It’s that time of year again, writers! TIME TO SET SOME GOALS!
Here are mine. There are only three. “Simplify” is this year’s theme. Let’s see how I do.
Finish my current novel — I mean ACTUALLY finish
Per usual, I started a new book this year. And as I do at the end of every year, I’m pledging to definitely finish this one in the next 365 days. BUT I REALLY MEAN IT THIS TIME.
I’ve spent and wasted a lot of time over the past five years saying I’m going to finish things without ever doing it, and I’ve never had a good reason why. But I’m done making excuses. I loved working on this book in November, and I can’t wait to return to it starting January 1.
Otherwise known as today. YAY!
Find a “fun” writing project
I love this blog. I love writing books and I love setting and reaching toward goals. But I also don’t believe writing should always be “work” all the time.
You have to make room for fun. Even if that fun thing involves writing. Because we were never built to work all day every day, no matter what the modern professional world might say. We need to take breaks, and sometimes we just need to create for ourselves. I don’t think most of us spend enough time making things without the pressure of trying to make things other people will buy/read/judge.
So I need one writing project that I do just for me, one that’s all fun and no pressure to be perfect. It could be another book or it could be something creative I’ve never tried before. I just need something, and figuring out what that something might be will honestly be half the fun.
Keep this blog going for the love of blogging
I would love to say I could do something that really made me happy that also paid the bills. But after 10 years of upkeep, I think it’s safe to say this will never be a blog that could sustain even a small portion of my income. People love free advice, and I enjoy giving it too much to stop just because no one wants to pay for it. (But, you know, $1 a month would be great too.)
This year, I’m not going to stress about it, though. I’m just going to have fun. Keep doing what I’ve been doing, because it’s working and half the reason it’s working is because I love doing it. People follow people who not only share their passion, but also who aren’t shy about expressing it.
I’ve stuck with this for so long because it keeps me going just as much as I hope it keeps YOU going. It’s in a writer’s blood, this need to express ideas and share thoughts and SAY THINGS. My only overall goal is to help people, to help writers figure this thing out. If there’s ever a point I stop enjoying it, I’ll stop doing it. But that hasn’t happened yet, and I’m hoping it won’t for a very long time.
What are you hoping to accomplish this year? How can I help?
Meg is the creator of Novelty Revisions, dedicated to helping writers put their ideas into words. She is a staff writer with The Cheat Sheet, a freelance editor and writer, and a 10-time NaNoWriMo winner. Follow Meg on Twitter for tweets about writing, food and nerdy things.
Meg Dowell Writes 
Hi Meg,
I have several goals for the year. The first is to get the two books I’m working on published between now and March. The second goal I have is to keep blogging. People love my character interviews, so I’ll add more of those for your enjoyment. Not only that, I’ll reblog your fabulous tips, because I have found some great ones I can certainly use, although I don’t reblog every single post.
My third goal is to finish some projects I started since 2014 and get them off my external hard drive and into the hands of readers. Those are my goals this yyear.
I have a question for you, how would you like to have an accountability partner. We can hold each other accountable for our goals this year. Fill out the contact form on my site and let me know if you’re interested in being my new writing buddy.
Hi Meg. Happy New Year .
I only found your blog last week when searching for some writing tips and advice. I was immediately impressed by the topics you covered. There were no ‘do’s and don’t’ lists but some down to earth advice to help you look around the experience of writing itself. These posts certainly gave me food for thought as well as wiping out some pre-conceived ideas I had about attempting to write. This is how you have already helped me and I will continue to follow your posts with interest.
As for accomplishments – I will look to finish my first novel that I started last year, when I finally stopped dreaming and took the plunge to start writing.
I’m so glad to hear you find my advice helpful! I’ll be sure to continue. :) Good luck with your novel! You got this!!
Good luck with your goals :) I hope you have a fantastic year!
You too!!
Yay, goals!! I only set 3 as well. Simplify … I like that :)
Haha I bought a smaller planner just to see if I could stand to do fewer things! Progress.
Great goals for 2019. Happy New Year. I look forward to continuing to follow your wonderful blog and sharing your posts.
Reblogged this on Where Genres Collide.
I’m totally wanting to finish a novel this year as well. Which means rewriting it, actually, because I worked on it in Portuguese (my mother language), but the market here is… not good, so I’m considering reworking it in English. Hopefully I’ll at least be able to keep sane through the process. ;)
As for a suggestion of some fun writing, did you ever try collaborative writing as a hobby? Might be something to look into if you’re willing. I do it with a couple partners, and it’s really helpful as a way to unwind and relax, meet new people, and sometimes even combat writer’s block!
Oh, and happy new year! (Albeit belated)
Happy new year! Wow, I can imagine rewriting something in a different language will be a huge but hopefully worthwhile challenge for you. I wish you the best of luck. Keep me posted on your progress. :)
I will… provided, of course, that I don’t go insane and lose all of my language skills in the process! XD