I don't like resolutions. Resolutions tend to start out bright and shiny, and then become dull when something gets in the way or it just becomes too hard. Whether we're talking about losing weight, being more organized, or improving the quality of our lives or our writing, resolutions are make-or-break: an all or nothing mindset. Most resolutions fail because we aim too high or are unrealistic when we set our goals.
Instead, I love setting goals and making plans to accomplish those goals. January is the perfect time to create new goals. It is the blank slate, the fresh page on the calendar, the promise of beginnings; the perfect do-over. Forget your past mistakes and start again. Make this the year you become a better writer by setting realistic goals and making a workable plan.
Finding Time
Writing is a career, but it is also a way of life. In order to be successful, we have to incorporate it into our schedule, instead of always waiting for the perfect moment. How many times have you thought, 'I'll wait until the kids are older,' 'I'll really be a writer if I win that award for a month at a writer's retreat,' or 'I'll write when I have more time?'
If you really think you are too busy to write, sit down and make a list of everything you do in a day. Now really study it. If you are at work from 8am to 5pm, maybe you could write during your two coffee breaks or at lunchtime. Stay at home parents can sneak in some writing when the kids are napping or enjoying a video.