How to Use Vision Boards to Map Out Your Writing Goals
This year I’m determined to be a little more relaxed with my writing goals. The last few years I’ve been to strick, and it’s harmed me more than helped me. Honestly, when it comes to writing goals, dreaming without direction often looks like staring at a blank page and spiraling into an existential crisis. (Been there.)
But here enters__ the vision board. This tool is not just for girlbossing your way to a dream wedding or a killer capsule wardrobe—it can actually help you clarify your writing goals and get you from procrastinator vibes to published author.
Here’s how to create a vision board that’s more than just aesthetic: we’re talking practical, motivating, and actually helpful for mapping out your writing dreams.
1. Start with Your Big Picture Writing Goals (a.k.a. Your “Why”) 🎯
Before you start cutting out pictures of typewriters and coffee mugs, let’s zoom out. What’s the reason you’re writing? Do you want to:
• Finally finish that novel you’ve been working on since 2017?
• Land a literary agent and get published?
• Go viral with your short stories on Instagram or Wattpad?
• Write for fun and stop self-editing every sentence like your career depends on it?
Write down your top 1–3 goals—be bold, but realistic. If you’re aiming for “win a Pulitzer,” cool, but maybe let’s start with finishing a rough draft.
Pro tip: Put these goals at the center of your vision board so you don’t lose sight of your end game. Everything else (aesthetic or otherwise) is supporting the main event.
2. Make It Aesthetic… But Keep It Intentional 🎨✂️
We all love a good mood board moment, but let’s not turn this into another exercise in procrastination. Yes, that photo of a Parisian café is cute, but does it connect to your goals? Choose images and words that directly relate to your writing journey:
• Want to finish your book? Add pictures of book covers in your genre, or even mock up your own.
• Dreaming of that publishing deal? Print out inspiring author success stories or your dream publisher’s logo.
• Hoping for creative consistency? Find quotes about discipline (bonus points if they’re from writers you admire).
3. Break Down Goals into Actionable Steps 📝
Let’s get granular with it. Add sections or visuals for specific milestones:
• A calendar showing your writing deadlines.
• A list of word count goals.
• Visuals of the tools or systems you’ll use, like Scrivener, a bullet journal, or a Pomodoro timer.
• A “Reward Yourself” corner for mini-milestones (treating yourself to that overpriced candle after finishing your first draft? Yes, please).
4. Include Your Dream Writing Aesthetic ✨🖋️
Here’s where you lean into the Pinterest/Tumblr/TikTok side of your brain. What inspires you to keep writing? Add visuals that set the mood:
• A cozy writing nook with fairy lights and a stack of books.
• Typewriter keys, spilled coffee, handwritten notes.
• Quotes from your favorite authors.
This section isn’t about practicality; it’s about creating the vibe that makes you want to show up and write.
5. Use Digital Tools for Vision Boarding (Because Who Has Time for Glue Sticks?) 🖥️ Ps. This is totally optional.
If the idea of buying a stack of magazines and physically cutting out images makes you cringe, good news: Canva is here to save the day. I use Canva for just about everything…including the blog banner on this post.
Bonus Hack: Save your vision board to a Pinterest board and add new pins whenever you feel inspired. (Think of it as a living document for your creative goals.)
Hey Writer! Need Inspiration? Steal My Secrets! Check Out My Character Crafting With MBTI Guide!
6. Make It Visible (No Hiding It in Your Closet)
Your vision board isn’t going to help if you never look at it. Put it somewhere you’ll see it every day:
• Above your desk.
• As your laptop background.
• Printed and stuck in your planner.
The idea is to keep your goals front and center so you can stay focused—even when you’re tempted to scroll TikTok instead of writing.
7. Update It As You Evolve
Your writing goals are going to change, and that’s a good thing! Maybe you’ve finished the first draft of your book (yay!) and now you’re focusing on querying. Or maybe your dream writing aesthetic has shifted from dark academia to cozy minimalist. Refresh your board to reflect where you are in your journey.
8. Use Your Board as a Reward System
Here’s a fun twist: turn your vision board into a mini accountability partner. Check off milestones on your board, or physically move items to a “completed” section. Seeing your progress will make you feel like a productivity queen/king/monarch.
9. Manifest the Feeling of Success
Beyond goals, think about how you want your writing journey to feel. Add images or phrases that capture the vibes you’re chasing:
• Confidence.
• Creative freedom.
• The joy of holding your finished book in your hands.
This isn’t just about achieving goals—it’s about loving the process, too.
Final Thoughts
Cheers to big writing goals and bigger creative energy!
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