Setting Realistic Goals

Gain Power by Sidestepping the One-Size-Fits-All Mind-Set

Erika Liodice

When it comes to setting goals, writers are commonly told to make them “SMART”—that is, specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound. While that’s great guidance, no one ever explains how to tell if your goals are indeed realistic.

I know this because setting unrealistic goals used to be a specialty of mine. In fact, next to my computer is a greeting card that pictures a little girl pushing with all her might against a boulder twice her size. Inside, my dad wrote: “This made me think of you.”

I’ve been setting unrealistic goals for as long as I can remember. Take, for example, the time I was ten and tried to organize a carnival in my backyard: Only one kid showed up, and I spent more money than I earned. Or consider the time I was thirteen and was cast in a Great Adventure amusement park commercial that I hoped would be the stepping-stone to my movie career—that was my first and last onscreen appearance. And then there was the time I was twenty-five and thought that I could crank out my first novel in a year; it took three.

For me, it took not running a marathon, not starting an organic vegetable farming operation in my backyard, and not finishing my second novel faster than my first to realize that setting realistic goals begins with being realistic about who you are—and, more important, who you are not.

ACCOUNT FOR YOUR U-FACTOR

Have you ever noticed how writers’ goals tend to sound similar? My goal is to write 2,000 words a day. My goal is to write every night after work. My goal is to finish my novel by the end of the year. The problem with these one-size-fits-all goals is that they don’t account for your U(nique)-factor: the special blend of strengths and weaknesses, talents and limitations, and preferences and aversions that make you uniquely you.

If all of my un-achievements have taught me anything, it’s that realistic goals should harness your natural strengths, talents, and preferences to propel you forward while preventing your weaknesses, limitations, and aversions from tripping you up.

BEGIN WITH SELF-ASSESSMENT

To better understand your U-factor, consider the following questions and then evaluate how your answers align with your writing goals. Be on the lookout for misalignments, as they are a good indication that you’ve set an unrealistic goal.

When are you most creative? If your creativity engine kicks on in the morning, then your goal to exchange your nightly TV show for writing time may set you up for disappointment. That’s because your goal (nightly writing sessions) isn’t aligned with your U-factor (morning creativity). Instead exchange those TV shows for sleep so you can wake up early and get cracking on that manuscript.

However, if your creativity rises after the sun sets, aiming for early-morning writing sessions may leave you with lackluster results. In this case, shift your goal—and your schedule—to harness the power of those dark, quiet hours.

Do you prefer to concentrate on a project for long periods of time or in short bursts? If you produce your best work when you have plenty of time to immerse yourself in the project, then your goal to steal away for several mini-writing sessions throughout the day may prove frustrating and unproductive. That’s because your goal (mini-writing sessions) doesn’t align with your U-factor (a long attention span). You might consider the more realistic goal of scheduling fewer writing sessions that encompass bigger blocks of time and allow you to maximize your steadfast focus.

On the other hand, if you tend to lose interest quickly, then vowing to devote your entire Saturday morning to your manuscript may fill you with dread. You might have greater success with shorter, more frequent writing sessions.

Do you approach life with a plan, or do you prefer to take things as they come? If you’re a structured person who approaches life strategically, then your goal to write your novel by the seat of your pants may leave you feeling adrift. That’s because your goal (“pantsing” your novel) isn’t aligned with your U-factor (planning and organization). Your organized nature can be a major strength; tap into it by approaching your plot with a plan.

However, if planning cramps your style, your goal to outline your book chapter by chapter might feel like torture. This doesn’t mean you couldn’t (or shouldn’t) work from an outline; it simply means that you should create a goal that caters to your free spirit, like creating a macro-level outline that gives you a general idea of where you’re headed while allowing you to explore new ideas as they arrive. (For more on plotting and pantsing, see the “Plot It, or Pants It?” essays by Ray Rhamey and Anne Greenwood Brown.)

Do you tend to abandon long-term projects in favor of something new and exciting, or do you typically see them through to completion? If you enjoy starting projects more than finishing them, then your goal to complete your novel by the end of the year may feel daunting and out of reach. That’s because your goal (completing your novel) isn’t aligned with your U-factor (the need for new and exciting challenges). Rather than working toward one big goal, try tackling your novel chapter by chapter or scene by scene, breaking down your goal into a series of smaller challenges that fulfill your desire to constantly begin anew.

On the other hand, if you have a proven track record of seeing long-term projects through to completion, smaller goals might not pose enough of a challenge and could cause you to lose interest. Set a more realistic goal of focusing on bigger milestones that take longer to reach but allow your perseverance to shine.

BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF “U”

If you’ve ever not met your daily word count goal, not finished your novel, or not used your writing time for writing, don’t despair. These un-achievements aren’t a reflection of your capability (or lack thereof); more likely, they’re a symptom of setting an unrealistic goal.

By taking the time to first understand your U-factor, you’ve armed yourself with the information you need to set a realistic goal that motivates and inspires you rather than one that makes you feel like you’re pushing with all your might against a boulder twice your size.