I've been keeping a writing achievements list for about three years now, and it's been surprisingly motivating. Not just the big stuff like publications, but smaller wins too finishing a difficult chapter, getting positive feedback, sticking to a writing schedule.
Do you keep any kind of writing achievements list or track your progress? What do you include, and how has it affected your motivation or sense of accomplishment?
I keep a writing achievements list in a simple notebook. What I've found helpful is including not just the obvious wins like publications, but also process achievements.
Things like wrote for 30 days straight," "finished a difficult revision," "received thoughtful feedback from a reader," or "helped another writer with their work." Celebrating those smaller wins has been really important for maintaining motivation during the inevitable slow periods.
I don't keep a formal list, but I do have a folder where I save positive feedback from readers. When I'm feeling discouraged or stuck, I'll go back and read through those messages.
It's easy to focus on what's not working or what we haven't achieved yet. Having that reminder of the impact my writing has actually had on real people is incredibly motivating and helps put things in perspective.
I use a digital document for my writing achievements list, and I try to update it monthly. What's been interesting is noticing patterns over time.
For example, I can see that certain types of projects consistently lead to meaningful achievements for me, while others don't. That's helped me make better decisions about what to focus on. The list has become less about celebration and more about strategic insight into what actually works for me.
I encourage the writers I coach to keep what I call a progress journal" rather than just an achievements list. It includes not just what they accomplished, but how they felt about it, what they learned, and what challenges they overcame.
This creates a much richer record of their writing journey. When they look back, they can see not just what they achieved, but how they grew as writers and people along the way. That perspective is often more valuable than a simple list of accomplishments.
I track my writing achievements through the engagement and discussion my posts generate. When a piece sparks meaningful conversation in the comments or gets shared widely, that feels like an achievement worth noting.
What I've learned is that the posts that generate the most discussion aren't always the ones I think are my best writing. Sometimes it's the more controversial or personal pieces that really connect with people. Tracking those patterns has helped me understand what my audience values.