Every writer or blogger has goals. But on the road to achieving those goals we pass something else by: milestones.
I like to think of milestones as micro-goals. They're not bona fide goals unto themselves, but they are accomplishments of a sort.
Make no mistake: milestones are a good thing. Sometimes, trying to achieve a full-fledged goal can be overwhelming. Take writing a novel, for example. How many people never start (let alone finish) such a thing simply because of the daunting nature of it?
I'll tell you what helps: milestones.
Merriam-Webster defines a milestone as "a significant point in development". Reaching a milestone is not the end, but it's a significant step in that direction.
For me, a milestone is a chapter written. The chapter by itself is kind of meaningless—you can't sell it, and it probably doesn't tell a whole story. But rack up enough of those milestones and the next thing you know, you've got a complete manuscript.
There's something else about setting goals or working towards a milestone: they have to be realistic or attainable.
Overshooting, or setting unrealistic goals, is a recipe for failure. Not reaching your goals can be discouraging. Hit on too many disappointments, next thing you know you're out of the game before you even had a chance.
The lesson in all of this: baby steps. Keep it simple. Reach for the attainable, knowing that each smaller step is a signpost on the longer road to completion.
Subscribe to my new release email list and get The Hall of Riddles (An Alchemancer Prequel), an exclusive story for subsribers only, and The Killing Knife (Tales of the Assassin Without a Name #1-3).