Writing Resolutions
Every new year, many people make resolutions. Let's make some writing resolutions you can actually keep.
Yes. Yes. Even those who say, "My resolution this year is to make no resolutions!" They have already broken their own resolution, because the statement is a resolution in itself.
With writing, as with life, we need to remember to make goals achievable. If you have been very sporadic about writing for years, making a resolution to write 2,000 words a day every day for the entire year is one that is a tough one to keep. (Just like those who don't exercise much (me) decide to make resolutions to exercise for an hour every day (ouch), we are setting ourselves up for some failure there.)
Here are my suggestions for creating good resolutions that you can actually keep, and that might actually be able to be built upon come the next new year.
1. Start Small, and Build
Maybe you do want to eventually write 2,000 words a day. That is ok! But you can't start with that. Writing is actually very closely related to exercise. You start with ten minutes a day, then have it grow to fifteen, then twenty, then thirty... Keep it growing and growing all year long, and by the end of the year you could be writing those 2,000 words a day.
If it were me, honestly, I'd start with something like this:
January - 10 minutes on at least 4 days a week
February - 15 minutes on at least 4 days a week
March through April - 30 minutes on at least 4 days a week
May through June - 45 minutes on at least 4 days a week
July through August - 60 minutes on at least 4 days a week
September - 60 minutes on at least 5 days a week
October - 60 minutes on 6 days a week
November - NaNoWriMo!
December - Edit NaNoWriMo
Notice how I never go to 7 days a week (though November may force that). I am a strong believer that a day should be built in for rest, circumstances, etc. Sometimes it just can't happen for whatever reason. Make that day flexible, so you can take the break when you need it.
2. Give Yourself Time to Adjust
It is true that you may be able to get ahead on the above schedule, and that is ok. The important part is giving yourself time to adjust to whatever schedule you are trying before moving on to a new one.
3. Give Yourself a Break
You aren't perfect. None of us are. If you decide to try something like this, give yourself a break! Make sure you realize that you will mess up and make mistakes. Stand up, brush yourself off, and keep on trying.
4. Do it. Whether you want to or not.
The important part, if you really want to succeed, is to do it. Whether or not you want to, just do it. Write for that fifteen minutes, even if you aren't in the mood to do so. Pick up that pen, or pencil, or keyboard, and just do it.
And by all means, have a glorious and wonderful 2013! |