t able to attain them, spend a couple of minutes brainstorming how you can do better next time.

* Make up a chart with the days of the month across the top, and increments in the number of words you’ve written along the left side (for example, the b

In a Brown University Medical School study of people who wanted to lose weight, two strategies were found to be effective: partnering with someone who would encourage the participants and remind them to get back on track when they slipped; and weighing themselves every day. Here’s how same strategies can work for writers:

* Join a writing group and suggest that every member declare a goal to attain by the time of the next meeting. One person should write down all these goals. At the start of the next meeting, this person reads out the goals, and members say whether or not they have attained them. If not, let the group suggest ways they might do better.

* Find a phone or online writing buddy. Share your writing goals with each other and encourage each other when you slip or encounter unexpected obstacles.

Instead of weighing yourself, “weigh” the number of words you write:

* Jot down your own writing goals for the day in the morning and review them at the end of the day. If you weren’t able to attain them, spend a couple of minutes brainstorming how you can do better next time.

* Make up a chart with the days of the month across the top, and increments in the number of words you’ve written along the left side (for example, the bo

emselves every day. Here’s how same strategies can work for writers:

* Join a writing group and suggest that every member declare a goal to attain by the time of the next meeting. One person should write down all these goals. At the start of the next meeting, this person reads out the goals, and members say whether or not they have attained them. If not, let the group suggest ways they might do better.

* Find a phone or online writing buddy. Share your writing goals with each other and encourage each other when you slip or encounter unexpected obstacles.

Instead of weighing yourself, “weigh” the number of words you write:

* Jot down your own writing goals for the day in the morning and review them at the end of the day. If you weren’t able to attain them, spend a couple of minutes brainstorming how you can do better next time.

* Make up a chart with the days of the month across the top, and increments in the number of words you’ve written along the left side (for example, the b

meeting, this person reads out the goals, and members say whether or not they have attained them. If not, let the group suggest ways they might do better.

* Find a phone or online writing buddy. Share your writing goals with each other and encourage each other when you slip or encounter unexpected obstacles.

Instead of weighing yourself, “weigh” the number of words you write:

* Jot down your own writing goals for the day in the morning and review them at the end of the day. If you weren’t able to attain them, spend a couple of minutes brainstorming how you can do better next time.

* Make up a chart with the days of the month across the top, and increments in the number of words you’ve written along the left side (for example, the b

e each other when you slip or encounter unexpected obstacles.

Instead of weighing yourself, “weigh” the number of words you write:

* Jot down your own writing goals for the day in the morning and review them at the end of the day. If you weren’t able to attain them, spend a couple of minutes brainstorming how you can do better next time.

* Make up a chart with the days of the month across the top, and increments in the number of words you’ve written along the left side (for example, the b

t able to attain them, spend a couple of minutes brainstorming how you can do better next time.

* Make up a chart with the days of the month across the top, and increments in the number of words you’ve written along the left side (for example, the bottom line on the left might represent 0 words, the next line 500 words, the next line 750 words, and so on). Every day put a dot where the day and the number of words you wrote intersect. This way you can keep track of your productivity over the course of a month.

At some stages, of course, such as research and outlining, the number of words isn’t relevant. At those times, figure out measures that are appropriate to the task and use those to keep track of your progress.

ACTION: Choose whichever of the strategies above is most appealing to you and use it for at least a month. Notice how it affects your productivity. If it works really well, keep using it; if not, try one of the other strategies. And remember, this is about encouraging yourself, not punishing yourself, and nobody meets their targets all the time.