Not sure what goals to set for yourself as a writer in 2015? Proof Positive has some ideas for you that will help keep your writing career on track whether you’re a first-time author or a highly published author.
- Write every day. Stop rolling your eyes. We don’t mean you necessarily have to write some of your novel every day. You could write a poem about how difficult it was to get your kids to bed that night; a haiku about the horrible/perfect/head cold-inducing/makeup-ruining weather; a dialogue between you and your character about why he or she does or doesn’t like the direction the story is going and what you could do differently in his or her favor. In other words, ANYTHING to keep your creative juices flowing and your sense of writing accomplishment high. Remember, you don’t just write, you are a writer, and writers are always writing, no matter the subject or the format.
- Read wisely. Of course you should read whatever books interest you, but some strategy to forward your knowledge in your field of writing is a good idea. Whether you make sure to read more books in your genre, more lit theory books, or more bestsellers, you will improve your craft by understanding it through others’ eyes. That perspective is priceless. That perspective gains you wisdom you can’t gain just by writing.
- Make an investment to force yourself to publish. There was a blog post in 2014 by a writer who bought himself a laptop just to force himself to write to make sure he didn’t waste the money he’d spent. It worked, and he wrote every single day at lunchtime and found that he wrote far more often because of it. You may not want to spend quite that much money, but a smaller investment, like buying a really beautiful, inspiring notebook for yourself, can force you to prove the money wasn’t a waste; it was a means to secure your writing career. And that is worth every penny.
- Enable yourself. Whatever inspires you, whatever gives you the jumpstart you need, don’t deny yourself, and don’t feel silly about it. Your confidence in allowing yourself to draw, take karate, eat out by yourself, take on DIY projects that are achievable, etc. will improve your confidence when it comes to writing. Even small things like making sure you have your favorite kind of pen in every desk, coat, and notebook you use will boost your belief in yourself and your investment in your writing career. Nothing is too small and nothing is ever silly.
- Get your name out there. You can do this in so many ways, including keeping your blog updated at least once a week, even if it’s just with your struggles as a writer; interacting with other writers via social media; starting a YouTube channel on…anything; submitting works to various publishing houses and literary journals no matter how small or large; reviewing books on Goodreads; joining a writing group in person or online. Your author platform starts by putting yourself out there, and the Internet has made that the easiest thing in the world. You’d be surprised how easy it is to get involved in your author platform once you get started.
How many of these goals are on your New Year’s resolution list? Let us know in the comments below how you plan to make 2015 your best writing year yet.