5 MORE Goals for the Writer in You
we all know that if you want your dreams to become a reality, you have to make it an achievable goal.
from “5 New Year’s Resolutions for the Writer in You” by Ania Kiplan
It was true before and it’s still true now. Just like with all your other goals in life, you have to have goals for the writer in you, too.
If you want to be a true writer, I’m sure you’ve started getting serious with your journal and daily writing attempts. But that’s not all there is to being a writer. A couple years ago, I gave you five new year resolutions for the writer in you that almost every writer probably knows. This year, I’m giving you five MORE to add to the list that you may not have thought of. So crack open your writing journal and get ready to add so more aspirations to thte list!

I will participate in all NaNoWriMos.
I believe in the magic of National Novel Writing Month if you haven’t noticed from my 4 reasons to do it. As hard as it may feel that November –trying to have holidays and write 50,000 words–you can do it. And doing so is so worthwhile. But, even if you can’t handle the enormity of the November challenge, Nanawrimo hosts two smaller challenges in April and July called ”Camps”. These ones are much more flexible and supportive, mimicking a virtual “writing retreat”. Thus, it tends to be more motivating to keep writing, and writing things other than novels. That is what every writer should be doing.
I will track my writing statistics.
Journals. If you don’t know my obsession with my writing, poetry, and reading journals, you’re missing out! These books help you track everything and stay inspired and organized in your chosen hobby (it can go beyond storyology). Keeping one is a dedication to be prepared and organized on your part, but it does pay off.
One thing I do in it is track my writing statistics. These are my tallies of what I’ve written, plan to write, will try to write, have written in the past, and am writing. Not only does it remind me how far I’ve come, it shows me how much more I am to do. Truthfully, it’s exciting. But maybe that’s just the nerd in me!
I will review and revise older writing to improve my skills.

You know you have those old drafts stashed somewhere–notebook, drive, traumatic memories. One thing about writing more is that your writing gets better along the way–practice makes progress, remember. So, it can be very eye-opening when you go check your old writings.
Go back and make them better and bring them up to par to do with them what you do with your current ones!
I will try writing different types and genres of writing.
Even if you have locked yourself into a genre (which is recommended many times), you still want to rustle your feathers and test the winds in other directions. Having tried varied genres also opens doors for subgenres in your work to bring in a bigger variety in your audience–meaning, potentially, more readers.
I will share my writing for feedback.
Feedback is how we get better, so you have to have someone who can read your work and give you an idea on where you excel and where you need help. This will usually be done by a beta-reader when you finish your story. But, I suggest that while you work (especially if you’re feeling stuck), you send pieces to your physical or digital writing buddy from your writing community.
I know it’s not always easy to take criticism, even when it comes with the best intentions. But I promise you, it will be worth it as your story comes together better than when you started, especially if you remember these 4 things.
I’m adding more to your plate, I know. But these are the things we do when we love what we do–like writing. If you really want it, you’ll make it happen. And you’re more likely to do that when you use SMART goals to start you off. So, that’s what I recommend you do and get going!
What have been your goals for writing and authorhood?
Let us know in the comments below and on social media, of course. If you want to see my goals, you can check them out on Facebook and Instagram.