Setting Realistic Goals
No matter which source I've gone to for advice on writing a novel, each one has said the same thing: set realistic goals.
I completely agree.
In a previous post I said
...using online resources is an excellent way to help you on your way to having an amazing outcome in any endeavor.
Writing down your goals for the completion of your novel can be an important aspect to actually COMPLETING the novel you set out to write. Today, I just set my goals up in the iCalendar app on my computer. Here's a pic:
Ignore the bits in red and purple. So far, I have it set up until finishing my 5-9th chapters. (Ignore the 6, I had a typo!)
Here's a breakdown for those that are too lazy to read the tiny print on the image:
- May 29-30th: Plot building.
- June 1-2nd: Setting
- June 4-7th: Character building, one character per day. (Getting the main characters done.)
- June 9-10th: Scenes/Ideas for scenes
- June 12-19th: Creating an outline of the entire novel
- June 21-25th: Chapters 1-4
- June 26th-August 1st: Chapters 1-5
I don't care what you have going on your life right now; you have to take your time and set realistic goals. Setting goals helps to get your work done quickly with as little stress as possible.
These goals are catered specifically towards my personal limits. Don't imitate my schedule unless you know you're capable of working that way. KNOW YOUR OWN LIMITS! If you can write four chapters in one day, go right ahead. If you can only write four paragraphs in a day, you do that. Don't try and exceed what you know your capabilities are.
Setting goals separates the different, daunting aspects of writing a work of literature that is 50,000 words or more and makes it seem more like a complete possibility rather than a massive impossibility. If you exceed your limits, you're going to end up being screwed over in the end. You'll be too afraid to actually get anything done because of the gargantuan task you set yourself to do!