Writing Blog

20211229 Public Goal Setting

December 29, 2021, 8:30am

I received an on-site email, but it feels more encompassing, so I thought I’d answer it here. Question: Why do you use the Weekly Goals forum when you seem motivated to write without it?

That’s actually a reasonable question.

But here is my reasoning for using that forum (Goals 26/12/2021 to 2/1/2022 from Weekly Goals ):

Accountability.

Yes, as writers, unless we have a deadline imposed upon us, we are really only accountable to ourselves. But I do find myself sometimes taking things a little easy. I do my personal minimum word limit and don’t push it that much further. Especially at the moment when I’m in holiday mode. But by making these goals public, you put yourself forward for scrutiny, even though no-one is going to come down on you if you do not reach those self-imposed goals. That accountability becomes public and there is something in the psyche of most humans to not be seen to fail in something so simple in full view of your peers.

So, I will do those Weekly Goals on the forum or do things like set my own goals during NaNoWriMo in order to make myself accountable to myself.

As a writer, maybe it’s the best thing we can use to make sure we keep on keeping in this bizarre vocation that has chosen us.