Let’s talk about New Year Resolutions for Writers. When I was younger, I would update my goals each year and sometimes even modify them throughout the year. Goals were exciting back then. They were a way for me to challenge myself and review my progress. I had a three-ring binder divided into four categories; mental, physical, financial, and spiritual/emotional.
Throughout the year I could pull out my binder and see where I needed to focus more attention or where I was overachieving and refocus on other areas.
I would cut out articles from magazines or write down ideas that I wanted to try and put them in the binder to review when I needed inspiration or motivation.
Mental goals included things like; learn 50 new words in Spanish, earn a new certificate in an interesting field of study, and meditate for 30 minutes each day. So I would print out the 50 words I wanted to learn and include that page in my binder. I would also print off a sheet for each of the interesting certifications I might be interested in pursuing. And so forth.
Physical goals included things like; get 8 hours of sleep each night, learn 5 new moves in a martial art, and try a new workout each month. For this category I would print out a page outlining the steps to a new Jiujitsu throw or Taekwondo kata. I would also print off examples for the new workouts I wanted to try that year.
Financial goals included things like; put $500 into an emergency fund, pay off my highest interest credit card, and increase my yearly income. For this category I would print off spreadsheets of my current spending and savings, so I could determine where I could cut back to put more into my emergency fund. I would also print off ideas for side hustles or jobs I could do to increase my yearly income.
Emotional/Spiritual included things like; say something nice about myself every day, keep a dream journal, compliment someone every day. For this category I would print off motivational mantras and positive quotes that made me happy. I would also keep blank pages to keep notes of dreams or experiences that touched my heart, like conversations with people I found inspirational.
Setting goals can be fun and rewarding, no matter how you work on them. So let’s look at some goal ideas for writers.
- Sit down and write! Something important for writers is to share their story, their truth, without worrying about what others might say or think. A good resolution might be to write at least 1 paragraph every day. You can write more, so much more, but aim for a paragraph every day. It doesn’t have to be great. You can write a paragraph about your drive to or from work, or write about someone you saw at the grocery store. Just sit down and write something every day.
- Post on social media. A lot of writers would prefer to hide in their bedroom with their laptop, but it’s important to stay in touch with your readers. Just a simple post about something going on in your life or your story is great. Share a picture. Share a poem or a thought. Just set yourself a goal to post every week, although every day would be better.
Publish something. You don’t have to publish a full novel this year, or even a short story. Publish an article or guide to your blog or to Reddit. Publish a list to Listicles, Cracked, WhatCulture or other similar sites. Set a goal to get something published this year. - Try something new. In 2015 I saw a request for short stories that were based on popular fairytales but had a zombie twist. I immediately decided it would be a good practice to stretch my creative muscles. I wrote The Seven Ravens and it was accepted into the Once Upon An Apocalypse anthology. Trying something new can be fun and a great exercise for strengthening those writing muscles. Step outside your comfort zone and try writing in another genre or another format such as journalism.
- Read a guide. Writers do love to read, but push yourself a little and try reading something from the non-fiction category. I absolutely love motivational books, but I’ve also found a lot of value in reading books about marketing, manifesting, and self help. There are so many great books out there. Step out of your favorite genre and try something new.
- Start a journal. Journaling can be an excellent way to to keep your creative juices flowing, but it can also give you deeper insights on areas of your life you might want to improve. If you already keep a journal, then you could set a goal to write in it every day, or expand the topic to include documenting something new, like dreams you’ve had or story ideas.
- Talk to other writers. You can learn so much from even a brief conversation with another person who works in the same industry. They might have a new writing method, or marketing tip that completely changes the game for you. There are groups for writers in almost every part of the world, but you could start out by finding a few groups online and joining in their conversations. Once you gain a little confidence, you can start meeting with groups at local bookstores, retreats, and other venues.
- Take time to recharge. Don’t be afraid to step away from your writing and just take time to breath and think. Like I mentioned at the beginning of this article, I always set aside time for meditation. Run a hot bath and just let yourself relax. Set aside time to calm your mind and your body. Set a goal for 10 or 15 minutes a day. Lay down on the couch and close your eyes, or do whatever you find most relaxing. Just let yourself rest and recharge.
I hope I’ve given you some ideas. The most important thing to remember is to set goals that you can achieve. Keep things realistic, attainable, and measureable. Most of all, have a Happy New Year!
