Set Clear, Attainable Goals

If you plan to stay in the world of the pros for long, you’re going to have to have a plan, both short-term and long-term. What kind of a plan? Well, first you’ll need financial goals. Think carefully about how much money you’ll need to make this year. How much do you hope to make three years from now? What about five years from now? Write those goals down.

While you’re at it, write down a few emotional goals, as well. Start with some tough questions, like, “What do I feel led to do?” “How much can I handle emotionally?” You might consider giving yourself daily or weekly word counts.

There’s nothing like a self-imposed deadline to light a fire under you! Finally, write down some specific strategies for success. Try to think of this like stair-steps. Give yourself at least five or six workable strategies to propel you toward your goal.

Questions to Ask Yourself

Question Number One: Over the next year, I need to spend more time doing ____________________ and less time doing _____________________. Many of you may respond by saying you need to spend more time actually writing and less time procrastinating! Others might say that they need to spend more time learning the craft and less time striking at the wrong targets. 

Question Number Two:  If you could name one major flaw in the way you approached your writing career last year, what would it be? Some might say, “Am I limited to listing just one flaw?” No. But if you carefully examined your freelancing career thus-far, you would likely find that one flaw—for example, lack of direction—could be keeping you from stepping out into the correct money-making markets. 

Question Number Three: How are you at starting new projects? If you’re like most authors, you jump in head-first, convinced you’ll take the world by storm with your latest, greatest idea. 

Question Number Four: How are you at carrying through? Ouch! This is a tougher one, isn’t it? For, while many writers get off to a great start on that magazine article, devotional or book, not all carry through to the end and get their work into the hands of the right editor or agent. 

Question Number Five: Where do you see yourself in one year (as it relates to your writing and your writing income)? Take your time answering this question and be honest. What kind of money do you hope to make over the next twelve months? How will that money be made? 

Question Number Six: Where do you see yourself in three years (as it relates to your writing and your writing income)? Three years, you say? How am I supposed to know what kind of money I’ll be making in three years? Only one way—you have to plan. Strategize. Remember, without vision, the people perish. Catch a glimpse of where you’d like to be in three years. 

Question Number Seven: Where do you see yourself in five years (as it relates to your writing and your writing income)? Sure, five years is way off in the distance, but if you set a goal for a certain income level five years from now, you’re more likely to actually reach it. You don’t want five years to pass, only to discover that you’ve made no progress at all.  

Question Number Eight: What circumstances (and/or excuses) have kept you from fulfilling your writing goals thus far? Family obligations? A full-time job in another field? Distractions like email and social networking on the Internet? The truth is, we could all list reasons why we don’t get the work done. Why we don’t follow through. But if we’re going to make money at this, we’ve got to learn to lay our excuses aside and see the possibilities for what can be. 

Question Number Nine: What are some of the ways you’ve tried to earn money with your writing? Have you written for newspapers? Magazines? Have you crafted press releases or PR materials for others? Put together brochures for businesses? The possibilities are endless. 

Question Number Ten: What are some creative things you’ve not yet tried? Let your imagination run wild! And if you’re not sure what sorts of opportunities are out there, hang on for the ride! In our next few lessons we’re going to discuss dozens of ways—and places—to make money as a freelancer.

Question Number Eleven: Over the next year, what are you planning to write? Perhaps you’ve already started a book. Maybe you’ve got a plan to submit one article per week. Maybe you’re a journalist for a local paper, but would like to expand to other markets. You need a clear plan. 

Question Number Twelve: Are you willing to try new writing-related things to earn money? Maybe you’re one of those “in the box” kinds of people, only doing things you’re comfortable with. Over the next year you can break out of that box, discovering a whole new world of money-making ventures with your writing. 

Question Number Thirteen: What specific plans are you making to accomplish your publishing goals over the next twelve months? Here’s where the rubber meets the road. Remember that verse we talked about before? You’ve got to create a plan, then set it in motion. Without a plan, you will not move forward. 

Question Number Fourteen: Who mentors you and your writing? Who are you mentoring? I’m a firm believer in the idea that we always need to be learning from someone who’s farther along than we are, while sharing with someone else who’s following our lead. 

Question Number Fifteen: What writing classes or conferences do you plan to attend over the next year? If you’re venturing out into the world of professional freelancing, this is the best possible time to join a local writing or critique group. It’s also the perfect time to go to a national or local writing conference. Getting to know other like-minded writers will spur you on toward your goal. 

Question Number Sixteen: What is your greatest weakness as a writer? What is your greatest strength? Take your time answering these questions. Perhaps you’re great at crafting opening paragraphs. You can write an awesome hook. But the middle of your article or story begins to sag. Or, maybe you’re really great at putting out great product, but don’t know how to get it into the hands of the right editor or agent. 

Question Number Seventeen: What, specifically, would you like to accomplish through your writing over the next year? Get really specific now. Are you hoping to learn the craft? Publish your first book? Are you praying you can quit your existing job to write full-time? 

Question Number Eighteen: What are your immediate monthly financial goals as it relates to your writing? You might hear this and say, “I have no idea!” Well, it’s time to figure it out! Set target goals: I want to earn this much each month with magazine articles. I want to earn this much each month editing or teaching. 

Question Number Nineteen: What steps do you need to take right now to move toward your financial goal? For some of you, it might be as simple as putting a plan together on paper. Others might have to stay in a current job until they’ve got their debt under control. Each situation is different. 

Question Number Twenty, our final question: If you could state your writing plan in one sentence, what would that sentence look like? 

Well, there you have it, freelancers! Twenty questions to ponder over the next several days. 

Oh, I know. . .some of you are probably saying, “What? This isn’t about money! It’s all about setting goals?” Trust me, we’ll get to the money part shortly. But If we’re going to talk about new and inventive ways to earn money, we’ve got to take care of these things first! Laying a strong foundation is key. So is putting everything in perspective. 

I want to take a few moments now to share what a blessing goal-setting has been in my own writing career. I’ve been a full-time writer and speaker since 2005, and I love my life! It’s a busy life, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. 

Last year I wrote more books in a year than I've ever written before. Many of those were what I call "big" books (85k or longer). Some were "little" write-for-hire books. None of this would have been possible if I hadn’t set goals. Here’s how I do that: It starts with a plan of action. How much money do I need to make this year? How many projects can I handle without wearing myself out?

Once those questions are answered, I seek out the work, then craft a schedule. When I'm on deadline, I usually write for an hour or so when I first wake up, while my thoughts are fresh. Then I get up, tend to my morning errands, fix breakfast, and have my quiet time. Early afternoon I pick up the laptop again and try to write for a couple of hours. Then I lay it down.

Those who know me know I'm a night owl, so I pick the computer up again at night and write for a few hours. So, basically, that's my schedule: three times/day. I tell myself that I cannot get up until I've met a certain word count. Does it always happen? No. Do I stand a better chance if I give myself a word goal or set a timer so that I stay in the chair for a full hour? Absolutely. 

Your schedule is going to look completely different from mine, particularly if you work a full-time job elsewhere. That's okay. You need to do what works for you. But you must tell yourself that your writing time is your WRITING time and nothing else. If you give yourself a goal, (for example, "I'm not going to get up from this chair until this article/devotion/lesson/chapter is written") you stand a better chance of doing it. Also give yourself weekly writing goals: "I'm going to write and submit one article/devotion per week." You'll be surprised at how much you have to submit when you actually do the work!

In closing: Here's a little exercise that I gave my creative writing students years ago. Take your temperature every two hours over a 24-hour period. Supposedly, we are at our most creative when we're our warmest. Later in the day is better for me. You might be rip-roarin' hot in the morning! Regardless, do your work during your creativity peak and you’ll get a lot more done. 

That’s it for now, freelancers! Take some serious time to answer the questions, then forge ahead with the next lesson. It’s about to get really exciting as we discover countless writing possibilities!

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