Writing Resolutions? They're Easier Than You Think.
Here are two tips to help you contextualize your goals and make your dreams reality in 2024.
You know what’s one thing I love? Making New Year's resolutions.
Hopefully you're not already groaning, "Oh, come on, the year just started! I’m still reeling from last year!” And if you are, I feel you. This past year has been hard on many levels, and I don’t want to add to the existential stress.
In fact I want to help relieve some of that pressure. I understand people’s resistance (and possible resentment) for setting goals or resolutions. And no, I don't always follow through with the ones that I’ve made in the past. In fact for a long time my go-to was "survive until the next one." Had a pretty good streak going!
But I've come to appreciate them more for several reasons:
1) It's a way to reflect on our progress, to see if our actions were aligned with our goals.
2) We can start planning for our glorious future, looking to lessons learned to see how we can improve ourselves.
3) Because… My birthday is today! January 3rd! 🥳🎂
Seriously, ask anyone in my family. They'll tell you I'm already making plans well into October for what I want to do in January. And its proximity to New Years makes it even more special for me.
So as you can see, I’m very passionate about setting goals. So let’s dive into two comprehensive pieces of advice for setting goals that are easier to achieve.
Set time based goals, not word count goals.
They say SMART goals are where it’s at. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. I’m going to talk about the last one in particular, because using my time wisely is one of my major struggles.
My last article was about the Three Alarm Writing Challenge, and how time based writing goals have helped me become way more productive. Starting with small but loose goal posts has helped me worry less about what I’m trying to make, but building the habit of making to begin with!
With something like a daily target word count, you might end up struggling to make sure you end up with the right words. We feel like it’s saving time spent editing in the future, but in truth we’re burning more mental energy than we need. You can test out if time-based writing sprints work well for you by following the instructions I lay out in the article.
Write an editable book, not just a good one
You’re probably used to seeing the finished product when you read a book, short story, or poem. Unfortunately that means we’ve forgotten about all the messy versions we need to make in order to get to that final draft. Some writers work on a project for years at a time with innumerable drafts along the way. But if you prep for the editing stages from the start, you can save yourself heartache and headache down the road.
So how can you make an editable book?
Make story beats clear for future you/your editor. Be painfully obvious about what your characters are thinking about or planning to do. Often for the sake of drama and mystery, beginner storytellers hold back too much which leaves readers and editors confused. You know your story instinctively, but someone from the outside may not. Take the risk to be direct and say something meaningful. Tap into the emotions of the characters as best you can.
Use simpler but complete sentences. I’m very guilty of writing incomplete sentences in my drafts, but my goal in that case is to get my thoughts out of my head and onto the page. If you’re worried about writing poorly, start by writing simply. You don’t need flashy writing in your first drafts, because you can always rewrite and reinvigorate prose. A clean foundation will help you focus more
Focus on the story with clear goals for the character and plot. What does your main character want? What problems are in the way? The events in your book will all tie back to these main questions, so knowing them from the start is crucial. While it’s easy and fun to go on narrative tangents–especially when your characters are hellbent on doing their own thing–you’ll feel less frustrated when editing if you draw your guidelines from the start.
Important note: The only truly perfect book is the one that exists in your head. Don’t look for perfection, because even after all your rounds of editing, you will think of new things to add or change. Instead, think of perfection as not a lack of flaws, but the ability to fly despite the pull of gravity.
Take Action
How can we make writing easier for ourselves in 2024? Look at your life and decide how you can fit a new outlook or technique into your writing.
I suggest starting with the Three Alarm Writing Challenge. You don’t lose anything if it ends up not working for you, but you could gain everything if it does. Or, you can search for another way to let go of your perfectionism. You know your mind best, and you’ll become a stronger writer for doing the hard work.
The reason I end every article with Take Action is because in the end that’s what we need: action. And maybe a bit of courage to bust through the fear that somehow we’re doing something wrong.
But we’re not. We are creators. The only mistake is keeping ourselves from creating.