How to Write with Intention
Setting intentions is a powerful tool for helping writers achieve happiness and fulfillment. Intentions provide us with insight to our writer self’s values, aspirations, and purpose. Our intentions allow us to live in the present moment while still aiming toward new achievements. The intention, because it’s something that comes from our heart or soul, will satisfy and fulfill us as we continue our journey toward our goal.
In this blog post, I'll discuss what an intention is, how to set one every day, and why setting intentions will help us move forward in our writing journeys.
WHAT IS AN INTENTION?
You’ll find different definitions on this. Often an intention is an interchangeable term with goal. That’s not wrong, but it’s not how I view it.
To me, an intention is mindful pursuit toward an external mission (or goal). Missions/Goals are external. They are concrete, tangible accomplishments. Intentions support us in making these goals happen because they are heart-centered and soul-driven. Internal. A goal in and of itself won’t be accomplished without the mental support (intention) happening behind the scenes.
You can engage in one or multiple intentions throughout the day. Intentions can be stand-alone, or they can be linked together, like stepping stones you might use toward accomplishing your mission. An intention can be designed to boost us spiritually, emotionally, creatively, physically, or mentally. Intentions are wonderful starts to any positive habit or ritual we want to add into our lives.
HOW INTENTION CAN SUPPORT A WRITING PRACTICE
Many of us long to increase our productivity, boost our confidence, find consistency or courage in our writing practice. Some days flow more smoothly than others, but it’s those wobbly days where we tend to start doubting our journeys. Often, limiting beliefs about our ability or talent will rise to the surface and before we know it, we lose our creative edge in one way or another.
Setting an intention to start our writing sessions in a manner that suits our specific creative strengths is an excellent habit, which will ultimately support our writing practice.
For example, say you want to complete your novel in six months, then a suitable regular writing goal could be to write 1,000 words during your writing sessions. But maybe your writing has been disrupted frequently and you’re feeling doubtful that you’ll be able to accomplish your goals. An intention could be that you will wake up one hour earlier than normal in order to get some writing done in a quieter household.
Or perhaps you continually ditch your writing sessions for television. Even though you have a writing goal in place, you’re allowing yourself to get distracted, thereby not achieving your goal. So you need to take a step back and set an intention whose sole purpose is to help you achieve that goal. For example, an intention could be to reward yourself for every word count milestone you hit each week.
An intention sets you up for success in your writing goals. This is the mindfulness that leads you to success.
You could define an intention as a goal. The difference is that an intention keeps us in alignment with our hearts—why we’re even going after goals in the first place.
Because goals/missions are external, they are easily manipulated by forces outside of ourselves. They shift and change and by the time we close in on them, we have either lost interest, or we’ve gone off track, or it doesn’t hold the same promises anymore. This happens frequently when we’re setting goals without first making sure it’s something we truly desire.
An intention can help us stay true to ourselves every single day because it allows us to check in with our inner selves any time we need to. If we feel really good when we’re in the muck & mire of making something happen, then we know we’re on track with something that matters. Even if it’s difficult or tedious, if we’re feeling good anyway, then that’s a sign we’re thriving.
However, if we’re not feeling great when we’re in the muck & mire, and we dread the process and we can’t even remember why we set out to achieve this thing—then that’s our inner self warning us that something isn’t quite right. It’s time to take a break, assess, evaluate. Make a change.
Intentions keep us aligned with what we truly want to seek and receive.
IDEAS TO HELP YOU INCORPORATE INTENTIONS INTO YOUR DAY
Morning rituals are powerful, and when you add your intentions for the day into the ritual, those intentions become sacred. This might include meditation or a gathering/prepping of your writing equipment into your workspace. The ritual helps to energize your intention—not only are you saying this is what you’re going to do to attain your writing goal, you’re also taking actionable steps.
Speak your intentions out loud or write them out in a To-Do List fashion.
Frame your intentions with positive language.
Reminding yourself of your intention throughout the day helps to keep you focused and centered. I am doing this because I feel…
Writing down your intentions and your goals is hugely helpful in staying disciplined. I love to do this as part of my morning ritual, but it can work nicely as a “night before” ritual as well.
If you’re having trouble setting intentions for a particular goal, then take another look at your goal. That could be where you’ve gone wrong. You want to choose writing goals that align with your life’s values, aspirations, and purpose. An intention won’t work for you if there isn’t a valuable reason for why you want to achieve the goal that intention is meant for. Be sure to write down your thoughts as you follow these steps to creating goals that will add meaning to your life.
At the end of your day, check in with yourself by journaling and evaluating how the intentions held up for you. Where do you need a bit more work? Do you need to change them at all? Are you staying true to your intentions? This daily follow up is valuable because it will hold you accountable.
HOW TO CREATE INTENTIONS THAT FEEL GREAT TO YOU
Decide what truly matters to you. Your values drive the actions you take. Honoring your values will help you find fulfillment in your writing life. You can set powerful intentions based on your values. Write down at least five things that truly matter to you. Some examples may be happiness, creativity, family, spirituality, or health.
Explore the areas you want to improve. Our real-world lives often impact (positively or negatively) our writing goals. Where in your real-world life could you improve or strengthen to support your writing goals? Consider your relationships, time management, social life, community, or health. Using the values you determined in the first step, decide how you might go about strengthening these areas so that you have a better chance at achieving your writing goals.
Be SMART. The best, most effective goals are the ones you design with thought, care, and precision. Be sure to think about what you need to do to accomplish these goals and what might prevent you from achieving them.
Decide on a short-term and a long-term writing goal. These will vary widely depending on where you’re at in your journey and what your ultimate destination is. Set intentions that act like stepping stones up to the short-term goal, and on to the long-term goal. This will ensure that each of your goals is logical and appropriate for your overall vision.
Keep in mind: setting intentions help create the present moment. The important part is not if you reach your goal. The important part is that you are living and writing every day in accordance to your values and how you envision yourself as a writer.
Intentions keep us in the “here and now” rather than obsessing over what will happen down the road. As writers, this difference is sanity-saving. Too often we are thinking about reviews before we've sold our books, sales before we’ve published, thinking about publishing before we’ve finished the novel, thinking about finishing the novel before we’ve nailed down our premise statement. While knowing where we are headed is important, it should never be more important than appreciating and honoring where we are today.
DO YOU SET INTENTIONS TOWARD YOUR WRITING GOALS? SHARE THEM BELOW!
HAVE A WRITERLY DAY!