Blog Chain Post: Writing Goals

We're back with another round of the blog chain. Only this time, I'm afraid my answer is going to be short and sweet due to the fact I finally lost the battle with the cold I'd been fighting off since Monday.

This blog chain was started by Sandra Ulbrich who asks:

During National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), writers attempt to write 50,000 words in 30 days. Do you set daily writing goals for yourself, either a certain word count or time spent on writing? Does this include other writing-related activities, like research, plotting, or revising? Do you focus on reaching the end of the journey (such as finishing your current project), or do you enjoy the writing process along the way?


Once upon a time, I tried to fit writing into my life wherever I could. When I owned my own business, I would write in between appointments. When I worked as a sales associate, I'd email myself my MS and work on it whenever the boss wasn't looking. As a stay at home mom, my free time became even more limited. But now, with the kiddo in school full time, for the first time in my life, I have honest to God writing time! AND THE PEOPLE REJOICED!

And now, wouldn't you know it, I'm actually getting shiznit done. Before this year, I wrote a book a year, because that's all I had time for. But with eight glorious hours to myself, I wrote an entire novel (85K) in August. Granted, I was really pushing myself and kept a strict goal of 3K a day. I don't think I'll do that again unless my back's against a wall because my house fell apart, I stopped going to the gym, and my family ate garbage every day. Everyday was a fight with my own guilt to keep moving forward.

I haven't written anything new in the last two months as I've been editing. But now that I'm finished, I have several potential projects I'm eyeing. I've decided my goal for my next project will be 2K a day. That way I can get 7 pages in, and still keep up with my house and spend time with my family. I haven't found the perfect balance yet, but I'm hoping this brings me closer to it.

To read other authors take on this topic please check out Alyson's blog who posted yesterday. And tomorrow check out Amparo's blog to get her take.


I'm off to drink some tea and take a handful of vitamin C. In the meantime, I'd love to hear your daily writing goals and how you balance your writing and your life!