I have some big resolutions for 2011, as I’m sure you do as well. We could talk health and fitness, career, or faith. But this is a writing column so let’s talk writing goals. Your goal could be to get published, finish your book, find an agent, or just let someone read your writing. Whatever it is, make it known. This is your goal, no matter how big or small.

But you also want to achieve your goal, right? Here are some helpful steps to making your goal achievable and successful.

Set specific goals
In order to achieve a goal,  be specific about what you want. This is your chance to be completely free to put it out there. What is the biggest thing you hope to accomplish this year with your writing? Most of us have goals to become published authors and hope 2011 is the year it happens. But make that goal more focused: what do you need to do to become a published author? This can be anything from writing your story to editing your story to attending a writing conference to get your name out there. Set a goal, but make it specific and focused.

Set realistic goals
For me, it wouldn’t be realistic for me to set out to publish my second, or even my first, novel this year. I have to set my sights on finishing up my Bachelor’s degree and finding a job first. While getting a book published would be an amazing accomplishment in 2011, I know it’s not a realistic goal. Instead, my goals include getting an article published in a newspaper or magazine and writing my novel. Setting goals that are unrealistic is setting yourself up for failure. Don’t sell yourself short, but don’t make an impossible goal that you will give up on by January 15th.

Make a plan
One of the biggest problems people make when setting goals is they never think of the day-to-day business and how they are going to get to their goal. If a runner makes a goal to run a marathon, they have a training plan to adhere to. When a writer makes a writing goal, they also need a training plan. What little goals can you set that will lead you to achieving your big goal? Can you set monthly goals, such as a certain word count at the end of the month or saving money to register for a writing conference? Think about breaking your big goal into small ones. It will help the process seem easier and give you the tools you need to achieve.