With the whole new year stretched out before us, it’s a great idea to start setting intentions. But what’s the best way to make sure that you stay on track, reach your goals, and actually finish the year with a book?

Here are a few suggestions to get you ready for writing and finally seeing your manuscript through to the end.

• Preparation – Knowing what your purpose is can help you prepare for the writing process. Ask yourself questions about what your audience wants to know and why. Discover your readers’ needs by doing research online or in-person. Take notes on what you learn and use that information to guide you in developing an outline. Once your outline is complete, you will have a roadmap for your entire writing journey.
• Writing calendar – Now that you know your route, you have to decide how long the journey will take. Think about how long it takes you to write a chapter and plot that out across the length of time that you want to spend writing your first draft. For example, if you have 12 chapters planned in your outline and you want to write one chapter each week, then you can expect to write your first draft in about three months. Plan a couple weeks to take a break, and spend the next month reviewing and revising. Mark off a month for working with an editor and cover designer, a week for formatting, and another week or two to wrap up the project and upload files for self-publishing. In six or seven months, you can go from outline to published, as long as you plan and follow your strategy.
• Rewarding yourself for meeting goals – As with any goal setting, it is important to celebrate the milestones you meet along the way so you will want to continue pressing toward your goal. It doesn’t have to be extravagant. Even if you put a gold star on your calendar each week that you meet your goal, that can be enough to keep you going. Of course, putting a dollar in a jar after each writing session or doing an act of self-care at the end of each month that you meet your goal are also great ways to keep you going.
• Having an accountability partner – Need a little support? Partnering with a friend who is also trying to stay on track with their goals is a great way to keep up with each of your own goals. I’m sure you’ve heard people talk about joining mastermind groups, writing groups, or other types of groups for people with a certain purpose. If a group isn’t accessible or isn’t your thing, then a friend with a goal is just as good. Remember that being around people who don’t have a goal could keep you stuck. No one else is writing a book or trying to complete a project this year, so why should you bother? Eh. But you and your accountability partner can cheer each other on as you meet your goals. Agree to meet weekly to check in. Do this in person or over Skype so it feels more realistic. If someone is checking up on you, you’ll be more likely to buckle down and hit all your milestones!
• Coaching – Need something more formal? Want to work with a professional? Then writing coaching is what you’re looking for. Schedule a call with me to discover if it’s right for you or just to get some clarity on your writing process.