Tips on Making New Year's Resolutions for Authors

If you are an aspiring author, here are some tips regarding your writing resolutions for 2012.

1.  Your goals should be precise and measurable.

Don't make your writing goals something vague like, "To write more in 2012".  Instead, make resolutions that are specific such as writing a certain number of pages per day (or per week, or per month), revising a specific manuscript by a certain date or entering a specific writing contest.

2.  Make your goals realistic.  

Instead of resolving to write ten pages a day, resolve to write just one.   This decreases your chances of getting discouraged and giving up right away, and you will feel a sense of accomplishment if you meet, and even exceed your goal.   

3.  Achieving your goal should be something you can control.

Don't make your goal to be published in a book, literary journal or magazine in 2012 (unless you plan to self-publish) as you cannot control this outcome.  However you could resolve to send a query letter to a certain number of publishers, or make submission to a certain number of journals or magazines.      

4.  Put your goals in writing and put them somewhere you can regularly see them.

Putting your goals in writing makes them seem real, and you are less likely to forget about them if you are reminded of them daily.  Put your goals somewhere you will see them, such as on your fridge, or even have them as your background on your computer.  

5. Keep track of your progress on a regular basis.

Check every week, or at least one a month, to see what progress you have made (in some software such as Microsoft Outlook, you can even set up regular reminders).  If you haven't made any, what changes can you make in your life to put yourself back on track?

6.  Begin today.

If you keep putting off taking steps to achieve your goals, another year will pass without you getting any closer to your dreams.  

For example, if one of your goals is to take a course on creative writing, start researching ones in your area and sign up right away.  Or if you want to set aside a certain time of day for writing, decide on the time and place and start writing when the time comes (no excuses). 

Good luck everyone!  Feel free to share your writing goals in the comment section below.