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Using SMART Goals To Build Your New Year
Specific. Measurable. Attainable. Relevant. Time-based.
But what does that actually MEAN for your writing progress?
How do you make sure 2016 is your most productive year yet? What goals can you set to help you to be successful? |
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So, following up on last month's initial thoughts on goals from the previous year and moving forward into 2016, I thought I'd talk about how making goals for the coming year can be made much more concrete and ... maybe not totally stress-free, but considerably less daunting than before.
There are a few different systems of goals out there, but the one I think is the most straightforward (and relies the least on wishful thinking!) is the SMART method. First outlined nearly thirty-five years ago, SMART is a mnemonic acronym for:
Specific. Measurable. Attainable. Relevant. Time-based.
In some settings the exact word for each step of the acronym may be slightly different, but all of these work well for us as writers, so I'm using them as is.
So, what does that set of words actually mean, though? Certainly these types of goal-making processes often crop up in business workflow, but they're actually quite worthwhile for writers looking to build a career as well. Since this is the Short Stories newsletter, let's take a look at ways to make a SMART goal that helps to promote short story writing for someone looking to increase their output.
 Specific: A specific goal is one where the conditions of the goal can be articulated as a defined item. So, where I want to write more is a nebulous goal, I want to write at least one short story is a specific objective.
 Measurable: A measurable goal is one where the results can be enumerated in some way, shape or form. Where I want to write at least one short story from our first example is good, as it gives a desired number, one may want to get even more specific, say, for example: I want to write at least one short story of at least 2500 words.
 Attainable: An attainable goal is one where the results are realistic or expected. So, for example, I want to write a short story of at least 2500 words that sells immediately to my favorite magazine is not an attainable goal by this metric, because this goal would rely too much on the behavior of others (the editors at the magazine) to be attainable. On the other hand, I want to write a short story of at least 2500 words that I can submit to my favorite magazine is completely attainable, assuming that your favorite magazine has an open submissions period!
 Relevant: A relevant goal is one where the results have an impact on the trait the goal-maker is trying to improve. Setting a goal of I want to send one review per month isn't relevant to I want to write a short story of at least 2500 words that I can submit to my favorite magazine -- so, while both of these are great goals that one should consider including in your Dear Me: Official WDC Contest letter, I would suggest that these two goals are not relevant to one another and they are thus separate goals that should be assessed independently.
 Time-Based: A time-based goal is one where, frankly, there's a time limit! The success or failure of the goal should have a deadline, and while self-imposed deadlines are flexible creatures, this is one place where employing the assistance of like-minded friends who can make one accountable for these goals is another smart thing to do.  so while I want to write a short story of at least 2500 words that I can submit to my favorite magazine is workable, I want to write a short story of at least 2500 words, at least once a month, that I can submit to my favorite magazine, is adding a time limit or expectation for results.
Result? I want to write a short story, of at least 2500 words, at least once a month, that I can submit to my favorite magazine.
Notice how this goal works: it's reasonably exact about the task at hand, gives a metric to determine success, gives a target which can be reached, doesn't get sidetracked by other promising goals, and has a deadline for succeeding or failing. Additionally, one of the great things about breaking down a goal like this one into stages is that it makes your ability to self-correct much more relevant. Even if you failed at this goal in January, you'd have another opportunity to start over next month instead of getting frustrated and scrapping the whole calendar.
Setting specific goals for myself is... well, it's a habit which has had a dotty history with me. I'm planning to write myself a Dear Me letter for the first time in ages, and I hope you do, too, especially if you build yourself a SMART plan for success in your writing career in 2016!
Until Next Time,
Take care and Write on!
~jay
For more on SMART goals, check out the Wikipedia listing:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMART_criteria |
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Mailbag for "Achievement is Relative"
Happy Earth Day 2024!  writes:
Good advice, Jay, all around and I especially like the password idea, a positive first thing in the morning!
 Glad you liked it, and I hope that helps -- it's the little things sometimes!
GaelicQueen  writes:
Thank you for including my story "Liar" in Editor's Picks. Seeing it posted and getting surprise reviews by members makes me go back to read it again. It's a keeper.
It's my pleasure! Thank *you* for sharing such an interesting story with us here in the WdC Community.
Patrece ~ writes:
Great newsletter! Thank you for sharing such wonderful suggestions!
You're most welcome-- thank you for reading and taking the time to say so! |
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Short Stories: January 06, 2016 Issue [#7412]
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