New Year's Resolutions for Writers

Happy New Year!

Right about now is the time that everyone is creating their new year's resolutions. Writers, of course, really aren't that different from normal people. I mean, aside from the fact that our imaginations are on overdrive, we strategize plots while staring at random people (but we don't realize we're staring until we've already be noticed), and our Christmas lists consist mainly of books, pens, pencils, notebooks, etc., we're just like everyone else. Right?

Well, maybe we're a unique breed. But still.

So, while 'normal' people are making their resolutions, what kind of resolutions do writers make? Well, I'm certainly not an expert. But here are a few ideas that may give you insight and inspiration.

1. Have a daily, monthly or yearly quota. Now, this may be very small for some, yet a huge amount for others.  That's okay—customize it to fit your schedule and preferences. But just 100 words a day would get you to 35,600 words in a year—that's a novella. If you were to crank out 500 words every day? That makes a whopping 178,000. That could get you two or three novels. In one year.  Even just 50 words per day is progress if you've got a tight schedule. A good way to stimulate this is to put that one book you're just dying to read in view, and then don't let yourself read it until you've met your quota.

2. No writing until chores are finished. Now, this may be a no-brainer. But really, who doesn't procrastinate their work at some point by writing? I'm one of those people who will probably let a lunch-dirtied kitchen set dirty for a couple hours after the meal is finished because I really don't want to get out of my chair to clean it. I mean, writing. It's kind of demanding. So this would actually be a good resolution for me to follow...

3. Go old-school: use a notebook regularly. I don't mean just for random plot bunnies that hop into your mind or good quotes you want to use in your WIP.  I mean for writing. Noveling (I don't even think that's a word... #sorrynotsorry). Write dialogue and description and... a book. By hand. In this day and age, I don't think we appreciate the writer's cramp that people went through before computers were a thing. Not to mention it's a great resolution to make if you're trying to have less screen time.

4. Blog. Now, for some, this isn't possible, and that's okay.  But for people like me that do blog, it's actually got several positives. For one thing, it gathers for you a following of people, and this will come in handy when you publish that dandy WIP sitting in your closet. For another, it helps you connect with other writers, and introduces you to great communities. Even if you can only blog once every couple of weeks, it's also a great way to actually write. You could add blog content to your daily word quota.

5. Venture into a new genre. Whether it be a little-known genre or just new-to-you, stepping out of your comfort zone and level of expertise is a good resolution for a writer to make. Not only does it make your resumé that much more impressive, it also broadens your horizons—and knowledge.  No matter what genre it is, it's going to take research.  Plus, it inflates your audience.

Do you have any writing resolutions? What's your favorite? How are they working for you so far?