Writing outcome goals

It is often easier to perform a behaviour when you know what you want to achieve as an outcome. An outcome goal is the end result that you want your actions or behaviours to achieve. This is different from setting a word count goal which relates to performing the writing behaviour (see separate blog on writing word count goals).

Writing can result in many different outcomes so setting a writing outcome goal can be a bit tricky. I think your outcome goal needs to relate to an amount of writing that gives you a sense of achievement and a point at which you would celebrate success.

My ultimate writing outcome goal is always publishing my work; getting it into the public domain; ‘Off your desk’ as my PhD supervisor would say. Finally etched onto my CV forever. However, as writing projects can take a long time to complete (some of my articles have taken years!) then setting something which feels too out of reach might be a bit off-putting.

In Rowena Murray’s advice on writing goals, she advocates a series of writing goals which represent milestones within a larger writing project, and this probably makes the most sense. This means you can think about a journal article for example in relation to a series of writing outcome goals. These could be related to the production of particular sections, or milestones in the writing process. Personally, I like setting writing outcome goals as they relate to the preparation of publication drafts. So my writing outcome goals for a journal article would be:

• Completion of a first draft of a paper (usually on my own as first author) and sent to co-authors for comments

• Production of a second draft following review of 1st round co-author comments and re-circulation

• Submission of an article following final comments

• Edited first submission following peer review and re-submission (hopefully to the same journal title!)

• Proofed final version for publication

I use these because they feel like meaningful milestones in the process of publishing a paper. However, the first step can take a really long time. So I would usually also set myself sub-goals for the introduction and aim, methods, results, discussion and conclusion sections. I may even set myself sub-sub-goals for the results for example where there might be several aspects or themes that need to be included. Similar to monitoring my word counts for my writing behaviour, reaching my outcome goals gives me a sense of achievement and progression.

The distinction between setting a goal for writing (the behaviour), and an outcome (what you get at the end of the writing) does get a bit blurred. The purpose of differentiating these goals I think is to ‘double up’ on your motivation. The outcome goal reminds you why you’re performing the writing behaviour in the first place. The behaviour goal helps you stay focussed on the behaviour and keeps you going on your way to achieving your ultimate outcome.

At our Coastal Writing retreats, we encourage our writers to set a writing outcome goal at the end of the retreat. This helps writers to focus on progress by the end of a retreat with us and what they need to do to move them closer to their outcome goal. A few weeks after the retreat, we send them a reminder of their outcome goal and simply ask, how did you do? Whilst we’d love it if our writers replied and told us – we’re rooting for you all the way! – the question is really for the writer to ask themselves and reflect on.

Writing is a tricky old business, we can have all sorts of intentions after a retreat, make ourselves all sorts of promises about getting some writing done, but did it happen? If it did – great! If it didn’t, why not? Was the goal too ambitious, maybe you need to set yourself something different, or maybe the chaos of everyday life just got in the way – maybe you need a reset? Maybe you need to come and write with us again!