Writers’ Resolutions

As each new year approaches, we savor the feeling of a fresh start. We make plans, set goals, and even those of us who won’t openly admit it probably come up with a few resolutions for the new year.

For many writers, those resolutions often involve word counts, page counts, and time in the chair. However, those quantitative measures can often leave us feeling like failures when reality hits and we just can’t measure up.

Others of us experience a similar sense of grief when we are unable to achieve goals that were never in our control in the first place. Goals that are dependent upon the whims and opinions of others can set us up for failure.

So, if quantitative goals tend to backfire, and goals that involve someone else’s actions can lead to unnecessary anguish, what’s a writer to do?

I’m glad you asked. The answer is, just WRITE.

Work for quality rather than word counts.

Word counts can be motivating, but precision, concision, and craft are the foundation of artful writing. Some days, your word count might actually shrink because you found a way to tighten your sentences and strengthen your impact. In such a case, a negative word count is a win!

Read books that you enjoy.

Don’t waste your time on books you think you should like; invest your time in reading books you truly do like. Gobble them up. Have fun. Read what you love. Pretty soon, you’ll realize this practice will help you write what you love.

Inform yourself.

Learn about craft, process, and the ins and outs of the writing world. Follow other writers’ social media accounts. Buy a notebook. Take notes. Sign up for online workshops. Register for a conference. You will come away smarter, and you’ll have made some terrific new writer-friends.

Take yourself on artist dates.

Schedule them. Put them on your calendar. Maybe once a week, twice a month, every full moon – it’s up to you! Visit a museum, go to a concert, sit and watch the sun set, or take a painting class. Flex your artistic muscles in some way other than writing, and allow the experience to feed your creative soul.

Enter contests.

You might win, and that’s great! You might not win, and that’s great, too! Contests have deadlines, and they force you to finish something. We all need that from time to time. Contests also give you an immediate sense of purpose and audience. We need that, too. Pick one or two or three, and savor the sense of accomplishment when you press “Submit.”

Okay, the countdown is on. It’s almost time to say, “Happy New Year!” Get ready for that fresh start, and resolve that you are going to enjoy your writer-life in the coming year. Just WRITE!