Writing a novel is hard. It takes a lot of time and energy. Often, writers don’t know where to start or how to write their story.

This blog article explains how writers can choose their writing project, schedule their time, set realistic writing goals and create a productive space that will inspire them to write their best story yet.

Choose your writing project
Schedule your time
Set realistic and flexible goals
Create a productive space

Choose your writing project
You have a lot of different story ideas that you want to write and publish, but you don’t know which one to start next. You might want to write all of them at the same time, but there are only 24 hours in a day, and there is a limit to what one can do.

You have to prioritise your story ideas and decide which one to start first. One way to decide which story idea to develop first is to look at your notes (main characters, plot points, setting) and see which story idea makes you feel more excited and inspired.

I recommend writing one story at a time, especially if you are a new writer. Dealing with multiple projects might get you excited in the beginning, but you might get frustrated and overwhelmed about the number of tasks you need to complete. 

If you are a seasoned writer, you might be more comfortable working with multiple writing projects at the same time, especially if you have a clear picture in mind about the tasks you need to complete.

Schedule your time
Find the best time of day for you to sit down and write your story. Note down on a calendar or a todoist application your work hours, obligations and appointments and look at the available time you have left each day.Note the available time in your calendar as your writing time. 

Write every single day. Write while you are waiting to pick up your kid from an activity or while you are waiting for an appointment using your phone or a notebook. Even 10-15 minutes can make a difference. The time and the words will eventually add up.

Set realistic and flexible goals
Are you a pantser? Do you prefer to sit down and write the story as it comes to you with minimal or no notes at all? To let your imagination and creativity lead you as you write the story? 
OR
Are you a plotter? Do you prefer to know everything about your story beforehand? To create detailed story and character arcs, character sketches and beat sheets with subplots and write down chapter-by-chapter summaries? Or maybe you are somewhere in between? 

Brainstorm and write down the tasks you need to complete to finish your story. Write all the outlining, writing, editing and publishing tasks that come into your mind in a notebook or a todoist application.

Write down all the tasks you know you will do for now. You can always come back later to add, change or delete tasks.  You can put your tasks into categories (outlining, writing, editing, publishing) and be as specific or detailed as you want.
Possible tasks may include:

• Do research about the setting of the story
• Write down the character profiles of the main characters
• Write 1,000 words every day
• Edit a scene per day
• Send query letters to publishers

Once you write down all the tasks you need to do to finish your story, you can estimate how much time each task will take and come up with a rough deadline. Since finishing your story will take a lot of time (possibly months or years), be flexible in your estimates and keep in mind that your deadline might change.

Also, I recommend breaking down your story into milestones and rewarding yourself for each milestone to keep yourself inspired and motivated. Possible milestones include:

• Finish outlining your story (research, character profiles, chapter summaries)
• Write the first draft of the story 
• Edit the first draft of the story
• Publishing your story

Possible rewards include going on a day trip with friends and family, visiting your favourite bookstore or going to a restaurant with friends to celebrate your success.

Create a productive space
Find a quiet and clean writing space. It can be your office desk, the kitchen table, the garden table or anywhere else you want. This will be your designated writing space. Set it up beforehand so that it is ready for you to write every day. Gather all the things you need in your writing space before you sit down to write, such as water, snacks or notes. 

Make sure that no one interrupts you while you are writing your story. Tell your friends and family that that the particular chunk of time is dedicated to your writing and not to disturb you at that time (unless absolutely necessary).

Shut down all other electronic devices that might distract you from writing, and tidy up your desk.  Move your mobile phone to another room and have only the computer that you are working on your story with you.

You can also light a candle and wear noise-cancelling headphones to avoid outside noise and distractions. Turn on your favorite music or a playlist that suits the vibe and genre of your story to inspire your writing sessions and keep you focused.

Conclusion
Writing is a skill that takes practice and time to improve. Try different outlining, writing and editing approaches and see what makes you more excited, productive, and creative to finish your story. Be flexible and build habits that work for you. 

​Write every single day. Inspiration may get you to start your novel, but discipline will help you finish it. Keep the momentum going and make your writing goals come true! Happy writing!

Further reading
What type of writer are you: pantser vs plotter vs plantser
How to create a consistent writing routine
3 types of writer goals to set in 2025

The HB90 method is a quarterly planning and goal-setting system primarily for writers, although everyone who feels stressed, overwhelmed or lost can follow this method to set up quarterly goals, projects and tasks. 

The HB90 method is created by contemporary fantasy author Sara Cannon who shows how she uses this method to set up her quarterly goals and projects in her YouTube channel called Heart Breathings. 

The HB90 method can help you set and achieve goals, projects and tasks for 90 days. Once your projects and tasks are ready, you can assign the projects and tasks that you wish to complete each month.

​This method helps you keep track of the projects and tasks you complete each quarter and estimate how much time you need to allocate to complete each project. 
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This blog article explains:
The HB90 method planner
The HB90 Bootcamp
My experience with the HB90 method
Conclusion

The HB90 method planner
Sara has an HB90 method planner in printable and digital versions. The planner includes over 50 goal-setting pages with instructions on how to:

• prioritise 3 goals for the quarter
• realistically estimate how much time you can devote to your goals 
• figure out how much available time you have each month and week
•  brainstorm the projects and the tasks that you need to assign to each goal
•  figure out how much time you need to complete each project

Once you figure out your goals, projects and tasks, you can move on to the first month of the planner where you can note important dates or notes and plan each week by assigning your projects and tasks.

The HB90 planner also includes weekly spreads and daily pages to help you keep track of your progress and note down appointments and notes.

The planner has weekly, monthly and quarterly reviews to help you reflect on the previous week/month/ quarter, keep track of your progress and help you plan for the next quarter.

HB90 Bootcamp
Sara offers the HB90 Bootcamp, a 7-day course that is designed to teach you to be more productive, feel less stressed and take control of your professional and personal life.

The HB90 Bootcamp is for everyone (not just writers) who wants to:

• be more productive, feel less stressed and be in control over their life and their schedule
• struggling to find the energy to complete their goals or follow their dreams
• feel like working too hard but never manage to finish their projects

The course opens for enrollment every March, June, September and December to prepare for the next quarter.  All the recording videos and exercises are available to watch at any time. Students have lifetime access to the course and they can join a private Facebook group for course alumni.

Disclaimer: I haven’t taken the course and therefore I can’t recommend it. However, people who have taken the course highly recommend it because it helped them plan and organise their goals and projects, take control of their lives and be more productive. Do your own research and see if the HB90 Bootcamp suits your needs.

My experience with the HB90 method 
“The good”
December 2022. I quit my first job as an English Language teacher and decided to become a freelance fiction editor. There were so many projects and tasks I needed to do to prepare for my fiction editing business and I knew I had to find a way to organise everything and stay on top of my schedule.

I ultimately found Heartbreathings on YouTube and watched (a lot of ) YouTube videos about the HB90 method. I wanted to get organised as soon as possible so I purchased the undated printable planner and started using the HB90 method in December.

My initial goal was to use this planner from December until March and then buy the dated planner for the next quarter. I started setting up my goals, projects and tasks and then filled my weekly tasks week after week.

The planner was great. It gave me the organisation, clarity, and control I needed. I could track my progress and see myself finishing tasks and making progress on my goals.

“The bad”
The system was great for me and it was working. The planner wasn’t though and I stopped using it at the end of February. Why? Because the printable aspect of the planner wasn’t for me. Although I liked the physical aspect of the planner, it was taking me too much time to move, add, and delete projects and tasks as needed.

That’s when I discovered that I needed a digital method or software to plan and organise my goals and projects. I went online and found Todoist, a do-list task manager where you can plan your projects and tasks. I bought a yearly subscription to the Pro plan in April 2023. I added all my goals and tasks in Todoist and I started using it. 

I used Todoist for a couple of months and I realised I was back where I was in December of 2022. I had a list of my projects and tasks without a clear plan on how to prioritise them, no clear deadlines and no efficient way to track the progress of my projects. Todoist was great but it wasn’t enough.

The aha moment
December 2023. That’s when it happened. The big realisation. I needed the HB90 method in combination with Todoist.

I bought the yearly HB90 method goal planner. The planner includes only the goal-setting pages, the monthly pages and the tasks pages with no weekly spreads or daily pages.

​I also bought the 2024 Digital Doodle planner by  AmandaRachLee and I use the weekly, the habit and the mood tracker pages. Also, I use Todoist as my Kanbard board and calendar. 

​The combination of the two digital planners and Todoist is great for me. It is exactly what I need. I use the HB90 method with the 2 planners and Todoist. I can efficiently plan my goals, track my projects and complete my tasks. I stay organised and in control of my life.

Conclusion
Learning from the planning and organising mistakes of 2024, I already have in mind some adjustments I want to make while using the HB90 method planner for the next year. 

I am thinking of using the digital (landscape) undated HB90 method quarterly planner and Todoist. This planner includes goal-setting pages, monthly spreads, weekly spreads and daily pages and it seems perfect for my planning needs. I will continue using Todoist as a Kanbard board and calendar. 

I plan to take some time off during the Christmas holidays to brainstorm 2024, think about potential goals for 2025 and plan for the first quarter of 2025. I am not planning on buying the HB90 Bootcamp course.

What about you? What kind of planning and organising system are you using? Have you tried the HB90 method or would you like to try it for 2025?
Leave a comment below and tell me what you think about the HB90 method!

If you would like to see more similar blog articles, make sure to leave a comment and share the blog article on your favourite social media!

Further reading
3 types of writer goals you can set in 2025
How to create a consistent writing routine and finish your book 
How Sara plans her week using the HB90 method (YouTube)
The HB90 method planners on Etsy
The HB90 Bootcamp
AmandaRachLee’s products (planners, notebooks, bags, stickers and washi tapes)
Todoist

​It’s almost the end of 2024. As I am writing this blog article at the beginning of November, I realise that there are only 2 months left for this year. When did time pass so far? 

At the end of each year, I  can’t stop being retrospective. I am thinking about the goals  I set at the beginning of 2024, the goals I achieved, and the ones I would like to achieve for the new year.
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I plan to take some time off at the end of December to think about the goals and the projects I achieved in 2024 and make plans for 2025. What about you? What are your writer goals for 2025?

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Why it is important to set goals
 Setting goals at the beginning of each new year is important because it gives writers a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment about all the writing projects they made progress or completed in the previous year. Also, writers can learn from their planning mistakes and set realistic and achievable goals for the new year.

Setting short-term and long-term goals for their writing projects can help writers be focused, track their writing process, develop their writing skills and find the motivation to meet the deadlines for their writing projects.

This blog  article explains 3 types of writer goals writers can set for the new year:
Word-based goals
Task-based goals
Time-based goals

Word-based goals
Word-based goals are particularly useful when the writers are in the drafting phase of their manuscripts. Some writers like to write a set number of words per day or per writing session while others like to write a certain number of words or pages by a specific date.

Writers like to track their writing progress by noting down the number of words they write each day. Some writers like to join writing sprints with other writing friends and increase their word count through friendly competition.

Writers who set word-based goals need to ask themselves how many words they can write every day and the total word count of their writing project so that they can come up with an estimated deadline. Knowing the estimated deadline can give them motivation to show up every day for their writing session and finish their writing projects.

Examples of word-based goals:

• Write 1000 words every day
• Write 10,000 words every week
• Write 50,000 words in one month
• Write 80,000 words in 2 months

Task-based goals
Other writers prefer to track their writing progress with task-based goals. For example, a writer might want to write a romance novel in 2025. They might have a busy and irregular schedule and they can’t set a specific amount of time or word count goal.

Instead, they divide their writing project into manageable tasks and put each task under each stage: outlining, writing, editing and publishing. The tasks can be as small or as big as the writer wishes, taking from one day to several weeks to be completed and they can be divided into subtasks.

Examples of task-based goals:

• Fill up character profiles for the main characters
• Write the first draft of the manuscript 
• Write down the main issues of the first draft in a separate document
• Find beta readers to read my book

Time-based goals
Some writers may have a limited or specific amount of time each day because of their busy schedule so they prefer to set time-based goals.

Also, time-based goals might be more suitable for beginner writers who want to create a consistent writing routine and improve their writing skills and writing speed. They might only have 15 minutes before an appointment or 30 minutes during lunch break. They don’t stop writing until the allocated time is finished. They don’t mind leaving a scene or a chapter unfinished.

Examples of time-based goals:

• Write for 15 minutes while commuting
• Write for 20 minutes before an appointment
• Write every day for 30 minutes during lunch break
• Write for 30 minutes before going to bed

Conclusion
What type of writer goals will you set for the new year? Are you the kind of writer that combines some or all the types of writer goals? For example, you might want to write one scene (task-based goal) every day (time-based goal) or write 5000 words (word-based goal) each week (time-based goal). 

Or perhaps you don’t like having writing goals at all. You might be a beginner writer who doesn’t like writing schedules or deadlines and prefers to write whenever you want to as long as you want to.

No matter what type of writer goals you plan to set for the next year, don’t overestimate yourself. Create realistic and achievable goals based on your schedule and your lifestyle. Don’t stress yourself to meet unrealistic expectations or deadlines. Know your boundaries and make sure you rest and have a balanced and healthy lifestyle.

What are your writing goals for the new year?  Are you writing a new novel? Are you editing the story you wrote this year? Are you preparing to publish your story? Comment below.
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If you would like to see more similar blog articles, make sure to leave a comment and share the blog article on your favourite social media!
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Further reading
How to create a consistent writing routine
How to write a novel in 90 days (writing challenge)
What type of writer are you: pantser vs plotter vs plantser

You wish to write a novel but you don’t have the time or the energy. You often wonder how writers manage to finish writing their manuscripts. What is their secret?

The secret to a finished manuscript is committing yourself to a consistent writing routine. Having a writing routine sounds challenging but if you are determined to write a book, you need to have the discipline to write every day and turn your writing process into an everyday habit.

​Having a consistent writing routine can help you avoid procrastination, find motivation and inspiration, complete your novel on time and improve your writing skills. This blog article explains the 7 steps for successfully creating a consistent writing routine.


​This blog article includes the 7 steps for creating a consistent writing routine:
Find the time and day that works best for you
Write down your writing goals
Find a writing space
Create a playlist
Avoid distractions
Use the Pomodoro method
Join a writer’s group
Conclusion
Further reading

Find the time and day that works best for you
Think carefully about your everyday schedule and your commitments. When is the best time for you to write? Early in the morning, late at night or somewhere in between? 

Check your calendar and see when you have free time to write. You may have other obligations such as studies, parenting or full-time job and think it is impossible to find time to sit down and write. Don’t discourage yourself.  Even 30 minutes or 1 hour a day can be enough time. The most important thing is to write every day (or almost every day) to keep the momentum going and create a regular writing habit.

​Check your calendar and mark 1 hour every day for writing. Preferably, the same hour every day. Write down in your calendar that this hour is designed for writing to remind yourself of your writing goal.

Write down your writing goals
Set a writing goal. The goal can be a timed-based or a word count goal. Preferably, write down a word count goal. How will you do that?  Let’s say that you are planning to write a 80,000 novel and you can sit down to write 1 hour a day. Beginner writers can usually write about 1,000 words in one hour. Let’s say that you are a new author and you set a daily word count goal of 1,000 words per day. Divide the total word count of your story with the amount of your daily word count: 80,000/1000= 80 days. You can finish writing your manuscript in 80 days.

Mark down in your calendar the expected deadline and write down your daily word count and the amount of words you have left every day. Remember that this is your initial plan and it can change at any time. For example, you might finish your novel at 70,000 words or have an unexpected emergency that keeps you from writing every day and actually finish your story in 4 months.

Don’t get discouraged. Keep pushing forward! Keep writing every day or as often as you can and you will soon have the finished manuscript in your hands! 

Find a writing space
Find a quiet and clean writing space. It can be your office desk, the kitchen table, the garden table or anywhere else you want. This will be your designated writing space. Set it up beforehand so that it is ready for you to write every day. Get all the things you need in your writing space before you sit down to write such as water, snacks, notes and anything else you might need. Make sure that all your writing notes are already organised so that you can start writing as soon as you sit down.

Create a playlist
You can also find or create a playlist with songs that match the mood, tone and genre of your story to help you find inspiration and avoid writer’s block. Create this playlist beforehand so that it is ready when you sit down and write. You can use noise-cancelling headphones to help you focus on your writing and remove outside noise.

Avoid distractions
You have only 1 hour to write. Turn off your phone, or move it to another room to avoid the temptation to check your messages or emails. Don’t check your social media during your writing time. Tell the members of your family how important writing your novel is for you. Inform them that this hour is solely dedicated to writing and no one can disrupt you unless it is urgent. 

Use the Pomodoro method
The Pomodoro method is a time management method that helps you perform focused work during 25-minute intervals (pomodoros) and then take a five-minute break. You can use the Pomodoro method to help you avoid distractions and improve your focus. For example, you plan to write for 1 hour. You can set a timer to write for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break to read what you wrote or note down some notes. Then, set your timer again for another 25-minute session and then take five minutes to update your character profiles, outline or any other notes you may have,

Join a writer’s group
Connecting with other writers or having an accountability partner can tremendously help you finish the first draft of your novel. You can find motivation with other writers, share your daily word count goals, brainstorm through any issues that you encounter as you write your story and make writer friends.

Remember that you’re not alone. There are dozens of writers trying to finish their manuscript. You can find other writers by joining your local writer’s group, by attending writing workshops, classes and seminars or by joining writer’s groups on Facebook.

Conclusion
This blog article explains the 7 steps to create a consistent writing routine. I believe the seven steps mentioned in this blog article will help you create and maintain a successfully consistent writing routine and turn your writing process into a regular habit. Keep writing!
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Do you like this blog article? Comment below and tell me your writing routine!
 Don’t forget to share the article on your social media!

Further reading
Are you still in the outlining stage? No problem. Check out these resources to learn how to outline your story:
How to brainstorm the genre and the main characters of your story
​How character profiles can help you write consistent and compelling characters
How to write a novel using the three-act structure