Ultimate Writing Goals and How They Can Change

This is part of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group blog-hop, designed to help encourage authors and foster discussions about writing topics across the internet and the world (I missed the memo about it needing to be posted yesterday, apparently). This month’s question is “What’s are your ultimate writing goals and how have they changed over time?”

I think the most important thing about writing goals are to not be too “married” to them, because your creativity can pull you in unexpected directions and you can discover new genres, new areas to write in, and new ways to fulfill your writing dreams.

My writing goals have definitely changed since I was nine (or thereabouts), when I first wrote a story and discovered that writing was something I wanted to do.

Initially, I was going to write historical fiction, something along the lines of the American Girl series that I grew up reading, only longer and more detailed. Then I got into science fiction—my story ideas were modern and technology driven—and then, slowly but surely, I found my stories turning more and more in the fantasy genre direction.

But my writing goals have also changed over time. Originally, I was just going to be a writer, and that was about it. Then, I started getting into book reviews, as writing them helped me assess what I thought about books and how their narration, character arcs, and plot development were handled.

Then, one of the authors who I did a review for asked if I ever did book coaching. Years later, I’m doing book coaching and developmental editing on a regular basis, and I find great joy in helping authors discover waht they’ve written and how they can polish it further, helping it become the story they want it to be.

So here are some ways to broaden your writing goals:

• Try a new genre. You might not think you can write something outside your box, but it’s worth a shot, even if it’s just a short story or flash fiction piece. By writing something different, you’ll exercise your creative muscles and might find a new genre to love
• Think about what makes you happy…and don’t compare yourself to other people. If you find yourself constantly writing short stories when your goals say you should be writing full-length novels, maybe it’s time to reassess your goals. After all, they’re your goals, and it doesn’t really matter if the market appreciates them or not. In the end, it can matter more that you did what you creatively wanted to do, even if no one else thought it matters, because, if it matters to you, it will probably bring you fulfillment and happiness in ways that “following the herd” won’t.
• Be patient. This isn’t an easy one, but if you want to actually achieve your writing goals, then you have to be willing to put the time in and be patient. Finishing a story doesn’t happen in one day, and neither does creating a writing career or crafting a writing hobby, but all of them are worth it, if that’s your goal. You just need to let yourself grow at your pace and not be too hard on yourself.

Happy writing!

Copyright 2018 Andrea Lundgren