Happy 2021, fellow writers! Here’s hoping this year brings a better outlook for everyone. I want to talk about writing-based New Year’s resolutions today, and there’s an offer at the end of this post for those of you who need help sticking to them!
New Year’s resolutions anyone?
Okay, I’ll go first. Whatever happens this year, I’ve decided to concentrate on entering more competitions, specifically, I’m aiming for one a month. In addition, I’m resolving to… finish my novel! There, I’ve said it! On the internet!
Seriously, I think accountability is vital to success in writing. This doesn’t have to be accountability to other people. If you prefer, you can set yourself private deadlines for each section of your novel or project. The only problem is that self-regulated deadlines are MUCH easier to let slide than ones that involve real external human beings!
My advice, for what it’s worth, is to tell someone that you are going to write/finish your novel or project. Explain that you need them to keep you honest. Make sure they’re someone you are comfortable sending your work to (in all its first draft glory!). And pick someone you can rely on to keep reading the extracts you send. They don’t have to help you write or edit it, they just have to be a reader, a receiver of your words, someone who holds you accountable for producing your next chapter by an agreed date.
Let me be your accountability!
What are YOUR New Year’s writing resolutions? Leave me a comment below and let me know what you want to achieve in 2021. If you need an accountability friend, someone to check up on you, and remind you of your writing goals, just follow my blog and let me know in the comments below, and I’ll be delighted to be that for you. For nothing. Just to help you get writing and KEEP writing! By the way, this offer is not time-limited, so if you’re reading this in April, or October or whenever, you can still get in touch and get my help with your writing this year. Happy writing!
If you’re enjoying my website, please subscribe to my email list, it’s FREE! You’ll receive an exclusive e-copy of my BBC radio-broadcasted short story, ‘One February Night’, absolutely free (normally £4.99 from Amazon as part of an anthology). There will be no spam, I promise you, I detest it! You’ll only receive emails personally written by me, that let you know about new fiction and blog posts on the site, and contain extras like writing news and top tips. You’ll also be first in line to receive offers on free and discounted books and stories of mine.
