Do you want to write more? Putting the phrase ‘Write more’ on your resolutions list is not enough. The intention is there, sure, and it’s a START… but how will you do it?
Well, it all starts with a plan. Planning for a month’s worth of writing (for starters!) is a great way to get yourself going, but it involves more than just setting your goals. It also requires commitment, dedication, and whatever works for you as a reward. This blog post will help you plan for the month ahead – or however long you want to plan for – and have fun while doing it!
Step One: Make a Time Audit
When planning for the month (or other time-space) ahead, it’s essential to make sure that you prioritise your writing so that other obligations or tasks don’t get in the way. A time audit can be helpful here—essentially, this means taking an inventory of what activities take up most of your time and deciding which ones need to be shifted around or put on hold/delegated for the sake of your writing goals. You don’t need to dedicate hours and hours of your day each week; even just 15 minutes each day can go a long way. The key is making sure that you are intentional about how you use that time by having clear goals and objectives set ahead of time.
Step Two: Make a Plan
Now that you know how much time you can devote to writing each day (or week), it’s time to make a plan!
Depending on what type of writing you are doing, this might involve some research before getting started. If you are writing fiction or non-fiction, researching characters or topics will give depth and richness to your work. And if you are planning on blogging or creating content online, brainstorming topics and keywords might also be necessary beforehand.
Once you have done all this prep work, set specific goals for yourself so that something tangible needs to be accomplished within the timeframe allotted.
Step Three: Have fun and stay curious!
Let’s not forget the most important part—the fun factor! Writing should always be enjoyable and satisfying; otherwise, why would we do it? Find ways to make it fun by changing where and when you write (coffee shop, anyone?) or incorporating different media into your work (like podcasts).
There are endless possibilities here—so let your creativity flow!
Step Four: Keep Yourself Accountable
The best plans mean nothing if there isn’t any follow-through; consistency is key here!
One great way to keep yourself accountable is by sharing your progress with others through social media or simply telling them about what you are working on so they can check how things are going once in a while.
Having someone who knows your goal helps add an extra layer of accountability, which can help keep those creative juices flowing throughout the month!
Step Five: Reward Yourself
The reward for completing your monthly goal should always be the satisfaction of completing something challenging but worthwhile—but rewarding yourself with something special never hurts! Whether buying an extra fancy coffee or taking yourself to a favourite museum, a little treat now and then goes a long way towards keeping motivation high when things get tough.
Planning for a successful month requires some effort upfront but it will pay off in the end!
There really isn’t any better feeling than knowing that all the hard work has paid off and produced something amazing—so start planning today so that success will come naturally at the end of the month!
