This morning, my Writer’s Digest Monday Motivation hit my inbox with one of the most comforting quotes I’ve recently seen. Robert Lee Brewer, senior editor of Writer’s Digest, wrote a piece on the downfall of setting rigid writing goals: mainly, that it can shut you in a box of your own making, leaving you bereft of the ability to see any other opportunities beyond the one you’ve honed in on. The article is worth the read, but I want to talk about why the quote spoke to me at this stage of my creative writing career.

For years, I’ve struggled to find the time to write. It’s a familiar story, right? I’m too busy, I have other priorities, I’ll get to it later, I can’t carve out any time, etc., etc., and next I know I haven’t written a word creatively in over two years. Now, those two years were going to happen no matter what, but now I’m two years further in and only just now figuring out that I need to change my viewpoint. Trying to stick to, “I’m going to write for 30 minutes every day,” or “I’m going to submit to this particular literary magazine” have not worked for me. My life simply does not allow for it. Fine, then, what will work?

Brewer calls them “soft goals:”

“I often advise making a mix of short-term and long-term goals and then to be willing to adjust them over time. The short-term goals are usually more manageable tasks (for instance, writing at least 500 words a days or pitching an article idea once a week). The long-term goals might be more ambitious (like finishing a book-length manuscript or becoming a full-time freelance writer).”

Robert Lee Brewer, Writer’s Digest

This is what I’ve just managed to convince myself to do in 2024, so seeing Brewer’s quote and reading his advice is incredibly timely. I made an author-focused task calendar (because I love a good planner/calendar—always have, probably always will) and filled in some short-term goals. I know from my day job that keeping a posting schedule is important, but last time I tried it I got so stressed out about not posting at the same time on the days I posted that I pretty much gave up. This time, I decided to say to myself, “I would like to post twice a week. Here are the two days I think are probably going to work out the best, but if it needs to be on another day (or to be skipped entirely) THAT IS FINE.” And I mean it. I also set up perhaps three medium-term goals (for the first quarter of 2024) and only one long-term goal, which I’m giving myself the entire year to do.

It all feels imminently more reasonable than the last time I tried to go all-in on my author life.

This might not sound like your idea of flexible, but for me it’s practically revolutionary! And so far, it’s worked. Writing is fun again. I enjoy writing for my blog. I’m becoming active on my Instagram account again (@paige.l.austin, come find me!) and having fun there, too.

What have you found works for you in terms of keeping this writing life enjoyable and not a burden?