When I first started writing, it was fun to just let the characters take me in whatever direction they felt like going. Sooner or later, I would figure out how to pull it all back into whatever narrative I thought worked best. I was doing it for fun, and this was fun.

As time went by, and some of my stories actually sold, I began to feel the need to get control over the beast(s) running amok in my head. I began (oh the horror!) outlining stories, especially after I got halfway into one story and realized it was wrong from the get-go (as they say around here). It helped, and it was still fun to write, but I started feeling overwhelmed by the things I wanted (needed) to get done in the small amount of time I have in the evenings between Charlie’s bedtime and my own. As a writer, it’s really easy to get mired in the swamp of WIPs, plot bunnies, and everyday life.

Own Goal

Funny, how sometimes the answer is right in front of you, but you can’t see it. At the dayjob, they want us to set yearly goals. I often consider it an exercise in futility, because things change so much over the year that the original goals no longer apply. Worse, HR keeps harping about “S.M.A.R.T” goals… I figured it was a buzz-acronym they made up. Seriously, wouldn’t a truly smart goal redefine itself based on the ever-changing corporate landscape?

It was only in the last couple of weeks, when I started weekly planning and goals, that I truly understood the value. Forget the goalposts, the entire field’s moving over the year; and maybe S.M.A.R.T isn’t all that smart for long-term planning. But once I brought it into a closer focus—a week—I started to see the value.

So what is this buzz-acronym, S.M.A.R.T? It’s just as smarmy as you guessed:

  • Specific (I would also argue “Short-term”)
  • Measurable
  • Achievable
  • Results-focused (outcome, not process)
  • Time-bound

Putting the smarm aside—the idea is, don’t just set goals. Set goals that you can actually do, with a deadline, and know when you’ve done them.

Let’s start with a few counter-examples.

Write a novel this week

Not specific, and probably not achievable unless you’re Angela Kulig.

Write 500 words every day

Measurable, but not specific (500 words about what?). What’s the outcome? Do you seriously have the time to achieve this goal every day? When does it end (time-bound)?

Finish Book 2

Not time-bound (when do you finish it?). If you have a deadline in mind, include it—but ask yourself, “can I finish it by then?” (achievable)

Book 4 Promo

Not measurable, time-bound, or results-focused… and it is really specific? For that matter, if you don’t know what what you’re trying to achieve, is it achievable?

Publish three books next year

Close, but no banana. Yes, it has a measure, it’s time-bound, and has an outcome. Depending on your output, it might be achievable. But it’s not specific (hint: three goals are better than one), and life has a way of interfering with long-term goals. Goals are like weather forecasts; it’s easier to predict what you can do in the next week or month. “Short-term” is my personal addition, but maybe my life is exceptionally chaotic. Still, when I floated “S for Short-term” by my co-workers, they agreed whole-heartedly.

Set a Better Goal

So let’s look at some goals that are more buzz-acronym compliant. Note that I’ve said nothing about bullet journals, GTD, or any other tool. You can goal better regardless of how you keep your to-do list.

Write 2500 words for Book 4 this week.

Now you’re clickin’, as my uncle used to say. You’ll know when it’s done, you’ve set a deadline, and you know what the result is. (Yeah, “measurable” and “results-oriented” can have a lot of overlap.) It’s specific—you’re working on Book 4. “Specific” is supposed to be about how, what, and why; in this case, the why is implied (making progress on Book 4, even if you don’t finish it).

Plot Book 5 this weekend. Complete the outline.

This sounds vague, but it’s not. “It’s done” is a valid way to measure a goal. There’s a specific result (in this case, a completed outline). “Time-bound” doesn’t have to just be the end of the period, you can specify a start as well.

Guest blog for Jane: "Origins of Heather and Diane" by Oct. 23 for Book 3 launch.

Again, some jobs are either done or not. You know when it needs to be done, and what you’re doing (a guest post about your characters), and why. Sometimes, you can omit the “why” when you know what it is… as long as you don’t forget about it.

Run A/B test of Book 3 loglines in next week's newsletter. Determine which one gets the best reaction.

You want your goals to have a reason behind them. In this case, you’re trying to figure out which of two loglines are better, so you’re going to do an A/B test in your newsletter going out next week.

Your Turn!

Do you have a goal-setting method that works for you? What have you tried that didn’t work? Sound off in the comments.