My Writing Goals This Fall
Happy Fall ya’ll! I am so glad the trees are changing their leaves into beautiful vibrant colors. The weather is getting a little cooler, and pumpkin spice lattes are back in season. It is a bit too early to pull out my cozy fall sweaters and leggings but it’s not too late to plan out my writing goals for the season. This year, I am determined to give my side projects the attention they deserve and make real progress in my writing. So let’s fall into these goals that I have for myself this wonderful time of the year.
Writing History So Far…
My journey as a writer has its ups and downs. When I was a little girl, I had an active imagination and was drawn to books—I read all the time. You could not see me without a book in my hand. I loved the idea of being in fantastical worlds, so much so that I started creating my own, whether in my head, with my toys, or through pen and paper. I wrote silly little stories in elementary school and wish I still had them to reminisce on my innocent creations.
By high school, I knew that I wanted to be a writer, and blogging seemed like a great idea, though it took years to actually commit. Alas, I made it here. In those years I wrote lots of poems but rarely shared them because they were only meant for me. In college, I was still afraid of putting myself out there, always thinking my writing wasn’t good enough compared to the hundreds of students in my classes, and it held me back. And school was so hard for me to get through that the joy of writing didn’t excite me anymore.
Fast forward to 2022, I finally graduated college with my bachelor’s in English, took a few creative writing courses, created and published my blog, and wished for a job with some kind of writing or publishing. Now, I have some uncompleted and half-written drafts in my files and I decided it is time to honor the little girl who dreamed of being a writer by taking these projects more seriously. If others with average writing skills can publish stories, why can’t I? I’ve inspired some friends to write their own stories and I am so happy for them! Seeing my friends get excited about creating their special worlds and writing their stories has inspired me to get back into that headspace.
What I Want to Improve
Reflecting on my writing journey, there are a few key areas I want to focus on:
Consistency: My growth is stunted because I lack consistency. Right now, I only write blog posts for my job and Living Like Lanèe. The creative spark I need for fiction is dimmed and I need to reignite it. I’ve created a routine with work so it’s time to do the same for my personal projects.
My Skills: I understand basic grammar, but I want to dive deeper into the storytelling fundamentals—character development, themes, plot structure, language, and style. I want to see real progress in my stories and poetry.
Completed drafts: I have a habit of starting projects and abandoning them because of my harsh criticism. The satisfaction of completing a draft is something I want to experience more often. It’s time to see my projects to the end!
Positive Self Talk: I’m learning to be kinder to myself, especially when it comes to my writing. In the past, I’ve been my own worst critic, but I’m working on changing that inner dialogue. Instead of focusing on what I haven’t accomplished or where I fall short, I want to celebrate my progress and remind myself that growth takes time. Positive self-talk is helping me stay motivated and confident in my abilities, even when I hit roadblocks.
My Fall Writing Goals
I have three writing goals that I want to achieve for the rest of the year:
Complete two short stories: I have several unfinished stories, and this fall, I want to finish two of them. One is about a young woman healing from a breakup who goes to a salon for the first time to get her hair done. The second is based on a Reedsy prompt about two characters who meet and fall in love in a museum. I started writing it for a competition but didn’t finish in time (oops).
Establish a solid writing routine: I’ve noticed that my creative juices are strongest in the morning and at night. I wake up at 7 AM and don’t have to start work until 9:30, so after my morning routine, I want to make it a habit to write for 30 minutes. I could also write at night before bed. I’m open to experimenting with different writing techniques and routines from some of my favorite authors.
Submit/Publish a story to a magazine: Publishing is important to me because it’s a way to put myself out there and reach readers who connect with my work. Reedsy’s weekly writing challenges are a great opportunity, and there are poetry magazines that have caught my eye. My goal is to publish something—just to prove to myself that I can, even if it scares me.
Looking Forward
Those are the improvements I’m working toward and the goals I’m excited to achieve this fall and winter. Honestly, I’m nervous because I’m pushing myself beyond my comfort zone, and I know I’ll stumble along the way. But I’m also excited to see what I can accomplish! If you’re going through a similar journey, know that you are not alone—we can grow as storytellers together but committing to our craft. Follow me on Instagram so we can hold each other accountable!
