Dream Big, Write Boldly: Introducing the D.R.E.A.M. Framework for Writing Goals
Do you remember why you started writing?
I wrote my first story when I was six. It was wacky, it was fun, and it brought my imagination to life on the page. I loved writing because I could bring my dreams to life on the page. And from that point on, I was hooked.
Maybe you started writing to tell stories that made people laugh, cry, or think. Maybe you had big ideas bubbling up in your mind, and writing was the perfect way to bring them to life. Or maybe, like me, you loved the fun of creating something completely your own—a world, a character, a poem. Writing can be an escape, a way to express feelings, or even just a quiet adventure you get to have every time they pick up a pencil or open a notebook. How cool is that?
Whatever brings you to writing, you're a writer. You might spend your time typing away on your laptop, scribbling in a notebook, or plotting in your head during your morning commute—or you might be in a collection phase where you read and watch stories and imagine the stories you'll tell. Wherever you are, you're bringing your dream to life.
Writers like us dream. We dream of gripping novels, fantastical worlds, or collections of stories that captivate and inspire readers. But dreaming isn’t enough. To turn those dreams into reality, you need a plan. And that’s where the DREAM framework comes in.
The DREAM framework is designed to help you envision your big picture—where you want to go as a writer—and build the kind of goals that not only inspire you but also keep you on track.
What is the DREAM Framework?
DREAM is about setting a foundation for your writing goals. Each part—Daring, Resilient, Empowering, Ambitious, and Meaningful—represents a quality that will help you dream big and keep moving forward, no matter what your writing life looks like.
D – Daring
Being daring is about pushing past fear. Fear of failing, fear of rejection, or maybe even fear of being “not good enough.” A daring goal challenges you to step out of your comfort zone and take risks that will help you grow as a writer.
For example, this could mean submitting work for publication for the first time, writing in a genre you’ve never attempted, or signing up for a writing competition. Daring isn’t about perfection—it’s about courage.
R – Resilient
Setbacks happen. Deadlines get missed, ideas stall, and rejection sometimes feels personal. What makes a goal resilient is its ability to adapt. A resilient goal builds in flexibility and offers multiple strategies to achieve it, so when one path falters, you can pivot and keep going.
For example, if your goal is to build an audience for your writing, but social media feels overwhelming one week, you might switch gears to connecting through a writing group or joining a workshop. Resilient goals are designed to overcome obstacles without losing their momentum.
E – Empowering
Writing goals should energize you, not weigh you down. Empowering goals make you feel capable, in control, and excited to sit down and do the work. They remind you why you started writing in the first place.
When you think about what it will feel like when you've achieved your dream, it should leave you feeling motivated and inspired. Empowering goals are all about rediscovering your creative spark.
A – Ambitious
Ambitious goals challenge you practically. You might take on a project that stretches the limits of your writing skillset, demanding that you level up your craft to accomplish it. Or you might take on a project that requires an increase in the time and focus that you put into your writing.
It’s about testing your limits. Ambitious goals keep you reaching higher.
But ambition doesn’t mean overworking yourself. The key is to balance that challenge with achievability. Ambition should inspire progress, not burnout.
M – Meaningful
At the heart of every great goal is a deeper reason that makes the work worthwhile. Meaningful goals connect you to your purpose, whether it’s creating art that resonates with readers, preserving family stories, or simply writing as a form of self-expression.
What makes a goal meaningful is the personal connection behind it. It’s not just about what you’re doing—it’s about why it matters to you.
DREAMs fuel your big picture, helping you dream big while staying grounded in what matters most.
To bring the DREAM framework to life, meet two aspiring writers—Emma and James. They each have their own unique challenges and aspirations, but with a little guidance from DREAM, they’ve found clarity and direction for their goals.
Emma – The Murder Mystery Author
Emma is captivated by the suspense, clever misdirection, and intricate clues that define the murder mystery genre, but she finds herself second-guessing whether she can pull off the complexity required. DREAM helps her stay focused and overcome her inner doubt:
Daring: Emma’s daring goal is to come up with a plan for her mystery novel and write the climactic reveal of her murderer before she’s finished drafting the rest of the book. She is worried that knowing the ending will make her twists feel predictable, but she knows that despite that doubt she needs to know the end to craft a complex plot. It feels unsettling and backwards to write out of order, but by conquering this key scene, she’ll build confidence in the puzzle she’s creating.
Resilient: Understanding how plans can go astray, Emma plans to map out backup ideas for her mystery’s red herrings and subplots. That way, if her original twists feel too predictable or stilted, she’s not stuck staring at a blank page, overwhelmed.
Empowering: Emma loves the great detectives like Sherlock Holmes. She's wrestling with the belief that she can't create a story “clever enough” to captivate readers. To push back against this thought, she studies mysteries she loves, breaking them down into patterns of how suspense and reveals unfold. Dedicating time to this both builds her skills and reassures her that every great novelist hones their craft one book at a time.
Ambitious: Emma has set an ambitious goal to have her manuscript ready for readers within a year, with a milestone goal of creating a complete outline in two months and drafting ten polished chapters over the next six months.
Meaningful: What drives Emma is her desire to create a mystery that keeps readers guessing until the very last page. Drawing inspiration from her favorite books, she imagines writing the kind of novel that people can’t stop thinking about, even months after they’ve solved the puzzle.
James – The Fantasy Novelist
James is a fantasy writer with a sprawling trilogy in mind. He’s passionate about creating immersive worlds and complex, unforgettable characters, but he sometimes struggles to focus his creative energy. DREAM helps him streamline his ambition:
Daring: James’s daring goal is to finish the first draft of Book One, even if it feels messy or imperfect. Although writing one book might seem like a smaller goal than writing three, for James narrowing it down to a single book feels scarier because it makes the project more real.
Resilient: Recognizing that the creative process is unpredictable, James sets up checkpoints. If writer’s block strikes, his Plan B involves switching focus to world-building notes or sketching out character arcs for later books in the trilogy. He knows that these activities help keep his creativity flowing and that he's making progress even if the word count doesn't budge.
Empowering: James often battles the thought that his fantastical world isn’t “original enough” to stand out in such a crowded genre. Doubts creep in and he imagines readers making fun of his worlds for being unbelievable. To combat this, he empowers himself by drawing on inspiration from his heritage, weaving cultural traditions into his story’s magic system and lore. This reminds him that his voice and perspective are what make his work unique.
Ambitious: James aims to finish and submit the completed draft to his editor within six months. The deadline pushes him to focus on storytelling rather than getting caught up in over-editing.
Meaningful: It’s most meaningful to James when he creates worlds that readers can step into and lose themselves in. Crafting a richly imagined trilogy like the ones that inspired him as a kid gives him immense purpose. His daughter has the same strong imagination, and James can't wait to show her the finished book.
Bringing DREAMs to Life
The DREAM framework doesn’t stand alone—it pairs perfectly with SMART goals to make your big-picture vision achievable. Once you have your DREAM, break it down using SMART goals to help you take it one step at a time.
A SMART goal is:
Specific: Clearly defined and focused on one specific outcome.
Measurable: Progress can be tracked and measured objectively.
Achievable: Realistic and doable within the given timeframe.
Relevant: Connected to your overall vision and aligned with your DREAM goal.
Timeboxed: Has a clear deadline for completion.
Think of SMART goals as milestones you'll reach along the way to achieving your DREAM. (And stay tuned for more posts on how to use these frameworks to set effective goals and manage your writing projects.)
Your DREAM Is Within Reach
Every writer has a story they’ve dreamed of telling, and that story starts here—with big, daring, meaningful goals that bring excitement to the writing process. Whether you’re drafting novels, crafting impactful short stories, or creating immersive fantasy worlds, DREAM gives you the framework to face challenges, stay motivated, and achieve what you once only imagined.
Here's a recap:
Daring – Push past fear and tackle the challenges that intimidate you.
Resilient – Create goals that can adapt when plans go awry.
Empowering – Set goals that fuel your passion and make you feel confident.
Ambitious – Challenge yourself practically with craft or workload.
Meaningful – Stay connected to the purpose and passion behind your work.
Now it’s your turn. What’s your DREAM? Which daring step will you take today? Writing is both a challenge and a joy—and with the right goals in place, you’re ready to make it happen.
The page is waiting. Pick up the pen and dream boldly.
