If you set writing goals earlier in the year, how are you getting on? What's been working for you ... and what hasn't?

Here's how my writing goals have been going during July, August, and September ... and what I'm planning to do over the next three months too.

Goal #1: Write 250+ Words Per Day

I missed a few days, particularly a week-long chunk in June, and another week-long chunk in late September, when things were particularly busy and draining! But I stuck to this goal most of the time, with plenty of days when I wrote 300 or 350 words. And I'm really pleased that I got going again each time after taking those weeks off: I think in past years, I'd have given up on the goal at that point.

Going Forward: I think I may need a way to be less rigid about this goal in the longer term! For the rest of this year, I want to keep it as-is (though I'm trying not to get too frustrated when I inevitably miss some days). Next year, I might have a goal to average 250 or 300 words/day, then I can deliberately take days off.

Goal #2: Finish and Publish My Novel in Progress

This one's a year-long goal, and during the last quarter, I wasn't working on it at all as it was with my editor! I got it back last week, just after the end of the quarter. My lovely editor's feedback was super helpful (as always!) but now I need to gear up for the rewrites...

Going Forward: I'd really hoped to get this novel done and published by the end of 2023, but this quarter is shaping up to be quite challenging on a domestic front! I'm going to aim to get the rewrites done by the end of the quarter, but I think I'll be pushing the final pass-through on edits, plus the publishing preparation, into early 2024. I don't to rush the novel out when taking a few extra months could make it (a) a lot easier on me and (b) a better finished piece.

Goal #3: Explore Other Genres of Fiction

My third goal this year was to explore genres I don't normally write in by:

• Writing two short stories (done in the first quarter)
• Completing two novel outlines plus the first 3 chapters in different genres

During this quarter, I've been working on my children's novel idea (I've drafted around 3 chapters now, but they're much more slow-paced than they should be). I also returned to a near-future SF project during the last quarter, and wrote some new material for that.

Going Forward: I'm not sure I'm going to get the novel outlines written, or get the first 3 chapters of each polished up to any degree, but I'd love to write and submit at least one more short story this quarter.

As before, I've had some better writing times than others! I was sorry not to fit in a writing retreat during Q3, and I'm keen to get one in during Q4 ... having a big block of time to focus on writing makes a huge difference to my motivation, as well as to my on-paper progress.

However your writing's been going, I hope you've been able to make some forward progress with your writing goals. 

If you're in the Aliventures Club, come and share your progress in our quarterly "how's it going" thread here:

facebook.com/groups/aliventuresclub/posts/4447961848761322

* The Aliventures Club is open to anyone who's bought anything from me, ever! If that's you, I'd be delighted if you'd join us here: facebook.com/groups/aliventuresclub

If you haven't bought anything yet but you're planning to do so in the near future, you're welcome to join too. Then, just buy anything from the Aliventures shop once you're ready. :-) 

Happy writing,

Ali

P.S. No new Aliventures post last week, but here's the one from two weeks ago, in case you missed it.

How to Write When ... You're Bored With What You're Writing