Developing a writing strategy is not just about setting targets like a daily wordcount or number of pages, though that feeds into it. A writing strategy is a master plan that identifies your writing aspirations over the short and long term and plots a trajectory as to how you can achieve them.
Why Have One?
The internet and print media have exploded with avenues and markets for writers who have to be concerned with more than just their writing now. They also have to be involved in the business side of getting their work published such as self-promotion, marketing, building readership and having a platform.
In such a competitive scenario, writers with a well thought out master plan have an edge in realizing their goals.
I think of the elements in a writing strategy more as interlinked sections rather than sequential steps. You may start at your long term view and narrow down from that or you may start with the short term goals and project it over the long term or you could even start with assessing your environment and come to an understanding of the gaps in your capacities. The idea is to have each element logically reinforce the other.
by Zakia R. Khwaja
Now let’s get to it.
Objective
A writer should know where they want to be in 3 – 5 years. This is important because every level of their writing strategy will reinforce this long term objective. It could be as simple as wanting to have a single book published. Or as ambitious as landing a multi-book deal with a publisher. Or to be acknowledged as a writer and establish their own series of writing workshops. Whatever it is, it needs to be clarified and realistic.
Goals
This is where we break the objective down into smaller goals. These are short-term and year-to-year. E.g., In order to get your book published you may need to build readership through a platform. Finalize your manuscript. Get a literary agent. A good rule of thumb is to make these goals SMART – Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Timebound.
Tasks
Now we get into the nitty-gritty of realizing our goals and through them ultimately our Objective. Tasks are the daily actions you will undertake in order to achieve your goals. This is where you may set a daily word or page quota. If your goal is to build a platform, you may start a blog and regularly update it. If the goal is to get a literary agent, you may start compiling a list of agents and send query letters to them.
Systems and Processes
This is where you give thought to the systems you need to have in place in order to perform your writing tasks efficiently and effectively. Maybe you need to block out time to write everyday or you need to streamline your filing system to keep track of submissions or you need to keep track of your reading through a booklist.
Playing Field
It is important for writers to identify within the publishing industry the avenues they want to pursue in their genre. They need to be cognizant of the publishers that are interested in the kind of writing they do. The level at which they are entering their field. What publications do they want their writing to appear in? Which writers are at the top in their chosen genre and why? A knowledge of how the publishing industry (online and print) works, the environment they operate in is an advantage for when they target their work.
Measures of Success
Every writer must be clear about their standards of success. It could be to get published in five literary journals in a year or maybe to win a writing contest or to sign up with the literary agent of their choice or have their work accepted by a leading publisher. Being clear on your measures of success makes you specific in what you aim for.
Capacity development
No matter what level of competency they may be at, a writer needs to make an honest assessment of their capabilities and address gaps in their skills and knowledge. The learning never ends. There is always room to improve aspects of your craft. Whether it is attending a writing workshop or participating in online forums or attending a writing conference, a writer must commit to improve their writing as well as network and learn from other writers.
I hope this helps you think more strategically about your writing. Give me your thoughts on this. Until next week! 🙂
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