Setting Good vs. Bad Writing Goals: A Quick Guide for Authors

As authors, setting goals is essential to keep us on track and motivated. But not all writing goals are created equal! The difference between good and bad goals can make or break your productivity and growth as an author.

Bad Writing Goals:

❌ "Write 5,000 words every day."

Unrealistic and unsustainable. Consistency is key, but this kind of pressure can lead to burnout.

❌ "Finish my novel in a month."

While it's great to have a target, focusing on completion at the expense of quality can lead to rushed, unfinished work.

❌ "Become a bestselling author – immediately."

Success takes time. It’s important to focus on the journey, not just the destination.

Good Writing Goals:

 ✅ "Write 500 words a day, five days a week."

Achievable and consistent. It allows for flexibility while keeping momentum going.

 ✅ "Complete one chapter a month."

Breaks the process down into manageable chunks and encourages steady progress.

✅ "Edit one page a day."

Focus on quality over quantity to refine your writing and strengthen your story.

Remember, good goals are realistic, specific, and motivating. They focus on the process and celebrate small wins rather than just the end result.

So, what’s your next writing goal? Let’s set some realistic and meaningful ones together! 📚✨

#WritingGoals #AmWriting #AuthorLife #WritingCommunity #GoalSetting #WritersOfLinkedIn #AuthorTips

Marketing Yourself and Your Book Projects Isn’t as Scary as You Think

As an author, the thought of marketing yourself and your book can feel overwhelming and intimidating. Many writers, especially those just starting out, believe that marketing is something reserved for business-savvy individuals or social media influencers, not for them. But here’s the truth: marketing doesn’t have to be a scary monster lurking in the shadows. In fact, it’s an opportunity to share your work with the world and connect with readers who are waiting for your story.

Marketing as an author is far more approachable than it seems. Here are some simple, manageable steps to successfully market your book and yourself as an author:

1. Shift Your Mindset: Marketing Is Not Self-Promotion

One of the biggest fears authors face when it comes to marketing is the idea of "selling out" or being seen as self-promotional. We often associate marketing with pushy salespeople, infomercials, or those dreaded “buy my book” posts that flood social media. But here’s the key: Marketing is not about selling yourself; it’s about sharing what you’ve created with people who will appreciate it.

As an author, you’re offering something valuable – whether it’s an escape in the form of fiction, helpful information in a nonfiction book, or a unique perspective. Marketing helps you find the right audience for your work. Think of marketing as an invitation to potential readers to get to know you and the world you’ve created, not as a hard-sell.

2. Start Small and Build Gradually

You don’t need to become an expert marketer overnight. In fact, it’s perfectly fine to start small and scale up over time. Begin with one or two simple strategies and gradually build upon them as you grow more comfortable. Here are a few starting points that won’t overwhelm you:

• Create an Author Website: Having an online presence is essential in today’s digital age. Your website is your “home base” where potential readers can learn more about you, your books, and your writing journey. You don’t need to be a web designer to get started – platforms like WordPress, Squarespace, or Wix offer easy-to-use templates that you can customize with your own content.

• Start a Blog: Blogging is a great way to establish your authority and engage with your audience. It doesn’t need to be long or frequent – just share insights about your writing process, behind-the-scenes details about your book, or thoughts on topics related to your book’s themes. By offering valuable content, you’ll build trust with readers and create a community around your work. 

• Social Media: Pick one or two social media platforms that align with your audience and start engaging. You don’t need to be everywhere, but consistency is key. Whether it’s Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn, share updates about your writing journey, snippets from your book, or general thoughts related to your genre. Social media isn’t about constant self-promotion – it's about connecting with others and building relationships.

3. Engage with Your Audience, Don’t Just Talk At Them

One of the best things about modern marketing is the ability to connect with readers on a personal level. Instead of seeing marketing as a one-way street where you constantly talk at your audience, think of it as a conversation. Engaging with your readers fosters loyalty and creates a community around your work. 

• Respond to Comments and Messages: Whenever readers comment on your posts or reach out to you, take the time to engage. Whether it’s a simple thank you or answering a question, making that connection builds goodwill.

• Ask Questions: Let your readers be part of the journey. Ask questions like: “What’s your favorite character trope?” or “What’s one topic you’d like me to write about next?” Encouraging interaction invites people to feel involved and valued.

• Share Personal Stories: Readers love to connect with authors on a personal level. Share stories about your writing process, the struggles you’ve faced, and the victories you’ve celebrated. The more authentic and relatable you are, the more your readers will connect with you and your work.

4. Leverage Free Tools to Help You Grow

You don’t need a massive budget to market yourself and your book. There are countless free tools available that make it easier to get started:

• Mailchimp: Build an email list to keep your readers informed about your latest projects, book launches, and events. An email list is one of the most direct ways to communicate with your audience.

• Canva: Create eye-catching graphics for social media, your website, or promotional materials. With a free account, you can easily design engaging visuals that attract attention without needing graphic design skills.

• Goodreads: Goodreads is an invaluable platform for authors to connect with readers. Creating an author profile, sharing your books, and interacting with readers on the platform helps you build your following. You can also encourage readers to leave reviews of your book, which can have a significant impact on your visibility and sales.

5. Focus on the Long-Term

Marketing is not a “quick fix” that will instantly sell thousands of books. It’s a long-term strategy that requires patience and persistence. Your goal is to build a loyal audience over time, not to make a single sale. Here are a few long-term strategies to keep in mind:

• Consistency Is Key: The more consistently you show up online and share your writing journey, the more your audience will grow. Set a realistic schedule for posting, blogging, and engaging with your audience. Don’t burn out by trying to do it all – just aim for steady progress.

• Build Relationships with Other Authors: Collaborating with other authors can be a great way to expand your reach. Participate in author interviews, share each other’s books, or host joint giveaways. Building a supportive network of authors can be a game-changer when it comes to marketing your books.

• Celebrate Milestones and Successes: Whether it’s the completion of your manuscript, the release of your book, or hitting a certain sales goal, celebrate your accomplishments with your audience. Sharing these milestones allows your readers to be part of the journey and reinforces the idea that your success is also their success.

6. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help

Marketing doesn’t have to be a solo venture. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or just don’t have the time to focus on marketing, consider asking for help. Hiring a freelance publicist or marketing expert can provide you with the guidance and expertise you need. Or, partner with other authors or bloggers who can help promote your work.

Marketing doesn’t have to be a scary or overwhelming task. Remember that marketing is just a tool to help you share your passion with the world, and with time, you’ll find your groove. You’ve already written a book – now it’s time to share it with the world. And trust me, the world is ready to hear your voice.

Choosing Your Book's Genre

Book genres are used to categorize your books. There are lots of benefits to this, of course – if a reader wants to read a romantic story, they will be grateful to find the romance section, as opposed to looking at every single book in the bookstore to see if it aligns with their interests.

Additionally, a genre helps agents know which editors to pitch your book to, and it helps editors know how they can package and sell your book to readers. Not every agent is interested in the same genres, just as some publishing imprints specialize in some genres over others.

Below you’ll see a list of the main genres in the publishing world. Note that these are main genres, and that there are often subgenres associated with a category (for instance, there are different types of mysteries – cozy mystery, police procedural, etc.).

When you are pitching your book, it is essential you know the genre your book lives under (e.g., “My 110,000-word novel, Murderous Kisses, is a romantic police procedural…”). As you can see in the example, you will likely have elements of more than one genre – however, you’ll want to have one be the primary focus (in the example, the book is a police procedural that also has romance.)

It also helps to use comparative titles when pitching, as it gives the agent or editor a shorthand understanding of your book’s potential spot in the marketplace (for instance, “my self-help empowerment guide for women has the sassiness of Girl, Wash Your Face and the spiritual elements like those in The Universe Has Your Back”).

Here are three lists of genres (fiction, nonfiction, and bonus) to get you started:

Fiction Genres

1.     Fantasy

2.     Adventure

3.     Mystery

4.     Romance/Erotica

5.     Literary

6.     Contemporary

7.     Dystopian

8.     Horror

9.     Thriller

10.  Paranormal

11.  Magic Realism

12.  Historical Fiction

13.  Science Fiction

14.  Children’s

15.  Young Adult

16.  New Adult

17.  Realist

18.  Upmarket

19.  Mainstream

20.  “Women’s”

Nonfiction

1.     Memoir/Autobiography

2.     Self-Help/Personal Development

3.     Cooking

4.     Art/Photography

5.     Health/Fitness

6.     History

7.     Travel

8.     Guide/How-To

9.     Families/Relationships/Parenting

10.  Humor

11.  True Crime

12.  Biography

13.  Business/Money

14.  Politics/Social Sciences

15.  Science/Technology

16.  Religion/Spirituality

17.  Essays

18.  Poetry

19.  Children’s

20.  Young Adult

21.  New Adult

Bonus Genres:

1.     Graphic Novel

2.     Short Stories

3.     LGBTQ+

4.     Bildungsroman

What genre are you writing? Let me know in the comments below.

The truth about agents, rejection, and platforms

A quick note about agents, rejection, and platforms:

Being rejected based on your platform (or lack thereof) does not mean that the literary agent thinks your career path isn’t impressive, that you’re not greatly respected in your field, that you’ve accomplished nothing, or that you do not have anything substantive to say. They likely don’t even think you are lacking in talent, that you should keep your day job, or that there is no hope for you and your book in the wide world of publishing.

The reason that agents care so much about platform is because the editors at publishing companies do. And editors equate platform with potential book sales. This makes sense, of course – if you have X number of fans who are already interacting with your content, then you will likely have X number of fans who will actually purchase your book. And as the publishing house is making an investment in you with the advance they pay, they want to feel comfortable they will make their money back (and more). Agents and editors need to know what IS happening and what HAS happened, not what COULD happen. Even authors choosing to self-publish need to have a platform and to build awareness of their “brand”: fans = money, and if you don’t have the fans, I wouldn’t quit your day job.

It may seem outrageous that someone who has worked in a field for 30 years may not be considered a platform all-star. It may not be “right,” it may not be convenient, but that’s the world we live in and write in. If you’d like to continue to “fight the man,” go ahead. But a change of perspective may be more helpful (and fruitful!). 

The good news is, just because your platform may be in its beginning stages, or it may need a little work, does not mean it will always be that way. Platform is something that people need to constantly be working on – even Oprah is consistently finding new ways to reach out to her fans.

It’s important to remember that not all platforms are the same; it all depends on where your audience is. Some folks build their followings on Twitter or on Instagram, others through speaking engagements or a podcast. Find out where your ideal readers are going and interact with them there. You are aware already that knowing your audience makes you a better writer – after all, it’s all about them, not you – and this thought applies to building a platform, too. Do your research, try, and then try again. And yes, this can be time-consuming (I wish I could say to tweet twenty times a day and publishing success will be yours). 

It’s important to think outside the box when you’re doing this. What are your personal strengths? Look at your competition, or at peers in your field for whom you have great respect. What are they doing that seems to be working? How can you put your own spin on it and make those ideas work for you, too? If you can’t make the process fun, think of it as an inevitable, like doing your taxes, waiting in line at the DMV, or paying off your student loans.

If you’re at the beginning, don’t be discouraged. Writing a whole book seemed pretty impossible at one point, right? Nothing will happen overnight. Platform is about the long term, not the short term, even if you want to just write this one book and then wipe your hands clean of this crazy industry. Slowly but surely, you will start growing your tribe. And the people that are excited for this book will be excited for your next one, and the one after that. 

Introducing the Author’s Roadmap, a boutique service offered to authors who are ready, really ready, to realize their long-held dreams of being published.

First we’ll begin with a 60-minute call in which we’ll get to know one another. You tell me about you and your book and what your big, audacious dreams are for getting it published (and even after that). You ask me whatever questions you have and together we identify which roadblocks are keeping you from getting to your last stop.

After we meet, you’ll send me your manuscript and I’ll dive deep within it, identifying which aspects will be most attractive to publishers, literary agents, and readers – and which might need a little work (and then I’ll tell you how to fix them).

Finally, I’ll give you the steps you will need to take to get your book published, and beloved by readers everywhere. Looking for a literary agent? I’ll tell you how to get there. Self-publishing? I’ll get you there, too.

It can be hard to know which way to go, and the options can feel overwhelming.

I’m here to get you where you need to be: published.

​Are you ready to play big?