My latest novel has been the most difficult thing I’ve written to date, combined with other struggles in my personal life, and “You got this Travis” has become our mantra. It’s from a Vine video that my friend shared with me and it’s a simple encouragement that also makes me smile. (Be sure to turn on the sound.)

I feel like I’ve said this a thousand times, but writing is a solitary endeavor and if you want to succeed — whatever success means to you — you have to believe you can do it. Having others cheering for you helps, but at the end of the day, the words are coming from your brain out of your fingers to become your story. No one else can do the work for you.

I mention the varieties of success because I have writing friends (and an aunt!) who’ve hit the bestseller lists and want to continue on that path, while on the other end of the spectrum, one dear friend is content just to write and polish her stories so they’re the best they can be. Publication would be great, but it’s not what drives her.

Part of finding the motivation to succeed comes from understanding your goals and stating them clearly. Write them on a white board or piece of paper and tack them on the wall. Tell the people you care about if that kind of accountability helps you (or tell the internet and have THEM hold you accountable!). Whatever it is that keeps you going, being clear about your goals will help you accomplish them.

As the author of six self-published novels, I created every single one of my deadlines. There were various reasons for each of them, but I require structure and a timeline to do my best work, so I mapped out each milestone — finish each draft, design the cover, set up marketing, publish on bookseller sites — and for the most part, stuck to it. Sure, there were times when that little voice in my head wondered if it really mattered if I didn’t get my draft to my beta readers on the exact date I hoped (this was the case with my current book), but I did my best to power through without completing neglecting the other parts of my life. (Did I mention I have a day job as well?)

My point to all this is our goals are what we make of them. We all know people who say things like, “Oh, I’d love to write a novel but I just don’t have time,” or, “I’ll learn to knit someday,” (that might be me), and what I want to say to those people is: Why wait? Start now. Starting anything new is scary and uncertain, but pushing yourself into an unfamiliar space is how you’ll grow. We are never too old to learn new tricks (except hoverboards—watch out for those) and usually the only thing holding you back is yourself.

So in the wise words of the internet meme, you got this Travis.

I’d love to hear about your goals, especially something you dream of doing but have been too nervous/scared/uncertain to try.