Meredith Mansfield, Author

It’s what management by objective is all about and it’s also one of Kevin J. Anderson’s tips for prolific writers.  Goalsetting is obviously important.

To be useful goals have to be:

1. Specific
2. Objectively Measurable
3. Have a definite time frame
4. Be at least a little challenging

“I want to be a published writer” is a dream.  Goals (and sometimes a bit of luck) are what will get you to that dream.

I like to set different levels of goals. 

Generally, I will set a longer-term goal: I want to be ready to start sending out queries on MAGE STORM in January. And then I will set smaller goals: What do I have to do today, or this week, or this month to make that happen.  It’s easier to track progress on the intermediate goals.  Plus it provides a sense of accomplishment that’s very motivating for me.

Sometimes, I’ll also set two levels of goals–and easy goal I’m fairly sure I can make (to keep the momentum going and provide that motivation) and a more challenging goal to shoot for and try to raise my productivity.  Since I’m a fairly competitive person (and most competititive with myself), I often make the harder goal.

Gotta go.  My goal for today is to finish the 3rd draft revisions of Chapter 11 of MAGE STORM.