5 Writer Resolutions for the New Year

Every year we all think of resolutions, or things we want to do better, in the new year. We write down a couple of things, like lose weight or get a better job or quit a bad habit.

Sometimes the resolutions are things we have no intentions of doing. Other times we do a resolution for a while and then let it drop.

How many times do we actually follow through with these resolutions? Seldom, if ever.

As a writer, I decided to go at this resolution things a little differently this year. I want to be a successful writer this year.

And I have every intention of fulfilling that goal. Now what resolutions do I vow to do?

1. Set goals

Every writer needs goals. At least I think so. Of course, it’s only my opinion.

If I don’t set goals, I have nothing to work toward. Like this past year, I didn’t set many goals. As a result, my writing wasn’t the best.

For the past few days, my thinking has gone into high gear. I am working on setting goals for next year. I am determined to achieve whatever goals I set.

2. Stop procrastinating

I am a horrible procrastinator. If I can figure out something to do besides write, then I do.

Social media is bad for me. Everything I have read says I need to build my writer platform so social media is the way to do it.

However, I don’t think I am supposed to spend three or four hours on Facebook and Twitter every day. I vow to use them less. In fact, I might even get one of those social media blocker so I am not even tempted.

This doesn’t achieve anything for my writing goals. If I am calling myself a writer, then I need to be writing. Right?

I think one big thing that will help me with this is the fact I have joined a writing team through a group on Facebook. Anyone in 10 Minute Novelists had the chance to sign up for 365K Club.

Each person who signed up was assigned to a team. The goal is for each person to write 1000 words a day. Each team member supports the other team members and keep everyone writing for the entire year.

Sounds like a big feat, doesn’t it? Not really. This blog post is almost 1000 word.

However, I am very much looking forward to the challenge. I need something like this to keep me accountable.

3. Keep reading

Writers are readers, too. I was the biggest book worm growing up. My mom even claims my nose was always stuck in a book.

Nowadays I don’t read as much as I did as a child. But I still read plenty of books. They tend to be books about writing.

I want to get better writing novels, and I struggle with plotting. So guess what books I am reading now? Yes, books about plotting.

I do occasionally read fiction. I have borrowed some Nora Roberts books from my mom, thinking I might give romantic suspense a try.

Reading books not only educates us on various topics, but we become better writers.

4. Try something new

Like I mentioned above, I struggle with plotting. I have tried outlining in my own way. I have tried outlining using Rob Parnell’s suggestions from his book The Easy Way to Write a Novel That Sells.

I really thought Parnell’s outlining was going to work for me. However, as I restarted a novel for National Novel Writing Month, I realized I wasn’t as prepared as I thought I was.

Again, this could stem from my plotting issue. I am not sure.

I have decided to give K.M. Weiland’s method a chance again. I am reading her Outlining Your Novel and Structuring Your Novel.

I am thinking about the types of novels I want to write when I finish writing the third book of my trilogy. I enjoy writing about real issues, like emotional abuse, as was the topic of my trilogy.

However, I have read that romance and thrillers are the biggest sellers. My question becomes do I want to write what everyone else is, or do I want to write what I feel and know? Tough question.

5. Call myself a writer

I don’t know why, but I have a hard time telling people that I am a writer. Maybe it’s because I am not making much money at it yet.

I have no idea. I mean I have nothing to be ashamed of. I have published three books – one nonfiction and two fiction. They may not be the greatest, but they are mine, all mine.

From now on, I vow to call myself a writer. Heck, I will even pass out my business card to people to prove it.

Final thoughts

Whether you are a writer and/or a reader, we all have things we could work on in our lives to make them better. I know I have other things I need to work on, but writing makes me the happiest.

What are your writing resolutions for next year?