Time to Review Your Memoir Writing Progress
Mar 28, 2023
As the second quarter of 2023 begins, it's a great time to reflect on your writing goals for the year. Have you made progress towards achieving them? Have you encountered any obstacles or challenges along the way? Whatever your current status may be, now’s the perfect time to make a fresh start and assess your goals to ensure they are realistic and achievable.
Reflect on your progress
Think about the goals you set for your memoir at the start of this year. Have you made the progress you had hoped for? Take a minute to list out two or three writing wins you’ve achieved so far this year. If you’re not as far as you wanted to be, what’s gotten in the way of your progress?
Revisit (and revise) your goals
To help you set effective writing goals, consider following the SMARTER goal system. Your goals should be specific, measurable, actionable, risky, time-bound, exciting, and relevant. By setting SMARTER goals, you'll be more motivated and focused to achieve them.
As you revisit your writing goals, are there any revisions you want to make? Do you need to adjust the number of days you write each week to realistically align with your life’s demands? Does your deadline need to change? Can you write more than you initially thought you could? Think about creating a stretch goal to boost your progress in the next quarter.
Recommit to your writing time
Once you've established your writing goals, it's time to schedule them into your calendar. Set aside specific writing time each day or week and block it off on your calendar. Sharing your goals with someone who can help keep you accountable, such as a partner or writing group, can also be helpful.
Remember your ‘why’
Do you struggle to stay motivated to write your memoir? To help you keep up your commitment, review your reason for writing a memoir. If you haven’t created a compelling 'why,' take a few minutes to write one. Ask yourself why you want to write and what you hope to accomplish by doing so. Your 'why' will help keep you motivated and committed to your writing, especially during times when it gets tough.
If you need more help getting started on your writing goals, grab the free guide, "7 Tips to Get Started Writing Your Life Story." Don't let another quarter go by without giving your memoir the time it deserves.