6 Ways to Make Your Writing Goals Work Like Magic

If you’re new here, hi! My name is Kimani and I’m a screenwriter/lover of all things art and filmmaking. Every year, I do at least one writing challenge where I spend roughly a month writing out an entire script. Sometimes, it’s a short, a pilot, or a feature and I’ve usually already worked out the arcs and outlining process. I usually give myself 3 months to finish a script: 1 each quater of the year! I’ve been perfecting my process for staying organized, on task, and a decent a schedule and have had newer writers ask me tips on this so I figured that I’d share here because I love talking the writing process all the time. Here’s how I’ve found it to work for me!

1. SMART Goals

   • You want to start out with SMART goals because it will keep you on task. Alot of workflows include these goals and I’ve found them to work well for engineering, and it transferred well for writing. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound. Using “I will write for 30 minutes every weekday at 9 AM” as an example.

     • Specific would be writing for 30 minutes. These could be morning pages or anything else.

     • Measurable is the time set for writing. So 9AM to 9:30AM.

     • Achievable is a manageable duration. 30 minutes is great to start out and build upon, especially if you are pressed for time or don’t normally have goals like these.

     • Relevant is making it align with your goals to write more or finish a work in progress.

     • Time-bound is having a daily schedule or a specific deadline (ex. May 1st)

2. Break Goals into Smaller Tasks 

   • Setting a goal can be daunting and you may be too overwhelmed to start. It may seem too big to you so breaking this goal into smaller, more achievable tasks helps to keep you on track.

     • I’ve never been really good at using apps to keep up. The apps don’t work cause I forget to check the apps. The only thing that works for me is physically writing tasks and deadlines down in my planner and then putting those dates as a Google calendar event with a notification cause if it’s not on the calendar, it doesn’t exist.

     • However, if you need project management tools, Notion, Google apps, and Asana are really good for keeping up with multiple projects at once…if you remember to use them lol.

3. Create a Writing Schedule

   • Having a writing schedule ensures that you not only stay on task but that you continue to hone your skills. How do you get better if you don’t write? You not only reach your goals at a realistic pace, but you establish a rhythm where you will put out pages of work even when you aren’t in the creative mood for it. The greats say it all the time. Consistency always builds discipline.

   • Give yourself one day a week if you’re starting out and just want to do this for fun (unless this is a true hobby or career path where you have full-time to pursue it). Make sure that your ambiance is conducive to what you need to be relaxed, yet alert enough to stay focused. Play around with the right lighting, music/background noise, location and time of day. Some people need to be alone at home and others need to be wearing headphones in a coffee shop. 

   • Using your calendars or apps like the timer on your phone can be helpful to truly block out the time so you stay on task and minimize distraction.

4. Track Your Progress

   • Remember I said that we should have a checklist? Well it’s important to track your progress so you can see if you need to make any adjustments. Sometimes you’ll see that you are ahead of schedule because you got into a flow and really inspired. Other times, you would see that you need to light a fire under your feet so that you can keep up with your deadlines. Like before, you can use your calendars or apps to help you stay on task.

5. Stay Accountable

   • Have some integrity for yourself. You owe it to yourself to go after your goals. So, make sure that you are honoring your commitment to write when you say you’re going to write. I could say give yourself grace but we also need to know when it’s time to just focus. So if you fall off, don’t beat yourself up and wallow, get back started and keep going. Nobody said you had to wear yourself out, just don’t quit.

   • Find a writing partner or group that will remind you of your goals and support you as you tackle them. Sharing your goals with others and vice versa will inspire you to keep it up and if you’re especially anxious like me, it will keep you too embarrassed to not finish because you already put it out there that you’re going after this. Not recommended, but it does work. I’m a doer, not a talker lol.

6. Celebrate Your Achievements

   • What’s the point if you can’t enjoy yourself? Make sure that you take the time to acknowledge all that you accomplish and celebrate yourself and your achievements. It’s no easy feat to come up with a story and finish it, let alone make someone else feel something from your work. Writers are the documenters, the entertainers, the educators. We are needed in times of turmoil and uncertainty. Our words change worlds. They build worlds. They are important. Don’t forget to tell yourself that and give yourself a little treat. You deserve it!

So there you have it. Use this as a guide because everyone’s brain is different and we should be allowed to tweak stuff to work FOR US. People may want you to do it their way but you can do whatever you want so you reach your writing goal. I hope this is helpful and you’re able to implement at some of these tips.

ALSO, I’ll be announcing more details on my socials but I’ll be doing another writing challenge in May so get your loglines, outlines, general ideas, arcs ready. You can write a script, a short story, novel, poetry, etc. but it’ll be a good time! Let’s hold each other accountable!

Create your best writing routine for ultimate success today yall!