Keep Your Eyes on the Goal

by Rebecca Reed

I don’t know about you, but I get excited when I think of a new story idea. I spend time
thinking about characters, backstory, motivations, settings, and events. I call this “story
noodling” and I love this activity.

At some point, the newness wears off. Writing becomes less fun and more like work. I make excuses to procrastinate putting myself in front of my computer. The story gets off track, and I have to remind myself of the story goal. What are the characters trying to accomplish?

Sometimes, if it’s really difficult, I have to remind myself of the why of my project. Not all projects have the same goal. Just like not all writers write for the same reasons.

Whatever you are writing, know your goal for that particular piece. Then, when you run into a day where the act of writing seems more a chore than a joy, you can remind yourself of the goal, and find your motivation to continue.

Similarly, as writers, having a goal or an end purpose, perhaps in the form of a mission
statement, notes on the mirror or wall or workspace, or all of the above, that reminds us why we write. Because a time will come when you’re asked that question. Just as the Bible says we should be ready to defend our faith and provide answers to those who ask, we should be able to articulate why we write.

Knowing your goal as a writer is the first step.

Next, we need to understand who we’re writing to, for, and with. At first glance, it may seem like I have too many prepositions. You may think they all have the same answer. And, perhaps for you, they do. But they don’t for me. And each project may be a bit different. My first novel ended up being written to myself, though I didn’t know it at the time. It was for a contest. It was definitely with God, though I didn’t realize that at the time either.

So ask yourself: Who am I writing to? Is it teenaged girls, adult women with children, adult men who enjoy football, empty-nester women? A particular magazine’s audience? Who are you writing for? Are you publishing with Love Inspired, another traditional house, independently publishing? Is it a memoir for your family or a story for an anthology?

Who are you writing with? If you’re in a multi-author project, you may have several authors with whom you are collaborating. If you’re writing alone, I’m hoping God is your ghost writer. I’ve found by including Him in all of my projects, they become more than I could have produced on my own, regardless of their purposes.

Don’t lose sight of your goal when the path veers away or turns uphill. I’d like to modify that old saying, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” To “When the writing gets tough, Christian authors call on the Lord and focus on their goal.” These steps help refocus my efforts on what I am trying to accomplish rather than running after shiny distractions or giving up because of obstacles that slow me down. Having another person who encourages us is quite helpful as well.

And the final step is that it’s never too late to refocus or renew commitments.

Just as Paul advised the Philippians, it is important to keep our eyes on the goal that we might win the prize. For me, that means upholding my word to promote an atmosphere of trust and honor within the author community to expand God’s glory.

What does it mean for you?

Rebecca Reed writes romantic tales filled with journeys of discovery, hope, and horses. A lover of Jesus, animals, music, and nature, she listens to audiobooks on her rural Indiana farm. As a wife, mother, and grandmother, she’s learned to embrace joy in life’s unexpected moments and inside a good story. Visit Rebecca on her website at https://rebeccareedwrites.com/.