My Writing Goals and How I Plan to Reach Them
Writing a novel is a marathon, not a sprint—but having clear goals keeps me on track. As I dive deeper into my book, I want to set realistic targets to stay accountable and make steady progress. I struggle with ADHD and anxiety (plus a generous helping of depression on the side), so I know I need concrete objectives to keep myself on course while being mindful of my mental health. Writing is inherently challenging, and if I set overly ambitious goals, I risk triggering anxiety and spiraling. On the other hand, if my goals are too lax, I may never finish. In this post, I’ll share my word count targets, writing strategies, and how I plan to stay consistent.
My Word Count Goals
The average word count for contemporary romance novels falls between 70,000 and 90,000 words. Since I tend to be an over-writer rather than an under-writer, I’m aiming for the upper end of that range. I’ll be comfortable if my first draft reaches 100,000 words, knowing that I’ll trim it down to 90,000 during revisions.
I currently have 74 scenes planned (including a short epilogue). With an average scene length between 1,000 and 2,000 words, dividing 100,000 by 74 gives me a rough estimate of 1,351 words per scene. Of course, some scenes will be longer while others will be shorter, but this breakdown keeps me within my target range.
Benchmark Goals & Timeline
I’m planning to attend Romancelahoma, a romance writing conference in Oklahoma City at the beginning of August. Ideally, I’d love to have most of my first draft finished by then, but with only five months until the event, I’m unsure how realistic that is. However, I believe I can complete at least half of the novel by then. To reach this, I’ve set the following benchmarks:
First Draft: 50,000 words by August 1, 2025
Full Draft Completion: 100,000 words by January 1, 2026
Rest Period: Let the manuscript sit for one month
Revisions: February–April 2026
Daily & Weekly Writing Goals
In the spirit of being gentle with myself, especially since this will be the first novel I complete, I’m setting achievable daily and weekly writing targets. I also prefer a weekly goal over a rigid daily goal, knowing that some days will be more productive than others.
Minimum 500 words per day, six days per week
Minimum 3,000 words per week
Estimated time to complete the first draft: 37 weeks (~9 months)
My Strategies for Reaching These Goals
I’m blocking off two hours each morning for focused writing time.
I’ll track my progress in Scrivener (where I’ll draft) and in a Notion database to monitor word count and milestones.
Staying Accountable
I’m looking into joining a writing sprint group on Discord to stay motivated.
I’ll post progress updates on my blog and newsletter for accountability.
Overcoming Writing Slumps
On tough days, I’ll embrace the “write now, edit later” approach to keep moving forward.
If I get stuck, I’ll give myself grace and spend time reading writing craft books or comparable titles to stay inspired.
Rewarding Milestones
To stay motivated, I’ll treat myself to a bookstore trip in Tulsa, OKC, or even Dallas after hitting my monthly word count goals!
Tracking Progress & Adjusting Goals
My goals aren’t set in stone—I’ll check in weekly to make adjustments as needed.
If I fall behind, I won’t stress—I’ll simply rework my schedule to stay on track.
Final Thoughts
Starting in March, I’ll be diving headfirst into a focused writing routine, writing six days a week with a goal of 3,000 words per week. Writing a book takes time, but breaking it down into manageable steps makes it feel achievable. By setting clear goals and staying consistent, I’m confident I’ll finish my draft!
Let’s Chat!
What are your writing goals right now? Do you track your word count or prefer a more flexible approach? Let’s chat in the comments! If you’d like to follow along with my writing journey, be sure to subscribe to my newsletter for updates!
