Writer Resolutions

Well, the new year is upon us as is the age old I-must-get-fit frenzy. Time to renew the old gym membership or drag the dirty clothes off the treadmill and get buff (perhaps while watching Buffy or Doctor Who). Besides my skinny jeans goal – I have loads of writerly resolutions as well. I know I'm not alone. I know there are people out there right now wanting to take their writing more seriously, wishing they could find time to expand on an idea or simply pick up a pen and scrawl their first sentence on a blank page.

I want this to be our year, people! 2011 is it. This is our time to focus, to stop making excuses, to believe in ourselves and our potential. You can write. I can write. In a few months we'll both be in our skinny jeans and revising a new work in progress. How are we going to get there? With resolutions, of course – hello, it's January.  I asked a few writer friends, and fellow Class of 2k10 members, to share their writer resolutions with us, so we don't feel so alone:

Jennifer Hubbard, author of The Secret Year, suggests: "Write what seems like fun, what you can't wait to write about, instead of trying to second-guess the market and write what you think you "should" write. Happy New Year!"

Thanks Jenn – and OMG – that cover is amazing.

~~++~~

Leah Cypess, author of Mistwood, offers this plan of attack: "I write in longhand, so this may not work for everyone; but the resolution that has always worked best for me (and that I plan to increase this year) is to turn off the computer for a set amount of time each day. I don't force myself to write during that time, but I always open a notebook and give myself the space to write – and the computer stays off whether I'm writing or not. No checking email on my blackberry, either! Happy New Year!"

Thanks Leah, can't wait for Nightspell, the companion to Mistwood.

~~++~~

Janet Fox, author of Faithful, kindly presents her resolution: "I have a couple of projects on the back burner that are way outside my comfort zone – maybe more fun to write but also more difficult – so I'm going to try and set aside one writing day each week to work on those projects, rather than just stick with the 'tried and true'. xoxo – and happy new year!!"

Janet – Faithful was an epic tale. I'm sure anything you write will be captivating.

 

~~++~~

And here's my suggestion for those about to start writing: Get a cool coil notebook and keep it with you at all times. Fill it your own words – with newspaper clippings – with anything you see, hear, taste, touch, smell, or dream that inspires a story idea or makes a character come to life.

Good luck with any resolutions you make. Happy 2011!