Writing resolutions for the New Year

Always be prepared (to get ideas down)

There’s nothing worse than having a bright idea and then losing it again. Many a writer has foolishly trusted in their own powers of recall only to find that the spark of inspiration has extinguished in the time it’s taken to find a pen, a laptop or a moment of peace. 

Find a small notebook you can slot into your back pocket or bag, choose a note-taking app for your phone (and get into the habit of using it) or try dictating and recording your ideas. How you capture the moment doesn’t matter, as long as you do.

Fill your calendar with competition dates

Competitions aren’t everything when it comes to writing, but they are a great way to keep you motivated. Look at writing competitions as more than just a potential opportunity to win; they can also help you finish work to a deadline. Entering competitions is also great practice for submitting to magazines or agents.

Get out your calendar and set yourself some competition deadlines to meet – you can start by having a look at our opportunities for writers (this link will open in a new window)page, and don’t forget to check out our monthly 50 Word Fiction (this link will open in a new window)competition.

Be a little braver

'Braver' can mean something different to every writer, but it’s one thing we can all work on. Being brave might mean opening yourself up to constructive criticism by joining a writers’ group, entering a competition or submitting to magazines or journals. It might also mean seizing the day and writing about a subject you were nervous about exploring.

We all have something we’re scared of doing when it comes to writing; use the New Year as an opportunity to be brave and see if you can conquer a few of your fears.

Dedicate more time to reading

The first (and perhaps most important step) to being a great writer is to become a great reader. If you’ve got your heart set on writing there’s a good chance you’re already something of a bookworm, but when real life is always trying to grab your attention it can be hard to keep up a regular reading habit.

Get back to your books in an easy and achievable way by promising you’ll read a little more every day. Set a target of 10, 20 or 50 pages and look forward to squirrelling away a little quiet time with words. After all, reading always counts as research if you’re a writer.

Set achievable goals

Try not to set yourself goals that are unrealistic, or that you don't have any control over. You want to get published, you want an agent, you want to hit the bestseller list or win a prize: all those are admirable goals to aim for – but that doesn’t mean they’re the right ones.

All of those goals have gatekeepers and the reason you might not achieve them isn’t necessarily anything to do with you or your writing. Avoid the problem by setting goals that you can control - such as a daily word target - and know that you’ll fail or succeed by your own hand and no one else’s!