Set New Writing Goals for the New Year
By Kelli A. Wilkins
www.KelliWilkins.com
Hi everyone!
Welcome to 2024! It seems like everyone is talking about making changes and setting goals. If you’re a writer, you may already have a
list of things you want to accomplish this year—or not.
If you need some motivation to get back into the swing of
things writing-wise, take some time to look back at what you achieved last year
and start thinking about this year.
Evaluating your writing goals now will help you get on target for 2024.
Perhaps you took time off from writing during the holidays.
Maybe your writing muse went on vacation to Hawaii and hasn’t come back yet.
That’s okay. It’s fine to take a break from writing for a while—but not too
long. (If you rest too long, you’ll rust!) Writing exercises, journaling, and
freewriting story ideas are great ways to revive your motivation.
What are your writing goals for 2024? Do you want to
finish the novel you started last year (or haven’t started yet)? Send out a
dozen short stories? Enter a contest? Now is the perfect time to sit down and
make a list of all you want to accomplish. Having a list of projects and
priorities will help keep your writing objectives on track.
For example, if
you’re determined to start a new book, make a timeline for research, character
development, plotting, etc. Give yourself a deadline for when you want to start
writing and stick to it. Decide how many pages or chapters you want to finish each
day/week/month. Little by little, your book will take shape, and you’ll be
amazed at your progress.
Need help getting
started? Check out my non-fiction writing guide, You Can Write - Really! https://www.kelliwilkins.com/you-can-write-really
No matter what your
writing goals are, a little pre-planning will help you focus and allow you to
flow from one writing project to another. Preparation also keeps you motivated
and fends off writer’s block, because you always have “the next thing” to work
on.
If you write magazine articles, are there any major
publications you’re targeting? Start brainstorming ideas now, make a list of
places to send queries, and check out potential markets for their latest
submission guidelines. (It’s also time to be thinking 3 to 6 months ahead and
plan those spring and summer articles.)
Write fiction? Have you found any new markets? Signed up for
online market newsletters? If you’re published in one genre (say, romance or
horror), are you going to expand your horizons and write a different type of
story this year?
Is the writing part going fine, but you need to develop (or
enhance) your online profile and/or marketing? Explore writing-related websites
and blogs, social media groups, and advertising opportunities for your work.
Are your blog, website, and author page(s) up-to-date? Should they get a
refresh (or a major overhaul) for the new year?
This is also the
perfect time of year to let go of things that no longer serve you. Simplify as
much as you can, and you’ll make room for new opportunities and events in your
life. This applies to everything—not just writing. For example, do you need to
clear out clutter? Recycle excess paper? Get rid of stuff you’re saving for
“someday”? Do you need to let go of relationships that are toxic or not working?
Now is a good time to reevaluate everything.
Everyone gets 24
hours each day, so choose how you use your time wisely.
Happy New Year!
Let’s make the most of it.
Kelli A. Wilkins
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kelli
A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short
stories, 20+ romance novels, and 6 mystery/horror ebooks. Her romances span
many genres and settings, and she likes to scare readers with her horror and
mystery stories.
She released The Route 9 Killer, a
mystery/thriller set in Central NJ, in early 2023.
Her paranormal/mystery romance, In Another World, was
published in 2022.
Follow
Kelli on her Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKelliWilkins
and visit her website/blog www.KelliWilkins.com for a full title list and social media links.
No comments:
Post a Comment