So of course over the last two days every article I came across was in regards to sticking to the (writing) resolutions we make.  I’m still working on my list — a few items require an investment and I’m already becoming overwhelmed at the amount of things I’m even hinting at wanting to accomplish, both personally and professionally.  I’ve never been very good at the whole resolutions thing.  The idea of setting imaginary goals on one specific day of the year, only to be soon forgotten, seemed pointless when you can start each and any day with the same drive and purpose.  But now I sort of get it.  In the writing world, there are deadlines to be met, opportunities that come and go on an annual basis, and it’s good to be prepared right from the beginning of the new year so you know what to expect.

As I’ve learned, this is something that comes with age, time really does fly.  Days flow into one another to the point of not being able to remember what one did just two or three days before.  With a new year comes possibility.  There’s hope that this one will be different from the last, but this only works when we make a conscious effort to make it different.  We can complain all we like about our fates, but if we do nothing different, if we don’t alter our perspective and take action, then there is no one else to blame come the following year.  So the new year implies making the effort.  We reflect on our past actions and become mindful to not repeat them.

I have made a conscious decision to alter my ways.  I know I wasted too many days not writing last year consumed with depression over failed attempts at contests, not finding a “regular” job, and just a sheer lack of perspective.   Half way through the year I took notice and started to change, so that this year would be better.  Also, I’ve grown more lonely in an already lonely vocation, in part because I don’t have a “regular” job where I interact with people regularly.  So I watched too much Netflix and played too many video games, but I love doing both…This is something I vow to change this year by joining a writer’s group and volunteering.  I want to look back on my life and find it fulfilling, and the past year has not been that.  I told my sister that I had this silly notion that one day, when I’m successful and I’m being interviewed and the like, that I would like “them” to say, “Oh, wow, you do this, this, and this?  How wonderful!”  This is both a personal and professional goal, and though silly, may inspire me to do more with myself and my work.  It’s like having that Oscar speech, or what ever award you want to win, ready.  Most of us are prepared to thank those who helped us or inspired us along the way, and that in itself is a mental goal, that we would like to be standing in front of those esteemed people, worthy of being one of them.

So, here are a few links in regards to sticking to those writing resolutions.  I made note of many of them to help me as well — prioritize, make consistent, manageable progress, identify your big picture, discover and implement your 3 “NOs” as a writer, and a few more.  I hope they help.

LitReactor – The Top 4 Tips For Making Your Writing Resolutions Stick

The Write Life – 3 Steps For Creating Meaningful Goals

Chuck Palahniuk via LitReactor – 13 Writing Tips from C.P.

FabFreelanceWriting – 14 Easy Ways To Improve Your Writing Skills in 2014

Maybe as part of my own accountability, I’ll post my resolutions here.  If they’re out in the world, for anyone to see, it’ll probably hold me to them.

Best of luck and continued success!!

*Image from DL Koontz site