Dream to be a National Master

^That is quite possible actually. But still, everyone plateaus in different spots. Some people I know did cruise right through the 1800s and only started hitting a plateau later. But yes, it gets harder with every class

The road isnt linear. You will have progress, then a plateau, then progress again, and .......I guess that 1100 to 1800 is happening when getting a good understanding and quitting blundering. What the next steps is about I can not tell, because I am not there yet (the 2000 I meet is a lot more experienced than me and has a deeper understanding, I think houndreds of otb-games does a lot).   The difficult part is when you feel you are meeting the wall after a huge improvement. That wall stops many players, but if you keep on hammering it will sooner or later crack. My nephew Ola(that is exactly your age)met that wall at the age of ten. He was going for the child Norwegian championship and didnt make it. He was a favourite, but lost two very long, hard and close games. He quit chess and chose football and longboard in stead. A friend of him, Aryan Tari kept on playing , and have been maybe the most active Norwegian this decade. Aryan is  2535 Fide now and GM. He has played 1340 rated otb longchessgames, and that is really a big job done by a 16 year old.

dpnorman, when you meet higher rated opponents its difficult in the beginning, but you will adapt. After much time and work you are competitive at that higher level. 

There are many chess personalities. Playing many, a one will face soon or later exacly that type he can beat. And he will be higher rated than you. That will be your breakout. Thats how you crack and go higher levels and rating and skills. Being for example 2000 does not mean you can beat every 1900 or 1800. It's the same as 2100 and 2200 - you will win some of those guys who will make your rating go up. The only thing you have to to is to continue playing and trying and the same time that will improve you. The day will come that you will score 6.5/8 or simular on strong field and will boost you.

This simply isnt true . I started setting goals from the very beginning of my serious study/playing . I set very reasonable/achievable goals and as I reached a goal I would immediately set a new one . Every serious chess player I have known also set goals for themselves . 

You can do it! My personal belief is that most players can reach 2200 with diligent study, hard work, and practice.

What chess books have you read so far (or plan to read)? Are you going to be self-taught, or will you be working with a professional coach?

Have you joined any clubs or chess schools near you?

Best of luck!

Hmmmm... to become NM you need to be very serious about chess .  Someone who has been playing for years and doesnt even have an OTB rating is not very serious about chess . 

boy talk about getting all hung up on Ratings

@jengaias;  as you yourself have said. the magic formula to chess improvement is STUDY/WORK.  As you know chess Study, time, and effort don't have rating specific tags (Do XYZ for a 1870).

instead study as HARD and if these are OTB goals, play OTB as much as posible.

its worked for zillions for masters.

I'm sure there's some people that set expectations to reach a modest increase within a reasonable time -we can call those goals, and others that set very large distant ratings that they hope for; numbers that inspire them and encourage them.  we Could call them goals, too.

but to argue about what goals one should have seems silly to me.

again work/study as HARD as you can & as smart as you can. Oh and work/study even harder.I am pretty sure That is surely magic.  Most people Fail, not because they didn't pick rating goals

but because they fail to put in the effort required to further improve.

I set myself reasonable / achievable goals and made it to NM doing so ... how far have you gotten with your " jumps " method ?    

Just curious: what makes you think Reb made a lot of mistakes in his approach?

From what he's said so far, it sounds like he accomplished exactly what he set out to do.

If you made it to 2200 you should have a title  , why don't you ?  

2200 uscf would give you the NM title and 2200 fide the CM title . 

hhhmmmmm...   where did you play most of your chess ?  in which country did you win a masters tourney ?  The US NM title requires no norms , even the FM  fide title requires no " norms " .  Both require only a minimum rating .... 

It's possible. But not everyone has the same goals.

Some players want to compete, and are eager to rise as far as they possibly can.

Some set targets that they'd like to reach (like NM, for example), and are happy to stop once they reach it.

Others simply play chess as a hobby while they pursue other things that they consider more important.

It's a broad spectrum, with everyone following their own desired path.

This is certainly NOT true in the USA and I have been playing tournament chess since 1973 .  I asked for countries and you dont answer me . You are dodging questions and very vague in your answers . NM is not a FIDE title and not all countries award the NM title but I know 2 that do because I earned the NM title in 2 :  USA and Portugal . In which country did you earn your title and exactly what title is it ? Is your title a fide title or national title ?  

 Many players are playing only over the internet for years. Mostly for fun. But part of them improve to really high and strong level. In past several years the ways a chess player can improve without actually going to otb tournaments and clubs has vastly increased. They might not have chess clubs near or time and money to play over the board tournaments regularly. Just recently a player from my city with no rating (even no federation at all) played in 60+10 OTB tournament and defeated bunch of 1900-2000 players and even an IM and got performance of 2248~. And we do not have clubs near (~150km) or tounaments often , so he has not practiced at all.

Im 16, and im not join the chess school. So, can i get the NM title? If i do, what must i do to get the NM title?