As a writer, it’s easy to feel like you’re not getting anywhere. You sit down to write, but the words don’t seem to add up as quickly as you’d like.
If you’re struggling to stay motivated or feeling discouraged, tracking your writing progress can help. When you keep an eye on your progress, you get to see how far you’ve come and celebrate the victories you’ve achieved.
Why Tracking Your Writing Progress is Important
Seeing your progress, no matter how small, is a huge motivator. When you look back at what you’ve written, you get a sense of accomplishment that helps push you forward.
Tracking your progress also helps you stay consistent. Writing is a habit; just like any habit, it’s easier to maintain when you’re aware of it.
You can spot patterns and areas where you might need improvement. Maybe you’re struggling with consistency or running into roadblocks with your plot. You have the chance to reflect and address these issues before they derail your work.
And when you track your progress, you break down big goals into smaller, achievable milestones. Hitting those milestones keeps you moving forward.
The Consequences of Not Keeping Track
If you don’t track your progress, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut. You might feel like you’re not making any real progress, even though you are. Staying motivated is difficult when you can’t see those small wins.
This leads to procrastination. You feel overwhelmed without measurable goals and set your projects aside. You miss elements of your writing that hurt its quality. When writing feels like an impossible task, you burn yourself out.
Tips For Tracking Your Progress
Here are a few practical tips you can use to monitor your progress.
Set clear, measurable goals.
Whether it’s writing 500 words a day or completing a chapter each week, having concrete goals will give you something to work toward. These small, manageable goals will help you build momentum and feel accomplished along the way.
Use writing trackers and apps.
There are plenty of tools to help you track your progress. Apps like Scrivener and Google Docs allow you to see your word count, while NaNoWriMo’s word count tracker is perfect for long-term projects. You can also use apps like Evernote or simple spreadsheets to log your daily or weekly word counts.
Create a calendar or stick to a schedule.
Sometimes, the best way to track progress is to schedule your writing time. Put it on your calendar, set reminders, and treat it like an appointment. A writing schedule can help you stay consistent, and seeing it on your calendar will remind you to stick to it.
Record word count, time spent, and pages written.
If you’re writing for a set amount of time, record how long you write each session. If you prefer tracking pages, note how many pages you complete. This gives you different ways to measure progress and keeps you motivated. Over time, as you become a better writer, those numbers will improve.
Regular self-reflection.
Every week or month, take some time to reflect on your progress. Look at what you’ve written and think about how you feel about your work. Have you made improvements? Are there any challenges you need to tackle?
Note them down. In your next reflection, see how you’ve changed.
Join communities or accountability groups.
Share your goals with others, set up writing sprints, or celebrate milestones together. It’s a great way to keep each other motivated and focused on progress.
What Progress Should You Track?
Here are elements of your writing you should track.
Story Development
While word count is often the go-to way of measuring progress, it’s also important to track your story development. How is your plot progressing? Are your characters evolving? Keep notes on how your story develops, so you can see your creative growth over time.
Quality and Revisions
Tracking your revisions and quality is just as important as word count. Are you happy with your first draft? What needs to be improved? By noting the areas you’ve revised, you’ll see the hard work you’ve put into polishing your manuscript.
Emotional and Creative Progress
Sometimes, progress isn’t just about numbers or drafts. It’s about how you feel about your writing. Are you becoming more confident? Are you developing a stronger voice? Keep track of your emotional and creative journey as a writer.
Plateaus and Slow Progress
How long does it take you to write a draft? How frequently do you go on extended breaks? The more you grow, the less your creative intervals will be. You’ll learn how to push through blocks more effectively and rely on discipline rather than waiting for inspiration.
Celebrate Your Milestones
When you hit milestones—whether it’s writing 10,000 words or finishing a chapter—take a moment to celebrate. This helps maintain motivation and reminds you that your hard work is paying off.
It doesn’t have to be grand. Treat yourself to something small, like a coffee, a new book, or a break. You’re closer to your goal than you think, and acknowledging that can reinforce your passion for writing.
How do you keep track of your progress? Share your thoughts below!
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- 8 Non-writing Skills All Writers Should Learn
Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
