It’s that time of year again when my social media feeds are full of ads for programs designed to boost your creativity and your productivity in the new year. People are making posts about their “word for the year” and for the low price of only $19 or $79 you, too, can have the magic wand to make all your writing woes go away in 2025. Everybody wants to help you start the new year right, if only you pay them. I have an easier way, one that helps you find what’s working for you and what you want more of in your writing.
After all, I don’t want to be pessimistic, but I think anyone who has been in this business knows that a single class or a single word isn’t going to fix everything we’d like to fix about publishing. And instead, focusing on starting the new year right by repeating success is always a good way to focus on your writing career.
That being said, what can you do to help your writing career in the new year? Instead of giving into new year gimmicks, which like resolutions, a lot of us purchase (or make) and then forget about halfway through January, take time to put your creative powers to use.
Ask yourself these questions:
- What worked well for me this year?
- Am I happy with what I’ve written?
- Did writing come easily and did it act more like something I did for myself or was it a chore?
- What would I like to do more of?
- What would I like to do less of?
Those five questions will help get to the heart of what is working for you and help you start the new year right when it comes to your writing career. Depending on if you feel ready enough to disclose the answers, they may also make good blog posts or ways to share in your writing groups. I’d love to hear what worked well for you this past year and what you’re carrying into 2025. Drop me a comment below!