writing strategies goal

15 Best Writing Strategies With Examples

When you’re a writer , you need to know the best strategies to get your reader’s attention and hold onto it.

The goal is to get them hooked on your content, so they’ll want to read more.

Only then can you cultivate a relationship that serves you both.

So, how do you do that (without actually hypnotizing them)?

You learn different writing strategies, applied to advantage by the pros, and work on making them your own.

The first question to answer is, “What is a writing strategy?”

What Are the Different Types of Writing Strategies?

1. start with a strong hook. , 2. give your opening paragraph a strong sense of direction. , 3. be authentic in every sentence. , 4. create a reader avatar. , 5. create an outline. , 6. have fun with it. , 7. start a dialogue with your reader. , 8. get time on your side. , 9. prioritize clarity. , 10. break it up with visuals. , 11. put your reader to the test., 12. dazzle them with surprising facts. , 13. add interesting quotes from authorities in the field. , 14. ask questions to get your readers thinking , 15. tell your reader a story. , which writing strategies will you use.

A strategy is a general plan — or set of plans — you make to achieve a goal.

So, a writing strategy involves tactics you use to ensure your writing meets the goals you’ve set for it.

Your number one goal is to capture and hold onto your reader’s interest. Your related goals will depend on the overall purpose of your writing:

To sell something (and make money)
To motivate your reader to do something
To evoke an emotional response (pathos, anger, levity, etc.)

While the reason for your writing goal can vary, the goal itself does not. And the sooner you learn how to put the following 15 writing strategies into practice, the sooner your audience will grow.

15 Writing Strategies with Examples

No doubt, you’ve already become familiar with some of these time-tested examples of writing strategies. It’s what you don’t (yet) know that can hold you back and limit your influence.

That’s about to change.

Your first sentence should hook your reader and make them curious enough to read the second sentence, which should lead them irresistibly to the third, and so on.

That first sentence should grab hold of their interest and get them thinking, “I need to know what will come next.” Your entire opening hook doesn’t have to consist of one sentence, but a few sentences at most should suffice to get under your reader’s skin.

Strong hooks can include any of the following:

Probing or rhetorical questions
Anecdotes
Bold claims

Example:

“Did you know every year the amount of garbage we toss into the ocean is three times the weight of fish caught?” (statistic)

Your first paragraph should clearly communicate the direction of your piece. And it should give the reader a reason to care about it. They should want to know more and feel compelled to see what you’ll reveal. Give them a reason to feel invested.

Otherwise, they might bookmark your page to “save it for later,” but we all know what that usually means. It’s the internet version of walking away.

“As a lifelong crabber (that is, one who catches crabs, not a chronic complainer), I can tell you that anyone who has patience and a great love for the river is qualified to join the ranks of crabbers. However, if you want your first crabbing experience to be a successful one, you must come prepared.”

– (Mary Zeigler, “How to Catch River Crabs” )

Come as you are. This is not a place to show off or pretend to be someone else. Try to trick your reader, and they’ll most likely leave and never return. So, ix-nay on the bait and switch. Put yourself in the reader’s shoes and give them what you know they would want.

Be genuine, and show that you care as much about their time as you do about yours.

“I haven’t wanted to call myself a functional alcoholic . For just a second, the word “functional” makes it easier to accept the word that comes after it.

“Then the reality hits: I’m not as functional as I’d like to think. And being an alcoholic means having to give up alcohol….”

Design an ideal reader based on what you know — including demographic info (married/single, age range, interests, culture, politics, geographical area). Then write as if addressing a respected friend.

Don’t assume your reader can’t figure stuff out, but don’t use ten-dollar words when one-dollar words will do. Write the way you would talk in a friendly conversation.

Ideal reader Alexis is a health-conscious socialite in her mid-twenties. Her interests include public relations, fashion, and social media (mainly Instagram). She reads to stay well-informed about things that matter to her. She’s visually oriented. Her dream is to work in New York as a successful public relations professional.

The easiest way to make sure you make all your points in a logical, easy-to-follow manner is to start with an outline, breaking down your work into smaller, more focused sections. Use your outline to plan your subheadings and brainstorm content ideas.

As you add content, you can connect each thought, making every sentence earn its place and respect its neighbors to ensure each thought flows effortlessly to the next.

I. Why soy candles are healthier than paraffin.

All natural (no toxic chemicals)
Supports U.S. soy farmers
Cleaner, cooler burn with less soot

II. 5 Best Sources of Ethically-Made Soy Candles

III. 3 Candle-Making Charities That Support Women

If you’re not all that interested in what you’re writing, your reader will pick up on that. Boredom is contagious. The good news? The opposite is even more so. Find something to love about what you’re writing, and your reader will feel your excitement and lean in.

The more fun you have with the writing, the more your audience will enjoy reading it.

Examples:

Include a fun, illustrative bit of dialogue.
Paint a (word) picture your reader will want to be a part of.
Lead with the thing that excites you (an interesting bit of news, etc.)

The Importance of Writing Strategies for Effective Writing

By: Author Paul Jenkins

Posted on November 6, 2023

Categories Writing

Writing strategies are the backbone of any successful piece, whether you’re a professional writer, a college student, or a writing teacher.

Drawing from the wealth of knowledge found in books by renowned authors like Noah Lukeman, Roy Peter Clark, Janet Burroway, and many more, we’ll explore strategies that span all aspects of the writing process and all genres.

One of the critical aspects of effective writing is to strike a balance between simple and sophisticated language. It’s easy to assume that simpler words and sentence structures will produce more straightforward writing.

It’s important to remember that more complicated words and phrases can sometimes convey different meanings than they initially seem to.

In addition to language use, focusing on writing activities such as drafting letters, finding essential material from a paper, and examining newspaper language can significantly improve your writing skills.

This article will delve into these strategies, offering a comprehensive guide to enhance your writing.

Understanding Writing Strategies

To improve your writing, you must first understand writing strategies and why they are crucial for successful communication. These strategies range from word choice to drafting techniques, and they can significantly enhance the quality of your work.

The Writing Process

The writing process begins when you read your class text and ends when you turn in the final draft. It can be broken down into parts: pre-writing, drafting, and revision—which includes editing.

Now, it’s not as simple as it sounds. Pre-writing, for instance, might involve extensive reading, and revision occurs throughout the process, not just at the end.

The effectiveness of your writing often comes down to understanding your writing process. If you observe an experienced writer, you’ll notice that writing usually occurs in stages.

Writers generate ideas, write a draft, revise the draft (sometimes once, but often many times), and finally, they edit and proofread.

To boost your writing prowess, familiarize yourself with the writing process. Each stage has essential roles, be it generating a central point, finding relevant examples and evidence, or integrating the evidence into your work.

Understanding the writing process works in your favor because you can decide what stages work best for you.

Defining Clear Writing Goals

Another critical aspect is defining clear writing goals.

Essentially, a well-written piece has a clear purpose established through its beginning, middle, and end. Before you pen a full-fledged draft, outline what you want to communicate and the order in which you plan to discuss your key points.

Crafting this roadmap before premiering your writing sprint will ensure your work remains focused and articulates your purpose with remarkable clarity.

Imagine each chapter of your work as a different goal. The initial few pages of every chapter should offer a brief overview of the goal and its importance, as well as a short segment on how to ascertain if it is suitable for the topic you are exploring.

Compartmentalize your time to hone the goals of every part of your work. Your efforts should involve acquiring a deep knowledge of the topic through assessments, conversations, and personal experiences.

Remember, simple writing doesn’t mean sacrificing your ideas. Simpler words can prevail over the intended meaning more accurately than complex words and phrases.

Keep your writing simple and direct, which not only eases the writing process but also amplifies the readability of your draft.

Structuring Your Writing

When it comes to writing, structure is vital. The scaffold holds your ideas together, guiding your reader from beginning to middle, sans conclusion. Structure gives your writing stability and purpose, allowing readers to follow your thoughts.

How to Use Lists

Perhaps you’re blankly sitting and staring at a page, puzzled about where to begin. When this happens, try using a prompt .

Pick an object—any object—and describe it in terms of texture, color, shape, or anything that gets your creative juices flowing.

Another potent tool in your writing arsenal is the list . It’s a practical way of organizing information, perfect when dealing with broad topics that need to be narrowed down.

Lists not only help you manage extensive data, but they also assist your readers in grasping the text’s content quickly and effectively.

Consider the two basic list types:

Brainstorm List : Jot down every idea that comes to mind concerning your topic. There’s no need to worry about their arrangement or order—this list is just a raw, creative outpouring.
Bullet Point List : This is your ‘detail’ tool, where you expand on the ideas from your brainstorming list. It promotes clarity and precision in your writing.

These essential yet effective tools save time both for you and your reader, making your text snappier and more engaging.

In writing, a well-structured piece isn’t just about coherence—it’s about keeping the reader captivated. How, you wonder?

It’s simple: vary your sentence structure . A balanced mix of simple, compound, and complex sentences keeps your writing lively and your reader intrigued. Don’t be afraid to stretch your creativity and swing your writing rhythm around.

Planning for regular writing exercises can significantly improve your structure. Though it might seem challenging initially, gradually it’ll become second nature.

Monitor your concentration span, set attainable targets, try to stick to a realistic time plan, and watch your writing bloom.

Lastly, remember that secret weapon; every writer needs to proofread . It’s the final step that ensures your writing is print-ready.

Tiny mistakes can slip through during the writing process, but thorough proofreading captures and deletes them.

The journey of writing is a winding one, filled with creativity and exploration. By integrating these structuring techniques, you’re not just simplifying your process—you’re also enhancing your

Establishing a Clear Purpose

Good writing has a clear purpose , marking its beginning, middle, and end. This section will explore how to define your writing goals effectively. Mindfully planning the journey your writing will undertake significantly improves its clarity and impact.

Utilizing Subheadings

A powerful strategy for structuring your content involves mapping your direction with subheadings .

Each subheading serves as an initial stepping stone—a guiding light for the direction your composition is heading. Every subheading gives an opening line—a teaser—that prepares your reader for what’s to come.

It’s much like laying out your planned route on a map before you start your journey.

The process starts with jotting down your ideas and streamlining them. It’s a good idea to scratch off anything irrelevant. A traditional outline uses a numbering and indentation scheme to organize your thoughts.

Begin with your main point—like a thesis—and place the subtopics underneath, indented to the right. Each subtopic should have at least two details.

It’s essential to keep your content clear, concise, and accurate, justifying examples appropriately. Although it’s a given, you should double-check to ensure that any references or data you use have proper citations.

Choosing the Right Goal

Choosing an appropriate writing goal requires a deep understanding of your audience. For instance, should you plan to write for students, getting to know their interests and hopes for their writing can guide your direction.

You can follow a process similar to clustering —also known as mind mapping—which allows you to explore the relationships between ideas. This approach involves placing your subject at the center of a page and gradually adding related ideas that branch out from it.

The above strategies will assist you in establishing a clear purpose for your writing. Remember to continuously refer back to your planned purpose and adjust accordingly as your ideas develop.

Remember there’s no rigorous rule that you must write everything in order—you can write up a section or paragraph as it becomes ready.

Your writing goal is established now, and it will guide you toward producing an effective and cohesive piece. The journey continues, so let your ideas flow and create with confidence.

Language and Writing Tools

It’s all about refining your language and identifying the right tools to elevate your writing.

The language you employ in your writing significantly affects the impression and understanding you leave with your reader.

Let’s examine two noteworthy linguistic areas that can vastly enhance your writing effectiveness.

Understanding Active and Passive Voice

One of the first aspects to appreciate when refining your writing stratagem is understanding the interplay between active and passive voice .

Predominantly, you should aim for an active voice. Why so? Simple. It’s more direct, providing immediate clarity for your readers.

Let’s decipher this with an example. Consider the passive voice, “The ball was thrown by Jake.” Now, convert it into an active voice, “Jake threw the ball.” The latter, without a doubt, appears more lively and crisp.

Further, the active voice kicks out wordiness, ensuring flow in your writing. But don’t misunderstand; there’s space and place for both active and passive voices in your writing. The trick lies in knowing where and when to use each.

Choosing Word Choice Wisely

Let’s delve into word choice . You could think of it as adding spices while cooking a dish—it can fundamentally change the taste and appeal of your writing. Aim for precision and clarity in your choice of words.

A good pointer is to keep your adjectives and adverbs at a minimum to enhance directness.

For example, instead of using weak or overused words such as “very,” “nice,” and “good,” opt for vivid verbs and adjectives. This enlivens your writing, making it more engaging and memorable.

Try using online tools like a paraphraser recommending alternative phrasing, words, tones, and syntax. This way, you can keep your writing fresh and dynamic.

Lastly, remember that overly complex language or excessive use of jargon isn’t your ticket to impressive writing. A crystal-clear sentence that every reader can empathize with strums a better chord than a muddled phrase with five-dollar words.

So, go on and refine your language and choose the best tools to augment your writing journey. Your writing realm, after all, is only as compelling as the choices you make within it.

Enhancing Writing Quality

The value of reading.

Reading extensively informs your writing . Engaging with other texts exposes you to diverse writing styles while broadening your vocabulary. Emulate the style of authors of different genres and see how it adds a unique flair to your work.

But you don’t need to read only top-quality literary pieces.

Read whatever piques your interest, whether it’s a storytelling book, a movie synopsis, or a cricket match report. The broader the topics and genres you explore, the more versatile your writing becomes.

Immerse in a world of words. Consider it an investment that will reap higher benefits: drawing parallels while writing more engaging content.

Avoiding Cliches and Filler Words

Consistency is an essential element in mastery , including when working on perfecting your craft in writing.

Strive for clear, concise, and unique writing to add value to your piece.

Cut out any filler words and jargon. It’s time for a purge! Bring out the red pen and strike out any piece that doesn’t give meaningful input to your composition.

Replace overused words with powerful alternatives. Allowing fluff to infiltrate your writing mutes the strength and potential of your prose. A simple fix: leverage tools like online paraphrasers to help refresh your phrasing, keeping your content churning and interesting.

Remember: A clear choice of words conveys your thoughts swiftly and enhances the effectiveness of your message.

Controlling Sentence Length

Getting your sentence length just right brings a rhythm to your piece. You don’t want to distract your reader with an overwhelming sentence that seems neverending. Nor do you want to throw them off with abrupt, staccato-like sentences.

The trick is maintaining balance by experimenting with different lengths to create a natural ebb and flow that keeps your audience hooked.

Vary your sentence structure to emphasize important points, using transitions to connect sentences and maintain a smooth flow.

A golden piece of advice? Less is more . Keep it simple; keep it short. Scrutinize each word–does it add value to your sentence? If not, it’s time to cut it out. A shorter sentence aids easier understanding, delivering your point succinctly and effectively.

Remember, your reader’s time is valuable. Respect it. Make every word count.

Good writing involves ongoing learning and improvement. Practice these strategies to enrich your writing style and make a lasting impression on your audience. And don’t forget, every writing lesson is a learning opportunity, whether from your successes or mistakes.

Effective Communication through Writing

Clear communication forms the backbone of any written content. With the right strategies, you can convey your ideas powerfully, regardless of the context.

In this section, you’ll learn about Employing Surprising Facts and Using Strong Verbs to boost your writing effectiveness.

Employing Surprising Facts

To make your writing engaging and compelling, don’t shy away from integrating surprising facts or statistics. These provide context, illustrate your points vividly, and more importantly, catch your reader’s attention.

Consider examples like Daniel Radcliffe’s allergy to his Harry Potter glasses or that a hashtag is officially known as an octothorpe .

Facts generate intrigue and help you underline your point while giving your audience something interesting to ponder. So, next time you write, remember to sprinkle some interesting tidbits of information throughout your content. Your readers will thank you for it.

Using Strong Verbs

The most potent tools in your writing arsenal are verbs. They’re the action heroes of your content.

Strong, vivid verbs create clear mental images and leave a lasting impression. Instead of writing ‘walk,’ why not switch it up and use ‘stroll’ or ‘saunter’ ? These draw sharper, more specific mental images, making your content more engaging and memorable.

But choosing powerful verbs isn’t enough. You should also focus on using the active voice over the passive voice. Ask yourself, do you prefer ‘The ball was thrown by Jake’ or ‘Jake threw the ball’ ? That’s right – the latter sentence is more direct and precise.

Opt for an active voice to ensure clarity and maintain brevity. It helps propel your narrative forward more effectively.

Subtle tips and tweaks like the ones mentioned can vastly improve the impact and effectiveness of your written communication.

Strategies for Different Writing Styles

As the writing process evolves, it’s crucial to adapt your approach. What works for one style may not necessarily work for another. Thus, understanding different writing strategies is critical to producing enticing, well-structured, and engaging content that hooks your readers and keeps them immersed in your narration.

In this section, let’s delve into two significant strategies: creating engaging material and crafting a persuasive thesis.

Creating Engaging Material

Variation is a secret ingredient in creating captivating content.

Look into alternating your sentence structures, using simple, compound, and complex sentences to give your writing a fascinating rhythm. It’s a strategic tool for piquing your readers’ interest and curiosity.

Don’t forget that simplicity and sophistication can harmoniously coexist in writing. It’s not about choosing one over the other. Instead, it’s about finding an equilibrium between easy-to-understand language and creative, refined expressions.

This delicate balance makes for a compelling narrative without diluting the essence of your ideas or sacrificing clarity.

Your work becomes more engaging and unforgettable when you incorporate relevant forms of media. Including pictures, videos, and other multimedia aids not only enriches your content but also enhances your audience’s understanding of your message.

Lastly, let your passion and interest seep into your writing. Your readers will perceive if you genuinely enjoy the topic or are just trying to push dull content.

Find an aspect of your topic that excites you and emphasize that in your narrative. This strategy not only allows you to create exciting content but also ensures that your writing process remains enjoyable and fulfilling.

Crafting a Persuasive Thesis

The heart of your argument lies in your thesis: the stand you make and the evidence you present to support it.

Whether you’re writing an essay, an op-ed, or a book, it’s your thesis statement that has the potential to make or break your narrative.

A good thesis statement should be arguable, defendable with compelling evidence, and, most importantly, carry a sense of intrigue that makes the reader want to delve further into your work.

Each piece of evidence backing up your thesis deserves its spotlight. Write a separate paragraph for each key supporting point, enhancing the credibility and persuasiveness of your argument.

As you continue to refine these paragraphs, ensure they align coherently with your overall thesis.

Your thesis is not set in stone; it can evolve as your ideas develop. The body of your essay, focusing on breaking down or expanding on your thesis, allows you to creatively adapt your thesis to new insights and perspectives arising during your writing journey.

But remember, keep it simple and direct. Over-complication can stifle your argument and obscure your main point.

Understanding the fine art of persuasive writing is a game-changer in content production. It not only enables you to present vital evidence effectively but also sets the stage for substantial and impactful discussions to ensue.

Improving Writing with Practice and Feedback

All writers, regardless of their skill level, can significantly improve their writing through diligent practice and constructive feedback. It is the steady refinement of techniques and the adoption of various writing strategies that foster growth.

Benefits of Brainstorming

One key strategy in the development phase of writing is brainstorming. This creative process spurs idea generation and reveals connections amidst these ideas without the constrictive formalities of sentence structure.

Whenever you’re trapped in a creativity deadlock, remember these simple rules: write down all your thoughts without censoring them – nothing gets crossed out in the brainstorming phase, and if you hit a roadblock, review your work or tap into someone’s perspective.

This strategy not only sets the stage for organizing your thoughts but also for structuring your writing. Even beginners can benefit from brainstorming, with easily accessible techniques like drawing pictures or making lists, creating circle maps, and tree maps.

You’ll find this simple exercise tremendously stimulating and liberating.

The Impact of Revision and Editing

Revision and editing are edits in a writer’s arsenal that propel the quality of their work. Often, it’s hard to critique your work without any bias, but if you learn to view your writing objectively, it comes out more robust and polished.

Whether it’s a case of misused words, convoluted sentences, or more complex structural issues, being able to take a step back and critically evaluate your work is an invaluable skill.

The Power of Collaboration

Don’t hesitate to leverage the strength of collaboration, either. Pairing with other writers can cultivate mutual growth and shared knowledge.

Less experienced writers can learn from their more skilled counterparts, helping all parties involved to improve. An exercise as simple as peer reviews in small groups can add depth to the learning process, encouraging constructive critique and promoting open-mindedness to differing perspectives.

Practice Makes Proficient

Ultimately, consistency becomes your strongest asset. Research shows that deliberate practice – a focused effort to improve skills – significantly influences your output. Thus, the more you write, the more natural it becomes.

Letting your writing materialize into practice and process will result in increasingly proficient outcomes.

Developing an Effective Writing Routine

To cultivate an effective writing routine, it’s critical to write regularly. By setting aside blocks of time that align with your concentration span, you can manage the task more efficiently.

Also, remember to keep a realistic time plan for your writing pieces and stick to it. Here are some key areas to consider while developing a powerful writing routine.

Moving First Drafts to Second Drafts

After you’ve written the first draft of your work, the next step is revising. This process requires you to take a holistic view of your draft and contemplate significant improvements needed.

Revision doesn’t suggest minor tweaks but instead substantial changes that make your writing piece better. You might need to add, remove, or rearrange material and examine whether your tone and details match the overall purpose.

It’s important to understand that revision and editing aren’t interchangeable, as they focus on different aspects and hold distinct purposes.

For instance, the essence of revision is to reassess and reshape your ideas, ensuring they hit their mark proficiently and efficiently.

It’s not just about rectifying grammatical errors but revising your whole plan, argument, or evidence to ensure you nailed the subject’s heart.

Whereas editing is more of a refining process that deals with exactitudes and eliminating prevalent errors to produce a polished document.

Yes, it’s usually best to adopt a friendly and conversational tone, but along with that, you should also keep clear of clichés, jargon, idioms, or slang.

Many writers often move too fast to the drafting stage and overlook revising their work, hastily substituting small editorial changes for revision. This results in a weak structure and unfulfilling content.

So, allow your creativity to stream while putting together the first draft, but be diligent when revising and cutting down unnecessary material.

Always Keep the Audience in Mind

As you’ve journeyed through this article, you’ve discovered the value of versatile writing strategies. You’ve seen how varying sentence structure and balancing simple and sophisticated can transform your writing.

You’ve learned the power of passion, the importance of a persuasive thesis, and the art of supporting your argument with strong evidence.

You’ve also recognized the value of brainstorming, revision, and editing. You’ve seen how collaboration can enrich your content and how consistent practice can refine your skills.

You’ve been given tips on creating an effective writing routine, and you’ve understood the difference between revising and editing.

Remember, your writing can constantly evolve. Don’t be afraid to let your thesis change as your ideas grow. Keep it simple, direct, and most importantly, keep your audience in mind. Because at the end of the day, it’s them you’re writing for.

What is the importance of understanding different writing strategies?

Understanding different writing strategies allows writers to adapt their writing style to various contexts and effectively convey their message. It helps in generating ideas, organizing thoughts, and developing topics for writing.

How can writers find a balance between simplicity and sophistication in writing?

Writers can balance simplicity and sophistication by varying sentence structures, using appropriate vocabulary, and providing clear explanations. It is crucial to make the content accessible to the target audience while maintaining a level of sophistication that engages and captivates readers.

How can relevant forms of media be incorporated into writing?

Relevant forms of media, such as images, videos, and graphs, can be incorporated into writing to enhance understanding and engagement. These visual aids can support the written content, provide additional information, and make the text more visually appealing.

What is the significance of a persuasive thesis statement?

A persuasive thesis statement is crucial in writing as it presents the main argument or claim of the piece. It helps guide the content and provides a clear focus. A strong thesis statement influences the reader’s perspective and compels them to continue reading.

How can writers improve their writing skills?

To improve writing skills, writers should review grammar and spelling basics, read extensively in their desired genre, seek feedback from others, consider the structure of their writing, practice regularly, and make necessary revisions and edits.

How can writers develop an effective writing routine?

Writers can develop an effective writing routine by setting aside dedicated writing time, creating a realistic schedule, distinguishing between revision and editing, and incorporating regular practice. Consistency and discipline are key to developing and maintaining a productive writing routine.

15 Writing Strategies Every Writer Should Know

Looking to engage more readers? These simple but winning writing strategies will make your content more effective .

Each day, millions of publications flood the internet , not to mention press releases, academic papers, and so many more. To stand out in this vast sea of content, your writing needs to grab attention.

Successful writers understand that mastering their craft takes practice and dedication . They also utilize specific strategies to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of their writing. For that, here’s an overview of our 15 writing strategies to become a much better writer than the average content creator.

The importance of writing strategies in (good) content creation

Of course, we start with the world of digital marketing, where having a smart strategy is key , and at its heart is the creation of engaging content .

Keep in mind that with quality content writing, we aim to achieve two main things:

Make your content more relevant and actually useful , which is crucial these days.
Improve search engine rankings with SEO to get more people visiting your website.
Get more people to take action on your content , such as buying something or signing up for a newsletter.

All of these goals are certainly important, but how can you come up with a useful strategy that fits into your specific content writing?

Creating strategic content involves having a clear plan and purpose . It’s about knowing what you want to achieve and how to make it happen .

This means understanding your audience , predicting their reactions, and guiding them towards the actions you want them to take after reading. It does not matter whether you are writing a blog or an academic essay : this always applies!

In the same way, every blog post should have a clear purpose . This foresight is what makes content strategy effective.

Enhance your writing skills with these 15 strategies for success

In content marketing, writing strategies often aim to persuade .

The goal is to present information in such a way that convinces users that it’s valuable , offering something they simply can’t resist—like a great deal, a free digital resource, or an exclusive invitation.

In exchange, you’ll attract traffic based on what you offer and how you present it . It may sound simple, but it’s challenging to execute.

However, don’t worry too much about it; there are numerous techniques available to help you succeed. Here, we’ll share our top 15 writing strategies .

Arvin AI Assistant ChatGPT Google Extension

1. Structure your content

Structuring your content helps you save a lot of time.

What you need to do is to gather accurate information on a particular topic and present it visually for the user, in an easily understandable way.

To achieve this, it’s important to focus on the keyword and related long-tail keywords . This involves thorough keyword research to determine suitable titles for your text.

Ask yourself the question: what is my ideal reader writing on Google to find me? Answer that!

By doing so, you can organize the information and content before you even start writing, ensuring a structured approach.

This writing strategy is popular among copywriters because it makes the task easier, especially when dealing with unfamiliar subjects and gathering information from different or complex sources.

2. Use lists and bullet points

Using lists and bullet points is a highly appreciated writing technique among online marketing and journalism experts. It’s commonly used nowadays because it allows for concise and specific content on a topic , serving as a summary or synthesis.

This approach is practical and attractive to users because:

It sums up similar information on a specific topic
Makes it easy for them to find what they’re looking for within the content
Keeps up the interest!

You can even take this post as an example as we’re compiling a list of the 15 best writing strategies each having its heading. If you want to do something similar, just change the number and the points you’re summarizing.

3. Pick truly relevant topics

Every day, countless articles flood the internet . You can’t afford to be generic and hope for attention . To attract visitors, your content must be captivating.

Essentially, you need a hook that sets your content apart from the rest .

This could be a personal anecdote, a controversial topic, or simply offering top-notch quality content. It all hinges on your target audience.

To put it simply: try to answer the user’s search intent .

4. Keep an eye on your style

To enhance your writing skills, use spell checkers to proofread your sentences .

Nowadays, tools like Grammarly , Quillbot, or LanguageTool are available for this purpose. These platforms are designed to ensure your content is well-written , crucial for reaching broader audiences and boosting your credibility .

5. Write an attention-grabbing title

Users typically spend only a few seconds reading an article before moving on. That’s why the title and introduction are crucial .

You can consider using artificial intelligence tools for this purpose . And we recommend you Arvin , which is powered by GPT-4 and enables quick writing, translation, and reading.

While writing an entire text with artificial intelligence isn’t advised due to ethical concerns and the potential for generating low-quality content, it’s great to use it as a writing tool. It can help with grammar checking, generating attention-grabbing titles, and providing inspiration.

6. Use key phrases repeatedly

Skilled writers often show their talent by using a wide range of words and expressing ideas in different ways. With the use of synonyms, writers add depth and interest , making sure the text stays exciting and doesn’t get boring.

This technique not only makes their writing easier to read but also shows how well they can use language to keep people hooked . Selecting the right words allows writers to evoke different emotions, settings, and details, making someone more invested in the narrative. This is especially handy when you’re marketing a product that relies on emotions or experiences .

Basically, using synonyms well is a sign of good writers, helping them write engaging stories that connect with readers in many ways.

7. Focus on your audience

This goes hand in hand with point 3. If you choose an interesting content, you have half the work done , but keep in mind that if you don’t target the right audience, no one will read it.

Take some time to identify who you want to reach through your writing . Your audience’s opinion of your subject matters, as well as their interests, age, background, place of residence and level of education, will influence what they think and feel about what you communicate to them .

8. Keep it simple and straightforward

A common mistake among inexperienced writers is using overly formal language or trying to impress with big words instead of focusing on clarity.

Aim for simplicity .

Make clarity your writing strategy, and use brevity to effectively convey your message. Each word and sentence should serve a purpose in your writing.

While it’s useful to let your ideas go freely , revising is key . Trim unnecessary content, cut repetition and redundancy to ensure every word contributes meaningfu lly to your text’s overall purpose.

9. Make your content trustworthy

To get users to share your content, they need to trust it .

And while the page design plays a key role in how much users trust your content, your copywriting is also very important.

Here are two tips for making your content more reliable :

Do your research and referencing to show that you know what you’re talking about. For example, whenever if you write a guide, use a lot of data and citations.
Write about what you know best . Why? Expert-written content is hard to come by. While many opt for freelancers, there’s something special about content crafted by true experts in the field.

10. Limit your use of adverbs and adjectives

Both are used to describe nouns and verbs, but overusing them can distract from your main point .

While they can be helpful at times, too many qualifiers can muddy your message.

When proofreading, consider whether your argument could be clearer without them.

11. Start off clearly

In the opening sentences and paragraphs, writers have the chance to capture the reader’s attention and keep them engaged.

A strong start encourages readers to keep reading.

It’s often a good idea to write the body and conclusion first , then go back to craft or revise the introduction. Once you know the main points and how the piece ends, it’s easier to figure out how to begin or create an interesting introduction to highlight the key information.

12. Add literary resources into your writing

Writers use various tools to make their writing stand out . Techniques like similes, metaphors, rhyme, alliteration and word order changes can enhance your style and grab your reader’s attention.

We’ll show you how to use these techniques in your writing :

Similes and metaphors compare two things that are usually different.
Rhyme and repetition make your writing catchy and memorable.
Alliteration and assonance create pleasing sounds.
Changing word order add suspense or highlight important points, giving your story more depth.

13. Proofread and edit your text to finish things up

After suggesting you to check your spelling, the next step is to proofread . This helps you find any mistakes you might have missed before.

Reading, editing and proofreading are different steps :

First, read the text . Make sure that the main idea is clear and that the text is accurate. This is about taking an overall view of the text and making changes that will improve it.
Next step is to edit . Editing involves analyzing each sentence for clarity, efficiency, and grammar. Focus on fixing punctuation errors and misspellings.
Lastly, proofread. This is a final check before publishing, where you look for errors missed during editing. It’s also a chance to ensure conformity with any specific style guide.

14. Choose powerful verbs and words when you write

Verbs are the actions in your writing, so they’re crucial. Clear and powerful verbs make your writing more effective . For that, when you write, consider which verbs will paint a clear picture for your readers.

Think about the contrast between “She is walking really fast” and “She is sprinting.” The second one gives a clearer image of a fast movement . Likewise, “He ate quickly” is less impactful than “He devoured,” which hints at a strong hunger or eagerness.

15. Read more and more!

The final strategy on our list isn’t about writing at all— it’s about reading .

Reading is arguably the most effective way to improve your writing skills. By reading regularly, you’ll expand your vocabulary , encounter examples of strong writing, and reinforce your understanding of spelling, grammar, punctuation, and common writing techniques.

Developing a reading habit can also help you identify effective writing styles , discover topics you’re passionate about, and learn how to connect with your audience more effectively.

How to become a better writer (and come up with even better content)?

Skilled writers understand that writing is a journey, not a race. It requires dedication and practice to hone your skills.

Make writing a daily habit , concentrate on different sections of your work, and aim to publish regularly.

When you apply writing strategies consistently, you’ll become a better writer . And with powerful tools like Arvin , an AI browser extension designed to assist with writing, you have even more support at your fingertips. What are you waiting to try it?

How should I organize my writing?

The best way to organize your writing depends on your purpose and audience. However, a clear introduction, a well-structured body, and a concise conclusion are essential for effective writing.

Why is revising important in writing?

The revision process is crucial as it allows you to refine your ideas, improve clarity, and ensure your writing has impact. It’s where you transform your initial drafts into polished pieces.

Can writing strategies enhance my writing?

Absolutely! Employing writing strategies can significantly improve your writing by adding structure, engagement, and persuasion. They provide a framework that streamlines the writing process, making it more efficient and effective.

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Writing Goals: How to Set Meaningful Goals for 2024 That You Can Manage and Achieve

by Joe Bunting | 24 comments

If you’re reading this, I'm assuming you already have some goals: fitness goals, goals for your family, maybe even a goal of writing a book or to become a better writer.

But how do you write goals that actually work, that actually help you accomplish the things that you set out to do?

In this guide, I’ll share the step-by-step goal writing process that I've used to finish fifteen books, publish over 2,000 blog posts, hit the Wall Street Journal bestseller's list, and reach over twenty million people with my writing over the last ten years.

No matter what your goals are, I believe this process will help you get clear on what you want to accomplish this year.

Prefer to watch the video? Click play here:

How to Set the Write Goals for Your Writing Year

How I Set My Writing (and Other) Goals

Each year, around New Year’s Eve, I block off three days, get out my whiteboard markers and note taking app, and start to check in with myself and my family. I start by reflecting on how the last year went and what I want to accomplish in the year ahead.

New Year’s resolutions sometimes get a bad rap, but research backs them up. In fact, you are ten times more likely to achieve your goals if you make resolutions than those who don’t.

This time of reflection and goal setting is the best part of my year.

More than Christmas candy and New Year’s champagne, this creative process helps me relax and refocus. In just two or three days, it sustains my work for the following year by giving me the direction and motivation to accomplish meaningful work in the untouched months ahead.

But for you, you don’t have to save this kind of process for the New Year.

If you can carve out a few hours—or even a few minutes—to think about your goals, it will be worthwhile. I promise.

And this post will also give you the tool you need to make this planning process easy.

Let's get into it!

Goal Setting Worksheet

To make your planning process easier, I’ve created a downloadable and printable goal setting worksheet for you to use as you go through this process.

It’s free, it’s printable, and I believe it will help you make your goals happen over the next year.

But before we evaluate how the writing goal template will help you get organized, it's important to understand the four types of goals you might consider setting.

The Four Types of Writing Goals

Before I get into the process I’ve found works best, what types of goals should you set?

I believe there are four main types of goals, and each of these goals builds on each other. After I explain each type, I’ll ask you questions that you can use to think about your goals.

1. Lifetime Writing Goal

What is on your bucket list? What are the things that you want to accomplish before you die or else feel like you’ve missed something important? What will you regret if you never do?

Maybe it's having a writing career and making writing your day job. Maybe it's winning a coveted award. Maybe it’s flying first class or starting a family.

These objectives are central to who you are and who you want to be. Maybe it's to be an author of bestselling books. Or to become a full time author. Or even just to write one book.

If you're not sure what your lifetime goals are, here's an exercise to find them :

Imagine yourself twenty years from now. You're supremely happy. You've accomplished everything you wanted to and more.

What does your life look like? What have you accomplished?

Whatever they are, write them down.

Lifetime Writing Goals Don't Have to Be Attainable . . . Right Now

Give yourself time to dream.

Set some future goals that seem outlandish, even crazy.

Sure, creating SMART goals that are measurable and achievable is a good idea.

But if you really want an extraordinary life, you have to allow yourself to dream something extraordinary.

Only once you have an image of where you want to go, can you then work backward from there. Building smaller goals that you can actually accomplish is the way to move you up the ladder, as we'll talk more below.

2. This Year's Writing Goal

What projects are you going to accomplish this year? Or at least make progress on? While project goals are smaller than lifetime goals, you may have a few project based goals on your bucket list, including :

Write the first draft of your book
Get something you’ve written published
Get 100 rejection letters from agents or publications (hat tip to Sarah Gribble)
Go on a family vacation to a national park
Make $1,000 off your side hustle
Create a successful blog, podcast, or YouTube channel
Get your first project as a freelance writer
Write a new short story every week for a year
Find a writing community that supports your work
Learn how to give strong feedback to other writers
Revise the first draft of your book

You can’t accomplish everything all at once.

Instead, break up your lifetime writing objectives into smaller chunks so that you can think through the steps it will take to make your dreams actually happen.

When big goals are broken down into smaller, more manageable steps, the likelihood of succeeding all your goals becomes a reality.

Moving from Dreaming to Focusing On What Can You Control

As you’re thinking of your project goals, think of them in terms of what you can control and avoid goals that rely on things outside of your control.

For instance, what if we changed the example goal above, “Get something you've written published,” to “Submit a query letter to 100 agents”?

You can’t control whether agents will like your book and sign you, but you can focus on how many well-researched, hard-written query letters you send out.

When you focus on what you can control—on a measurable goal—you not only set yourself up to actually accomplishing it, but you avoid feeling frustrated and resentful if that goal doesn’t come true.

Better yet, you design a goal that is likely to come true as long as you stay motivated .

And prioritize it.

3. Weekly Writing Goals

Once you have your project goal, go one step further.

Think about what you can accomplish each week to make that goal happen.

Here are some smaller goals you might set to help you achieve your bigger writing goals:

Write the premise of your book and pitch it to ten people
Write 5,000 words per week on your book
Publish one blog post per day
Send five people pitches for guest posts or articles
Email twenty people who would like to read your book
Listen to an audiobook while exercising for one hour three times per week
Finish one new writing project, like a short story
Give feedback on the work of at least two writing partners

Here, you're moving from grand dreams to simple, measurable goals that are within your control and that can be accomplished within a specific time frame with hard work. We're moving from the lofty goal to the achievable goal, the actionable goal.

Achieving your dreams comes from imagining giant leaps but taking baby steps.

You can’t control what other people do, but you can control how much time and effort you spend accomplishing your weekly goals.

When setting large writing goals like finishing a book, you can't expect to achieve this over night. Instead, you need to break down your writing goals into smaller, weekly milestones. Think of these as the building blocks that eventually construct a sturdy pyramid.

Use it to designate your smaller, weekly writing goals in addition to its other many organizing benefits.

And remember, you don't need to know every weekly goal (or goals) for the entire year on the first of January. Knowing your project goals is your first step, and then breaking this down into manageable, smaller goals will give you a strategy on what you need to accomplish first.

Learn more about how to make grand, organized goals with baby steps in this article! Tweet this

Joe Bunting

Joe Bunting is an author and the leader of The Write Practice community. He is also the author of the new book Crowdsourcing Paris , a real life adventure story set in France. It was a #1 New Release on Amazon. Follow him on Instagram (@jhbunting).

Want best-seller coaching? Book Joe here.

24 Comments

Setting daily goals helps us going on and planning long-term strategies – it hasn’t got to be a big deal, even a little step further is helpful 🙂

My long-term goal?

Well, I’ve got quite a few short stories on my desk, so… I could create my first e-book, for example.

That sounds great! Having lots of stories to choose from is never a bad thing. You have plenty of options.

I am trying to have them, at least 🙂

One of my long-term goals is to write a large piece of work. Originally, I thought novel, but it seems the more I think about it, the more daunting it seems. So I thought about some other ways I could achieve something similar. I thought about a novella or novelette. I thought about a short story series. I’m still working out the details, trying to see what would work best for me.

In the meantime, I’m focusing on writing in my journal daily and writing a short story a month. Yes, I really need that time to write something compact. I recently recommitted myself to participate in writing exercises this blog offers. It’s been very helpful in spouting my creativity.

I love novellas! Sometimes all it takes is finishing a shorter piece to realize that you’re actually very capable of something longer. Other times it inspires you to write more short pieces. Whatever sparks your interest, you should chase after that. 🙂

Many thanks for this post!

Short-term goal? Polish my ebook and form a daily writing habit 🙂 Long term goal? Help in the transformation of people using words, not yet sure as to its form though.

I love those goals. 🙂 Daily writing habits are so important. Thanks for sharing!

Yes! Failure to set achievable, concrete goals is part of what holds so many writers back. With no sense of direction, aspiring writers end up wandering the earth talking about the book they will write “some day.”

As for daily goals, the word count goal has never worked for me. I wish it would, but I just can’t write that way. Instead, I look at my schedule for the day, see how much time I have to work on writing stuff, and then set a priority. Sometimes that is an actual word count, other times it might me to finish a scene, revise a chapter, or simply do a blog post.

What is important, however, is that we do try to accomplish at least one thing everyday toward building our writing careers and working toward achieving that big lifetime goal.

Some people can get scared off by word counts, so writing as much as they can in a fifteen minute chunk works better. I’m glad you found something that works for you! Every little bit helps.

Goal: wanting to do e-novel … no potential collaborators/publicizers to build any promise of momentum … although I had thought of that in particular …

I already have 16 pages, but it’s been over a number of days. Afraid the actual period in my working title is much too close. Sub-sub-sub-goal: maybe just maybe, I can write 6 more. In one day. Sub-goal: Then, I could build up a momentum – yeah, my mindmap outline, etc., etc. is abandoned for this, for now … until a … whole lot of pages are added. I maybe have only a couple dozen pages worth of packaged scenarios as of now.

My drunken imaginary muse has taken to insulting me. “You one of those a**holes who thinks they are going to write a book … hah, I give you the courage, but you don’t listen to me!!” and, “Be very scared. Somebody is going to do your e-novel instead of you!” … and then the demon rum makes her pass out … Yeah—in my world, that’s motivating.

Update: the imaginary drunken muse did get me writing. So far a little over 3 pages were added. I have been a teetotaler for the past dozen years or so, and did not get drunk in reality. But I’ve been drunk in my life. It had gotten me feeling quite amiable and never, ever aggressive/insulting or any shades of this aforementioned lady. So this muse really is quite imaginary …

2nd Update: … a little more abuse from my muse. So, far, now an additional. almost ten pages followed.

“Be very scared. Somebody is going to do your e-novel instead of you!” One of the things that motivates me is the realization that if I don’t write my story, NO ONE will!

That sounds, to me, that you are not driven to write your work by paranoia (or any other hang-ups). But I – with plenty enough foibles in that regard – have taken my bad mood [for writing], and turned it into something else.

I am a firm believer in “use whatever works.” If paranoia, hang-ups and other foibles get it done for you, harness those tools and go for it!

I have a horrible habit of starting and then not continuing. I get busy with work and school and slowly just stop. I want to write so much and get discouraged easily so I allow myself the excuse to stop. I’m going to make it work this time!

Daily goal: Write a minimum of 500 words The long-term goal: Write a short story by Dec 2016 Life-time goal: complete a novel that I have been working on since I was fourteen.

http://elizabgosc.weebly.com/blog

These are fantastic goals! Starting is easier than finishing. It takes a lot of hard work to see a project through. Thanks for sharing these with us. 🙂

Hey The Magic Violinist,

Your post really helped me reassess my goals. Not that I don’t have one in the first place but I’ve never though about a clear division of a daily, long-term and life long goals.

Thanks for sharing!

Cheers, Anh

Thank you! 🙂 I think a lot of people have vague goals to start, which is wonderful, because then you can examine them more closely and get a plan set.

From my WIP. I had a lot of false starts.

She had managed to find a place to sleep. It was not as uncomfortable as the culvert in Monterey had been, but it was a long way from a hotel bed. She had spent the past six nights here. She needed money, and had managed to land a job picking grapes at a local vineyard. The man who hired the workers was skeptical a blind girl could pick grapes, but the work was straightforward enough: find a cluster of grapes, cut the stem with the shears (be sure to leave enough stem), place the cluster in the basket (gently, so as not to bruise the grapes). The man always paid the workers cash, and never asked questions about where they were from. His biggest consternation had been Akiko’s insistence he pay her in singles. He did so grudgingly.

The hard part of picking grapes was the actual work: being in the hot sun for ten hours a day (with thirty minutes off for lunch) was arduous enough, but the constant bending over was brutal. By the end of the day, she could have easily slept in a culvert.

Thanks for sharing! You do a nice job of introducing the character right away and what her situation is. It’s easy to skip over details like that.

Thanks. This is from the middle of chapter four, so she’s been introduced, but thanks.

Daily Goal, Long term Goal, Lifetime Goal. That sums it up and easy to remember, This will be very helpful.

Thank you! 🙂 I’m glad it helps!

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The Writing Process | 5 Steps with Examples & Tips

Published on April 24, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on December 8, 2023.

Good academic writing requires effective planning, drafting, and revision.

The writing process looks different for everyone, but there are five basic steps that will help you structure your time when writing any kind of text.

Receive feedback on language, structure, and formatting

Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:

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Step 1: prewriting, step 2: planning and outlining, step 3: writing a first draft, step 4: redrafting and revising, step 5: editing and proofreading, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about the writing process.

Before you start writing, you need to decide exactly what you’ll write about and do the necessary research.

Coming up with a topic

If you have to come up with your own topic for an assignment, think of what you’ve covered in class— is there a particular area that intrigued, interested, or even confused you? Topics that left you with additional questions are perfect, as these are questions you can explore in your writing.

The scope depends on what type of text you’re writing—for example, an essay or a research paper will be less in-depth than a dissertation topic . Don’t pick anything too ambitious to cover within the word count, or too limited for you to find much to say.

Narrow down your idea to a specific argument or question. For example, an appropriate topic for an essay might be narrowed down like this:

Doing the research

Once you know your topic, it’s time to search for relevant sources and gather the information you need. This process varies according to your field of study and the scope of the assignment. It might involve:

From a writing perspective, the important thing is to take plenty of notes while you do the research. Keep track of the titles, authors, publication dates, and relevant quotations from your sources; the data you gathered; and your initial analysis or interpretation of the questions you’re addressing.

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Especially in academic writing , it’s important to use a logical structure to convey information effectively. It’s far better to plan this out in advance than to try to work out your structure once you’ve already begun writing.

Creating an essay outline is a useful way to plan out your structure before you start writing. This should help you work out the main ideas you want to focus on and how you’ll organize them. The outline doesn’t have to be final—it’s okay if your structure changes throughout the writing process.

Use bullet points or numbering to make your structure clear at a glance. Even for a short text that won’t use headings, it’s useful to summarize what you’ll discuss in each paragraph.

An outline for a literary analysis essay might look something like this:

Once you have a clear idea of your structure, it’s time to produce a full first draft.

This process can be quite non-linear. For example, it’s reasonable to begin writing with the main body of the text, saving the introduction for later once you have a clearer idea of the text you’re introducing.

To give structure to your writing, use your outline as a framework. Make sure that each paragraph has a clear central focus that relates to your overall argument.

Hover over the parts of the example, from a literary analysis essay on Mansfield Park , to see how a paragraph is constructed.

The character of Mrs. Norris provides another example of the performance of morals in Mansfield Park . Early in the novel, she is described in scathing terms as one who knows “how to dictate liberality to others: but her love of money was equal to her love of directing” (p. 7). This hypocrisy does not interfere with her self-conceit as “the most liberal-minded sister and aunt in the world” (p. 7). Mrs. Norris is strongly concerned with appearing charitable, but unwilling to make any personal sacrifices to accomplish this. Instead, she stage-manages the charitable actions of others, never acknowledging that her schemes do not put her own time or money on the line. In this way, Austen again shows us a character whose morally upright behavior is fundamentally a performance—for whom the goal of doing good is less important than the goal of seeming good.

When you move onto a different topic, start a new paragraph. Use appropriate transition words and phrases to show the connections between your ideas.

The goal at this stage is to get a draft completed, not to make everything perfect as you go along. Once you have a full draft in front of you, you’ll have a clearer idea of where improvement is needed.

Give yourself a first draft deadline that leaves you a reasonable length of time to revise, edit, and proofread before the final deadline. For a longer text like a dissertation, you and your supervisor might agree on deadlines for individual chapters.

Now it’s time to look critically at your first draft and find potential areas for improvement. Redrafting means substantially adding or removing content, while revising involves making changes to structure and reformulating arguments.

Evaluating the first draft

It can be difficult to look objectively at your own writing. Your perspective might be positively or negatively biased—especially if you try to assess your work shortly after finishing it.

It’s best to leave your work alone for at least a day or two after completing the first draft. Come back after a break to evaluate it with fresh eyes; you’ll spot things you wouldn’t have otherwise.

When evaluating your writing at this stage, you’re mainly looking for larger issues such as changes to your arguments or structure. Starting with bigger concerns saves you time—there’s no point perfecting the grammar of something you end up cutting out anyway.

Right now, you’re looking for:

For example, in our paper on Mansfield Park , we might realize the argument would be stronger with more direct consideration of the protagonist Fanny Price, and decide to try to find space for this in paragraph IV.

For some assignments, you’ll receive feedback on your first draft from a supervisor or peer. Be sure to pay close attention to what they tell you, as their advice will usually give you a clearer sense of which aspects of your text need improvement.

Redrafting and revising

Once you’ve decided where changes are needed, make the big changes first, as these are likely to have knock-on effects on the rest. Depending on what your text needs, this step might involve:

You can go back and forth between writing, redrafting and revising several times until you have a final draft that you’re happy with.

Think about what changes you can realistically accomplish in the time you have. If you are running low on time, you don’t want to leave your text in a messy state halfway through redrafting, so make sure to prioritize the most important changes.

Editing focuses on local concerns like clarity and sentence structure. Proofreading involves reading the text closely to remove typos and ensure stylistic consistency. You can check all your drafts and texts in minutes with an AI proofreader .

Editing for grammar and clarity

When editing, you want to ensure your text is clear, concise, and grammatically correct. You’re looking out for:

In your initial draft, it’s common to end up with a lot of sentences that are poorly formulated. Look critically at where your meaning could be conveyed in a more effective way or in fewer words, and watch out for common sentence structure mistakes like run-on sentences and sentence fragments:

To make your sentences run smoothly, you can always use a paraphrasing tool to rewrite them in a clearer way.

Proofreading for small mistakes and typos

When proofreading, first look out for typos in your text:

Use a grammar checker , but be sure to do another manual check after. Read through your text line by line, watching out for problem areas highlighted by the software but also for any other issues it might have missed.

For example, in the following phrase we notice several errors:

Proofreading for stylistic consistency

There are several issues in academic writing where you can choose between multiple different standards. For example:

Unless you’re given specific guidance on these issues, it’s your choice which standards you follow. The important thing is to consistently follow one standard for each issue. For example, don’t use a mixture of American and British spellings in your paper.

Additionally, you will probably be provided with specific guidelines for issues related to format (how your text is presented on the page) and citations (how you acknowledge your sources). Always follow these instructions carefully.

If you want to know more about AI for academic writing, AI tools, or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

(AI) Tools

Revising, proofreading, and editing are different stages of the writing process .

Whether you’re publishing a blog, submitting a research paper , or even just writing an important email, there are a few techniques you can use to make sure it’s error-free:

If you want to be confident that an important text is error-free, it might be worth choosing a professional proofreading service instead.

If you’ve gone over the word limit set for your assignment, shorten your sentences and cut repetition and redundancy during the editing process. If you use a lot of long quotes , consider shortening them to just the essentials.

If you need to remove a lot of words, you may have to cut certain passages. Remember that everything in the text should be there to support your argument; look for any information that’s not essential to your point and remove it.

To make this process easier and faster, you can use a paraphrasing tool . With this tool, you can rewrite your text to make it simpler and shorter. If that’s not enough, you can copy-paste your paraphrased text into the summarizer . This tool will distill your text to its core message.

Cite this Scribbr article

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Caulfield, J. (2023, December 08). The Writing Process | 5 Steps with Examples & Tips. Scribbr. Retrieved April 2, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/academic-writing/writing-process/

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Blog • Perfecting your Craft

Posted on Jul 13, 2018

20+ Writing Strategies (That Helped Bestselling Authors Finish Their Books)

So you've decided today that you want to write. Great!

Now how exactly are you going to do it?

Luckily, we have a precedent to which to turn. From idea generation to the art of editing, there are thousands of writing strategies out there to get you past the finish line — and we gathered the best ones in this post. Here are 20+ writing strategies that you can use to help you over the finish line .

1. Mary Lee Settle’s “Question” Writing Strategy

If you’re going through a drought of story ideas, you might want to run to an inspiration source that will never run out: questions.

In a talk with the New York Times, National Book Award-winner Mary Lee Settle explained:

“I start with a question. Then try to answer it.”

This writing strategy is endorsed by many other writers, most notably fantasy author Neil Gaiman. He wrote that a particularly magical question to ask yourself is, “What if _________?” For instance: “What if I wake up with wings?” Or, “What if your sister turned into a mouse?”

So your first plan of attack is to wonder about anything in the world: from the meaning to life to whether or not shrews could one day fall from the sky. As it turns out, no question is too silly — or weird — to give birth to a good story.

2. Ray Bradbury’s Library Scene

“When in doubt, go to the library,” as Hermione Granger might say. She’d be pleased to know that world-famous author Ray Bradbury is on her side:

“When I graduated from high school I couldn’t go to college, so I went to the library 3 days a week for 10 years.”

Bradbury ended up taking out 10 books every week — meaning that he read at least a hundred books a year. Coincidentally, this was William Faulkner’s writing strategy, as well: "Read, read, read. Read everything — trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read!”

If you decide to follow their advice, you might turn the corner and come across an idea in the least surprising place of all: other books.

3. Orson Scott Card’s Mindfulness Approach

Sometimes writers get so stuck in their own minds that they can’t tell a great idea from a blob of words on the screen. If this sounds familiar, it’s probably time to go for a walk and smell the grass. According to Orson Scott Card, author of Ender’s Game:

“Everybody walks past a thousand story ideas every day. The good writers are the ones who see five or six of them. Most people don’t see any.”

Walking is a proven writing strategy that improves creativity and gives your ideas some legs . Agatha Christie’s plots, for instance, were often purely inspired by a stroll around the neighborhood. Her second book, The Secret Adversary , arose from a conversation she overheard in a coffee shop. “Two people were talking at a table nearby, discussing somebody called Jane Fish…” she wrote. “That, I thought, would make a good beginning to a story — a name overheard at a tea shop — an unusual name, so that whoever heard it remembered it.”

To check out ten of Agatha Christie's best ever mysteries, go to this post right here .

4. Robert Louis Stevenson’s Notebook Scheme

Once you latch onto an idea that you know in your bones is good, you need to seize it with all your might and not let go. There’s nothing worse than realizing that you’ve forgotten the great idea that occurred to you the previous night — all because you neglected to write it down.

To avoid this potential catastrophe, Robert Louis Stevenson, author of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, offered this writing strategy:

"I kept always two books in my pocket, one to read, one to write in."

For everyone living in the 21st-century: this probably means keeping the Notes app on your cellphone handy. But you won’t go wrong with an old-fashioned notebook, either — so long as it’s nearby whenever you come up with a story idea.

5. Mark Twain’s “Increment” Writing Strategy

Now that you're committed to writing a story, you may be intimidated by the blank sheet in front of you. All of a sudden, you can’t think anything else but the pages and pages of words that lie in your near future — oh, and is that a migraine coming on? Great.

For this particular brand of headache, Mark Twain proposed a cure:

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.”

In short, make a molehill out of the mountain. You can tackle any 100,000-word monster if you just think of it in smaller parts: whether that’s by scene, chapter, arc, or a daily word count goal.

6. Norman Mailer’s Daily Routine Policy

It’s no secret that 50% of being an writer is, well, writing. The other 50% is complaining about writing. To counter the urge to procrastinate, we can draw on American novelist Norman Mailer’s wisdom here:

“Over the years, I’ve found one rule. It is the only one I give on those occasions when I talk about writing. A simple rule. If you tell yourself you are going to be at your desk tomorrow, you are by that declaration asking your unconscious to prepare the material. You are, in effect, contracting to pick up such valuables at a given time. Count on me, you are saying to a few forces below: I will be there to write.”

That said, there’s no proven “best time” to write. Benjamin Franklin supposedly sat down at his desk to write at 6 am. Then you have F. Scott Fitzgerald, who wouldn’t rise until just before midday to start his work. (You can check out the morning routines of more famous authors in this infographic here .)

Whenever you do decide to start your writing day, just make sure that the time you’ve set aside is sacred. As J.K. Rowling said, you must be absolutely ruthless about protecting writing days: “Do not cave in to endless requests to have "essential" and "long overdue" meetings on those days.”

7. Katherine Anne Porter’s “Last Line” Writing Strategy

According to Pulitzer Prize-winning Katherine Anne Porter, sometimes you might need to think upside-down in order to write right-side up:

“If I didn’t know the ending of a story, I wouldn’t begin. I always write my last line, my last paragraph, my last page first.”

Getting the ending down will give you something to write towards — and the confidence that a finish line is in sight.

8. Jane Yolen’s Work-Out Method

Unfortunately, writing isn’t magic. Once you’ve figured out a writing routine that works, you need to make sure you actually do the thing: write.

Many authors recommend writing at least once a day. There’s a good reason for it — and it isn’t masochism! Jane Yolen explains the reasoning here:

“Exercise the writing muscle every day, even if it is only a letter, notes, a title list, a character sketch, a journal entry. Writers are like dancers, like athletes. Without that exercise, the muscles seize up.”

9. Ernest Hemingway’s “Stop While You’re Ahead” Gambit

Maintaining momentum during a multi-month slog is one of the hardest parts of writing. But Nobel Laureate Ernest Hemingway offered this as a tried and true strategy:

“The best way is always to stop when you are going good and when you know what will happen next. If you do that every day … you will never be stuck. Always stop while you are going good and don’t think about it or worry about it until you start to write the next day. That way your subconscious will work on it all the time. But if you think about it consciously or worry about it you will kill it and your brain will be tired before you start.”

Many authors who use this “stop while you’re ahead” strategy will pause mid-scene or mid-paragraph. Some even go so far as to quit writing mid-sentence. One writer who has sworn by this advice is none other than Roald Dahl: “You make yourself stop and you walk away. And you can’t wait to get back because you know what you want to say next.”

You may have your eyebrow raised in doubt. How can you learn not to worry? Hemingway has an answer for you, too: “By not thinking about it. As soon as you start to think about it stop it. Think about something else. You have to learn that.”

10. Henry David Thoreau’s “Full Speed Ahead” Strategy

That said, we understand that it can be hard to stop writing when you’re in full-flow — much like reining in a horse when he’s racing at full stride. If Hemingway’s writing strategy doesn’t sit well with you, Henry David Thoreau has this alternative:

“Write while the heat is in you. The writer who postpones the recording of his thoughts uses an iron which has cooled to burn a hole with. He cannot inflame the minds of his audience.”

To put another slant to it, you can think about it in terms of Saul Bellow’s “Insomnia” Strategy. Bellow, the Pulitzer Prize winner, once wrote: “You never have to change anything you got up in the middle of the night to write.” Just to be clear, we’re not telling you that you have to set your alarm to 3am every night. But it’s good to remember that the urge to write can overcome you at any time of the day. If something is so significant that it compels you to wake up from your sleep, jot it down.

11. Roald Dahl’s Cocoon System

Has nothing inspired you to write yet? Maybe it's time for a change of location. Here’s how a friend of Roald Dahl’s explained the author’s odd writing strategy:

“He steps into a sleeping bag, pulls it up to his waist and settles himself in a faded wing-backed armchair. His feet he rests on a battered travelling case full of logs. This is roped to the legs of the armchair so it’s always at a perfect distance.”

Dahl wasn’t alone in finding strange places to write. Gertrude Stein wrote in the driver’s seat of her Model T Ford, which meant that she was especially prolific during shopping expeditions. Marcel Proust refused to work anywhere but his bed. But perhaps the writing situation of Edith Sitwell takes the proverbial cake. Despite her name, she found that she wrote best lying down… in an open coffin. A grave mistake for most people, but not her.

12. Raymond Chandler’s “Man with a Gun” Method

Last but not least, whenever you’re not sure where to take your story next, you can heed Raymond Chandler’s strategy for chapter-writing:

“When in doubt how to end a chapter, bring in a man with a gun.”

Now, this probably isn’t going to be the kind of advice that you’ll want to take literally — but it’s a reminder to keep the ante upped so that your story never becomes stale. In other words, end each chapter with a metaphorical bang.

13. Neil Gaiman’s “Don’t Look at It Again” Approach

Have you every written a story, thought it was the best thing since sliced bread, and came back to it the next day to revel in your masterpiece — only to gape in horror because it turned into a demon baby in the middle of the night?

Luckily, this happens to every writer. In fact, Neil Gaiman says that time spent away from your manuscript is a necessary part of the editing process :

“The best advice I can give on this is, once it’s done, to put it away until you can read it with new eyes. Finish the short story, print it out, then put it in a drawer and write other things. When you’re ready, pick it up and read it, as if you’ve never read it before. If there are things you aren’t satisfied with as a reader, go in and fix them as a writer: that’s revision.”

Putting your story aside for a few days or months gives you the chance to evaluate your story objectively and see its faults. Most importantly, it allows you to experience your story as a reader. Ultimately, “revision” is a combination of “re-“ and “vision”: the act of returning to something with new eyes.

14. Anton Chekhov’s Ending and Beginning Strategy

Aside from his world-famous Gun technique , Anton Chekhov had some more neat advice on editing:

My own experience is that once a story has been written, one has to cross out the beginning and the end. It is there that we authors do most of our lying.

Readers are ruthless creatures: if your book doesn’t sweep them up in the first twenty pages, chances are that they’ll put your book down entirely. We don't think Chekhov meant you have to cut the entire beginning and end out — just that it’s worth re-visiting those parts of the story first when you’re tightening your narrative.

15. Stephen King’s “Road to Hell” Plan

Whether or not you’re religious, you’ll want to keep Stephen King’s advice in mind:

“I believe the road to hell is paved with adverbs, and I will shout it from the rooftops.”

Be cautious about using too many adverbs: their mere existence might mean that you’re telling, not showing , says King.

“To put it another way, they’re like dandelions. If you have one in your lawn, it looks pretty and unique. If you fail to root it out, however, you find five the next day… fifty the day after that… and then, my brothers and sisters, your lawn is totally, completely, and profligately covered with dandelions. By then you see them for the weeds they really are, but by then it’s — GASP!! — too late.”

16. Mark Twain’s “Damn” Proposition

If you’re ever agonizing over whether or not you should take something out, Mark Twain has a very simple strategy for you:

“Substitute ‘damn’ every time you’re inclined to write ‘very’; your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.”

To follow Twain's advice, delete any “filler” word unless it’s absolutely essential. This includes words like “very” and also “really,” “things,” and “stuff.” Quartz recommends substituting a more concise word for “very” — for instance, “terrified” instead of “very afraid.” You can see this post for some more helpful options.

17. Walt Whitman’s Comma Technique

Let us be crystal clear: there’s nothing that will get a reader or an agent to drop your manuscript quicker than a bunch of punctuation errors in a row. Walt Whitman boils it down into a very simple statement:

“I hate commas in the wrong places.”

Even after you’ve given your draft an edit to identify structural and flow issues, you’ll need to proofread it with a discerning eye. Identify speling erors, spots where commas are missing or overused, and places where someone says “Hello” without proper punctuation. Trust us — your readers will thank you for it.

18. Maya Angelou’s “Write Anything” Mode

Seriously, anything. You can take Maya Angelou’s award-winning words for it:

“What I try to do is write. I may write for two weeks, ‘The cat sat on the mat, that is that, not a rat.’ And it might be just the most boring and awful stuff. But I try. When I’m writing, I write. And then it’s as if the muse is convinced that I’m serious and says, ‘Okay. Okay. I’ll come.’”

“The cat sat on the mat, that is that, not a rat,” doesn’t exactly sound very glamorous, does it? But Maya Angelou also wrote I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 1971, so she knows a thing or two about writing.

19. George Plimpton’s Letter Strategy

If the thought of an agent or thousands of people reading your story makes you sweat, you might have the literary version of "stage fright." To help curb this type of writer's block , the Paris Review founder George Plimpton used to follow this strategy:

“Many years ago, I met John Steinbeck at a party in Sag Harbor, and told him that I had writer’s block. And he said something which I’ve always remembered, and which works. He said, “Pretend that you’re writing not to your editor or to an audience or to a readership, but to someone close, like your sister, or your mother, or someone that you like.” And at the time I was enamored of Jean Seberg, the actress, and I had to write an article about taking Marianne Moore to a baseball game, and I started it off, “Dear Jean . . . ,” and wrote this piece with some ease, I must say. And to my astonishment that’s the way it appeared in Harper’s Magazine. “Dear Jean . . .” Which surprised her, I think, and me, and very likely Marianne Moore.”

We’ll let Steinbeck, the person who first came up with this ingenious writing strategy, explain the reasoning behind it: “Write it as a letter aimed at one person. This removes the vague terror of addressing the large and faceless audience and it also, you will find, will give a sense of freedom and a lack of self-consciousness.”

Plimpton wasn’t kidding, by the way: you can read his October 1964 article in Harper’s Magazine here .

20. Hilary Mantel’s “Do Anything” Technique

What if you’re just sick of words altogether? For a change of pace, let’s try something that doesn’t involve writing — in any capacity. Hilary Mantel says that sometimes what you need to do in order to write is not write:

“If you get stuck, get away from your desk. Take a walk, take a bath, go to sleep, make a pie, draw, listen to music, meditate, exercise; whatever you do, don’t just stick there scowling at the problem. But don’t make telephone calls or go to a party; if you do, other people’s words will pour in where your lost words should be. Open a gap for them, create a space. Be patient.”

Force yourself to disengage from your manuscript and you might come back sharper and more aware of what you want to say. Jane Smiley, for instance, would drink Diet Cokes to distract herself, explaining: “When you sit down again on Saturday, you’re better. Not only because of all the practice, but also because of the walking away. I’m a firm believer in walking away.”

21. P.G. Wodehouse’s Cursing Approach

If you’ve come this far and all else has failed, know that you can always resort to P.G. Wodehouse’s tried, true, and completely professional advice:

“I just sit at my typewriter and curse a bit.”

Do you have any more writing strategies to share? How about writer's block memes ? Have you found any strategy useful so far? Tell us in the comments below!

Glen Barrington says:

23/10/2018 – 14:16

Hmmm! So the survey says! Nobody knows for sure!

Comments are currently closed.

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Writing a Paper: How to Set a Writing Goal

How to set a writing goal.

Strong written communication consistently ranks among employers’ top desired skills. It is a skill that traverses disciplines, as most professionals need to know how to communicate clearly in writing. Yet knowing where to start building your written communication skills can be challenging. We recommend starting with setting clear writing goals. The following resources will guide you in forming clear, actionable writing goals.

Getting Started

The first step in setting a writing goal is getting to know yourself as a writer. What are your strengths and improvement areas as a writer? What stresses you out about writing? What is your typical writing routine, and are there ways to improve that process? To answer these questions, you may consider the following steps:

Take stock of your writing experiences—past and present—and reflect on what you know about your writing abilities and learning style
Sketch out your existing writing practice (i.e., where, when, and how you write) and pinpoint distractions (e.g., social media, noisy workspace , lateness in the day )
Outline your ideal writing process (i.e., if everything in your writing process worked out perfectly with no distractions) and highlight potential skills or techniques to model
Learn from other writers and explore what practices they have employed to keep the writing process running smoothly
Identify personal obstacles to your writing process —whether it be your own self-consciousness or the blank page—and assess ways to alleviate these pressures

Once you have this information, ask yourself: What did I learn about myself as a writer, what specific patterns or practices in my writing or writing process would I like to change, and what steps do I need to take in order to develop those skills? You can use your responses to start setting writing-specific goals.

Drafting Writing-Specific Goals

At this point, you may be asking yourself: What is a writing-specific goal and how do I set one? Let's start with what a writing goal is.

A writing goal is an objective you set to build on and enhance a particular skill or set of skills that influence your writing. Writing goals, in this regard, are about identifying skills in your writing or patterns in your writing process that need growth and development.

You may find that, based on what you learned about yourself as a writer in the “Getting Started” section, your writing goals are related to mastering APA citations and references or establishing a better method for organizing ideas or improving your knowledge of academic writing and its impact on tone. This list is a quick preview of possible goals; however, there are countless, other writing-specific goals to consider, including but not limited to clarity, cohesion, flow, analysis, synthesis, paraphrasing, and grammar skills. Each of these areas is an excellent basis for establishing a writing goal.

The next step is to use SMART Goal Criteria to ensure your goal can be realistically achieved.

Using SMART Goals as a Guide

The SMART Goals Guide is an excellent tool for ensuring you set clear, manageable writing goals. It helps to establish that your writing goals are:

S–Specific: Is your goal focused and specific? Does it avoid generalizations and abstractions?

M–Measureable: Can you track your progress and completion? What indicators will you use?

A–Achievable: Is this goal within your control? Do you have the necessary resources for success?

R–Relevant: How does this goal impact your skills set and where you want to be?

T–Timely: Does this goal have a reasonable timeline and completion date?

The Academic Skills Center has an excellent resource that walks you through how to develop SMART goals . Keep it on hand as you draft and revise your writing goals.

Working Toward Goals in Paper Reviews

Once you have established your writing goals, keep in mind that you don’t have to set out achieving those goals all on your own. We are here to support your goal progress and overall writing skill development. We encourage you to set up a paper review appointment and share those writing goals with our writing instructors. Together, we can discover more ways to support your path to writing goal success. Click here to learn more about our paper review appointments .

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How to Set Writing Goals for Novelists

Before I wrote my first book, I wasn’t a goal setter. In fact, I’m pretty sure I scoffed at people who touted the values of goal setting.

And it took me five years to take my book from idea to reality.

Then I started setting goals for my writing, and the next book went from idea to market in less than a year and a half.

With my latest ( admittedly shorter ) project, it only took a few months.

I’m not saying all this to brag, I promise. Instead, I want to highlight how much of an impact setting goals and establishing routines has on writing. And guess what? You can use goals to do the same.

But not all goals are created equal. In this article, we’re going to set you up for success when it comes to your writing goals. This includes:

Setting reasonable writing goals
Strategies for goal setting
How (and why) to track your progress

Let’s get goal-ing.

Setting Reasonable Writing Goals

There’s no point in setting bad goals. In fact, setting goals that don’t make sense or are unreachable will do a heck of a lot more harm than good.

Worst case scenario? You get so discouraged by failing to reach your goals that you stop writing. It happens a lot more than you think.

So let’s ensure we’re starting with our best foot forward by establishing some reasonable writing goals.

Good Ol’ SMART Goals

If you’ve read any DabbleU articles involving goals and habits, you’ve probably read about SMART goals at least once. Even if you haven’t browsed our articles on characters , themes , or making money from your writing , you might have heard this term before.

If you’ve never heard of them or just need a refresher, SMART stands for the following:

S pecific - You don’t want a vague goal. It will be too difficult to measure your progress or make meaningful changes to help you along the way. “I want to write a book” isn’t a specific goal. “I want to write a novel about a revolution in a mining colony on Io” is a much better start, though we will add to it along the way.

M easurable - A goal isn’t good if it can only be complete or incomplete. The most effective goals can be chunked into smaller pieces you can recognize and celebrate along the way. “I want to write an 80,000-word novel about a revolution in a mining colony on Io” adds an element you can record and monitor with every word you write.

A ttainable - Setting a goal you could never accomplish is another way to end with disappointment. If you’ve never written before, maybe write a short story first. Or, if you are writing a full-length book, make sure you learn about structure, character development, and everything else you need, and give yourself enough time. Now our goal will be “I want to write the first draft of an 80,000-word novel about a revolution in a mining colony on Io.”

R elevant - If you want to be an author, setting a goal to write a screenplay isn’t helpful. Likewise, make sure you actually want to be a writer if your goal is to write a book. Consider smaller goals that are relevant, too. This could include establishing your author brand, learning more about the writing process, etc.

T ime-bound - This might be the most critical aspect of a SMART goal. Set a deadline. Establish milestones and checkpoints. Without time to hold you accountable, it’s easy to push your goal back over and over again. Let’s make our goal “I want to write the first draft of an 80,000-word novel about a revolution in a mining colony on Io in 180 days.”

Establish a Realistic Timeline

Writing a book takes time—there’s no way around that truth. The time it takes depends on the writer, the book’s length, and all the prep work you need to do.

Your timeline for each book will grow shorter as you write more books. But, early on in your writing career, give yourself more time than you think you need.

Your timeline will depend on the ultimate end point of your goal. Is your goal to finish your first draft? Query an agent or publisher? Self-publish?

Whichever you choose, your timeline might involve the following:

Researching
Writing the first draft
Getting beta reader feedback
Working with an editor

For the purposes of our goal (I want to write the first draft of an 80,000-word novel about a revolution in a mining colony on Io in 180 days), it’s clear that finishing the first draft is our goal. There can be goals after that, but let’s focus on finishing the first draft.

A big part of this goal, and the goals most writers will set, is establishing your writing pace. This will help create a timeline that’s personalized to you.

An easy way to do that? Write for 20 minutes, then take a 10-minute break. Repeat, so you’ve spent a total of an hour. Consider this your working “words per hour” rate to account for interruptions, breaks, or rough days.

Let’s say you write 1,000 words in that time. An 80,000-word book will take 80 hours, not including researching and outlining. With consistent effort, your words per hour will increase, too.

Choose a Deadline

Establishing a realistic timeline allows you to choose a deadline to complete your writing goal.

Deadlines have a lot of power. For most people, they can provide constant motivation. For some, they can be too stressful.

If you set a realistic timeline, your deadline should be set so that it doesn’t make life stressful. The key term is “realistic” here. Consider days you won’t write, weekends, vacations, etc.

Dabble is so helpful with this. Use the Goals and Tracking window to choose a deadline, select your days off, and let Dabble automatically calculate how many words you need to write each day. If that number doesn’t seem doable with your working words per hour rate, push your deadline out and let Dabble recalculate.

Achieve Balance

Writing a book is hard work, but your life can’t just be filled with hard work. Most of us don’t have the luxury of writing full-time. That means you have your day job, family, hobbies, and everything else life throws at you to balance along with the hypothetical 80 hours we need to write our space miners’ revolution.

And you need to consider these things when setting a reasonable goal. Ignoring a good work-writing-life balance will lead to burnout, affecting every aspect of your life.

If you’re working eight hours a day and your working words per hour is 1,000, don’t expect to write 2,000 words daily. That’s two hours each and every day. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but consider everything else you have going on.

Goal-Setting Strategies

We’ve established what makes a reasonable writing goal, but how do we make those goals easier to attain? Here are three goal-setting strategies to help with your writing.

Write Daily

There is no better way to become a better writer and reach your goals than to write daily. It takes regular, consistent effort to reach a big goal , like 80,000 words.

In an ideal world, you can commit the same hour or so every day, at the same time, in the same place to write without interruptions.

But in the real world, schedules change, we’re in different places, get interrupted, and don’t have the time. In cases like this, sneak in half an hour of writing at lunch. Ten minutes before breakfast. Five minutes in the parking lot before work.

You might not think five minutes is worthwhile or long enough to get the creative juices flowing. But writing daily, even for five minutes some days, starts to add up to considerable progress and gets those juices flowing more easily over time.

Break Down a Project into Manageable Parts

Have I mentioned that writing a book is a big task? Maybe once or six times, but who’s counting?

The thing is, big goals can be daunting. That’s why the measurable aspect of SMART goals is so essential; visualizing your progress and celebrating milestones is vital to keep you motivated.

While planning your goal, consider the different parts that come together to paint the bigger picture.

Writing a first draft could be broken down like this:

Outline the plot
Develop the main characters
Summarize each scene
Write your story

Suddenly, it becomes easier to visualize the novel-writing process and track your progress toward your ultimate goal.

Set Mini-Goals

Once you’ve broken your project into manageable parts, use those to set mini-goals. Take everything we’ve covered so far to make these mini-goals, ensuring they’re SMART, have reasonable timelines and deadlines, allow for balance, and can be broken down into their parts.

Let’s look at those four parts of writing your draft above.

Outline the plot - This can be a goal itself, broken down into researching structure, coming up with your three acts, the story beats, any subplots, etc.

Develop the main characters - Again, this could be a goal in itself but can be broken down even further into each character or the components (backstory, arc, interview, profile) of each character.

Summarize each scene - Writing an entire scene list can be one goal, or you could make a goal to summarize two scenes each day to finish in a week (or however long it would take).

Write your story - The nice thing about novels is that they’re naturally broken up into chapters, and chapters are broken up into scenes. You could aim to write two chapters per week, as long as your working words per hour makes that realistic.

Tracking Progress

Finally, your goals will be more successful when you can track your progress toward them. Not only does it let you reflect on how far you’ve come, but it allows you to watch your remaining work get whittled away through your regular effort.

Putting in work without visualizing the results stinks.

That’s why Dabble has built-in progress trackers. In fact, you can have up to three going at once: one that tracks your manuscript’s progress, one that tracks your project’s daily goal, and another tracker that you can use to track daily writing across all projects, including notes and outlining. As you write, your progress bar fills to give you a straightforward visual representation.

But there are other ways to use progress tracking to help with your goals.

Whether through pen and paper or a spreadsheet like Google Sheets, you can monitor your writing progress throughout your book. I’d suggest setting up columns for Date, Words Written, Time Written, Average Words Per Hour, and Notes (where you can record anything exceptional or difficult).

If you’re feeling savvy, you can set up the Average Words Per Hour cells to calculate your writing speed automatically. This would be “=*Words Written cell*/(*Time Written cell*/60)” if your spreadsheet skills are as basic as mine.

This has two beneficial effects. First, it allows you to reflect on all the effort you’ve put into your book. Feel proud of yourself every time you look at it.

Second, it lets you monitor the speed increase in your words per hour. It’s very motivating to watch your efficiency increase week after week. You watch yourself becoming a better writer.

Note: This words per hour rate differs from the “working words per hour rate” we mentioned before. In this case, we’re monitoring your efficiency as a writer. With the working rate, we intentionally made it smaller to account for interruptions and other things that can slow your speed.

Celebrate Small Wins

As you track all the hard work you’re putting in, celebrate your small wins along the way. Remember those manageable pieces and mini-goals we talked about? Congratulate yourself every time you reach one of those.

This could be as simple as saying “I’m freakin’ awesome” out loud or having your favorite snack. For bigger goals, like completing 25% of your goal, treat yourself to dinner or have a fun night in. Do whatever you think is worth all the effort you’re putting in.

Celebrating small wins keeps your morale up. You need things to keep you motivated and fight against burnout when you’re in this for the long haul.

Identify Areas of Improvement

Finally, tracking your progress helps you figure out where you can improve. If your words per hour rate is lower than usual, reflect on your notes to figure out what held you back.

If a common obstacle pops up each Wednesday, that’s something you can address to help boost your writing.

Be as honest as you can, too. We all tend to make excuses for ourselves, but excuses don’t help you improve as an author. I mean, don’t be hyper-critical for no reason, but don’t sugarcoat things.

What’s Your Writing Goal?

Who would’ve guessed that so much went into setting your writing goals? Life coaches and teachers, most likely, but writers don’t tend to think about goals all that much.

I hope you’ve seen how setting effective goals can help you write your book, get published, or whatever else you want to achieve. Goals can be powerful tools—if you use them properly.

If your goal is to write your first draft, we’ve written a free, 100+ page e-book for you. It covers everything you need, from mindset to writing. Click here to grab your copy and start working towards your goal.

Doug Landsborough can’t get enough of writing. Whether freelancing as an editor, blog writer, or ghostwriter, Doug is a big fan of the power of words. In his spare time, he writes about monsters, angels, and demons under the name D. William Landsborough. When not obsessing about sympathetic villains and wondrous magic, Doug enjoys board games, horror movies, and spending time with his wife, Sarah.

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Read. learn. create..

What is creative nonfiction? Oh, it's only a super fun way to tell the truth. Learn more about what it is, how to write it, and where you've seen it right here.

More people than ever before are writing e-books, whether they're hoping to build an author career, promote their own brand, or just want to put a little art into the world. If you're looking to do a little e-book writing yourself, this guide can help.

Your book cover is your first and most important marketing tool. If you could use a little inspiration (plus guidance!) for your next cover design, you've come to the right place.

June 22, 2015

General Writing Skills, Strategies, and Tools

By Patrick McMahon

A major outcome of graduate education is the ability to write well in a variety of genres and to different audiences. However, this ability can take time to develop, and can require devoting time to developing writing strategies, learning new writing tools, and reviewing foundational skills in writing mechanics. Although making these efforts will benefit you at any stage in your graduate program, it is recommended that you begin these efforts in your first year of graduate school, building an important foundation for your later academic and professional success.

Steps You Can Take

Develop a strategy for effective writing habits and time management.

Many people experience resistance to writing, which can result in procrastinating or completing writing projects at the last minute. While you may feel that you can only get written work done under a tight deadline, or even that your best work is done under this type of pressure, there is now evidence that creating a regular writing schedule is key to producing high quality and quantities of written work. Yet, the most effective writing habits and strategies vary from person to person, and it will likely require trial and error to find out what works best for you.

Effective writing habits typically incorporate aspects of both time management and project management. The National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity has developed a Core Curriculum (sign in to access) set of webinars, many of which focus explicitly on writing, to help graduate students and faculty develop these skills. You can access this webinar series by creating an account through Berkeley’s institutional membership . This section elaborates on some of the most widely successful strategies and skills specific to developing effective writing habits that will be of use to you now and in future careers:

Create and follow a schedule or calendar. Setting and following a schedule or calendar is an essential skill for success in most careers and projects. Keeping a regular schedule can help you ensure that you have made time for all of your professional commitments, as well as your personal goals and writing goals. Consider which scheduling format and timescale works best for you. Some prefer to do everything digitally using Google calendar or other scheduling programs, others like to keep everything in a physical calendar or planner. Try choosing one approach and sticking with it; if you opt to use multiple calendaring tools, be sure to have one master schedule or calendar. Many people also find it effective to schedule themselves a regular time to review and update their calendar. Consider putting some time aside at the end of each week to ensure that your calendar for the upcoming week is finalized. If you don’t find that schedules or calendars work for you, consider which other planning tools might, such as to-do lists or phone reminders.

It is often effective to have both a near-term calendar and long-term plan or calendar. To plan out long-term goals, some students opt to map out the major milestones they plan to complete over their entire graduate education, while others prefer to set a plan every year or semester. Watch the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity’s webinar “ Every Semester Needs a Plan ,” which graduate students can access by creating an account through Berkeley’s institutional membership .

Take stock of all of your deadlines and writing goals. Set aside time to make sure that you have all of your deadlines and goals for the upcoming year or semester written down in one place. Make sure that each of these deadlines is also added to your schedule or calendar.

Set writing goals. Some of the key considerations for creating effective writing goals are setting priorities, breaking goals down into specific subgoals, making sure goals are realistic given your other responsibilities and constraints, and specifying a timeline or deadline. For setting priorities, consider adopting the quadrant system, which is summarized in the article “ Time Management Strategies for Graduate Students ” (Quinnipiac University). Also consider watching the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity’s webinar “ Align Your Time with Your Priorities ,” which graduate students can access by creating an account through Berkeley’s institutional membership .

Write every day. A key challenge to writing is overcoming the resistance to sitting down and getting work done. When you have a writing project that you are working towards completing, consider starting each work day with a short writing goal. Choose a goal of writing for a period of time that does not feel too intimidating, whether this is 15 minutes or an hour. The writing process can be uncomfortable for some, and it is a normal reaction to continue putting off this discomfort. By building a habit of writing a little bit each day, you can begin to build the skill of overcoming resistance to writing. You may also find that once you get the document open and start writing, you are able to continue writing beyond the goal you originally set. For more on the importance of daily writing and on how to tackle barriers to writing, read “ How to Finish Your Dissertation ,” Inside Higher Ed (2016).

Write in timed increments and take breaks . Working for fixed periods of time, and then taking a break, is often an effective way to manage your time. This is the basis of the Pomodoro Technique, where you work in 25-minute increments, followed by 5-minute breaks. You may find that other timed increments work better for your working style or schedule, such as 45-minute writing sessions, followed by 15-minute breaks. Many apps and websites offer timers designed for working in timed increments, including the Tomato Timer website and the Forest app .

Set up an accountability structure. It can be valuable to have external sources of accountability for your writing goals. See the section below on writing workshops, writing groups, and classes for more details on how groups and workshops can provide accountability. Also consider using other accountability tools, such as Focusmate , a website where you can schedule virtual work sessions with others so that you are both accountable for showing up and working for the intended amount of time.

For more on time management in general, the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (for which graduate students have access to Berkeley’s institutional membership ) offers a variety of resources, such as the “Every Semester Needs a Plan,” “Mastering Academic Time Management,” and “Align Your Time with Your Priorities” webinars.

Learn How to Use Key Writing Tools

Another key part of building successful writing habits is adopting important writing tools early on, giving yourself time to get familiar with current options and figure out what works best for you. Typically, graduate students will choose tools or software for reference management, word processing or writing, and notetaking. Commonly used reference and citation management tools include Zotero, Mendeley, RefWorks, and Endnote. The University Library offers a comparison of these options here . For completing small writing projects, many graduates will stick with Microsoft Word, which students have free access to through Berkeley’s subscription to Microsoft 365 . For larger writing projects, consider other writing software options such as LaTex (or a LaTeX interface such as TeXworks or Overleaf) or Scrivener. LaTeX is particularly good for formatting large writing projects and Scrivener has many useful features to simplify working on large writing projects.

Participate in a Writing Workshop, Writing Group, or Course

Start early. From the outset of your graduate program, think strategically about the resources that can help you develop your writing skills. Some departments offer writing courses or workshops, but there are also valuable courses on writing open to graduate students from all departments. For example, the Graduate Writing Center (GWC) offers offers a 2-unit seminar course (GSPDP 320) on Academic Writing for Graduate Students every spring. This course is particularly useful for beginning graduate students.

Knowing how to connect with communities that can support you in the writing process is a skill that will serve you well as a new faculty member, or in a variety of careers that involve long-term independent projects. There is evidence that writing groups can help graduate students to stay motivated and meet deadlines (see, for example, the 2012 article “ Write On! Through to the Ph.D.: Using Writing Groups to Facilitate Doctoral Degree Progress ”).

The Graduate Writing Center (GWC) is a key resource on campus for graduate students at all stages of their graduate career. The GWC offers regular workshops such as “How to Write an Academic Grant Proposal” and “Writing the Dissertation: Strategies and Pitfalls.” The Center features workshops on writing proposals for specific grants such as “Applying for a Fulbright-IIE Grant” and prepares students to conduct responsible research by hosting a workshop on “Human Subjects Research: What is it? How Do You Navigate through the IRB Process?” The Center also offers writing groups, writing boot camps, and individual writing consultations that are free to all graduate students. The Graduate Writing Center’s Quick Guides provide helpful resources on various aspects of academic and professional writing.

Consider joining the Graduate Writing Center’s Graduate Writing Community , where graduate students come together to make progress on their writing. As part of the Writing Community, students receive writing prompts, check in with a small group of colleagues, and participate in weekly writing sessions. Having a supportive community to discuss the challenges and accomplishments of writing can be vital to your success as a writer, whether you find that community in these groups or elsewhere.

There are other writing group and community options as well. Graduate students in the humanities and social sciences can hone their writing skills and receive peer feedback through a weekly writing group hosted by Berkeley’s Humanities and Social Sciences Association geared to early career researchers (including graduate students, postdocs, and visiting scholars) affiliated with the University.

The National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD) sponsors writing boot-camps as well as the 14-Day Writing Challenge , both recurring seasonally in the fall, spring, and summer. The NCFDD programs offer structure, accountability, and community support to help you set and accomplish your writing goals, and all Berkeley grad students can activate their free membership here .

For advice on how to start a writing group, see “ Starting an Effective Dissertation Writing Group ,” Stanford University Hume Writing Center , “ Making a Writing Group that Works ,” Inside Higher Ed (2016), or “ The Writers’ Workshop at Work ,” Chronicle of Higher Education (2011). For tips on establishing and maintaining a regular “writing date,” see “ The Writing Date ,” Chronicle of Higher Education (2008).

Learn How to Give and Receive Feedback on Writing

Both seeking and giving feedback can be harder than we might think. However, receiving and responding to feedback is crucial to developing your skills as a writer in graduate school and beyond. Getting helpful feedback may sometimes require being proactive. Be explicit on the type of feedback that would benefit you most. If you are taking a course with written assignments, go to office hours or schedule a time to meet with the instructor or professor and discuss your written assignment submissions in person. Proactively ask your advisors and peers to review written materials for you, and where appropriate, offer to reciprocate the favor. It is also important to be intentional about how you react to and respond to feedback. Many people experience strong emotional reactions when they receive feedback on their work, which can make it difficult to request feedback in the first place. For more on the art of giving and receiving feedback, see the article “ Your Writing Needs Feedback. This is How to Give and Get it ” by Leigh Shulman (2019).

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Writing goals: an easy to follow step-by-step guide.

Have you ever looked at your students’ writing and thought to yourself, “Where do I begin?” We all have. Writing is complex. Teaching it and creating it. So, where do you begin? Let me help you with setting writing goals for students with this step-by-step guide.

I’m a big fan of Jennifer Serravallo’s The Writing Strategies Book . With hundreds of writing strategies, you’re guaranteed to find something that will work for your students. The book is organized into 10 writing goals for students from composing with pictures to organization and structure to partnerships and clubs.

In the early years, you’ll find that many of your students will fall under most of the beginning goals–composing with pictures, engagement, generating ideas, and organization–, but some will be a bit more advanced–elaboration and word choice.

Here are 6 steps to setting and implementing writing goals for your students.

1. Observe Your Students

The first step is to let students write, and as they’re writing, you observe and ask questions. You’ll want to print this checklist beforehand and have it available as you are observing your students.

Focus on one goal each day. If a students is demonstrating the characteristics of someone that uses strategies in this goal give them a + . If they don’t demonstrate proficiency, give them an X .

Using the writing goals card to remind you of what you’re looking for, begin wandering around the classroom. Begin looking for pictures in your students’ writing. Are the pictures detailed? Could the student add more? Do the pictures connect from one page to the next? If you need to, ask the child questions. Then begin taking notes. Add a + for students that are showing an understanding of composing pictures and an X if you feel a student would benefit from working on this area.

Once you’ve observed all students on this goal, analyze your data. If a student received an X , this will become his/her goal. If not, move on to the next goal and observe your students on the next goal.

2. Form Groups

Next is to make groups. Deciding how to form groups for writing was the death of me until I began using these writing goals for students. After observing your students and recording their strengths and next step, creating groups is simple.

All students that need to work on the pictures goal are one group. The students that need to work on focus are another group and so on.

Googel_Setting_Writing_Goals_for_Students

I prefer to work with students in very small groups of no more than 4. This allows you to give more attention to students and there are less students to get settled in, which saves time and allows the group to run quickly and smoothly.

3. Gather Your Materials

Writing goal card
Anchor charts
Writing goal cards for students

Each student will need a writing goal card. Laminating it will allow it to last longer and you can stick new goals to the card with tape. It’s up to you how you want to organize this for students.

Have your writing anchor charts ready to go so you’ll be prepared for your groups at the drop of a hat. Your anchor charts don’t need to be fancy and because it will be with a small group, you can easily make them on 8.5″ x 11” paper.

Then make your writing goal cards look just like the anchor chart, so your students can have their own artifact to keep with them and to use for reference.

4. Schedule Your Groups

Now make a weekly group schedule, which will ensure you meet with each student. If you have it available in a central location, you’ll be ready to go!

5. Meet with Your Groups

Invite one group to your meeting area. Have them begin writing as they sit with you. Then ask them to stop and listen.

Talk to your students about all the things they are doing well. Then tell them you have a goal that will help them (fill in the blank).

Next show your students the anchor chart for their goal. Explain how it is used and show them in your own writing. Then tell them that their writing goal is to (fill in the blank). Give them their goal writing card and ask them to place it next to their writing. Now have the students continue writing and ask them to focus on their goal.

As the students are writing, remind them of their goal, confer with students, and praise them when you see them attempting to work on their goal.

6. Set the Next Writing Goals for Students

As you observe students working on their goals and using them consistently, it might be time to check in. Using your checklist, observe what the student is and isn’t doing and start a new goal with the student. Get your hands on these writing goals resource here .

If you’re looking for how to get your students writing independently, check out Building a Community of Eager & Excited Young Writers .

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How to Write Goals for Work in 2024: Writing Goals 101 with Examples

By Jessica Wishart

Annual & Quarterly Planning

Strategy Execution

Sadly, professional goal achievement doesn't fare much better; 67% of great strategies fail due to poor execution. Writing an effective goal will increase your chances of successfully achieving that goal or quarterly rock. Fortunately, goal-setting is a skill that you can learn and improve. Setting goals and priorities is essential to running a great company with proper professional development so it is worth the time and effort to improve this skill to write effective performance goals.

Here are 6 Easy Steps to Goal Writing:

Hbspt.cta._relativeurls=true;hbspt.cta.load(116436, '6c5752e3-7f51-4270-ac93-5cae56f2c18c', {"usenewloader":"true","region":"na1"});, how to write effective goals, use rhythm systems ai goal coach.

Rhythm SMART AI Goal Coach is an incredibly powerful tool for achieving personal and professional goals. Whether you’re starting a new business, searching for a new job, or simply looking to improve yourself, the goal coach provides you with guidance and resources to help you reach your goals. It starts by gathering information about your current status and then establishes short-term, executable objectives broken down into manageable steps. The goal coach also ensures that each step has a specific deadline so that users can keep on track toward their target goal. Finally, the goal coach offers personalized advice and feedback to help users stay motivated and constantly evaluate their progress while considering potential pitfalls they may encounter. With its helpful features, Rhythm SMART AI Goal Coach is a great way to ensure that your efforts are channeled in the right direction so you can enjoy the rewards of achieving success.

Make it Actionable.

Use a verb when writing your goal. Goal setting must be clear and specific about what you will do. Anyone should be able to read your goal and understand exactly what you'll be doing. For example, we see goals that simply say, "Tradeshow." You can increase the likelihood of successfully setting and achieving your key result by making it more specific: "Get the contact information for 20 leads from demo booth at Trade Show." Specific goals make it clear for all involved parties and leave no room for interpretation.

Assign an Accountable Goal Owner.

Many people may contribute work to your priority or goal, but there should only be one owner-one person who is accountable for the priority's success. Without one clear owner, the goal may slip off your radar screen; you need someone who is driving it, coordinating all the moving parts, keeping the momentum going, and ensuring the work gets done. This is often overlooked in goal-setting, yet it is one of the most important.

Establish Timing.

When setting priorities, always include a start and end date and be realistic about what you can accomplish in a given time frame. Time-bound goals are important, especially if others are dependent on you completing this goal and creating a sense of urgency.

Clearly Define Success.

Determine clear success criteria for your priority so you know what it looks like to achieve the goal. If your goal is a business one, ensure your expectations of success are aligned with everyone on the team. Everyone needs to agree on when we reach the goal to ensure that we are achieving success. We use a simple Red-Yellow-Green method to set clear success criteria :

Red = Failure or unacceptable performance on the priority
Yellow = Between Red and Green
Green = Successful completion of the goal
SuperGreen = Stretch goal

Connect to Why.

Understanding how this goal fits into the big picture is important and will help you stay motivated. Link this priority to your longer-term strategy or connect it to your larger goals in some clear way to increase the likelihood that you will complete it.

Break Goal Writing Down into Milestone Actions.

Once your goal is written, the real work begins now. You have to execute to achieve the goal. If you've followed the steps above, you've set yourself up for success by thinking and planning effectively against the actionable goal. This will help you maximize your chances of success now that you're ready to move into doing the work, and is an integral part of any plan.

If you are a manager, please read the manager's guide to goal setting or implementing OKRs in your organization for additional information.

Download Rhythm for OKRs: Simplify Your OKR Process

What Makes a SMART Goal?

When writing goals, follow the SMART goal framework as part of your writing process for each specific goal.

S= Specific: The objective is crystal clear
M = Measurable: It must be a measurable goal; otherwise, there can be confusion on whether the key result was accomplished
A = Attainable Goal
R = Realistic Goal
T = Time Bound (or timely)

Writing Goal Examples:

Keep it visible. Put it on a dashboard where others can see it and help you remain accountable to your stated goal and track your progress.
Status it weekly. How are you doing based on the success criteria you set out for yourself? Does this help to move the business plan forward?
Make adjustments as needed. If you can see that you aren't on track to hit the goal by the deadline, what else can you do to move forward? Do you need to enlist some help? Do you need to move your milestones around? Do you need to say no to some other things so you can focus more on your goal? It is okay to write a lofty goal, but make sure it is also attainable - yes, it is a fine line sometimes.
Include long-term goals. Remember to remember the end and plot out your long-term project goals. Too often, we focus on the immediate and urgent at the expense of longer-term success. Make sure you plan to work towards the longer-term goals, not just the short-term ones, with a clear action step outline.

How to Write Goals for Work Video:

What is smart goal setting.

Writing goals for work using SMART goal setting is an essential skill for both personal goals and professional success. Writing goals down and tracking them on a weekly basis is essential for achieving success.

What are the benefits of goal setting?

Writing an effective goal will increase your chances of successfully achieving that goal or quarterly rock . It allows complete communication and trust between employees and managers with clearly defined outcomes, deadlines, and definitions of success.

How do I keep track of my progress?

Put it on a dashboard where others can see it and help you remain accountable to your stated goal and track your progress. Rhythm Systems' strategic planning software can do this for you.

What if I use OKR Goals?

No problem, we can handle those too. Objectives and Key Results have been around for a long time, and we fully support them and have great ways to implement OKRs in your organization. In fact, we have a whole post dedicated to Mastering OKRs: How Artificial Intelligence Can Help You Set and Achieve Better Objectives and Key Results that will provide all that you need to know.

Ready to join that elite 8 % of people who successfully hit their goals? Good luck, and please share any tips that help you write more effective goals. The journey to writing a brief description of how you plan to achieve your priority or what success looks like starts with a single word. Write SMART goals to get the most out of yourself and your team. If you need any help, you can count on the goal gurus at Rhythm Systems to help.

Need help getting your team goals aligned to your growth goals? Rhythm systems software was ranked the #1 easiest software to use, highest ROI, fastest implementation, and highest adoption rate on G2.

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Crafting Effective IEP Goals for Writing – Strategies for Student Success

January 11, 2024

Indubitably, crafting effective IEP goals for writing is essential in ensuring the academic success of students with diverse learning needs. As educators, it is paramount that we develop strategic, measurable, and realistic goals that will support our students in honing their writing skills. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore valuable strategies that can be employed to create impactful IEP goals for writing, equipping students with the tools they need to thrive in the classroom.

When it comes to writing , it is crucial for educators to have a solid understanding of the individualized needs of their students. By tailoring IEP goals to the specific strengths and challenges of each student, we can maximize their potential for growth. Additionally, we will delve into some of the most common pitfalls in creating IEP goals for writing and provide actionable steps to avoid them, ultimately fostering student success in the realm of writing.

Types of Writing Goals in IEPs

Before setting writing goals for students as part of their Individualized Education Program (IEP) , it’s important to understand the different types of goals that can be included. The IEP team should consider the individual student’s needs and the best approach to support their writing development . The types of writing goals in IEPs can be categorized into the following:

Short-term vs. Long-term Goals

An IEP may include both short-term and long-term writing goals . Short-term goals are typically achievable within a few weeks or months, while long-term goals encompass writing skills that may take a year or more to develop. It’s important for the IEP team to establish a balance between these goals to ensure the student’s writing progress is effectively monitored and supported.

Process-Oriented vs. Product-Oriented Goals

Process-oriented goals focus on the student’s writing process and the development of essential writing skills such as planning , organization , and revision . In contrast, product-oriented goals emphasize the final written products of the students , such as essays or stories . Both types of goals play a crucial role in supporting the student’s overall writing abilities .

With process-oriented goals , the focus is on the student’s writing process and the development of fundamental writing skills . In contrast, product-oriented goals prioritize the completion of final written products such as essays or stories . It’s essential for the IEP team to carefully consider the balance of both types of goals to ensure the student’s comprehensive writing development .

Individualized Goals Based on Student Needs

With individualized goals , the IEP team can tailor the writing goals to address the specific student’s writing abilities and needs. This approach allows for a personalized and targeted approach to support the student’s writing growth . Types of writing goals that are individualized may include goals related to writing fluency , spelling , or vocabulary development , among others.

With individualized goals , the IEP team can tailor the writing goals to address the specific student’s writing abilities and needs. This approach allows for a personalized and targeted approach to support the students in their writing development . The types of writing goals that are individualized may include goals related to writing fluency , spelling , or vocabulary development , among others.

Factors to Consider When Crafting IEP Writing Goals

Some important factors to consider when crafting IEP writing goals are:

Student’s current writing abilities and challenges
Specificity and measurability of goals
Alignment with state standards and benchmarks

Perceiving these factors will help in creating effective IEP writing goals that lead to student success.

Student’s Current Writing Abilities and Challenges

For crafting effective IEP writing goals, it is crucial to assess the student’s current writing abilities and challenges. Writing abilities may vary from student to student, and it is essential to have a clear understanding of their strengths and weaknesses. Consider the student’s proficiency in sentence structure, grammar, vocabulary, and organization while identifying writing challenges.

Specificity and Measurability of Goals

On the subject of specificity and measurability, it is imperative to create IEP writing goals that are specific and measurable. The goals should clearly articulate what the student is expected to achieve, and there should be a clear method for measuring progress. Ensure that the goals are achievable within a specified timeframe to facilitate effective monitoring and assessment of progress.

Plus, incorporating specific and measurable goals will provide a clear direction for intervention and support for the student’s writing development.

Alignment with State Standards and Benchmarks

Specificity in aligning writing goals with state standards and benchmarks is crucial to ensure that the student’s writing development is in line with established educational standards. Goals should be aligned with state standards for writing and should reflect the specific skills and competencies outlined in the standards .

Measurability of the goals against state standards and benchmarks is essential to track the student’s progress and ensure that they are meeting the necessary writing requirements for their grade level. This alignment helps in providing a comprehensive and well-rounded writing education for students .

Step-by-Step Guide to Developing Effective IEP Writing Goals

To ensure the success of students with writing challenges, it is essential to develop Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals that are effective and tailored to their specific needs. This step-by-step guide will help educators, parents, and students in crafting IEP goals that will lead to improved writing proficiency and overall academic success.

Assessing the Student’s Writing Skills

The assessment of the student’s writing skills is essential in identifying specific areas of improvement and determining the appropriate IEP writing goals that will address their individual needs.

Collaborating with Educators, Parents, and the Student

StepbyStep collaboration with educators, parents, and the student is essential in creating effective IEP writing goals. By involving all stakeholders, it ensures that the goals are relevant, achievable, and tailored to the student’s individual needs and learning style.

Guide, collaboration, student, educators, parents, relevant, achievable

Writing SMART Goals for Writing Proficiency

Educators must develop SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals for students’ writing proficiency to ensure that they are clear, focused, and attainable within a specific timeframe.

It is crucial to ensure that the writing SMART goals are specific to the student’s individual writing challenges, measurable in terms of progress, achievable within their capabilities, relevant to their learning needs, and time-bound for timely achievement.

Creating Actionable and Achievable Steps for Goal Attainment

For students to attain their IEP writing goals, it is essential to create actionable and achievable steps that outline the specific tasks, resources, and support required to reach the desired level of writing proficiency.

Writing actionable and achievable steps involves breaking down the IEP writing goals into smaller, manageable tasks, providing necessary resources and support, and outlining a clear timeline for goal attainment.

IEP writing goals, SMART goals, actionable, achievable, specific, measurable

Tips for Writing IEP Goals That Foster Progress

After conducting thorough assessments and gathering relevant data, it is essential to craft IEP goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). When writing IEP goals for writing , consider the following tips:

Utilize clear and concise language
Focus on the student’s individual needs and abilities
Ensure the goals align with curriculum standards
Involve the student in the goal-setting process

Recognizing the importance of well-crafted IEP goals sets the foundation for student success in writing .

Incorporating Evidence-Based Instructional Practices

Foster progress by incorporating evidence-based instructional practices when developing IEP goals . Consider strategies such as explicit instruction, modeling, and guided practice to support student growth and mastery in writing .

Building Goals Around Student Interests to Increase Engagement

Instructional approaches that integrate students’ interests can increase engagement and motivation in writing . By tapping into their passions, students are more likely to be invested in the writing process and demonstrate progress in their skills.

Goals centered around student interests can be tailored to incorporate creative writing exercises, personal narratives, or research topics that resonate with the students .

Regular Monitoring and Adjusting Goals as Needed

Student progress should be regularly monitored through ongoing assessment and data collection. Based on these observations, IEP goals should be adjusted as needed to ensure that the students are continually challenged and supported in their writing development.

Practices such as data analysis, progress monitoring, and collaboration between educators and support staff are vital for effectively monitoring and adjusting IEP goals to promote student success .

Pros and Cons of Different Writing Goals in IEPs

Keep in mind that when developing IEP goals for writing, it is important to consider the pros and cons of different approaches. This can help create goals that are effective and tailored to the individual needs of the students. Here is a breakdown of the pros and cons to consider when setting writing goals in IEPs:

Goals Focused on Mechanics of Writing

The development of writing goals focused on mechanics, such as grammar, spelling, and punctuation, can be beneficial for students with IEPs. By improving these foundational skills, students can enhance the overall readability and clarity of their writing. However, it is important to consider the potential limitations of solely focusing on mechanics, as it may lead to a lack of emphasis on creativity and expression in writing.

Goals Targeting Writing Comprehension and Critical Thinking

Critical thinking and comprehension goals are essential for developing strong writing skills. By focusing on these areas, students can learn to analyze and interpret information, leading to more sophisticated and insightful writing. Additionally, these goals can help students become more independent and analytical writers, preparing them for success in future academic and professional endeavors.

Writing goals targeting comprehension and critical thinking can enhance the depth and complexity of student writing, fostering a deeper understanding of the subject matter and enabling students to communicate their ideas more effectively. By developing these skills, students can become more adept at synthesizing information and crafting well-supported arguments, ultimately leading to more persuasive and impactful writing.

The Balance Between Challenge and Attainability

Targeting the balance between challenge and attainability in writing goals is crucial for fostering student growth and achievement. It is important to set goals that are appropriately challenging, pushing students to reach their full potential. However, these goals should also be attainable, taking into account the student’s current abilities and any potential barriers to progress. Striking this balance can help students build confidence and motivation, leading to greater success in their writing endeavors.

Between challenging students to reach new heights in their writing and ensuring that goals are achievable, educators can create a supportive and empowering learning environment. This approach encourages students to push themselves while also providing the necessary support and resources to help them succeed. By finding this balance, students can make significant strides in their writing abilities, ultimately leading to improved academic performance and increased self-confidence.

Implementing IEP Writing Goals in the Classroom

Not only is it essential to develop effective IEP writing goals for students with disabilities, but it is also crucial to implement these goals in the classroom to promote student success. By integrating goals with curriculum and instruction, adapting teaching methods to support individual goals, and utilizing assistive technology, educators can create a supportive and inclusive learning environment for students with diverse learning needs.

Integrating Goals with Curriculum and Instruction

An essential aspect of implementing IEP writing goals in the classroom is integrating these goals with the existing curriculum and instruction. This involves aligning the IEP goals with the learning objectives of the writing curriculum while ensuring that the goals are personalized to meet the needs of the diverse group of students in the classroom. By seamlessly integrating the IEP writing goals with the curriculum and instruction, educators can create a cohesive and inclusive learning environment where all students can thrive.

Adapting Teaching Methods to Support Individual Goals

Goals should be used to drive the adaptation of teaching methods to meet the individual needs of students with disabilities. By doing so, educators can create a personalized learning experience that caters to each student’s unique strengths and challenges. This approach involves using flexible teaching strategies and differentiating instruction to support the attainment of specific writing goals. By adapting teaching methods to support individual goals, educators can ensure that all students have the opportunity to achieve success in writing.

Teaching methods can be adapted through differentiated instruction , small group instruction, and personalized feedback to support the individual writing goals of students with disabilities.

Utilizing Assistive Technology for Students with Disabilities

Adapting the use of assistive technology in the classroom is essential for supporting students with disabilities in achieving their writing goals. By utilizing assistive technology, educators can provide students with disabilities the tools they need to overcome challenges and enhance their writing skills. Assistive technology can include speech-to-text software, word prediction programs, and graphic organizers, among others. By incorporating this technology into the classroom, educators can create a more inclusive learning environment where all students have access to the resources they need to succeed.

Instruction can be enhanced through the use of assistive technology tools to support the diverse writing needs of students with disabilities. This can help to level the playing field and provide equal opportunities for all students to achieve their writing goals.

Ultimately, the process of creating effective IEP goals for writing is essential for setting students up for success in their academic and personal lives. By using a combination of data-driven assessments, targeted instruction, and collaborative goal-setting, educators can craft meaningful and achievable goals that can help students improve their writing skills. It is crucial for educators to continually monitor and adjust these goals to reflect each student’s progress and ensure that they are receiving the support they need to succeed.

By implementing these strategies and techniques, educators can empower students to become more confident and proficient writers, leading to improved outcomes in both their academic and professional lives. It is important for educators to stay informed about best practices in IEP goal setting and to continuously seek ways to improve their instructional strategies to support the diverse needs of their students. With careful planning and implementation, effective IEP goals for writing can contribute to the overall success and well-being of students with diverse learning needs.

Q: What are IEP goals for writing?

A: IEP goals for writing are individualized objectives set for students with special education needs to improve their writing skills. These goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

Q: How can I craft effective IEP goals for writing?

A: Crafting effective IEP goals for writing involves assessing the student’s current writing abilities, identifying areas for improvement, and setting clear and attainable objectives. Goals should address specific writing skills such as organization, grammar, and vocabulary.

Q: What strategies can be used to help students achieve IEP goals for writing?

A: Strategies for student success in achieving IEP goals for writing include providing explicit instruction, offering regular feedback, using assistive technology, and incorporating multisensory learning approaches. It’s also important to involve the student in goal-setting and monitoring progress.

Q: How can teachers and parents collaborate to support IEP goals for writing?

A: Teachers and parents can collaborate by sharing information about the student’s progress, discussing effective writing strategies, and creating a consistent approach to support the student’s writing development at school and home. Open communication and a partnership mindset are crucial for student success.

Q: What should be the timeline for achieving IEP goals for writing?

A: The timeline for achieving IEP goals for writing should be based on the student’s individual needs and progress. It’s important to set short-term and long-term objectives, regularly review and adjust goals as needed, and celebrate the student’s successes along the way.

Classroom Q&A

With larry ferlazzo.

In this EdWeek blog, an experiment in knowledge-gathering, Ferlazzo will address readers’ questions on classroom management, ELL instruction, lesson planning, and other issues facing teachers. Send your questions to [email protected]. Read more from this blog.

4 Effective Instructional Strategies That Work for Math, Writing, and More

What teacher isn’t on the lookout for new and effective instructional strategies?

In this multipart series, educators will share their “nominations” for those teaching strategies that can be effective in all content areas.

My personal choice is inductive teaching, which you can learn more about here .

Here are what today’s guests suggest ...

‘Thinking Routines’

Abeer Ramadan-Shinnawi, M.Ed., is a veteran social studies educator, school leader, teacher coach, and now program director for Re-Imagining Migration. She is also an educational consultant that focuses on the needs of Arab and Muslim youth:

Tapping into students’ social-emotional learning can be a difficult task when creating lessons. Many times teachers have created a lesson that is very engaging, crosses all the checks for a high-level lesson, but then falls short of knowing how to tie all of the learning together. That is not uncommon for educators, especially when they are always looking for new ways to engage their students.

One instructional strategy that has saved me a lot of time and effort that I have used and still use today that can be applied across multiple content areas is Harvard’s Project Zero Thinking Routines . These routines are backed by research, can be used across multiple content areas, and create depth to any classroom activity along with creating space for students to focus on their emotions to provide navigation into a discussed topic. The Thinking Routines are divided into types of thinking categories, which makes finding the right type of routine to fit your activity easy to manage. The Thinking Routines can be used in a group setting, individual work, or as an exit ticket. There is no limit as to how to implement the various routines, but here are two of the best that I would recommend:

1. The 3 Whys - This routine helps center the topic into the student’s world. Students, especially younger students may have a difficult time connecting with the content so using this routine would allow students to dig deep to find the connection. The 3 Whys are: Why might this [topic, question] matter to me? Why might it matter to people around me [family, friends, city, nation]? Why might it matter to the world?

2. See-Feel-Think-Wonder - Social-emotional learning can take place in many forms. Using this routine will help students build the bridge of empathy but also understanding why curiosity is important to learning. This routine has students break down their own perceptions from what is being taught and also allows them space to ponder other feelings, ideas, or thoughts that may surface. It also uses the following as a strategy to reach that depth in a student’s own understanding: See What do you see? Feel What feelings emerge for you as you look at this piece? Think What does this piece make you think about? Wonder What do you wonder about this piece?

These are just two of the many routines that can be utilized in many classrooms across many contents. As an educator, my advice would be to find a few routines that you enjoy teaching, perfect them, then move on to more. There is no shortage of finding an engaging method to help your students learn, so why not work smarter and not harder by using Project Zero Thinking Routines into your next class session.

Graphic Organizers

After teaching English for over 20 years, Donna L. Shrum is now teaching ancient history to freshmen in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. She remains active in the Shenandoah Valley Writing Project and freelance writing for education and history magazines:

Envision a small stone cottage from 16th-century France tucked away in the corner of a field with bees buzzing the lavender at the door. You walk inside and bemoan all the cleaning and the stones that have tumbled to the ground, letting in chinks of light.

With some sturdy scaffolding, you build it back to serviceability, leading to many lazy afternoons in the pleasure of its company. This is how I see the learning of my freshmen students arriving at my door after the wreckage of middle school. I call them my “COVID babies.” The cliche “learning loss” irritates me because they didn’t lose learning. They couldn’t lose something they never had. Like the cottage, they have gaps to fill and rooms to sweep, but the prior years haven’t been a total loss, and this year has been one for repairs. Having taught English for over 20 years before returning to history, I know the power of graphic organizers and that they can be used in every subject area (yes, math, even you).

The lovely thing about all types of graphic organizers is that they are freely available all over the internet. Our county has focused on writing across the curriculum this year. For years, I have remediated students who are struggling with writing, even up until their graduation day. The special education teachers in my early years confirmed graphic organizers are life rafts for students. These days, we need to use all the wisdom we can get from the special ed. teachers to help our struggling students.

To incorporate writing into my history curriculum, I provided graphic organizers at every step. When the time came to write an essay, I handed out a graphic organizer with more than five areas to fill because I never want students to think the five-paragraph essay is a natural, organic entity. Above each area of the organizer was a guiding question they could answer to formulate the paragraph. A 2020 study shows that doing it by hand rather than on the keyboard will light up more neurons (Askvik, van der Weel, van der Meer), so this organizer was on paper. (One caveat is to tell them to photograph the organizer at the end of each workshop because my “COVID babies” lost papers like the little flower girl leading the wedding procession.)

Some students freely wrote with a glance at the organizer and some organized on the computer. The majority used the organizer and were surprised at how easy it was to express their thoughts when they organized them. They had told me that eliminating accountability for state writing tests in middle school had led to less writing instruction, which I’d expected, so the last time they’d made a concerted effort to organize essay-length writing was in elementary school.

As the semester ends, and I look back with utter mental exhaustion, as always, I question if everything I’ve done is meaningful and helpful. Last week, I met a parent for an IEP meeting who said, “I’ve been letting my daughter’s English teacher for next semester know that the graphic organizers you provided for writing the essays in history class made her successful for the first time in writing an essay.” This easily provided scaffolding made all the difference.

In high school, we may sometimes regard graphic organizers as too basic or something they’ve shed on their path to high school and no longer need. Especially since they’ve emerged from the recent academic tunnel, graphic organizers are the scaffolds all our “COVID babies” need to rebuild with the intellectual blocks they’ve salvaged from the storm. The pieces of treasure they’ve gathered may have suffered a sea-change, but, if we can help them organize, those building blocks are waiting to coalesce into something rich and strange.

‘Turn, Talk, and Share’

Kanako Suwa (she/her) is a queer, multilingual TCK (Third Culture Kid)turned international educator, currently working at Chiang Mai International School as the EAL coordinator. You can follow her on Twitter at @kanakosuwa:

As an English-as a second language specialist, the strategy that I use the most frequently and with success is “Turn, Talk, and Share.” This is an extension of the well-known “Turn & Talk” strategy that adds an element of active listening and peer check-in. This strategy can be used in any content at all age groups, whether in a Grade 1 science lesson or a Grade 11 AP seminar, and is really simple to implement. After explaining instructions for an activity or introducing a new concept, ask students to turn to a classmate and take turns talking about what they heard and understood.

The traditional “Turn & Talk” ends here, but I challenge you to add on the “Share” aspect. This can be done in two levels. One: Have students share with the class what they said to their partner. Two: Have students share what their partner said to them. With level one, you are inviting students to share their own understanding, which may be helpful for everyone in the class to listen to. Especially in the case of EAL students, the same concept explained in multiple different ways, which can be considered to be a part of “multiple exposure,” can help solidify understanding.

Level two requires more effort from the students. This involves teachers asking students to share what their partner said, either verbatim or as a summary. This gives partners the chance to share, negotiate, and solidify their understanding—sometimes, partners listening will notice that there is a misunderstanding and will correct the other. Both partners may admit to not understanding and will be able to discuss without feeling like they are the only one who didn’t understand. And by discussing and co-constructing meaning before they share with the rest of the classroom, you can ensure that students have adequate understanding before you move on.

In addition to checking for understanding, Turn, Talk, and Share helps students build foundational skills for learning—active listening, negotiation of meaning, collaboration, and summarizing, to name a few. For example, while summarizing is generally considered to be a literacy skill, students should also be practicing the skill of summarizing by listening and summarizing lab findings from a science class. Providing transdisciplinary opportunities to practice critical skills is crucial in helping students apply these skills beyond one content area.

Finally, by having students talk to each other and collaboratively create meaning, you, as the teacher, can ensure that there is a shared understanding of concepts and activities in your classroom!

‘Preassessment’

Cindy Garcia has been a bilingual educator for 18 years and is currently a districtwide specialist for bilingual/ESL mathematics. She is active on X @CindyGarciaTX and on her blog:

The best instructional strategy that I have used is preassessment. During my first 1.5 years as a teacher, I found myself running out of time. I didn’t have enough time to facilitate all of the lessons that I had planned for a unit before needing to move on to the next unit. I found myself cutting important tasks and activities from the end of my units. I noticed that my instruction was surface level and we were not going deep enough. I was spending most of the time on prerequisite skills or skills from the previous grade level rather than on grade-level content.

For example, a 3rd grade math standard was telling time to one minute. I wanted to make sure that my students had a solid foundation. I spent too long on making sure my students knew the parts of a clock, telling time to the hour, telling time to the half-hour, and telling time to the five minutes. Once I started preassessing my students, I had a lot more time to spend on rigorous grade-level content.

My preassessments were very informal. Before starting each unit, I would show a picture or sample problem from the previous grade level that was aligned to the current topic. Students would solve the problem or create a web explaining everything they knew. I analyzed the student work and I was able to glean a lot of important information. I learned what vocabulary they had internalized. I learned what strategy or tools they were familiar with. I learned what they already knew and what gaps they might have.

Preassessments gave me the evidence I needed to not start each unit focusing on prerequisite skills. Most of the time I was able to get started further along in the unit. I was also able to be proactive because I had a better idea of where students might get stuck. I had just in time supports such as manipulatives, graphic organizers, visuals, and sentence frames ready for my students.

Thanks to Abeer, Donna, Kanako, and Cindy for contributing their thoughts.

They answered this question of the week:

What is the best instructional strategy that you have used that can be applied across multiple content areas?

Consider contributing a question to be answered in a future post. You can send one to me at [email protected] . When you send it in, let me know if I can use your real name if it’s selected or if you’d prefer remaining anonymous and have a pseudonym in mind.

You can also contact me on Twitter at @Larryferlazzo .

Just a reminder; you can subscribe and receive updates from this blog via email . And if you missed any of the highlights from the first 12 years of this blog, you can see a categorized list here .

The opinions expressed in Classroom Q&A With Larry Ferlazzo are strictly those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinions or endorsement of Editorial Projects in Education, or any of its publications.

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Elm Stories

Peer writing consultants share strategies for physical well-being in the writing center.

From L-R, presenters Allison Keyes (DDS 24), Dr. Joanna Ye (SOM 23), Alexander Wang (SSW 25), and Rasul Wright (JD 26) at the March 23 MAWCA Conference at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.

At a regional conference, four UMB peer writing consultants deliver a presentation on their physical wellness and equity initiative.

Photo: From left, Allison Keyes, Joanna Ye, Alexander Wang, and Rasul Wright at the Mid-Atlantic Writing Center Association Conference on March 23 at George Mason University.

Physical wellness isn’t usually the first thing that comes to mind when considering the work University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) Writing Center peer consultants do. But they see physical well-being as a key part of their practice with writers through online and in-person writing consultation.

At the Mid-Atlantic Writing Center Association (MAWCA) conference March 23 at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., four UMB Writing Center consultants presented an interactive workshop on incorporating movement into both professional training and consultations with UMB writers. Since 1988, the MAWCA conference has brought together writing center administrators and peer consultants from the Mid-Atlantic region. This year, about 150 attendees gathered for a diverse program centered around the theme “People Power: Community and Care in the Contemporary Writing Center.”

“As a physical therapist, I am always encouraging my clients to incorporate movement and exercise into their daily routines,” said Joanna Ye, DPT, PT, a 2023 graduate of the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the current multilingual writing fellow with the UMB Writing Center. “This conference was a great opportunity to share my expertise in movement to promote physical activity and wellness in academic spaces.”

Joining Ye in her presentation were current peer graduate writing consultants Allison Keyes (School of Dentistry, Class of 2024), Alexander Wang (School of Social Work, Class of 2025), and Rasul Wright (Francis King Carey School of Law, Class of 2026). Ye started by introducing a theoretical framework for why writing center professionals would prioritize physical wellness for themselves and their teams. “Writing center work is physical work,” she says, because hours of screenwork have an effect on our bodies.

Citing emerging literature on mindfulness as wellness in the writing center ( Featherstone et al., 2019; Giaimo, 2023; Johnson, 2018 ), Ye noted that we still don’t pay as much attention to the physical dimension of wellness in academic settings.

“The theme of this year’s conference was centered on creating communities of care,” she said. “My training in physical therapy has taught me how movement and exercise have profound benefits for not only the physical, but also the mental, emotional, and social dimensions of health. Facilitating opportunities to move and promoting physical activity during work hours is therefore an essential way to care for the well-being of our communities and to create a just and equitable learning environment.”

Each presenter spoke to what it meant to them to incorporate movement activities into their writing center professional development this year.

“As someone who leads an active lifestyle, I appreciate how the UMB Writing Center values movement within our work,” Keyes said. “The stretches that Dr. Ye taught us during our writing center trainings are easy to implement and certainly help me with ergonomics as a student-dentist during the day and a writing consultant at night.”

Wang described their writing process as instinctual and emotional, and highlighted movement activities as a unique opportunity to ground themselves in their body after spending so much time in their mind, especially being an already quite cerebral person. Wright said, “Most of the time, as a graduate student, I forget how impactful physical fitness can be whilst excelling within our respective programs. A little goes tremendously far when physical fitness is prioritized.”

James Wright, associate director of the UMB Writing Center, who attended the presentation, said, “The UMB consultants’ presentation highlights an often unacknowledged yet generative discussion increasingly important in graduate education. Attention to the ways writing center consultants and their administrative staff embody their practices in collaboration with writers emphasizes the distinct networks of care and community writing centers can encourage in response to the pressures and rigors of graduate and professional education framed within larger social and political challenges around justice and equity.”

The UMB Writing Center team grounds consultant professional development in justice and equity theory and practice.

“The consultants’ presentation this year offered original insights and practical tools for other writing center staff to add movement to their practices for well-being and equity,” said UMB writing advisor Hannah Mueller, who was also in attendance. To close their presentation, the consultants led participants in stretches and movement games and discussed how and why these interventions could be applied in different writing center contexts.

The UMB Writing Center leadership team is excited to keep incorporating physical wellness as a key element in professional development programming for consultants. The team also is considering new ways to invite clients into movement breaks during in-person and online sessions.

References:

Featherstone, J., Barrett, R., & Chandler, M. (2019). The Mindful Tutor. How We Teach Writing Tutors: A.

Giaimo, G.N. (2023). Unwell Writing Centers: Searching for Wellness in Neoliberal Educational Institutions and Beyond. University Press of Colorado.

Johnson, S. (2018). Mindful Tutors, Embodied Writers: Positioning Mindfulness Meditation as a Writing Strategy to Optimize Cognitive Load and Potentialize Writing Center Tutors’ Supportive Roles.

More From Forbes

Keep a daily “wins journal” to increase stamina and motivation.

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starting a wins journal

When pursuing an important long-term goal, it’s helpful to notice and appreciate the small accomplishments along the way. Acknowledging little victories boosts energy and motivation, increasing stamina for the long haul. Of course, small successes may also bring benefits themselves. Meeting a quarterly sales goal not only makes you more likely to hit your annual sales objective but also increases customers and revenue now .

Good managers help teams track successes and acknowledge small wins, but not everyone has a good manager. Some people, such as freelancers and solopreneurs, have no manager at all. If you don’t have anyone tracking your daily or weekly accomplishments—or even if you do, but still find yourself focusing on what you haven’t done while brushing off what you have—it may be time to make a practice of noticing little victories yourself. Last week, the New York Times ran an article related to spring cleaning, not careers, but the title expresses the same theme- In Praise of Tiny Triumphs .

One good way to track triumphs: keep a “wins journal.”

Write Your Way Forward

We’ve all read by now about the power of writing a gratitude journal (and maybe even seen articles on how to start one, such as this post on the Greater Good Science Center ). As studies show, shifting our focus from what we lack to what we’re grateful for can increase happiness and decrease depression. A “wins journal” is similar to a gratitude diary in that it has a specific focus—but with a different goal: helping you notice and record your victories; no success is too small.

Expressive and reflective writing in general have been shown to help release anxiety and stress, increase clarity and focus, and even improve your sleep. A study of a six-week journaling intervention for people who had experienced upheaval concluded that the practice “increases resilience, and decreases depressive symptoms, perceived stress, and rumination.” All of these benefits make personal writing a good habit to develop when it comes to supporting your career success. As this recent article in Forbes notes, “Journaling has emerged as a potent instrument for enhancing productivity, self-awareness, and success in the professional realm.”

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Recording wins can be a particularly powerful career-enhancement tool because it puts you in a progress mindset. As an article in Harvard Business Review puts it, “The more frequently people experience a feeling of progress, the more likely they are to be creatively productive in the long run. Whether they are trying to solve a major scientific mystery or simply produce a high-quality product or service, everyday progress—even a small win—can make all the difference in how they feel and perform.”

Helping Employees Harness the Power of Journaling

If you’re a manager, you can help employees track wins by giving them a journal expressly for this purpose—such as this Wins Journal by Jacqueline Kademian, or one from this selection of wins journals in different colors and patterns. Or, you could work writing into their weekly routine. Laura Hume, an Austin-based HR and human capital consultant, previously at Ernst and Young and IBM, instituted a weekly journaling practice for her direct reports at IBM. She instructed them to record three “big rocks” from each week by end-of-day Friday. (An idea borrowed from Stephen Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People , a “big rock” is anything someone considers important, including wins). She then referred to each person’s journal in weekly one-on-ones.

Hume initially wasn’t focused on tracking small wins to motivate employees, but rather to make meetings more efficient. “On the other hand”, she noted, “I would say that the documenting helps. We were looking at it as a team and we were having the accountability of a leader looking at it too.” The journal created a record of effort. “Looking back over it, I think I noticed - and they noticed - what we hadn’t done. That motivated us.”

Hume has been journaling since she was 11. “I love journals. I have all kinds of journal books.” Her employees didn’t share her love of writing, at least, not at first. But, “A couple of them came back afterward, during their annual reviews, and said it was incredibly helpful.”

Put Perfectionism In Its Place

Tracking small victories provides a daily boost of positive reinforcement, even from projects not yet finished or goals partially met. Acknowledging incremental progress can be a particularly helpful habit for people who hold themselves to extremely, or excessively, high standards. “We can get into a rut where we focus on what we want and don’t see what we have ,” says Ruth Klein, an author and executive coach who specializes in communications, productivity and mindset. “We don’t see the wins unless it’s like a million dollars. To achieve at a high degree is excellent, but to focus on perfection is being hard on oneself and not nurturing,”

Klein began encouraging clients to record small wins after trying it herself. “I’m a recovering perfectionist. There was a time when I felt that everything could be better. I’d get accolades, and it just wasn’t enough.” Klein started recording small victories, even bringing a notebook with her when she went out. “I began to see wins all over the place.”

Klein now uses wins journaling in “momentum groups” she leads, six-month-long accountability groups focusing on a range of topics from time management to courageousness. She has seen the practice pay off in increased confidence, momentum, and drive. “The way to be productive is to look for our wins, not dismiss them.” Making more calls? Getting one product feature right? Finding a coding bug? Resolving client issues? Each one is a win. “Catching the wins is in the center of everything.”

Notice How Work Victories Enhance Your Non-Career Life

While a wins journal can be helpful at work, it also can enhance your appreciation for successes outside of your career. Making a point to stop and record the roses—the small, pleasurable successes—can enhance your overall sense of contentment and joy. A personal small win might be a connection you made for someone else, a daily fitness goal achieved, or even an organizational task begun.

Or, in the case of a freelance writer in LA, tracking daily wins highlighted new ways in which her career contributed to her non-work life. “I used my writing and interviewing skills to help a dying family member start a legacy journal about her life, and then I shared some of her words at a memorial service, which turned out to be a powerful way to bring her spirit there. In another case, I tapped my professional network to get a top-notch editor for a musician friend working on a book. She said no one had ever done anything quite so supportive for her before. When writing down these wins, I realized how the years I’ve devoted to my career let me support others outside the competitive world of writing. It really gave me a new appreciation for the value of work, outside of work.”

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Why Isn’t Your Strategy Sticking?

Andrea Belk Olson

How to identify the hidden obstacles that may thwart implementation — and address them before they take root.

It’s insufficient to just share the goals and objectives of your strategy and hope implementation will succeed. In this article, the author explains how to shift from an operational to a contextual mindset so that you can better identify the hidden obstacles that may be thwarting your strategy’s implementation so you can address them before they take root.

In 1992, Robert Kaplan and David Norton identified four barriers to effective strategy implementation : lack of understanding, lack of communication, disconnected incentives, and disconnected budgets. Over the decades, other experts have expanded on this list, identifying additional barriers including unaligned goals, insufficient resources, and inadequate performance tracking. Yet successful strategy implementation is still an ongoing struggle today. Are leaders simply not communicating well enough? Or does the intrinsic problem lie elsewhere?

Andrea Belk Olson is a differentiation strategist , speaker, author, and customer-centricity expert. She is the CEO of Pragmadik, a behavioral science driven change agency, and has served as an outside consultant for EY and McKinsey. She is the author of 3 books, a 4-time ADDY® award winner, and contributing author for Entrepreneur Magazine , Rotman Management Magazine, Chief Executive Magazine , and Customer Experience Magazine .

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8 Strategies to Stop Drinking

Want to quit drinking? Use these simple tips to help achieve your goal and make it a reality.

A recent study has shown that women who drink more than 8 drinks a week are at higher risk for coronary heart disease . According to research conducted by Kaiser Permanente Northern California , young to middle-aged women who have just one more drink daily, on average, are at a 31 to 55% higher risk of coronary heart disease.

If you're trying to cut back on your drinking, we got you. It's important to identify why you're drinking in the first place. You should also surround yourself with people who will help you quit and celebrate your wins along the way.

Use these tried-and-true tips to quit or reduce your alcohol intake.

For more health tips, check out this self-care routine for better sleep and the best foods for healthy kidneys .

How to make a plan to stop drinking that works for you

There's no one right way to go about quitting drinking; it's all about figuring out what works for you and your lifestyle, starting with a plan. Here are a few things you should consider and actionable steps you can take.

1. Examine your current relationship with alcohol

The first thing you have to do is take a step back and evaluate your habits. That means looking at your relationship with alcohol so you can understand why you drink, when you drink and how much you drink.

Become aware of how much you drink: When drinking is part of your everyday routine, you start to forget just how much you're actually consuming. It's essential to examine exactly how much alcohol you're drinking. Look at each drink as you put it in front of you and tally up how many you're consuming a day.
Identify the reasons you drink: Do you drink because you're bored? Do you drink with friends and family? Do you drink because you're sad? Do you drink because you simply like the taste? All of these are common reasons to consume alcohol, and your next step in this process is to understand why you're drinking when you do. Start a journal to keep track of what you're drinking and why and see if there are patterns. This will also help you find new ways to satisfy a craving when it comes up. If you find that you're commonly reaching for a glass of wine when you're feeling down, you'll know what to do next time those feelings creep up.
Think about why you want to quit drinking: Having a goal in mind will help jump-start your journey. Why do you want to quit drinking? If your reason is simply that you want to do it, that's fine! Just make sure you know why you want to cut back so that you can keep that in mind as you go through this process. It's never easy to quit something, but knowing why you're doing it will help keep you on track.

2. Learn how alcohol affects your body

Alcohol can wreak havoc on your body. According to the NIAAA , alcohol pretty much affects you head to toe. Alcohol can make it hard to think clearly, cause strokes or high blood pressure, lead to cirrhosis and weaken your immune system. It may also mess with your sleep, and poor sleep hygiene can lead to further health concerns , like obesity and diabetes. Knowing all the negative effects alcohol has on your physical and mental health can make it easier to understand why you're better off without it.

3. Set a goal

Goals can help you stay on track, but sometimes one big goal feels too out of reach. Consider setting smaller goals for yourself -- and celebrate them as you go. Rather than one overarching "I want to quit drinking" goal, start by telling yourself you're going to cut back. Maybe you only drink on weekends for now. Maybe you do a dry January to really jump-start the plan. American Addiction Centers recommend no more than one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men, so keep that in mind as you're setting a goal to cut back.

4. Create a support system

It's so much harder to go at this alone, so loop in the people you trust. Everyone needs a cheerleader in their corner rooting for them.

Let your friends and family know your goals: Once you have a plan in place for your goal, tell your close friends and family -- as long as they're the kind of people who will be supportive. Tell them why you've decided to cut back on drinking and let them know how they can help you. If you want them to hold you accountable, let them know that and decide how they can best help you. You might even be able to convince some of your people to go on this journey with you, which can make it more bearable.

Create your community: Seeking out like-minded people can also help you succeed. There are plenty of online communities of people who have quit drinking who will welcome you and help you stay on track. You can also find a local Alcoholics Anonymous group for support if you have one nearby. Now is your chance to spend time with friends who aren't drinkers and won't tempt you -- you might even find new friends or rekindle old friendships now that your priorities have changed.

Seek professional help: Talking to a medical professional, whether it's your doctor or a therapist, can also be extremely beneficial. They will always be supportive of you finding a healthier lifestyle and can provide you with resources, tools, support and any encouragement you need. Don't be afraid to approach them with the topic, as they are ready and willing to help you succeed.

5. Have a plan for when you go out

It can be tricky to handle social situations as you cut back on drinking, especially if you're around other people who are drinking or who are used to seeing you drink. As with any part of this process, go in with a plan. If you'll be out with close friends or family you're comfortable with, let them know ahead of time that you're not drinking. If you're going out to a function that doesn't give you an opportunity to say something ahead of time and you don't want to call attention to yourself, you can head straight to the bar or to a server and order yourself a nonalcoholic drink. It's easier to blend in with a glass in your hand, even if it's just a Coke. If you find yourself in a situation where someone offers you a drink, just politely decline. Most of the time, people will back off, and if they don't, stand firm and say you're not drinking tonight. You don't owe anyone your reasoning behind why you're refraining.

6. Out of sight, out of mind

If you're really committed to cutting back, one of the best things you can do is get the booze out of your house. If it's not within reach, you'll be less tempted to drink. This is also a good opportunity to find alternatives to some of your favorite drinks. You could try a bit of mixology and create mocktails to drink at home so you still feel like you're having something fancy, or you could find an alternative drink that satisfies you, whether it's soda, iced tea or something similar. Be prepared to have these things on hand for when a craving strikes so you can nip it in the bud.

7. Plan for the side effects of quitting alcohol

Depending on what your alcohol habit was like, you may experience fewer or more withdrawal symptoms as you cut back. Symptoms include things like headaches, anxiety, tremors or shakes, insomnia, fatigue, mood changes, gastrointestinal disturbances, heart palpitations, increased blood pressure or heart rate, hyperthermia, rapid abnormal breathing, hallucinations and seizures. Fortunately, these withdrawal symptoms shouldn't last very long -- about a week -- but listen to your body in case something feels abnormal during this time. Try to stay focused on your end goal, and call your doctor if something doesn't feel right.

8. Celebrate your wins

Give yourself credit where credit is due as you start to hit your alcohol-free milestones. Celebration helps keep you motivated, so make sure you're rewarding yourself for goals achieved. Consider setting up a reward chart with things you really want -- maybe it's a dinner out at a new restaurant or a pair of shoes you've been eyeing. Set targets for each reward and enjoy them when you get there. You could even go all-out and reward yourself with something big with a major milestone like a year alcohol-free -- a vacation sounds lovely, for example.

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Picture taken from Israel's southern border with the Gaza Strip shows buildings destroyed by Israeli bombardment on 26 March 2024.

Biden administration’s Gaza strategy panned as ‘mess’ amid clashing goals

Strain of aiming to influence Israel’s actions without leverage and also avoiding starvation is showing, say analysts

Israeli PM’s handling of US relations under scrutiny

The Biden administration’s policy on Gaza has been widely criticised as being in disarray as the defense secretary described the situation as a “humanitarian catastrophe” the day after the state department declared Israel to be in compliance with international humanitarian law.

Washington was also on the defensive on Tuesday over its claim that a UN security council ceasefire resolution on which it abstained was non-binding , an interpretation that put the US at odds with other member states, international legal scholars and the UN itself.

Analysts said the strain was increasingly showing as the administration sought to maintain a policy that aims to influence Israel’s actions and prevent a full-scale famine in Gaza , while avoiding the use of leverage, like the restriction of arms supplies, which could have political repercussions at home in an election year.

Jeremy Konyndyk, a former senior Biden official now president of the Refugees International aid advocacy group, said “the strategy is a mess”.

“The US is talking a big game about fighting the famine that its bombs and diplomatic cover have helped create,” Konyndyk said on the X social media platform . “This is not how you fight a famine. This is dithering while people starve.”

Lloyd Austin, the US defense secretary, acknowledged the depth and urgency of the crisis on Tuesday when he met his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant, at the Pentagon.

“Gaza is suffering a humanitarian catastrophe and the situation is getting even worse,” Austin told Gallant in remarks in front of the press, calling for a significant expansion in aid deliveries by land.

Under US pressure, Israel has opened a third land crossing into Gaza, Gate 96 , giving access to the north, but continues to limit the scale of aid convoys going through it – through restrictions on items it deems to be of dual use, nominating a small number of drivers allowed to use the crossing and other procedural requirements.

Israel announced on Monday it would stop working with the UN relief agency Unrwa, the main aid agency serving Gaza. Unrwa said its aid convoys had been blocked since 21 March.

On the same day, the state department spokesman, Matthew Miller, insisted that the US currently had no reason to dispute Israeli assurances that it was complying with humanitarian law in Gaza.

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“We have not found them to be in violation of international humanitarian law, either when it comes to the conduct of the war or when it comes to the provision of humanitarian assistance,” Miller said.

The US assessment is critical under a national security memorandum issued by Joe Biden in February, known as NSM-20, requiring “credible and reliable written assurances” from countries receiving US weapons that they would use “any such defense articles in accordance with international humanitarian law”.

One of the criteria was that the “recipient country will facilitate and not arbitrarily deny, restrict, or otherwise impede, directly or indirectly, the transport or delivery of US humanitarian assistance and US government-supported international efforts to provide humanitarian assistance”.

If the secretaries of state or defense deem the relevant country’s compliance had been “called into question”, arms supplies could be suspended.

Miller’s remarks on Israeli assurances drew outrage from aid organisations and some progressive members of Congress.

“To pretend that Israel is not violating international law or interfering with US humanitarian aid is absurd on its face,” Senator Bernie Sanders said. “The state department’s position makes a mockery of US law and assurances provided to Congress.”

Miller said there were “ongoing processes” for assessing the legality of Israeli military operations in Gaza, a reference to a review mechanism set up by the administration in September, called Civilian Harm Incident Response Guidance .

“As of yet, we have not made a conclusion that Israel is in violation of international humanitarian law,” Miller said, but added that the review process would continue and that a full report on compliance required by the presidential memorandum was not due until 8 May.

Chris Van Hollen, a Democratic senator, said there was ambiguity about the state department’s position but if it was saying Israel was currently in compliance under the terms of NSM-20, “their decision is totally detached from the reality on the ground, especially with respect to the required standards for the delivery of humanitarian aid into and within Gaza”.

Dylan Williams, vice-president for government affairs at the Center for International Policy, said: “Treating the assurances received from Israel as sufficient in the face of deepening famine, disproportionate civilian casualties and repeated threats of an offensive in Rafah against US wishes renders NSM-20 an empty gesture in its first outing, and functionally greenlights Israel continuing to use our weapons against US law, interests and values.”

Israel-Gaza war
Palestinian territories
Benjamin Netanyahu

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Zomi Frankcom’s family say Australian aid worker killed in Israeli airstrike was ‘doing the work she loves’

Israeli forces withdraw from Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital after two-week raid leaving facility in ruins

Fears grow that Gaza could become ‘Mogadishu on the Mediterranean’

Tens of thousands of Israeli protesters call for Netanyahu’s removal

Biden-Harris Administration Releases First-Ever National Strategy to Accelerate Deployment of Zero-Emission Infrastructure for Freight Trucks

Landmark Strategy Will Build on New National Electric Vehicle Freight Corridors Designated by the Federal Highway Administration and Advance the President’s Clean Transportation Goal to Decarbonize the Freight Sector to Improve Our Communities, the Environment, and the Economy

FHWA 09-24 Contact: [email protected] Tel: (202) 366-0660

Washington, D.C. – The Biden-Harris Administration today released the National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy . Developed by the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), in collaboration with the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Strategy will guide the deployment of zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicle (ZE-MHDV) charging and hydrogen fueling infrastructure from 2024 to 2040. The Strategy is designed to meet growing market demands by targeting public investment to amplify private sector momentum, focus utility and regulatory energy planning, align industry activity, and improve air quality in local communities heavily impacted by diesel emissions.

“For over a century, petroleum-fueled freight has transported vital food and resources to American families but at the same time, these vehicles have also contributed to lower public health, especially in densely populated communities,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm . “The Biden-Harris Administration is addressing this issue head-on with innovative strategies to transform freight so it not only supports American families and businesses, but also protects the environment for future generations.”

“This is a big move to deliver environmental justice – 75% of heavy truck traffic travels on just 4% of our nation’s roads, jeopardizing the health of our most vulnerable communities,” said President Biden’s National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi . “President Biden’s historic investments in zero-emission infrastructure on those high-traffic roads and the hubs they connect will rapidly transform freight transport in the U.S. and strengthen American innovation. Through the President’s whole-of-government strategy, this administration is delivering a win-win-win for frontline communities who will benefit from cleaner air, businesses that will save millions on fuel costs, and for our climate.”

“This landmark strategy brings us one step closer to achieving a zero-emission transportation sector that provides clean air for communities, creates market certainty for industries investing in clean technology, and strengthens our supply chains,” said Senator Alex Padilla . “I’m grateful to the Administration for advancing this whole-of-government effort and heeding my calls to launch a national strategy to accelerate the build-out of heavy-duty vehicle infrastructure. This all-hands-on-deck approach from the federal government and industry partners will enable us to realize California’s and the Administration’s zero-emission goals.

Providing ubiquitous and convenient access to electric vehicle (EV) charging and hydrogen refueling along our nation’s freight corridors and at intermodal freight facilities and high-usage ports is key to achieving U.S. goals to promote at least 30 percent ZE-MHDV sales by 2030 and 100 percent sales by 2040 . The goal of the Strategy is to align public policy and investments by prioritizing, sequencing, and accelerating infrastructure along the National Highway Freight Network (NHFN) in four phases. A core objective of the Strategy is to meet freight truck and technology markets where they are today, determine where they are likely to develop next, and set an ambitious pathway that mobilizes actions to achieve decarbonization.

Map of National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy, Phase 1: Establish Hubs (2024-2027)

In alignment with the Joint Office’s National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy, the Federal Highway Administration is announcing the designation of National EV Freight Corridors along the National Highway Freight Network and other key roadways. The designations, which are required by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), are a critical part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s strategy for building out a convenient, reliable, and made-in-America national EV charging network that supports individual drivers and commercial needs.

Battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicle technology along with other zero-emission forms of freight transport have considerable potential to save Americans money on consumer goods thanks to reduced fueling and maintenance costs associated with transport, all while delivering significant health benefits for historically disadvantaged populations that suffer the worst impacts of pollution from freight emissions and helping achieve national climate goals.

“The Federal Highway Administration is pleased to announce these new freight EV corridor designations along our national highways,” said Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt . “Medium- and heavy-duty trucks in our current freight network contribute approximately 23% of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. transportation sector. These new designations and Strategy will help to grow our national EV charging network, encourage clean commerce within the freight community, and support President Biden’s goals of achieving net-zero emissions for the nation by 2050.”

Map of the United States showing major highways that have been designated as Freight EV Corridors. Most of the highways are part of the National Highway Freight Network, which was the preliminary designation.

Under President Biden’s leadership, the number of publicly available EV chargers nationwide has increased by more than 80% to more than 173,000, and at least 40 U.S.-based facilities to produce EV chargers have been announced or opened. President Biden’s Investing in America agenda has attracted more than $25 billion of investment in the U.S. EV charging network. Today’s freight corridor designations are expected to crowd in even more investment for EV charging, with a particular focus on the needs of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.

This is an all-of-government approach to aligning investments and accelerating sustainable and scalable deployment of reliable ZE-MHDV infrastructure. Focusing deployment on areas with substantial freight volume starts deployment in areas with the most opportunity to spark further investment. Deployment factors include corridor segment usage by freight volume, port usage by annual freight tonnage, projected ZE-MHDV volumes, disproportionate environmental and air quality burden from MHDV transportation and non-attainment for criteria air pollutants, states with ZEV deployment-enabling policies, and “on the ground” planning through DOE’s commercial ZEV corridor planning grants.

The National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy will prioritize, sequence, and accelerate infrastructure along key freight corridors and hubs in four phases. The phases include:

Establish priority hubs based on freight volumes (2024-2027)
Connect hubs along critical freight corridors (2027-2030)
Expand corridor connections initiating network development (2030-2035)
Achieve national network by linking regional corridors for ubiquitous access (2035-2040)

See the National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy for additional maps and detail.

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Unlock Your Potential: Goal Setting Strategies That Work! #achieveyourdreams #motivation
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15 Writing Strategies With Examples
A strategy is a general plan — or set of plans — you make to achieve a goal. So, a writing strategy involves tactics you use to ensure your writing meets the goals you've set for it. Your number one goal is to capture and hold onto your reader's interest. Your related goals will depend on the overall purpose of your writing:
The Importance of Writing Strategies for Effective Writing
Improve your writing skills with our comprehensive guide on writing strategies. Discover how sentence structure, persuasive thesis statements, and relevant media can enhance your content. Learn the importance of brainstorming, revising, editing, and regular practice in crafting compelling narratives. Develop an effective writing routine and elevate your writing prowess.
PDF Strategies for Essay Writing
Strategies for Essay Writing Table of Contents Tips for Reading an Assignment Prompt . . . . . 2-4 Asking Analytical Questions . . . . . . . 5-7 Thesis ... If you understand the broader goals of the assignment, you will have an easier time figuring out if you are on the right track.
Proven Writing Strategies: 12 Tips To Use Today
Writing Strategies: Defined. We can define writing strategies as a process creatives take to set a course of action that will help them meet their goals. As with health strategies, career strategies, and study strategies, what works for one person may not work for you, and vice versa. Below are twelve different writing strategies for you to try.
15 Writing Strategies Every Writer Should Know
Enhance your writing skills with these 15 strategies for success. In content marketing, writing strategies often aim to persuade. The goal is to present information in such a way that convinces users that it's valuable, offering something they simply can't resist—like a great deal, a free digital resource, or an exclusive invitation.
Writing Goals: How to Set Meaningful Goals for 2024 That You Can Manage
4. Daily Writing Goal. Having a daily goal is especially helpful for writers, but it's good for anyone who has long term projects that require daily effort. Whenever I'm working on a book, I create a daily word count goal, usually around 1,000 words, so that I can make my larger goals more manageable.
The Writing Process
Table of contents. Step 1: Prewriting. Step 2: Planning and outlining. Step 3: Writing a first draft. Step 4: Redrafting and revising. Step 5: Editing and proofreading. Other interesting articles. Frequently asked questions about the writing process.
How to Set Effective Writing Goals (That Will Help You Grow)
Let's break it down. Setting writing goals requires you evaluate where you are and where you want to go, then reorient yourself to live a life aligned with your dreams and ambitions. Click to tweet! 1. Observe your own habits and patterns. Each person responds differently to goal-setting.
20 Expert-Tested Writing Strategies in 2020 That You Have to Try
Here are 20+ writing strategies that you can use to help you over the finish line. 1. Mary Lee Settle's "Question" Writing Strategy. If you're going through a drought of story ideas, you might want to run to an inspiration source that will never run out: questions.
Writing a Paper: How to Set a Writing Goal
This list is a quick preview of possible goals; however, there are countless, other writing-specific goals to consider, including but not limited to clarity, cohesion, flow, analysis, synthesis, paraphrasing, and grammar skills. Each of these areas is an excellent basis for establishing a writing goal.
8 Writing Strategies to Write More Effectively
At Quillbot, our goal is to give you the tools you need to become an effective writer. As we develop these products, we want to give you some writing strategies that can help you write better today. Here are 8 writing strategies to help you write more effectively. Don't Write Continuously for Hours on the End; Read, Read, Read!
How to Set Writing Goals for Novelists
But not all goals are created equal. In this article, we're going to set you up for success when it comes to your writing goals. This includes: Setting reasonable writing goals; Strategies for goal setting; How (and why) to track your progress; Let's get goal-ing. Setting Reasonable Writing Goals. There's no point in setting bad goals.
General Writing Skills, Strategies, and Tools
Develop a Strategy for Effective Writing Habits and Time Management. Many people experience resistance to writing, which can result in procrastinating or completing writing projects at the last minute. ... Set writing goals. Some of the key considerations for creating effective writing goals are setting priorities, breaking goals down into ...
How To Set Meaningful Writing Goals (Plus Common Goal Types)
4. Create sub-goals. Once you have a clear goal in place, divide it into sub-goals that you can use to motivate yourself throughout the day, week or month. Setting multiple milestones for each goal can help you maintain your writing pace and be more consistent.
PDF Writing Strategies
Consider which of the ten goals in The Writing Strategies Book apply to your unit. Using the overview tables within each unit, find lesson ideas that match the stage of the writing process and grade level of your writers. Compare your current lessons to the lessons in the book. Revise any that need to be more explicit by
Writing Goals: An Easy to Follow Step-by-Step Guide
Here are 6 steps to setting and implementing writing goals for your students. 1. Observe Your Students. The first step is to let students write, and as they're writing, you observe and ask questions. You'll want to print this checklist beforehand and have it available as you are observing your students. Focus on one goal each day.
How to Write Goals for Work in 2024: Writing Goals 101 with Examples
When writing goals, follow the SMART goal framework as part of your writing process for each specific goal. S= Specific: The objective is crystal clear. M = Measurable: It must be a measurable goal; otherwise, there can be confusion on whether the key result was accomplished. A = Attainable Goal. R = Realistic Goal.
How To Write SMART Goals in 5 Steps (With Examples)
Applying SMART "Measurable" criteria: "I will distribute a budget report that shows our department's current expenses in comparison to our allotted annual budget." Related: 10 Career Development Goals. 3. Make your goal ACHIEVABLE. This aspect of the SMART strategy relates to your goal being achievable. Do you have the resources and time ...
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A: Strategies for student success in achieving IEP goals for writing include providing explicit instruction, offering regular feedback, using assistive technology, and incorporating multisensory learning approaches. It's also important to involve the student in goal-setting and monitoring progress.
Complete Guide To Setting Strategic Goals (With Examples)
Setting a deadline makes it easier to accomplish your specific goals. As an example, a strategic goal example is to enter new markets, so you would set a goal of getting into X, Y, and Z markets by a certain date. You could also set a goal of having 15 regional markets in total by a specific date. Another strategic goal example would be a 15% ...
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Graphic Organizers. After teaching English for over 20 years, Donna L. Shrum is now teaching ancient history to freshmen in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.
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Giaimo, G.N. (2023). Unwell Writing Centers: Searching for Wellness in Neoliberal Educational Institutions and Beyond. University Press of Colorado. Johnson, S. (2018). Mindful Tutors, Embodied Writers: Positioning Mindfulness Meditation as a Writing Strategy to Optimize Cognitive Load and Potentialize Writing Center Tutors' Supportive Roles.
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Tips For Writing A Career Change Cover Letter. 1. Personalize Your Approach: Address the letter to a specific person whenever possible.Doing so demonstrates attention to detail and a genuine ...
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When writing down these wins, I realized how the years I've devoted to my career let me support others outside the competitive world of writing. It really gave me a new appreciation for the ...
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Summary. It's insufficient to just share the goals and objectives of your strategy and hope implementation will succeed. In this article, the author explains how to shift from an operational to ...
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3. Set a goal Goals can help you stay on track, but sometimes one big goal feels too out of reach. Consider setting smaller goals for yourself -- and celebrate them as you go.
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Company builds on its strengths to advance patient access, product innovation, culture and inclusion and diversity Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) today published its 2023 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Report detailing the company's meaningful progress, evolved strategy, and aspirational goals toward its ESG efforts. The company's ESG strategy is embedded in its mission to ...
Biden administration's Gaza strategy panned as 'mess' amid clashing goals
Biden administration's Gaza strategy panned as 'mess' amid clashing goals Strain of aiming to influence Israel's actions without leverage and also avoiding starvation is showing, say analysts
Biden-Harris Administration Releases First-Ever National Strategy to
The goal of the Strategy is to align public policy and investments by prioritizing, sequencing, and accelerating infrastructure along the National Highway Freight Network (NHFN) in four phases. A core objective of the Strategy is to meet freight truck and technology markets where they are today, determine where they are likely to develop next ...