As writers, we have big imaginations, lofty ideas, and loads of books we want to write. As writers, we also, procrastinate, quiver under writer’s block, and NEVER HAVE ENOUGH TIME!

If we want to finally finish writing that novel and make moves toward its publication, then we need a strategy that we can easily stick to. Writing on a whim doesn’t work. There’s always something else to be accomplished. New Year’s goals don’t stick past the end of January. 

We need a system that allows us to break down those lofty goals into manageable and timely chunks. We need a way to incorporate SMART Goals on a realistic level.

Today, I want to introduce you to quarterly planning. With quarterly planning we can look at year-long goals within the space of three-month blocks so that the end isn’t so far away that we become complacent, believing that we have enough time to get to it eventually. And we’re also not stressed by an impending deadline.

If you’re looking for a way to break down your writing goals and stay motivated as you consistently work to accomplish them, then this blog post will guide you through the what and the how of quarterly planning!

Take our 12-month calendar year and break it into 4 quarters. How many months do you get? 3 months each!

Rather than planning an entire year, quarterly planning encourages you to plan for only the next three months.

12 months is a long time. And when we start off the new year, it seems so far away. So, we become complacent. We think that we have all of the time in the world to get around to achieving our goals. Time passes. We procrastinate. Days turn into weeks, turn into months and suddenly it’s December again and we are no closer to accomplishing our goal than we were in January.

Quarterly planning keeps the pressure immediate. Three months is long enough to get some real work done but not so long that you can throw your plans on the back burner for a while- if you’re serious about accomplishing your goals that is.

For writers, who are often working with giant, intricate goals such as writing a novel, quarterly planning allows you to break down that goal into manageable chunks whether that be how many words a week you wish to write or how many chapters in a month. Those tasks can be spread out amongst the 4 quarters so that you are left feeling confident and productive, not overwhelmed by the prospect of fulfilling your goal.

Goal-setting is something that we do in our personal lives and that businesses do each year (or quarter).

It allows us to look at our passions and determine if they align with our values. Without setting goals, we are moving aimlessly through the day-to-day tasks, hoping to find that spark. 

Spontaeinaity is excellent! Taking opportunities that serendipitously come your way is great!

But, when we set ourselves realistic and measurable goals that we care about we can intentionally work toward the life that we want to live. Plus, measurable goals allow us to reflect upon whether we are on track to attaining that goal. If not, we can adjust our plans for the best possible outcome.

Beginning with the end in mind allows us to align our actions with our overarching goal. 

As writers, goal-setting is the first step toward completing our novel or even getting published.

It is the difference between saying to yourself, “I’ll just write whatever I’m passionate about,” and stating, “In the next five years, I plan to have written and published the first two novels in my fantasy trilogy.”

Our goals need to be clarified. Vague goals are hard to conceive and work toward. Spending time with your goal and determining the necessary tasks to complete it is essential.

As you move through this blog post, try to keep one writing goal at the forefront of your mind.

To determine which goal to use, ask yourself:

What are my core values?

What is my definition of success as a writer?

Is it…

Self-publishing? A dedicated audience? Completing that manuscript you’ve set aside? Is it something else?

Grab a notebook and a pen. You’ll need them for this post. Write your goal at the top of a fresh page.

On its own, goal-setting is a daydream. It could stay a sweet goal forever if we only wish about it.

Goal-setting with active planning, however, is the first step toward taking action on that goal.

Identify the difference between a long-term goal and a short-term goal. The long-term goal (writing a novel) can be broken down into short-term goals (word counts per week, plotting, writing a chapter etc.).

For a giant goal like publishing a book, we can break it down into these manageable and specific steps or milestones.

If you are not clear on your goal and unsure of the specific tasks that need to be completed to accomplish it then quarterly planning will not work for you. You will be teetering on the edge of uncertainty. 

Clarifying your goal is a necessary first step before taking action.

Grab your notebook again and take some time to brain-dump a list of all the tasks you need to complete to get from point A to point B. 

Deep breaths here. It can be a lengthy list. You might not have all the answers yet. And it’s gonna be messy. That’s okay! 

For example…

My current major goal: to publish my first novel

Some of the tasks that need to be completed before publishing include:

• Revising my novel
• Hiring an editor
• Cover Designing
• Finding ARC Readers
• And so much more that I need to learn about!

Seeing it all down on paper will allow you to set realistic mini-goals each quarter and determine an approximate date for accomplishing your major goal.

Once, you’ve got that big messy list complete, take one final moment to determine the order in which these tasks should be done.

Alrighty, you’ve chosen your major goal and brain-dumped all the tasks you can think of that need to be accomplished.

Now, you’re ready to take your first jab at quarterly planning!

Let’s start with a question…

How many projects should you focus on at once?

You don’t want to spread yourself too thin after all.

Ideally, one big project and then 1-2 smaller goals. You could simply focus on just one project if you don’t have the capacity for more. 

Consider what happens to your focus and energy when you try to accomplish two or more huge goals at once.

You need time to rest and allow yourself to sit comfortably in the world of your goal. Running on a hamster wheel trying to continuously play catch up won’t do you any good. It can be detrimental to your ability to accomplish any one goal.

Start with the goal you identified earlier. Work with just that one for now. Once you get into the swing of things, actions become fluid habits, and your capacity for utilizing quarterly planning expands, come back and reconsider if you’d like to add additional goals to your plate.

For example, I have a major goal of completing my manuscript by the end of this year. And then I have my mini-goal which aligns with becoming a consistent blogger- writing one blog post per week.

So, you’ve got your goal, now you need to ask yourself where you currently are along this process.

Have you already dipped your toes into your passion project? Perhaps, you’ve already got an outline.

Sometimes, we’re not starting right at the beginning.

Are you ready to plan out your first quarter?

Look back at your chosen goal and consider…

Realistically, what can you accomplish in one year? 

Start with that endpoint in mind and jot down all 12 months along the side of your page. Now, do a tentative breakdown of your tasks for each month. 

Your goal doesn’t have to take an entire year. It can take half a year or one quarter- work with what feels realistic to you.

Highlight the first short-term goal that you’d need to accomplish in your first quarter. What do you need to prioritize first? 

Maybe there’s more than one short-term goal depending on how big or small those tasks are. 

Remember to be realistic about how much you can accomplish in three months. 

Ask yourself: If I am only able to accomplish one task this quarter, what will make me feel fulfilled? 

Start there. Accomplishing that will motivate you to continue.

Once you’ve narrowed down your to-dos for the first quarter, it’s time to pull out your calendar- wherever you keep track of your obligations month to month.

Our lives are busy! 

We have so many obligations to keep track of. It’s important to ensure that we are scheduling in time when we can realistically work on our goals. It should be a block where we won’t feel rushed or guilty for taking time away from something else.

Cross-checking our work blocks in advance saves us from getting derailed early in the process.

What time do you have available in which to actively work on these tasks?

Creating a consistent writing routine will support you immensely!

If you already have a consistent schedule, you might be able to block out time weekly for the entire month ahead. If not, no worries! 

Part of quarterly planning will be consistently reviewing your progress. You may need to flexibly rearrange your schedule week by week. 

For now, just consider the week ahead. Where do you have a reasonable amount of time to work on your first task? 

It doesn’t need to be every day. As little as thirty minutes once or twice a week can work. You want to feel confident that this is manageable.

If you are overwhelmed by the necessity to complete these work sessions on top of everything else, resentment will set in and you may find yourself losing the motivation to continue.

So, as you go about blocking out your work time, consider… 

Have you created a manageable schedule? 

Is it a sustainable schedule? 

Do you still have balance in all aspects of your life??

To be truly productive in accomplishing our goals, we need time to rest. We need to set aside our work and allow ourselves a break. 

A true rest is away from technology and social media. It is something we love to do that moves our minds away from our goals for a short time.

Why do you need to take breaks?

Taking breaks increases your productivity and your creativity. A balanced and creative lifestyle incorporates regular moments to recharge.

Block at least one rest stop into your weekly schedule. Commit to taking this break.

Celebrate your progress! Waiting until your book is published is a long way away to show yourself some appreciation for your hard work.

Each week, you accomplish smaller tasks that bring you closer to the realization of your goals. These milestones should be celebrated.

Think about all you’ve accomplished on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Take the opportunity to appreciate yourself.

Celebrating our small wins has the power to keep us motivated and motivation influences our consistency in taking action toward our goals.

Consider what milestones you will hit throughout the process (ex. completing a set number of chapters or a word count, completing the first draft etc.). 

All of these occurrences can be acknowledged. 

Think ahead and plan some moments to celebrate both big and small achievements along the way.

Wow! If you’ve been actively following along with this blog post, then you’ve just done a lot of reflecting on your goals and a ton of planning!

Congrats! You’ve taken your first steps.

But, we’re not done yet! Planning is our starting point. It’s not the action.

Step back and look at your thoughtfully set-out quarterly plan… now, it’s time to put it to work!

Are you committed to following your planned schedule? Yes? Excellent!

Working during your blocked-out times and taking breaks are all necessary, actionable, and productive routines that will support you in achieving your goals quicker than you have in the past. 

But, like any new habit, the process will be refined over time.

To keep improving upon your quarterly plans and make them successfully work for you, remember:

1. Setbacks Happen: Whether it’s writer’s block or the occurrences I mentioned above, keep in mind that even our quarterly planning isn’t perfect. We are human after all. 

Expect setbacks from time to time and expect moments of being behind schedule. At the end of the day, you answer to only yourself with your creative goals (a double-edged sword for sure, but a great thing when we consider the flexibility we have in rescheduling our timeline). 

2. Be Flexible: Yes, you’ve created a weekly schedule. But, things happen. If an urgent matter arrives or you’re feeling under the weather, it’s okay to veer off track. 

Some weeks will be smooth, others will be bumpy. Do your best and be okay with rerouting when necessary. Don’t beat yourself up when you stumble.

3. Monitor Your Progress: At the end of each week, a mini check-in will help you to adjust your tasks and timelines for the week ahead.

Reflect at the end of a quarter.

Ask yourself: what worked? What was tricky? What should I consider for next quarter? 

Use these questions to help you refine your process until it effectively works for you.

Now, it’s your turn! 

I’ve given you the tools. It’s time to put them into action.

Remember to plan, reflect, and celebrate your achievements throughout the process.

I’d love to know how it goes! What’s your first quarterly writing goal going to be? Drop a comment below to tell me how quarterly planning supports your writing goals.

To help you get started, I’ve packaged all of the reflection questions into one document that you can grab below.

I’m excited to hear about all the accomplishments ahead of you!

Talk soon!

Julia