How to set realistic goals for your novel (5 steps to the finish line)

Starting a novel is one thing. Completing it is something else entirely.

Dec 19, 2024

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“I’m going to write four novels this year.”

I said those words at the start of January 2023, and I meant them. My goal was to complete four first drafts by Christmas, one full-length novel per quarter.

By the time July rolled around, guess how many novels I’d finished?

Zero.

I got derailed by the time Spring rolled around and didn’t get back into the swing of things for a long time afterwards. My young-adult sci-fi mystery languished around the one-third-complete mark for months.

This experience taught me an important lesson as an author: realistic goals are absolutely critical in your novel-writing journey.

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To put it into context, I wrote three novels in roughly two years before I started Book Four, so I assumed I could up my game and bang out four in twelve months.

I set an unrealistic goal and couldn’t match it. Worse still, I didn’t even come close. Three novels would have been good; two would have been acceptable. Instead, I ended up in a position where I’d be lucky to finish one, unless I massively upped my game.

It was deflating to say the least because I love pushing myself to hit new targets. I’m of the opinion you should aim beyond your means, but falling so far short is a real motivation killer.

And I don’t want that for you.

So what can you do to ensure the goals you set for your novel are realistic and achievable?

1. Word Count

First off, have a clear word count for your novel in mind.

If you’re writing a story aimed at a younger audience, your book may be in the 50–70k range. An adult novel will range as high as 100k (it’s worth bearing in mind that anything longer than that is much less likely to be accepted by a publisher, for whatever reason).

Once you know what word count you’re aiming to reach, you can break down your daily and weekly goals into more manageable chunks.

2. Deadlines

Alongside your word count targets, set time-dependent deadlines for yourself.

If you’ve never written a novel before, you may not know exactly how much you can write in one sitting. It could be a lot less (or a lot more) than you anticipate.

My suggestion? Play it fast and loose with your word count and time deadlines for the first month at least until you have a clearer understanding of your capabilities. Once you have enough to go on, create a firmer schedule for the remaining weeks or months ahead.

3. Schedule

Your schedule should be firm but not rigid, malleable but not fluid. If it’s too easily changed, it’s not really a schedule at all.

Establish your writing nook, whether that’s in your study, at your kitchen table, or even at your local coffee shop. My nook was tucked away in the corner of our spare room, right behind the door. I’ve since graduated to an armchair I lugged upstairs one night on a whim.

Do your utmost to protect and preserve your writing space and the time you spend there. Make it a daily appointment you cannot break.

4. Celebrate Every Milestone

Quietly make a big deal of every milestone along your pathway to completing your novel.

Celebrate finishing a chapter, or even a scene you found difficult to get through. Reward yourself with a little treat. Go outside and stretch your legs in the garden. Watch an episode of your favourite TV show.

And of course, when you finish your entire first draft, make sure to do something very special indeed!

5. Go Easy On Yourself

It’s important to stay flexible during your writing process and be willing to adapt to changing circumstances.

If your writing nook isn’t working for you anymore, switch things up a bit; if you aren’t hitting those daily word count targets, readjust your expectations and go again. The more adaptable you are, the more likely you’ll be to reach your ultimate goal.

And above all else, don’t be too self-critical. Yes, push yourself and don’t let up until the job’s eventually done. But don’t allow the process to become a chore, something you begin to dread every day before you’ve even started writing.

Keep it fun — that’s how it’s supposed to be!

The bullet points

Set realistic, achievable goals when you start writing your novel. Aim high, but not so high you’ll never come close to your target and simply discourage yourself along the way.
Establish clear goals in regards to word count and your personal writing deadlines. Be willing and able to adapt them as your work-in-progress takes shape.
Celebrate every little milestone along the way. You may have to be your own personal cheerleader for this project, so don’t withhold any rewards from yourself.
And of course, don’t put undue pressure on yourself. Writing a novel should be a joyful, life-giving experience. Maintain a good degree of flexibility throughout the entire process and you’ll make it to the end in one piece.

Finally, ask yourself: what’s a realistic goal you could aim for when writing your novel? What can you do to stay flexible and ensure it remains a positive experience throughout?

And if it is your long-term goal is to become a professional novelist, you should definitely read this next.