Do you set writing goals?

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My day gig is in IT, and we track a lot of performance metrics to see where we have gaps and where there are areas for improvement. I use some metrics to help me in my writing life. Here’s my list. Let me know what you would add.

Writing Goals - When I’m working on the draft of a book, I set daily writing goals. This helps me stay on track. I try to write 1,000 words on days that I work and 3,000 words on the weekends. If I know that I’ve got plans or can’t make a goal, I try to write ahead. If I stick to my schedule, I’m able to produce a first draft in 2-3 months. Make sure that your goals are doable and realistic. I use them to keep me on track, so that it doesn’t take me five years to finish a book. But, I’ve also learned to give myself some grace if I don’t hit a goal. There are just some days that you don’t feel creative.

Social Media Analytics - At least weekly, I check the analytics on Twitter/X, Facebook, and Instagram sites. I look to see what posts resonate with my followers and which ones don’t. You can learn a lot from these numbers. Who is looking at your page? What is the best time to post? Are you posting too much of one type of content?

For Twitter/X, click More > Creator Studio > Analytics to see your metrics. For Facebook and Instagram, you need a professional page to access Meta Business Suite. It will appear in the left menu for your business page in Facebook.

Scheduling Your Writing Work - If I’m not writing a new book, I try to do some writing, editing, or book marketing every day. Here are some of the things that I do to help me meet my goals:

  • I schedule my Instagram and Twitter posts for the week. That way, I can target times when my users are most active.

  • To keep up with all the blog deadlines, I try to write posts in advance and schedule those, too.

  • Make sure you build in some time in your schedule to peruse your social media sites. You need to be active on your sites (e.g. post regularly, answer comments, and comment on others’ posts). I check my major sites each morning and during lunch. I also check them later in the evening. People are now using Meta’s Messenger as another way to communicate, and I get a lot of messages.