Today I just finished a coaching call that focused on quarterly strategic planning. Normally I watch these recorded calls, but today was Spring Break so I could attend. I learned so much about goals and planning that could change my writing career.
Coaching and finding a good mentor is very important. Having someone show you the ropes is way better than wandering aimlessly through the dark. But having a live call is so much better than a recording.
How to create a strategic plan and win
- Create and follow a success roadmap
- Know where and how to get help
- Join a support/ feedback group
- Have power hour sessions
- Celebrate wins
- Review North Star Vision
- The Power of One
- Set a Micro Action Step
- Keep-Stop-Start
- Set New SMART goals
- Share with others
Create and follow a success roadmap
You aren’t going to get to your destination if you don’t know where you’re going. That’s why you need a success roadmap. Writing is a two sided business. Writing is only part of it. You also need to understand the business side of marketing.
Have a separate roadmap for your writing process and your marketing. Work on multiple projects at the same time so you have something to work on if you get writer’s block.
Know where and how to get help
Make a list of resources that can help you with your writing. Joining writing groups like SCBWI and 12 X 12 for picture book writers was very helpful. When I first started writing, I felt I wasn’t qualified to join because I wasn’t really a writer.
After joining, I realized that imposter syndrome made me doubt myself. If I had joined earlier, I would have gotten the support I needed to listen to my heart.
Now I have multiple places I can get help. I have more author friends I can chat with. Having a writing community means I know where to find help for different parts of the writing process.
Join a support/ feedback group
Joining a critique group was very helpful. But when it ended I lost my focus. It was not until I joined SCBWI and formed new critique groups that I started writing more. I needed a community. It was easier to write in a community than by myself.
Having different support groups means that I get multiple eyes on the same manuscript. Each group works different. Each group is better for different things. Now I have a group that focuses on the education market, one that works better with rhyme, and one for chapter books.
Have power hour sessions
These sessions have many different names. You might call them write-ins. You just need to schedule time to write. For that hour, nothing should distract you.
But writing by yourself isn’t as fun as joining a write-in. With a write-in, you have accountability. Sharing with someone else what you want to accomplish will make you more likely to stay focused. Other writers will also understand your challenges and provide advice.
Celebrate Wins
Never underestimate the power of thinking positively. If you always focus on work, you will eventually burn out. You need to take the time to celebrate your wins.
Make a list of things you have accomplished so that you know your hard work pays off. Celebrating a win gives you a taste of victory. Each small victory should be a reason to celebrate. It will make the larger goal easier to reach.
Review North Star Vision
Make sure you have a 3 year North Star Vision. Every quarter review your North Star Vision and make sure it is still your goal and your actions work towards the goal.
Imagine yourself three years from now having accomplished the goal. What have you accomplished? You have to first be able to dream it in order to accomplish it.
The Power of One
Sometimes too many goals can be intimidating. Your North Star Vision may be too grand. Just remember that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
That is the power of one. Choose the one thing you can do that will make the biggest difference in your writing life. Or choose one thing that you will consistently do every day or every week. Most important of all is that you take one action to get closer to your goal.
Set a Micro-Action Step
Sometimes that one thing you choose to do may still feel too big. Break it down into smaller goals.
If your goal was to write a picture book a month, how could you make it more manageable? Start with brainstorming 10 ideas. You can do research on the ideas. You can drop different characters into those story ideas.
Sometimes taking that small step can feel scary. Don’t aim for perfection. Aim for the worst first draft ever. Done is better than perfect. Once you have a horrible first draft, then you have something to work on and improve.
Keep-Stop-Start
Goals setting is only good if they keep you focused. Start thinking about the things you do and whether or not they are helping you reach your goal.
Keep those actions that are moving you towards your goal. Keep what works. If the community you joined encourages you, keep it.
What about actions that are preventing your from accomplishing your goal? Stop doing them. If some people always give negative feedback, maybe you need new critique partners.
Are there some things that could help improve your writing? Maybe you need to take more writing classes? Maybe you need more accountability by joining a write-in. Maybe you need a mentor to show you your next steps. What do you need to start doing for you to reach your goals?
Set New SMART goals
Every quarter should be a time to review and set new SMART goals. SMART stands for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely.
Goals aren’t created equal. If your goal isn’t SMART, then you will have a harder time to reach it. For example, I will be a better writer. How will you know when you have accomplished this? You won’t.
A better SMART goal would be, I will read a craft book for 15 minutes and try one of the writing exercises every day. This goal is specific. I will be reading a craft book and writing. Reading for 15 minutes is not a long time, so it is attainable.
If I am able to do this every day, then it is a good goal. If I’m not, then maybe I need to adjust the goal. If my life is too hectic, I might not have time to read and write every day. I may adjust my goal to reading a craft book for 15 minutes and trying a writing exercise every week.
The more specific the better. I tend to do my writing during my kids’ piano time. Instead of wasting time commuting back and forth, I write in my car while I wait for them.
Share with others
Sharing your goals with others will keep you accountable. Finding others with similar goals will help you on your journey. Sharing successes and having cheerleaders will keep you motivated.
Sharing failures is also important. You can learn from each other’s mistakes. You can brainstorm solutions together. Sharing means you are not alone.
Now you know the 11 things you can do to make a strategic plan and win.