Let’s Plan for Success in 2019!

By: Loni Cameron

2019 is upon us! The New Year gives us an opportunity for new goals. I’m not always one for resolutions – it’s hard to keep those. I prefer goals: reasonable, achievable, and specific goals. In 2018, I completed my first NaNoWriMo, with an almost finished novel I’m proud of! This was a huge achievement for me. Did I plan to do it? Not really consciously ahead of time. But did it feel good! So, for 2019, I think it is time for me to make some writing goals – or promises to myself (if you will). With concrete goals (promises) in mind, 2019 can be a year where I can feel accomplished by having some concrete purpose which I can achieve by the end of the year.  I hope you can make these promises to yourself, too.

1. Meet other authors/Join a group – This is one of the best things I’ve done for myself. I am part of the WCYR, but I also attend other writing groups. I surround myself with like-minded individuals, who share my ups and downs. I support other writers and they support me, including through purchasing their latest release, or bouncing ideas off each other, to working out the flaws in our projects.
2. Set a Reading Goal – You can’t write if you don’t read. It’s that simple.
3. Try Something New – Whether it is writing in a new genre, or having a new experience to write about, trying something new is important. I think we can all manage one new thing per year.
4. Get Words on the Page – You can’t call yourself a writer if you’re not writing. Get that idea down, even just the bare bones. Don’t let it get lost in the ether. Which leads us to my next resolution…
5. Be Okay with Bad Writing – That NaNo novel I’m so happy to have worked on, it’s not good. At least not yet. It was difficult, but I had to be okay with writing badly. I put words on the page, which can be then moulded into something better. Turn off your self-editor while working on your first draft. You can fix it later.
6. Don’t Compare Yourself to Others – This one is so difficult for most of us. In those writing groups I love so much, I do it. I compare myself and my writing to those around me. I need to stop and so should you. Let’s celebrate ourselves.
7. Get up! Exercise! – Writers sit. A lot. We write, we read, we research. These are sitting activities. If we’re feeling particularly languid, they can be lying down activities. Stay healthy, rev up your energy. Go for a walk, go to a yoga class, do Just be sure to have a notebook standing by for when inspiration strikes!
8. Enter a Contest/Submit Something – I haven’t done this one in a long time. We can’t move forward in our writing careers if we don’t submit out stories. It’s scary: you might get rejected. but it’s important. Do it! You might actually win! You might get an honourable mention! And your name is out there!
9. Have Fun with Your Writing – Write about that practical school joker. Write a Harry Potter fan fiction. Write some bad poetry. As long as you enjoy it, it was worth your time. And you’re writing.
10. You are a Writer, So Own It – This is another one I have a hard time with. But I shouldn’t. I’m proud of writing and my wild imagination. You should be, too! Let’s own our voices and get our messages heard!

I hope some of these resolutions/goals/promises speak to you. I hope you can promise yourself a more writerly 2019. Happy New Year!