It's a new year full of possibilities. This last year was a crazy one for me, and honestly I unfortunately fell short on several of my writing goals for the year. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, or making excuses about why I did not achieve my goals, I am deciding to pick myself back up to try again, because I am just stubborn like that.
As part of the process, I am publicly posting my writing new year's resolutions. I figure if I make them public, I have more incentive to actually follow through with them. Without further fanfare, here is the list:
1. I will stop letting what others think I should write influence my writing. I will no longer allow naysayers to discourage me, but instead vow to prove them wrong. I unfortunately allowed some people who had nothing constructive to say about my writing throw me off track in 2011, and I completely regret it now.
2.I will make and keep realistic deadlines, publishing at least one book this year. 2012 is the year The Devil's Nightmare sees publication, period.
3. I will spend time every day promoting my books and stories, even if it is five minutes. I have been inconsistent in my efforts, and so my book sales have suffered as a result. Sales this past December proved to me that more readers would be interested in what I write, if I did more marketing. If I am to be successful, it is up to me applying myself consistently.
4. I will reach out to other writers more, supporting their work. Writing does not have to be a lonely task, and too often I have isolated myself as I have become consumed with my own problems. I have a lot to offer other writers, and can learn from them as well.
5. I will publish no less than two new Shades of Night stories this year, adding further to the series. These stories will be innovative, taking the series to a new level of creativity. I am not going to rush the telling of these stories, but rather let them flesh out to whatever length they need to be.
6. I will push the envelope in everything I do. Instead of comparing myself to other writers, or even to the successful writer ideal I have created in my mind, I will strive for my personal best every time I set out to write. I will be tireless in improving my personal best, using all of the available resources I have not used as I should.
There we go, those are my goals for 2012. These will do me absolutely no good unless I know about them and constantly check in with myself about my progress, making corrections as needed. I am confident that if I achieve these goals, by January of 2013 my writing career will be in an entirely different place than where it is now.
3 comments:
Yeah, promoting isn't a lot of fun, but it must be done. Supporting other writers and authors, however, is a lot of fun!
Sounds like good, attainable goals. Number four, though...I thought all writers lived in a state of isolation. Isn't it how the great works get written.
Alex, I agree on both points. I used to work in sales way back, and am quickly realizing that I must put my sales hat back on, even if I don't want to.
Lost, I have learned attainable goals are the only real ones making. As far as writing in isolation, there are some writers who do well that way and some who don't. I have found that I am a very social writer, since human interaction fuels my creativity.
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