Setting Self-Publishing Goals That Keep You Moving

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Set goals for the things you control, such as words written per day and a publish date, keep them reachable, and use them to check that you are on track. Don’t set goals like “sell a million copies”. Below I cover why goals matter, how I break a book into daily targets, and why oversized goals can wreck your motivation.

Why do I need self-publishing goals?

When you start as an author, you need some idea of where you are heading. Many people say they will set goals later, when they have more clarity. But if you don’t know where you are heading, how do you know whether you are making progress? You end up spending less time on what matters and more on what doesn’t, and the books don’t get onto the market or get marketed.

When I started I had only a vague goal, to have a book out there, with no sub-goals. I never asked why I was writing or how. Without that internal drive you make no progress, and you quickly lose focus. Some people write down their goals every day and ask whether today’s activities line up with them. Knowing the truth about self-publishing before you start helps you set an end point that is realistic. A daily routine helps too, and exercises for improving your self-publishing gives four to try.

How do I break a book into daily goals?

I learned from podcasts, books and videos to break long-term goals into what to do daily. For me it was writing 1,000 words a day. For you that might be 500, or even 100. I can do 1,000 because I write long emails and messages naturally, which doesn’t make me a great writer. When I hit my number, I reward myself and call the day done.

A worked example:

1. Write 1,000 words a day for a 30,000-word book: about 30 days.
2. Edit a chapter a day, or about a week.
3. Order the cover (about a week) and write the description.
4. Set a publish date, such as two months from today.

I put a book on the market in as little as 30 to 60 days this way, and later I became faster. These days I am working out how to break down my latest book into goals, even if it is 100 words a day plus one strategic task. The books I put out this way have helped many people, and many are still selling. I also learned that you burn out if you don’t enjoy the journey, so make it as fun as you can.

Why do goals help me stay on track?

This comes from David Allen’s Getting Things Done: identify the end goal, which is a book on the market and selling, then keep asking what the next step is. The next step might be another chapter. It might be 100 words. Don’t split your time over a thousand things. The day’s goal is the next step. Sometimes that step is a skill, such as learning enough copywriting for your book description.

What goals should I set, and which should I avoid?

Goals should be about things you can control. You can’t control selling a million copies. You can raise the odds by optimizing your books so that Amazon’s algorithms can show them to many people, but your goals are words per day and a publish date. Don’t spend too long planning: execute.

Research backs this kind of goal. In Locke and Latham’s review of 35 years of goal-setting research, specific goals led to better performance than telling people to do their best, because a do-your-best goal has no reference point. They also noted that on tasks that are complex for people, learning goals can be better than performance goals. For a new author, a learning goal such as finishing the next step suits that.

How far ahead can I set a publish date on KDP?

A publish date is a goal you control, and KDP can hold you to it. KDP’s Schedule a Release page says a release date can be set up to 90 days in advance, and that you must upload your manuscript to schedule one. It also says that within five days of release you cannot update the manuscript or book details. Before that deadline you can move the date up, delay it or unpublish the release. Your next step: pick a date, work back from it with your daily word count, and schedule the release once the manuscript is final.

Why can big goals destroy my motivation?

Many people talk about “big hairy audacious goals” (BHAGs), but I argue against them. Locke and Latham found difficult goals can raise performance, but only when you can reach them and stay committed. A goal that is too big is one you may not achieve, and when you miss goals you demotivate yourself. I call it the “Everest problem”: the mountain looks so tall that you never start. Break it down. Aim for the first base camp, then the second. Don’t focus on the summit day to day. Write down today’s goal and meet it.

Have you set goals for your self-publishing business? If you would like help turning your book into a clear daily plan, book a free 25-minute discovery call with me. In group coaching ($47 a month, with a 7-day money-back guarantee) you also get a private Slack group where you can share your goals and progress. See my must-have self-publishing tools for the tools I use to stay on track.

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