The Power of Small Goals: How to Make Progress on Your Novel in 15 Minutes a Day

Many writers believe they need an hour (or more) to make real progress on their novel.

“I need at least two hours to get into the flow!”

Sound familiar? Maybe you once had an amazing writing session where you hit a flow state and wrote thousands of words. Now, you think anything less than an hour won’t be productive.

But let’s be honest—how’s that working for you?

As a working mom, your life is packed. Between your job, your kids, your partner, your friends, and maybe even caring for aging parents, finding an uninterrupted hour can feel impossible. Most days, you barely get 10 minutes to yourself.

So when you don’t hit that hour-long writing session, frustration sets in. You start feeling like you’re failing.

But here’s the truth: You don’t need to get frustrated about something that isn’t realistic.

You wouldn’t expect a toddler to ride a mountain bike, right? (And if your toddler can, please send a video!)

When building a writing habit, you need to treat yourself with the same patience and realistic expectations.

The Game-Changer: Set Small, Achievable Goals

After I had my son, I struggled to fit writing into my new routine. I aimed for 30-minute writing sessions, but between diaper changes, breastfeeding, and unpredictable naps, that goal felt impossible.

Going back to work made things even harder. I used to write for hours on weekends, but now I wanted to spend that time with my son—not stressing about squeezing in writing time.

Rather than getting frustrated, I reset my expectations. I realized I was holding myself to a routine that no longer fit my life.

Instead of giving up, I started setting smaller goals—goals that actually worked for me.

With that shift, I became consistent. And consistency led to progress.

Why Small Goals Work

Research shows that setting goals helps us follow through. But it’s not just about setting any goal—it’s about setting one that fits your real life, not the life you wish you had.

If you’re already busy, your goal needs to be realistic. There’s a time for stretch goals, but when building a habit, consistency is key. The best goal is one you can hit every day (or most days).

So, how do you figure out the right goal for you?

3 Steps to Making Daily Progress on Your Novel

1. Start Small

I started with 10-minute writing sessions on weekdays and gradually built up to 20 minutes.

Prefer a word count goal? Start with 250 words per session and build up to 500. If you consistently write 500 words a day, you could finish an 80,000-word draft in 8 months.

2. Celebrate Your Wins

Don’t just check a box when you hit your writing goal—celebrate it!

Acknowledge milestones like 5k, 10k, or 20k words. Celebrating teaches your brain that hitting goals is rewarding, motivating you to keep going. Plus, it stops you from constantly moving the goalpost and feeling like you’re never doing enough.

3. Get Accountability

When life is chaotic, even small writing goals can get pushed aside. Especially when you’re constantly doing things for others, carving out time for yourself can feel impossible.

The solution? Bring others into your writing goals.

Tell your spouse, best friend, or even your kids about your writing dream and your daily goal. Ask them to check in and cheer you on. Even if they don’t fully understand why you want to write a novel, they can still support you.

Need More Accountability?

These strategies helped me build a consistent writing practice, and they’re the same ones I use with my coaching clients. I help writers set achievable goals, stay accountable, and make real progress—without burnout.

If you’re ready to finally finish your novel and know you’d benefit from extra accountability, let’s talk. My 1:1 coaching program gives you 12 months of personalized support, feedback, and accountability so you can get your novel done—faster than if you went it alone.

Book a consultation call today—I’d love to help you finish your novel.