More than halfway through the year, many people have long since left behind the goals they set for themselves on January 1. But in the final installment of Megan Haskell’s guest series, the Author Wheel co-founder reminds authors that goal setting can—and should—happen every step of the way in your author career. Paving the path forward isn’t just about setting your sights on a lofty aspiration and hoping blindly that you reach it. “You can’t control the world, only how you show up in it,” she reminds us in this month’s article. Setting process goals that are based on factors you control, and adjusting them regularly to reflect your business’s growth, is the final step toward making indie authorship sustainable, successful, and achievable for anyone.
As indie authors, we wear a lot of hats. Writing, product design, advertising, and marketing are all our responsibility. With so many competing priorities, it’s all too easy to lose sight of the big picture. That’s why goal setting isn’t just a New Year’s ritual—it’s a professional necessity.
But not all goals are created equal.
The Power of Process
The difference between an outcome goal and a process goal is subtle, but it creates a powerful mindset shift. An outcome goal might be, “Hit the USA Today bestseller list,” or, “Earn six figures on Amazon.” These are exciting milestones, but they hinge on factors beyond our influence. You could write a brilliant book, run ads with perfect targeting, and still fall short if the timing is off or the competition fierce.
Process goals shift the focus back to what you can control. Instead of “Sell ten thousand copies,” a process goal might be, “Write one thousand words a day,” or, “Publish three books this year.” These goals are specific, measurable, and achievable entirely by you.
You can’t control the world, only how you show up in it. Process goals keep you anchored in that truth. They empower you to define success by effort, not approval.
The System Behind the Strategy
It’s not uncommon to set goals in the new year and then promptly forget about them. It’s easy to become overwhelmed by day-to-day life and find ourselves completely off-track. Worse, we might pursue a goal that seemed reasonable in January but is no longer relevant in June.
Setting goals is only half the battle. Staying engaged with those goals is equally important.
Each year, I set aside time to evaluate my long-term goals at the one-, three-, and ten-year mark. These are often outcome goals that encapsulate a big dream. Once I have a vision of my future in place, I am better able to create process goals that align with and move toward that desired outcome.
Here’s a simplified example: If my three-year outcome goal is to earn six figures from my writing, I need to write more books. My one-year process goal might then be to publish four books this year, one book each quarter. To achieve that goal, I might set smaller process goals to spend the first month of the quarter writing the draft, the second month editing, and the third month launching that book. And within that, my goals might be to write fifteen thousand words a week to reach a sixty-thousand-word draft by the end of the first month.
But strategy without tracking is like a map without a compass. Are those goals reasonable? Do they fit into your lifestyle and workflow? Even if they did at the beginning of the year, they might not by the end.
A Living Document
Goals aren’t carved in stone. They’re reflections of your evolving career and creative identity. As time flows, your goals may need to be revised. A new series could take off and encourage you to write more books than planned in that world—or it might not, which could help you decide to pivot to something new. Maybe life throws you a curveball, and you end up simply trying to stay in the game. That’s okay.
Like the indie publishing landscape itself, your path will shift. That’s not failure—it’s growth. Just make sure your goals grow with you.
I recommend monitoring progress at least monthly, if not weekly. Choose your top three priorities and focus on those tasks each week or month. Celebrate your achievements, and write them down! Remind yourself not only of your next goal but also how far you’ve come.
This practice keeps you focused, motivated, and flexible—three qualities every indie author needs.
Full Circle
You’ve chosen to pursue indie publishing and a creative writing career, but the road is long and winding, with many routes to choose from.
If you’ve been following along on this series with me, you know there’s opportunity everywhere. You’ve examined your purpose in writing, assessed your author personality, and developed an author mission statement.
Goal setting brings it all together.
Industry awareness informs your strategy. Your purpose connects you to readers. Your personality guides your choices. Your mission keeps you grounded. And your goals? They’re the bridge between intention and action.
So don’t wait for January. Don’t let the calendar dictate your dreams. Start now. Define your big dream. Set process goals that keep you moving. Track your progress. Celebrate your wins.
Because the real secret to success isn’t pure hustle or luck. It’s consistency.
Megan Haskell
Megan Haskell pens tales of myth, magic, and mayhem featuring strong female heroines and monsters of every size. She’s the award-winning author of The Sanyare Chronicles fantasy adventure and The Rise of Lilith contemporary fantasy series, and co-founder of The Author Wheel Podcast and courses for writers. With more than fifteen years of writing and publishing experience, her goal is to help you Clarify, Simplify, and Implement your own best path to an author career. Find out more at www.MeganHaskell.com or www.AuthorWheel.com.