We’re winging our way into another year, which means it’s time to start thinking about resolutions. It’s easy to bring out the conventional ones of going to the gym more, getting a new hobby, saving money, eating healthy. Those are all valid goals to reach for but as a writer, maybe it’s time to make them more personal to you.
There are a lot of objectives to set for yourself and as writers we do it year round. There’s always a word count to reach or a deadline to hit, but as we swing into a next year, here are five resolutions to help you on your way to a more productive year.
Prioritise your writing
When you’re busy and life is chaotic it’s easy to make writing the aspect of your life that falls by the wayside. I do it myself. When something’s gotta give, until you’re bringing in the big bucks with your novels, then writing is that thing.
Writing is also the part of your life that not everyone comprehends. It can be difficult to make your loved ones understand that it’s not just a hobby or an interest. That to you it’s so much more than that. Others can’t always comprehend that there are things that we will sacrifice for writing time, and that when you’re sitting at your computer getting words down, it doesn’t mean you’re not busy.
For your New Year’s Resolution make writing your priority. Set aside time, convince your friends and family that it’s important. Don’t let writing be the part of your life that’s always set aside. Sometimes it will be inevitable, but not every time. Get your butt in that seat and write those words.
Don’t obsess over word count
This isn’t necessarily aimed at the specific number of words but at targets in general. It’s productive to set yourself goals but if you make them too unattainable you’re setting yourself up to fail. Don’t make them so difficult to reach that you get disheartened before you even start, and don’t watch your word count obsessively. Concentrate on the story you’re telling and try to forget the number of words you’ve managed to get down.
Don’t wait for inspiration
Basically what this means is write even when you don’t feel like it. When you can’t be arsed, when you don’t know what you want to write, when the words just won’t come. Sit you tooshie down and try. Make this a resolution because if you wait to write only when the muse pays you a visit, then it’s going to be slow going. If you’re stuck, try changing formats. Swap your computer for a notebook and pen, but write in some way, because if you persevere, then you’ll break through the wall that’s stopping you.
Read a lot
You know that expression: You can’t be a writer if you don’t read. It’s amazing how many writers will say they don’t have time or they don’t need to. You do need to, and another expression is: if you can’t find the time to read then you don’t have the time to write.
Every time you read you learn. You’re observing styles, enhancing your vocabulary, absorbing plotting techniques that you never thought of. At the end of the day if you want people to read your books then you need to read too. And why wouldn’t you? Who doesn’t want to read? Books are amazing. It’s why we want to write them.
Don’t just call yourself a writer – be a writer
The first step is claiming the word writer and applying it to yourself, but more than that you have to actually write. All the things you do that are about writing like listening to podcasts, reading blogs, plotting stories, researching; they’re all useful but they are not writing. Until you slap those words down, you are not writing. To be a writer you have to write, so get to work. (You’ve almost reached the end of this blog so you can go and do some work now.) Write!
There they are. Five New Year’s resolutions to apply to your writing life. That doesn’t mean you can’t resolve to eat healthier or save money too. I am. But make your writing resolutions the ones you stick to and make this year productive.
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