a writer. Work on it, shape it, burnish your ideas to a shine. The objective is to have a vision for your writing goals. It's o.k. if you're uncertain about how to succeed in achieving your writing vision. The more important aspect of the exercise is for you to uncover your driving force for writing and commit that force to paper. A goal written is all but accomplished.