It was from my dream agent’s assistant, and she said the project “sounded like a great fit.” She requested the full manuscript, along with a two-to-three page synopsis, both of which I had at hand. As I sent them off, I took a moment to bask  — I’ve dreamt of being represented by a literary agent for almost a decade, and here I was, closer than ever.

But let me pause, and try to sum up the steps it has taken to get this close to that goal: commit myself to writing a second novel; write a first draft in notebooks; type up that draft then edit it for clarity; join a novel writing group; submit and revise chapters with them over the course of two years; read full drafts myself and do edits based on the feedback of writer friends; get through four novel drafts then send it to a developmental editor; revise based on her feedback; do a final read-through; put together a query package; get feedback on the query package; put together a list of agents and start querying; have a revelation and change the last fourth of my book; get back notes for a revise-and-resubmit; spend three months doing those edits; tweak my query letter again; meticulously research agents; wait, wait, wait.

I’ll stop there because if I started to get more specific, that list could take up the rest of the post. The above was all part of my plan to achieve my goal, and within each step there were smaller steps and deadlines. These included chapters to submit for my writing group, sections to finish editing before holidays or travel, taking a class on how to write a synopsis, and many many other tiny actions that all added up to one thrilling email.

Whether your writing aspirations are selling a three-hundred-page novel, starting a memoir to share with your family, or putting together a poetry chapbook, we can all take the same first step to achieve these dreams. We can all start by making a plan. 

Break Your Project into Manageable Pieces

In my past life leading the sales team at a voraciously growing coffee start-up, we often closed deals then had no idea how to fulfill them. There would be deadlines with roasters, cold brew production, the delivery team’s schedule, all of which interlaced into an insurmountable knot of logistics. Luckily, we had an unflappable COO who would end these meetings by making a project management sheet, breaking everything into bite-sized tasks, throwing on some reasonable deadlines, and saying, “You have your marching orders.”

Although I left the start-up world, I’ve brought the same style of project management to my writing. In addition to making a weekly plan of my writing projects, whenever I find myself overwhelmed by the simple task of, say, finishing a novel, I pause and think about my marching orders — my next steps and getting them done. 

If you’re starting out a brand new project or feeling daunted by the work it takes to finish a draft, consider pausing and getting granular. What are the next steps you need to take? They could be writing an outline, finishing the opening, or getting a first draft you can read through. Then think about how many weeks that could take. When will you finish each section? What days will you write? The more you can break your goal into achievable steps, the easier it will be to make progress towards. And once you have your marching orders, you’ll know exactly what you need to work on, rather than spinning your wheels and staring at the dreaded blank screen. 

SMART Goals

Another way to frame your goals and make them more achievable is by getting smart. SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Although this framework is used across many industries, there are a few useful ways to adapt it for writing.

Specific

Yes, specific, but not too specific. For example, I’m more likely to set the goal of writing a short story and having it published than writing a short story and having it published by X Literary Magazine at Y Date. As writers, we have to acknowledge the things that are out of our control, especially when it comes to editor’s timelines and acceptance rates.

Measurable

Measurable means hours, word counts, chapters, drafts, and anything else we can put numbers on. For me, it’s infinitely more useful to say “finish edits on chapters one to three” rather than “edit the opening.” 

Achievable

This ties back to the idea of not being too specific or too time-bound. In using this practice over my writing years, I’ve found that most of my goals do happen, as long as I expand my timeline. For example, finishing my second novel is taking closer to five, not three years. 

Relevant

Is your goal deeply important to you? And how does it fit in the larger framework of your literary aspirations? Often, if I find myself contemplating applying to a fellowship or contest, I’ll ask myself how relevant to my larger goals the opportunity is.

Time-bound

Remember to give yourself some flexibility here. For example, although I’ve wanted an agent for years, when I started querying in 2022, I didn’t set the goal of getting one by 2023. Since I was familiar with the process, I knew these things take time. While it is important to have an ideal deadline, as writers this is the one where I found we need the most flexibility.  

Keep in mind that if your goal feels too cumbersome when you try to make it SMART, you might have to break your overarching goal into a series of smaller, smarter ones.

When In Doubt

Progress takes many shapes in sizes. If you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed, try coming back to these closing questions to ground yourself and restructure your plan. Even if all you do is think of one action you can do for each of them, that still means you’re moving forward. 

What can you do for your writing goal this week? What can you do for your writing goal this month? What can you do for your writing goal by the end of this year?

It can also be helpful to expand your definition of what counts as writing. For example, if you’re struggling to get through a round of edits, going to a drop-in writing workshop could count as part of your plan. Even editing a friend’s work is a way to take a break from your project while still getting your editor brain into gear. Be generous and inclusive in your plans, and give yourself the credit you deserve. 

Exercise: Think about one of your writing goals and build the most realistic plan around it. Even if it’s starting small and trying to write once per week, or finishing one chapter by the end of the month. If planning out your entire project is too daunting, simply plan as much as you can.

Grace Bialecki is a writer, editor, and literary coach who teaches for The Bridge and Hugo House. Her work has appeared in various publications, including Catapult and Epiphany Magazine, where she was a monthly columnist. Bialecki is the co-founder of the storytelling series Thirst, and the author of the novel Purple Gold (ANTIBOOKCLUB). 

Alongside her writing, she’s completing her Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification through the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley. When she’s working with clients, Bialecki emphasizes finding clarity and authentic voice, alongside techniques to be present while writing. To learn more, visit her website or follow her on TikTok or Twitter.

The post Prioritizing Plans Over Writing Goals appeared first on DIY MFA.

No, my writing doesn’t support me. I support it by teaching and editing. No, I don’t write exclusively one “thing.” I write in many forms then do my best to get published. And no, this conversation isn’t inspiring me. (Other than as fodder for this article…) At this point, the simplest rebuttal would be a business card with my favorite Kafka quote: “A non-writing writer is a monster courting insanity.”

As many of us know, jigsawing words into flawless sentences isn’t a choice—it’s a necessity for our mental health. At the same time, it can be hard to articulate the reason why we write beyond Not Losing It. In fact, when I think back, all the questions about my work, I’ve never been asked why I write.

And this is the one question that would help us writers keep writing. Pause and reflect—why do you write? This question isn’t to scare you away. It’s to give you a reason to keep going. Here are a few different “whys” as well as exercises to help you find yours.

The Easy Whys

I write because I love turning off the internet and entering the world of my mind. 

I write so I can spend tranquil mornings in libraries. 

Maybe I’m attached to another era, maybe I feel more at home amongst the stacks and desks. 

Sometimes I write for the vibes—the pens, the notebooks, and the bookish glasses. 

I write because I’m a bibliophile, and I want to craft my own tomes. I write to train my brain to that level of concentration. I write because even journaling helps my daily sanity and makes me feel more like myself. 

Exercise: Write down the first whys that come to mind. What motivated you to sit down the last time you wrote?

Your Why For A Specific Project 

When I was shopping around my first novel, I got notes back from an editor at a small publishing house. As usual, my eyes raced through the email, desperately assessing the depths of his critique. There were many accurate and fixable suggestions, and then there were a few hard-hitting questions. The most intimidating being—why is this a story that needs to be told? 

Frankly, my why for my first book was more of a why not. I wanted to see how far I could go on the winding path to publication and what I’d learn along the way. But these experiments weren’t going to convince an editor to take on my project. 

As usual, I turned to my journal where I do my best reflecting. After a page or two, I distilled my rambling into a few succinct sentences about how college-aged women needed to read about finding themselves.

In a way, the editor’s question was about my target audience: Who are you writing this book for, and why do they care? 

If you’re only writing books for yourself, it might be hard to start thinking about your readers. And if you’re not concerned with an audience, there are plenty of ways to get your manuscript into book form without a traditional publishing house. That doesn’t mean you don’t need a why.

Having a sense of purpose will help you finish any given project. Taking the example from above, if you’re self-publishing a novel, maybe your why is to be able to have a book you wrote on your shelf. Or to be able to gift your friends and family copies of your work. Your why could simply be to create something you’re proud of. 

Holding this in your head (or making a note next to your desk) will help to keep you on track as you take steps toward your final goal.

Exercise: What’s your why for your current project? Think about why you started the project and what your ideal end for it would be. Why are you working to see it completed?

Why You Need to Find Your Why

In short, your why is what keeps you going. No one said writing was easy. And getting published in your desired form (and then read), is a whole other game. So as writers, our why is our higher calling that keeps us going despite the inevitable roadblocks. 

In her book, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, Angela Duckworth uses the concept of “why” to build a hierarchy of goals that lead to your ultimate one. For example, one of my goals is to write at the library five days a week. Why? Because I like the library vibes and because I’m more productive. Why do I want to be a productive writer? Because I want to finish my second novel. Why? Because I want to empower women like my protagonist to pursue their artistic dreams. Why? So I can keep writing books and helping people? Why? Because that’s The Dream.

When you reach your The Dream moment, this is what Duckworth calls your “ultimate concern.” This is different from a passion, since you can enjoy something immensely without having a goal to pursue it. Whereas you work toward your ultimate concern in a steady, sustainable way, even if it’s only taking a small step each day. 

Duckworth’s research has shown that holding the same ultimate concern (aka your why) for many years is an essential component of grit, which she defines as “passion and perseverance for long-term goals” (my emphasis). As I mentioned before, high-performers even structure their lives by creating low-level goals which support their overarching one. 

Anyone who has tackled a novel-sized project knows that these concepts apply during the years of drafting, revisions, and rejection. All of us writers need grit to get our work finished. 

Exercise: Keep asking yourself why until you reach your ultimate concern. This is your why that you care so much about, it informs all of your writing, as well as the way you organize your life to make that writing happen.

Back at the Dinner Party

One way to reinforce our goals is to verbalize them. Sharing your aspirations with someone makes them more concrete and adds a layer of accountability. So the next time a dinner guest asks what you do, you could say, “I’m a writer, because I want my work to…” 

Even if you don’t see this person again, the more you state and connect to your higher purpose, the easier it will be to keep working and building a structure that supports it. Whatever your why, when the writing gets tough, it will serve as a reminder of your aspirations. And, of course, writing with fancy pens in historical libraries is an added bonus along the way.

Columnist Grace Bialecki will be writing posts throughout the year on ways to establish your writing practice. As an author, editor, and mindfulness meditation teacher-in-training, her approach blends practical advice with techniques to be more present. For more tips on developing a writing habit, check out this free .pdf on her website. 

Grace Bialecki is a writer, editor, and literary coach who teaches for The Bridge and Hugo House. Her work has appeared in various publications, including Catapult and Epiphany Magazine, where she was a monthly columnist. Bialecki is the author of the poetry collection, Youth, as well as the novel Purple Gold (ANTIBOOKCLUB). 

Alongside her writing, she’s completing her Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification through the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley. When she’s working with clients, Bialecki emphasizes finding clarity and authentic voice, alongside techniques to be present while writing. To learn more, visit her website or follow her on TikTok or Twitter.

The post How Finding Your Why Helps You Keep Writing appeared first on DIY MFA.

But still, I packed my bag, put on my glasses, and went to that wood-paneled library to write. The ritual got me out of the garage I was living in and imbued my endeavors with an academic weight. Even if it was borderline performative, I needed those glasses and tomes to get my work done. Looking back, the philosophy library was one of my first writing locations — those essential places where the brain learns to focus and create.

Finding Your Location

For those of us who work from home, live in a bite-sized apartment, or both, leaving these confines can be crucial to our writing practice. There are the obvious locations — cafés and bars, co-working spaces, libraries — each with their certain advantages. Outlets, elbow room, restrooms, and low noise are my minimal requirements. I’ll also look for somewhere close to home, so I don’t waste my precious writing time commuting. 

If none of these options are appealing or available, get creative — maybe your friend has a home-office or studio space you could use while they’re away. If the library is filled with tearful toddlers, maybe there’s an unused community room. And if you are writing at home, do your best to carve out a specific writing place. Ideally with a door that shuts or some form of partition. 

I’ve found that I do best with at least two locations — one at home and a handful out in the world. That way, I can decide where to go based on time, weather, and my creative whims. Whatever location you find, ask the people around you to respect that space. I’ll always admire a writer-friend who had nothing more than a pink hat and her dining room table. But when she put the hat on, she’d officially entered the writing zone and her family knew not to disturb her. 

This is a wonderful example of accepting the limits of your schedule and tenaciously writing around them. At the same time, be honest with yourself about what’s working. Do you feel inspired and happy when you sit down to write? Does it fit into your writing budget? And can you truly focus? Don’t be afraid to scrap one location and try another until you find your place. 

Committing to Your Corner

Once you find your special corner, commit to it. This could mean planning a few writing days and announcing them to your partner, family, or friends. As lofty as it may sound, I do love throwing a “I’ll be writing at the library” into scheduling conversations. Saying any plan aloud helps hold you accountable for doing it. 

Better yet — build the stop at your location into the rest of your day. Back in college, I would leave class and go straight to the philosophy library, since I knew that going home would suck me into the roommate-garage vortex. That meant making sure I had the necessary notebooks, pens, laptops, chargers, etc. And once my bag was packed, it was even harder not to go to work.

What’s more, knowing you’re going to Your Writing Place alleviates self-doubt and distractions. You’re going to the place where you’re creative, and you can trust that when you sit down, you’ll make some form of progress on your writing. So often, the hardest part is getting there, and once you are, the rest falls into place.

Training Your Brain

The more consistent your location and pre-writing routine, the more productive you’ll be. My senior year, as I left my bohemian lair, all the distractions of living in a dusty So-Cal garage fell away. Instead of forcing my hovel to be multi-functional, I went to the library, where my mind knew it had to work. 

In her book on self-revision, Intuitive Editing: A Creative & Practical Guide for Revising Your Writing, Tiffany Yates Martin takes this a step further and advocates having two separate spaces — one where you write and one where you edit. This allows your brain to switch between creative mode into the more analytical editorial one. This tactic is more than artistic voodoo — sleep doctors also advise only to sleep (and make love) in your bed. That way, your brain knows it’s where you go to rest, and likewise, you should always write at a table, desk, or some place where you’re meant to work. In other words, definitely not in bed.

The more dedicated you are to your place, the easier it will be to get into writing mode. This also means keeping your workspace distraction free. You might go so far as to leave your phone off, or at least put it in airplane mode when you enter this space. Bring only what you need to write — the more you leave physical distractions at home, the easier it is to leave your scattered thoughts with them.

The Muse Appreciates Consistency

Bear with me, as we leap forward a decade — from the philosophy library at Pomona College to the Bibliothèque de l’Hôtel de Ville in Paris. In my late-twenties, I lived in this city of writerly dreams, and fielded endless versions of the same question: “Are you inspired by Paris?”

Quite frankly, no. Being inspired by Paris sounded like I wandered the streets with a notebook in one hand and a croissant in the other. That I would jot down my musings when beauty struck, then meander on to the next café. Yes, Paris was magnifique. But I was finishing a novel set in LA, and each day, I went to the library. 

Yes, the library was also magnifique, but mostly it was quiet. It had water, restrooms, and free Wi-Fi. It was the place where I went to write and my muse knew to meet me there. Though, to be honest, sometimes my best ideas come on the bike ride home, so there is an added beauty in leaving the location and letting your mind unwind.

To Sum it Up

Find a place or, better yet, a couple places. Don’t be afraid to test them too, but once you’re set, start showing up. Train yourself to get into work mode, minimize distractions, and soon your brain will know exactly when it’s time to write.

I’d love to hear from you — How did you find your favorite writing location? And how has it helped you become more productive?

Guest columnist Grace Bialecki will be writing posts throughout the year on ways to establish your writing practice. As an author, editor, and mindfulness meditation teacher-in-training, her approach blends practical advice with techniques to be present when you write.

Grace Bialecki is a writer, editor, and literary coach who teaches for The Bridge and Hugo House. Her work has appeared in various publications, including Catapult and Epiphany Magazine, where she was a monthly columnist. Bialecki is the co-founder of the storytelling series Thirst, and the author of the novel Purple Gold (ANTIBOOKCLUB). 

Alongside her writing, she’s completing her Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification through the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley. When she’s working with clients, Bialecki emphasizes finding clarity and authentic voice, alongside techniques to be present while writing. To learn more, visit her website or follow her on TikTok or Twitter.

The post Location, Location, Location appeared first on DIY MFA.