How to Set New Writing Goals at the End of the Quarter

Setting writing goals is a crucial aspect of any successful writing journey. Whether you’re working on a novel, a memoir, or a non-fiction book, having clear and achievable goals can help you stay motivated, focused, and productive. However, it’s not enough to simply set goals at the beginning of the year and forget about them. To truly maximize your potential and achieve your writing aspirations, it’s essential to regularly review and realign your goals on a quarterly basis. By taking the time to assess your progress, reflect on your experiences, and make necessary adjustments, you can ensure that your writing goals remain relevant, meaningful, and achievable throughout the year.

Assessing Quarterly Writing Goals

As you reach the end of each quarter, it’s crucial to take a step back and assess the writing goals you set for yourself at the beginning of the year. This process of reflection and evaluation allows you to gain valuable insights into your progress and make necessary adjustments for the upcoming quarter.

Did You Set Writing Goals for Q1?

First and foremost, it’s essential to ask yourself whether you actually set any writing goals for Q1. If you didn’t, that’s okay – it’s never too late to start. However, if you did set goals, it’s time to take a closer look at them and determine how well you fared.

Evaluating Your Progress

If you did set writing goals for Q1, the next question to ask is whether you reached them. This is where honesty and objectivity come into play. It’s important to assess your progress realistically, without being too hard on yourself or making excuses for any shortcomings.

Consider the milestones you set for yourself and evaluate how close you came to achieving them. Did you meet your daily, weekly, or monthly word count targets? Did you complete the chapters or sections you had planned to write? If you fell short, try to identify the reasons behind it and consider how you can overcome those obstacles in the future.

Emotional Expectations vs. Reality

When setting writing goals, we often have an idea of how reaching those goals will make us feel. Perhaps we expected to feel a sense of accomplishment, pride, or relief upon completing a particular milestone. However, it’s not uncommon for our emotional reality to differ from our expectations.

Take a moment to reflect on how you actually felt when you reached your writing goals, or even as you made progress towards them. Did you experience the emotions you had anticipated? If not, why do you think that is? Understanding the emotional aspect of goal-setting and achievement can help us create more realistic and fulfilling targets for the future.

By assessing our quarterly writing goals, we gain a clearer picture of our progress, challenges, and emotional responses. This information is invaluable as we move forward and set our sights on Q2, allowing us to create goals that are both achievable and aligned with our desired outcomes.

The Emotion-Driven Approach to Writing Goals

As we move into the next quarter, it’s time to consider a fresh perspective on setting writing goals. Rather than focusing solely on the tangible outcomes, we encourage you to adopt an emotion-driven approach, inspired by Danielle Laporte’s concept of Core Desired Feelings (CDFs).

Understanding Core Desired Feelings (CDFs)

Danielle Laporte, a renowned author and speaker, introduced the idea of CDFs in her book “The Desire Map.” According to Laporte, CDFs are the feelings we most want to experience in our lives. By identifying these emotions and using them as a guiding light, we can create goals that are more meaningful and fulfilling.

When applied to writing goals, this concept suggests that we should focus on how we want to feel throughout the writing process, rather than just fixating on the end result. By prioritizing our desired emotional state, we can cultivate a more positive and engaging writing experience.

Shifting Focus to Desired Feelings

Traditionally, goal-setting has revolved around external milestones and achievements. While these targets are important, they don’t always align with our inner motivations and desires. By shifting our focus to the feelings we want to embody as we work towards our writing goals, we tap into a deeper source of inspiration and resilience.

For example, instead of setting a goal to write a certain number of pages per day, consider how you want to feel as you engage in the writing process. Do you want to feel inspired, curious, or peaceful? By identifying your desired emotional state, you can craft writing goals that support and enhance those feelings.

Aligning Your Writing Process with Desired Emotions

Once you’ve identified your desired feelings, the next step is to align your writing process with those emotions. This means creating a writing environment and routine that supports and nurtures your desired emotional state.

If you want to feel calm and focused while writing, you might create a ritual of meditation or deep breathing before each writing session. If you want to feel energized and inspired, you could start your day with a creative writing prompt or engage in freewriting exercises.

By consciously aligning your writing process with your desired emotions, you create a more supportive and enjoyable writing experience. This emotion-driven approach can help you stay motivated, overcome obstacles, and ultimately achieve your writing goals in a way that feels authentic and rewarding.

Realigning Writing Goals for the New Quarter

As we step into the second quarter, it’s essential to take a moment to realign our writing goals based on our experiences and insights from Q1. This process involves reflecting on our desired emotional states, assessing our progress, and making necessary adjustments to ensure a more fulfilling and successful writing journey.

Reassessing Desired Emotional States

Before setting new writing goals for Q2, take a moment to reflect on the emotional states you wanted to experience in Q1. Ask yourself if those desired feelings still resonate with you or if your priorities have shifted. It’s perfectly normal for our emotional needs to evolve over time, and recognizing these changes is crucial for setting meaningful goals.

If you find that your desired emotions have changed, embrace this opportunity to redefine your emotional targets for Q2. Consider what feelings you want to cultivate and experience as you engage in the writing process. Do you want to feel more confident, creative, or connected to your work? Use these insights to guide your goal-setting process.

Evaluating Annual Writing Goals

With one quarter behind us, it’s time to assess our progress towards our annual writing goals. Take a look at the milestones you set for yourself at the beginning of the year. Then, evaluate how far you’ve come. If you’re on track, celebrate your achievements and use this momentum to propel you forward.

If you find that you’re falling behind on your annual goals, don’t be discouraged. Instead, use this opportunity to recalibrate and make adjustments. Break down your larger goals into smaller, manageable tasks and set realistic milestones for the new quarter. Remember, progress is not always linear, and setbacks are a natural part of the writing process.

Adjusting the New Quarter’s Writing Goals

Armed with insights from the previous quarter and a clear understanding of your desired emotional states, it’s time to adjust your writing goals for the new quarter. Consider your previous quarter’s performance, both in terms of tangible achievements and emotional fulfillment. Use this information to create goals that are both challenging and achievable, while aligning with your desired feelings.

If you found that certain writing habits or routines didn’t support your desired emotional state in the previous quarter, make a conscious effort to change them in the new quarter. For example, if you felt overwhelmed by your daily word count target. In this case, consider reducing it to a level that feels more manageable and enjoyable.

Remember, the key to successful writing goals is finding a balance between aspiration and realism, while prioritizing your emotional well-being. By realigning your goals for the new quarter, you set yourself up for a more fulfilling and productive writing experience.

Strategies for Achieving the New Quarter’s Writing Goals

Now that you’ve realigned your writing goals for the new quarter, it’s essential to develop strategies that will help you stay on track and maintain a positive emotional state throughout the writing process. By implementing these practical techniques, you’ll be better equipped to navigate the challenges and celebrate the successes of your writing journey.

Breaking Down Larger Goals into Manageable Milestones

One of the most effective ways to achieve your new quarter writing goals is to break them down into smaller, manageable milestones. Large, long-term goals can often feel overwhelming and intimidating, making it difficult to maintain motivation and focus. By dividing your goals into bite-sized tasks, you create a more accessible and achievable path forward.

Start by identifying the key milestones you want to reach by the end of the new quarter. These might include completing a certain number of chapters, finishing a round of revisions, or submitting your work to beta readers. Once you have your milestones in place, break them down further into weekly or even daily tasks. This approach allows you to focus on the present moment and make steady progress towards your larger goals.

Maintaining Focus on Desired Emotional State

As you work towards your new quarter’s writing goals, it’s crucial to maintain focus on your desired emotional state. Remember, the emotion-driven approach to goal-setting is all about cultivating the feelings you want to experience throughout the writing process. By keeping these emotions at the forefront of your mind, you’ll be better able to stay motivated and engaged.

When faced with challenges or setbacks, take a moment to reconnect with your desired feelings. Ask yourself, “What can I do in this moment to support my desired emotional state?” This might involve taking a short break to practice mindfulness, engaging in a creative writing exercise, or reaching out to a supportive writing community.

By consistently prioritizing your emotional well-being, you create a more resilient and enjoyable writing experience, even in the face of obstacles.

Celebrating Progress and Embracing Imperfection

Finally, to maintain a positive and motivated mindset throughout the new quarter, it’s essential to celebrate your progress and embrace imperfection. Writing is a journey, and every step forward, no matter how small, is worth acknowledging and appreciating.

Take time to recognize your achievements, whether it’s hitting a daily word count target or completing a particularly challenging scene. Share your successes with others, and allow yourself to feel a sense of pride and accomplishment.

At the same time, remember that perfection is not the goal. Embrace the fact that your writing will always be a work in progress, and that’s okay. By allowing yourself to be imperfect, you create space for growth, experimentation, and creativity.

By breaking down your goals, maintaining focus on your desired emotions, and celebrating your progress, you’ll be well-equipped to achieve your new quarter’s writing goals and enjoy a more fulfilling writing experience.

Achieve Your Writing Goals!

Setting emotion-driven writing goals is a powerful way to create a more fulfilling and successful writing experience. By focusing on the feelings we want to cultivate and aligning our writing process with those desired emotions, we tap into a deeper source of motivation and resilience. As we move through the year, it’s essential to regularly assess our progress and realign our goals based on our experiences and insights. By embracing this fluid and reflective approach to goal-setting, we set ourselves up for continued growth and achievement on our writing journey. So, keep reflecting, adjusting, and celebrating as you pursue your writing goals in the new quarter and beyond.

READ MORE: The Secret Art of Achieving Your Writing Goals