2024 Writing Goals: From Q3 to Q4
Updates and self-made deadlines, here we go!
I set out this year to become a published author. Finally. I was tired of holding myself back. Here in the brand new Q4 of 2024, I’m making it happen. At last!
How?
It’s not been easy. I’ve been writing as more than a passing hobby for the past 5 years. Finished drafts? I have 6 of them. I have other WIPs (4) that are almost ready to be called ‘finished drafts’. There are yet others somewhere in the limbo of in between the finished draft stage and manuscript (2). I have one fully complete, ready to be published manuscript.
It’s coming out on October 28th, if I can ever format this cover correctly.
That’s another part of the how. I’ve done everything myself. From writing, to formatting, to cover is all me. I know, how dare I make my own cover! It’s not the best. But it’s not the worst I’ve ever seen, either. It’s somewhere right in the middle, and that fits this book.
Because I’m No Hero is not a best seller. It’s not the worst book you’ll ever read either. It’s right in the middle.
Not the best. Not the worst. See what I mean?
The plan is to edit the 2 that are close to becoming complete manuscripts, until they are ready to publish. Format, and all that tedious, hateful stuff. The next one will be published in November. The one after that in December. And then I’ll have one of those others edited and ready to go by end of January.
Let’s see if I can keep the momentum going.
The Goals That Got Me Here
Each quarter I make goals, SMART ones. They are always set up in a good, better, best scenario. The good goal is something that is slightly challenging, but still reachable. The better is a step up from there, and the best goal… well, it’s a miracle.
Get Samantha Wicker’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
My Q3 goals were:
- Write the words — 30,000 as a good goal, 60,000 as the better, and 90,000 as the best goal.
- Edit chapters — 12/18/24
- Social media and platform growth — the measurements here were a fail, and I hope to do better in Q4. I wanted to grow my following by 10%, 25% and 50%.
What I did in Q3
- Wrote 56,393 words — so close to the better goal!
- Edited 13 chapters.
- Grew by at least 1 subscriber and up to 20 on some platforms.
Right in the middle. I guess that’s where I like to be. It’s nice and cozy, yeah?
For Q4 my goals are the same, but more.
- Write 60,000 words as a good goal, 90,000 words as a better one, and 120,000 words is the best ever.
- Edit chapters — 30/60/90
- Be consistent on Social Media and Platforms according to plan. aka posting to Medium once a week on Mondays. If I miss it, that’s one point I won’t have at the end of the quarter.
It’s bad that I really want to hit that 120k word count. If I hit 100k I will be happy, too. As there’s a few challenges this quarter for that 100k.
Now, you might wonder how these goals correlate with getting published. Let me show you how I break down my goals.
Writing those words
I write fantasy, each book is anywhere from 90k to 150k words (well, except for I’m No Hero, which is a beast at close to 200k). Those projects that I have that are nearing the editing stage, that 60k goal is going to finish them up, and begin another project. The better and best goals on the word count, is going to be gravy on top. For example, I need to add a POV to project CtI which will be around 30k words. I need to finish project DoBG which will be around 4 chapters and 16,000ish words. That leaves 14k words to put toward finishing another one of those drafts, or toward a new project.
This way, I build up another manuscript ready to edit.
Editing those words
I edit by chapter, so having the goals set by chapter instead of words makes the best sense to me. Each of my books is around 22 to 30 chapters (except the beasts, those we’re not going to mention again). Editing 30 chapters ensures that at least 1 book per quarter is fully edited. That book is then ready to hit formatting, and that sweet upload button. If I hit the better or best goals, that’s another book or 2 ready for publishing.
Backlog is a wonderful, comfy thing to wriggle around in and have on hand. You never know when gremlins or imposter syndrome are going to hit and set your goal getting for a loop.
Why social media then?
Why not keep to writing and editing so you can publish a book or 2 every quarter? Well, my friend, that social media keeps me accountable. It also gives me, hopefully, some sales. For every follower I have, I hope they share the news of me and my books and that someone they show will buy. That’s all.
Plus, when those gremlins hit, or that imposter syndrome, there is nothing better in this world than having another author to commiserate with.
That was a long-winded way of saying ‘hi! I’m Sam, and I set myself up for failure!’ or do I?
Be kind to one another out there. Let me know what your goals are!
