It’s mid-July, and those ambitious summer writing goals you set in May might be feeling a little… distant. Here’s how to honestly assess where you are and get back on track.
Summer was supposed to be different this year. You had plans—maybe finish that novel, complete a poetry collection, or finally tackle that memoir you’ve been thinking about for years. You set summer writing goals that felt achievable back in May when the whole season stretched ahead of you like an open road.
But here we are in the heat of July, and if you’re like most writers, those summer writing goals might feel more like distant memories than active projects.
Don’t panic. And definitely don’t abandon your summer writing goals entirely.
Instead, let’s do something radical: let’s check in on your goals with kindness, honesty, and a plan that actually works.
Step 1: The Honest Assessment of Your Summer Writing Goals
First, grab your writing journal, open your laptop, or pull out whatever tracking system you’ve been using (or meaning to use). We’re going to take inventory of your summer writing goals without the inner critic’s commentary.
Ask yourself these questions:
- What were your specific summer writing goals? Be detailed. Was it a word count? A completed draft? Daily writing habits? Multiple projects?
- Where are you right now compared to these goals? Don’t round up or make excuses. Just the facts.
- What actually happened to derail your summer writing goals? Did life intervene? Did the goals prove unrealistic? Did you discover the project wasn’t what you thought it would be?
Write down your answers. There’s something powerful about seeing the truth on paper, even when—especially when—your summer writing goals haven’t gone as planned.
Step 2: Why Summer Writing Goals Often Go Off Track
Before you start planning your comeback, let’s acknowledge why summer writing goals are uniquely challenging. Understanding this isn’t about making excuses—it’s about setting more realistic expectations.
Common summer writing goal derailments:
Life got lifey: Kids home from school, vacations, family obligations, work changes. Summer is actually one of the busiest times for many people, despite our cultural mythology about lazy summer days.
The goals were too ambitious: That 50,000-word novel you planned to write in eight weeks? Those daily 2,000-word targets? They might have been setting you up for disappointment from day one.
Routine disruption: Without the structure of school or regular schedules, the writing routine that supported your goals might have dissolved along with everything else.
Perfectionism crept in: Maybe you made progress on your summer writing goals, decided it wasn’t good enough, and stopped altogether.
You didn’t plan for summer reality: Summer writing goals often assume ideal conditions that rarely exist in real life.
Identifying why your summer writing goals stalled helps you plan more realistically for the weeks ahead.
Step 3: Celebrate Progress Toward Your Summer Writing Goals
Before you start planning your comeback, pause and acknowledge what you’ve actually accomplished toward your summer writing goals. This isn’t about participation trophies; it’s about recognizing that progress rarely looks like we think it will.
Look for these often-overlooked victories in your summer writing goals:
- Pages of notes or research (even if they’re scattered)
- Character development work that doesn’t show up in word counts
- Revision and editing on existing pieces
- Reading in your genre (yes, this counts as working toward writing goals)
- Writing-adjacent activities like workshops, conferences, or craft books
- Maintaining any writing routine, even if it was smaller than your original summer writing goals
- Not giving up entirely (seriously, this is huge)
Many writers discount these activities, but they’re all part of achieving meaningful summer writing goals. Give yourself credit for staying engaged with your craft, even if it didn’t happen the way you envisioned.
Step 4: Reassessing Your Summer Writing Goals Mid-Season
Here’s where we get practical. You have roughly six weeks left of summer (depending on how you’re counting). What can you realistically accomplish toward your summer writing goals in that time?
The key is right-sizing your remaining summer writing goals:
If your original goal was finishing a novel: Maybe aim for completing a solid first act or three strong chapters.
If you wanted to write every day: Maybe commit to writing three times a week consistently.
If you planned a specific word count: Cut it in half, then cut it in half again. Seriously.
If you wanted to start something new: Consider if you’d be better served revising something you’ve already written.
Remember: Summer writing goals you actually achieve are infinitely more valuable than impressive goals you abandon. There’s no prize for suffering through an unrealistic plan.
Step 5: Make Your Summer Writing Goals Weather-Resistant
Your remaining summer writing goals need to account for your actual summer life, not the imaginary one where you have unlimited time and energy.
How to make summer writing goals more realistic:
Schedule around known obligations: Family visits, work deadlines, kids’ activities, your own need for rest and fun.
Plan for disruptions: Assume some weeks will be complete wash-outs and build that into your summer writing goals timeline.
Lower the daily bar: It’s better to commit to writing for 15 minutes daily than to plan for two hours and consistently fail to meet your summer writing goals.
Create multiple entry points: Have options for good days (longer writing sessions) and survival days (just reviewing notes).
Build in flexibility: If you miss Monday, can you make it up Wednesday? If this week is chaos, can next week help you catch up on your summer writing goals?
Step 6: The Summer Writing Goals Reset Strategy
You don’t need to wait until September to get back on track with your summer writing goals. Here’s how to restart right now:
Week 1: Reconnection with Your Summer Writing Goals
- Reread what you’ve written so far
- Make notes about what you like and what needs work
- Do any necessary research or planning
- Write just one page, even if it’s terrible
Week 2: Rebuilding Momentum Toward Your Summer Writing Goals
- Establish a minimal but consistent routine
- Focus on showing up more than producing
- Set a very achievable weekly goal (like 500 words total)
Week 3 and Beyond: Sustainable Progress on Summer Writing Goals
- Increase your commitment only if Week 2 felt easy
- Track what’s working and what isn’t toward your summer writing goals
- Adjust as needed without guilt
Step 7: Redefining Success for Your Summer Writing Goals
Maybe this summer won’t be the one where you complete every item on your original list of summer writing goals. But it could be the summer you learned how to write consistently in small chunks. Or the summer you discovered what your story is really about. Or the summer you proved you could adjust your summer writing goals without giving up entirely.
Success with summer writing goals might look like:
- Developing a sustainable writing routine that can continue into fall
- Completing a smaller project that gives you confidence for bigger summer writing goals
- Learning something important about your process or your story
- Maintaining your identity as a writer through a challenging season
- Building the skill of adjusting summer writing goals without abandoning them
Your Summer Writing Goals Reset Starts Now
The beautiful thing about checking in mid-summer is that you still have time to make meaningful progress on your summer writing goals. Not in the way you originally planned, perhaps, but in a way that serves both your creative aspirations and your actual life.
Your summer writing goals don’t have to be perfect to be worthwhile. They just have to be honest, sustainable, and kind to the person doing the work—you.
So grab your pen, open your laptop, and take that first small step back toward your summer writing goals. Your future writer self will thank you for not giving up in July.
What’s your biggest challenge with summer writing goals? How are you adjusting your original plans? Share your experience in the comments—you might just help another writer feel less alone in their struggles.
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