In the writing game, there are a lot of setbacks. Or, at least, a fair bit of ‘limbo’ time where you’re waiting for a response (from an agent, editor, publisher) and wondering if you should start something shiny and new to funnel that creativity.
There are inevitably rejections and disappointments along the way, which is why it’s important to celebrate the wins (big or small) and continue forging ahead.
This is all well and good in theory, but when you’re juggling family and kids (I have two, myself), a part-time or full-time job, and other life commitments, it can be difficult to see the big picture.
In addition to my writing, I enjoy my physical activity: going to the gym and running/jogging. I’m a regular ParkRunner (5km social run on Saturdays) and have participated in events like the Jetty 2 Jetty and International Women’s Day Fun Run.
I challenged myself a bit this year by signing up for the Noosa Ultra-Trail – 15km event. As part of this, I joined a local sprint training group to help improve my Personal Best (PB) and better prepare myself physically and mentally.
What does this have to do with writing, you ask?
I feel my approach to training (and particularly running after having children) is similar to that when writing children’s books and (my bigger goal of) breaking into the Australian book publishing industry.
It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
I have to keep my eyes up and put one foot in front of the other. At the same time, I will write that next line, that next chapter, that next book.
The importance of short-term goals
You have your long-term goal: ‘I want to publish a book’ or ‘I want to be able to run 10km without stopping.’
No matter what your long-term goal is, you need to break it down into short-term goals. These will act as milestones in your journey and help gauge how far you’ve come.
Tips to setting your short-term goals
- Make them realistic
- Make them measurable (example: I will write 500 words each day for the next two weeks)
- Track your progress (I like to record my ongoing word count in a notepad)
- Share and celebrate your wins (engage with the #Auswrites or #6amAusWriters community on Twitter – they’re a lovely bunch)
- Find your motivation – you don’t have to be running at 100% all the time. Switch up your activities if you need to rekindle that motivation.
You can continue working towards that ‘ultimate goal’ but your short-term goals will keep reminding you of the purpose of all those long nights (or sweaty training sessions).
Failures, rejection, and niggling thoughts of ‘I don’t think I can do this’ will be part of the journey, but that’s the same for any professional or personal endeavour that is worthwhile.
Why not set rewards for yourself as you hit those smaller goals – it will help you keep moving forwards and bolster your confidence if you start losing sight of that end destination.
The (not so) secret to success
So, is the secret to success to simply keep moving? Putting one foot in front of the other, or tapping away endlessly at the keyboard every night?
Not exactly.
The secret is to keep moving according to a plan. The combination of many short-term and manageable goals will help keep you accountable and on the right track.
Whether you’re chasing that PB, untangling that pesky plot hole, or getting the red pen out to tackle the final draft – keep chipping away at those short-term goals, and remember: I didn’t come this far to only come this far.
How did I go in the 15km Noosa Ultra-Trail? We’ll see in a couple of weeks …
I’m a runner, a mum of two, and an Australian children’s author. I’m all about magical middle-grade books and can’t wait to share my whimsical, adventurous, and insightful stories with young readers. I’m a marketing professional, writer, avid reader, and everything in between.
Jayne McIntyre Author 
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