Let’s be honest.

We all say we want to write more. But between Netflix binges, scrolling social media, and the mysterious ability of the fridge to call our name every 20 minutes, actually sitting down to write can feel impossible.

That’s where writing goals come in.

A solid writing goal gives you direction. It keeps you from staring at a blank page, waiting for inspiration to strike like a lightning bolt from the heavens (spoiler: it won’t).

Instead of hoping “I should write a book someday,” a goal turns it into “I will write 500 words a day and finish my novel in six months.”

See the difference?

This post will show you how to set realistic, achievable writing goals—and actually stick to them. Whether you’re a total beginner or an experienced writer looking to level up, these strategies will help you stay motivated, productive, and on track.

Let’s do this.

Why Writing Goals Matter

Imagine setting off on a road trip with no map, no GPS, and no idea where you’re headed.

You’d probably end up lost, hungry, and questioning every life choice that led you to this moment.

Writing without goals is the same thing.

You might have the desire to write, but without clear targets, your progress will be slow, frustrating, and full of distractions.

Here’s why goals make all the difference:

1. They Keep You Motivated

Writing is fun… until it’s not.

Some days, the words flow effortlessly. Other days, writing feels like pulling teeth—without anesthesia.

Having a goal gives you a reason to push through the tough days. It reminds you why you started in the first place.

2. They Help You Build a Writing Habit

Ever notice how habits make life easier? You don’t think twice about brushing your teeth or making coffee in the morning. It’s automatic.

Writing can be the same way.

When you set a daily or weekly writing goal, you train your brain to show up consistently. The more you do it, the easier it gets.

3. They Track Your Progress

Writing a novel, blog, or even short stories takes time. Without a goal, it’s easy to feel like you’re not getting anywhere.

But when you set measurable goals—like “I will write 1,000 words per week”—you can see your progress.

It’s like leveling up in a video game. Each milestone gets you closer to the finish line.

How to Set Writing Goals That Actually Work

Alright, now that you’re convinced writing goals are a game-changer, let’s talk about how to set them the right way.

Because let’s be real—saying “I’ll write a book” is about as useful as saying “I’ll get in shape” without any plan to actually do it.

1. Be Specific

Vague goals lead to vague results.

Instead of: “I want to write more”
Try: “I will write 500 words every weekday.”

See the difference?

A specific goal gives you clear instructions. No more wondering “Did I write enough today?”

2. Make Your Goals Achievable

Here’s a mistake a lot of writers make: They set goals that sound impressive but are way too ambitious.

Like deciding you’ll write 5,000 words a day when you’ve barely written a tweet in the last six months.

That’s like saying, “I’m going to run a marathon tomorrow!”—when the last time you ran was to catch a bus.

Start small.

If you’re new to goal-setting, aim for something realistic. Maybe 300 words a day. Maybe 1,000 words a week. Something that pushes you just enough without making you want to throw your laptop out the window.

Consistency beats intensity every time.

3. Set a Deadline

Ever notice how fast you can write when there’s a deadline breathing down your neck?

It’s like a superpower.

No deadline? You’ll write someday.
Deadline? You’ll write today.

Deadlines create urgency. They keep you from putting things off until next week… next month… next year… (you get the idea).

Boom. You have a plan.

4. Keep Your Goals Measurable

A goal should answer three questions:

1. What are you writing? (Novel? Blog posts? Poetry?)
2. How much are you writing? (Daily word count? Weekly chapters?)
3. When do you want to finish? (One month? Six months?)

Instead of: “I want to blog more”
Try: “I will write one blog post per week for three months.”

Now you can track your progress.

Because if you can’t measure it, how do you know if you’re succeeding?

Breaking Big Goals into Bite-Sized Chunks

Big goals are scary.

Writing a novel? Terrifying.

Publishing a book? Even scarier.

But you know what’s not scary? Writing 500 words today.

The trick is to break big goals into tiny, manageable pieces.

Short-Term vs. Long-Term Goals

Long-term goals are great (“I will publish my novel by next year”), but they only work if you set short-term steps to get there.

Think of it like leveling up in a video game. You don’t defeat the final boss on day one. You start with smaller challenges and work your way up.

A solid breakdown:

• Daily goal → Write 500 words
• Weekly goal → Finish one chapter
• Monthly goal → Hit 10,000 words

Before you know it, you’re stacking wins and making real progress.

Reverse-Engineer Your Writing Goal

Instead of saying “I hope I finish my book someday”, work backward.

If you want to complete a 60,000-word novel in 6 months, here’s your breakdown:

• Month 1: Write 10,000 words
• Month 3: Hit 30,000 words (halfway!)
• Month 6: Finish your draft 🎉

That’s just 500 words a day with a few buffer days. Totally doable.

Using a Writing Roadmap

A roadmap helps you see your progress.

You can use:
✅ A simple checklist (cross off each milestone)
✅ A spreadsheet to track daily/weekly word counts
✅ Writing apps like Scrivener, Notion, or Trello

Seeing progress keeps you motivated.

Because nothing beats the satisfaction of hitting a goal and knowing you’re one step closer to the finish line.

Building a Writing Habit That Actually Sticks

Okay, so you’ve got your writing goals set.

Now comes the hard part—sticking to them.

Because let’s be honest, setting a goal is easy. Actually sitting down to write every day? That’s where most people crash and burn.

So how do you turn writing into a habit—one that sticks even when motivation disappears?

Let’s break it down.

Find Your Best Writing Time

Some people wake up at 5 AM, make coffee, and write 2,000 words before breakfast.

Others don’t feel creative until midnight, fuelled by caffeine and questionable life choices.

Which one are you?

If you’re not sure, experiment. Try writing in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Find when your brain works best—and then schedule your writing sessions around it.

Pro Tip: Track your time of day spent writing and daily word count. Rachel Aaron, author of 2k to 10k: Writing Faster, Writing Better, and Writing More of What You Love, only realised that she wrote faster and better in the afternoon because she tracked her word count and time of day writing.

Because once you figure out your best writing time, everything gets easier.

Schedule Writing Like It’s an Important Meeting

Ever notice how you always make time for work meetings, dentist appointments, or catching up on the latest episode of your favorite show?

That’s because you schedule them.

Do the same with writing.

Pick a time—whether it’s 15 minutes or an hour—and treat it like an unmissable appointment.

Put it in your calendar. Set a reminder. Heck, tell your friends you’re “in a meeting” if they ask why you’re unavailable.

Because this meeting? It’s with your future bestselling-author self.

Use the “Don’t Break the Chain” Method

Ever heard of Jerry Seinfeld’s famous productivity hack?

He wanted to improve his comedy writing, so he set a simple goal: Write a joke every single day.

Every day he did it, he put a big red X on his calendar. After a few days, he had a streak going.

And once he had that streak? He didn’t want to break it.

The longer your streak, the more you’ll want to keep it going.

And before you know it? Writing daily will feel as natural as scrolling through Instagram (but way more productive).

Track Your Progress Like a Pro

You know what’s super motivating? Seeing how far you’ve come.

That’s why tracking your writing progress is so important.

Here are a few easy ways to do it:

1. Keep a Writing Journal

Write down how many words you wrote each day. Add a quick note about how the session felt.

Some days will be amazing. Some will be rough. But over time, you’ll see your progress in black and white.

2. Use a Spreadsheet

Make a simple Google Sheet. Track your daily word count, weekly totals, and milestones.

Seeing those numbers go up? Instant motivation.

3. Try a Writing App

Apps like Scrivener, Notion, or Pacemaker help you stay on track. Some even give you fancy graphs to show your progress (because who doesn’t love a good graph?).

Stacking Small Wins for Big Results

The key to writing success?

It’s not about huge bursts of motivation. It’s about showing up, even when you don’t feel like it.

Because that’s how books get written.

Staying Motivated and Accountable

Writing is a solo sport.

It’s just you, your keyboard, and a blinking cursor that sometimes feels like it’s mocking you.

But that doesn’t mean you have to do it alone.

The best way to stay motivated and on track? Accountability.

Find Your Writing Tribe

Writing is hard. But you know what makes it easier? Other writers.

Find people who get it. People who understand the struggle of fighting off distractions (yes, fridge, I hear you).

Join a writing group. Find an accountability partner.

When you have people cheering you on (or nagging you when you slack off), it’s way harder to quit.

Bribe Yourself with Rewards

Listen, motivation is great. But sometimes, you just need a good old-fashioned bribe.

Make writing fun. Give yourself something to look forward to.

Because let’s be real—sometimes, a promise of snacks is all it takes.

Overcoming the Slumps

Even with the best goals, you’ll hit roadblocks.

Maybe you’ll get stuck. Maybe life gets busy. Maybe your brain just doesn’t want to cooperate (rude).

Here’s how to push through:

1. Accept That Not Every Day Will Be Amazing

Some days, words will flow. Other days, writing will feel like wrestling an angry octopus.

That’s normal. Write anyway.

Even if it’s bad. Even if you hate every word. Because progress is progress.

2. Change Things Up

Feeling stuck? Try something new.

• Write somewhere different – A coffee shop, a park, even just a new room.
• Do a writing sprint – Set a timer for 10-15 minutes and race against the clock.
• Try writing by hand – Sometimes, a change in medium shakes things loose.

3. Take Breaks (But Not Too Many)

Breaks are good. Binge-watching an entire season of Stranger Things instead of writing? Less good.

Find balance. Step away when you need to. But don’t lose momentum.

Adjust and Evolve Your Goals

Your goals aren’t set in stone.

Life happens. Maybe you need to slow down. Maybe you’re crushing it and want to push harder.

That’s okay. Adjust as needed.

Writing success isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress.

Start Today

You don’t need a perfect plan.

You don’t need to wait for “the right time.”

You just need to start.

Set a goal. Make it specific, achievable, and trackable. Show up every day, even when you don’t feel like it.

And before you know it?

You won’t just be wanting to write.

You’ll be doing it.

Now, go set that goal. 🚀