What are SMART goals?
You can mix and match elements of writing mini-goals to make them SMART: Specific, Motivating, Attainable, Relevant, and Trackable.
- Make a goal more specific by adding a content-based detail.
- Make a goal more motivating by adding a reward or reflecting on the positive outcomes of achieving it.
- Make goals attainable by adapting them to match realities of your schedule and study/writing habits.
- Make goals relevant by verifying that your planning materials reflect the assignment aims.
- Make goals trackable with quantity-based mini-deadlines.
Writers who thrive within familiar routine may benefit from finding the goal style that works for them, then sticking with it. Individuals who respond better to variety may benefit from rotating between goal styles if one approach starts to feel stale.
Drafting goals can also evolve throughout the academic year. For example, a postgraduate researcher might respond well to primarily time-based drafting goals for much of the year. However, in the two months preceding a progression review deadline, they might layer on additional elements to build SMART drafting goals tailored to the submission requirements.
Top tips
- Experiment with setting goals for your writing based on quantity, time, or content written.
- Effective writing goals are specific and realistic: goals that are vague or unattainable risk demotivating you.
- Setting mini-goals with staggered deadlines is vital when working on an extended piece like a dissertation or thesis, so use shorter assessments as opportunities to refine your goal-setting skills.
