Every New Year means setting your resolutions, goals, or intentions for the year ahead. If you’re an aspiring author who wants to finally get your book out there to the world, then it’s even more important that you get crystal clear on what that process means. Without a clear vision of what you want to achieve, the road to writing success will be bumpy and frustrating.
So, here are my top resolution suggestions that will set up up for writing success in the New Year.
Set Goals to Become an Aspiring Author
An intention without a plan is just a dream and dreams don’t happen without solid goals. Take some time to really get clear about what you want to accomplish this year as far as becoming an aspiring author concerned. Be specific and as detailed as possible about what has to get done to advance your identity as an author.
In addition to getting clear about what you want to accomplish this year, try writing out specifics about how you intend to achieve those goals. Are you going to research your book more? Finally get that book outline completed? Connect with some published authors and ask them for some tips and advice? Start a blog? Buy new equipment like a new laptop or voice recorder to record your notes and inspirations?
Lastly, get specific about when these things are going to happen. Go down your list of goals and put deadlines on them. Generally, once there’s a sense of urgency behind a task, it pushes you to get it done.
Create A Perfect Writing Environment
Next, you need to make sure you have an environment that is conducive to writing. Every aspiring author needs to be a place that inspires them. It needs to have limited or no distractions as well as be a place that’s a sanctuary of sorts.
Some ways to create this perfect writing environment are to make sure the space is reserved for only writing activities. Doing this literally trains your brain that when you go there, you write. It will help you to switch on the creativity and inspiration quickly and efficiently.
So, what do you have in this environment that makes it perfect? Well, of course, you have all your writing equipment like laptop or computer (a typewriter if that’s the way you roll), printers, paper, etcetera.
However, you also need to make it a nurturing place. Some things I use to make my writing place comfortable and nurturing are my favorite scented candles, a salt lamp to help clean the air and add ambiance, photos of loved ones and pictures of my favorite places like beach scenes and scenes of places I’ve travelled.
Schedule Writing Time
This one goes hand-in-hand with setting goals. An intention that’s not scheduled is just a wish. You need to schedule writing time and stick to it just as you would any other important appointment you would make.
Generally, I schedule my time by adding it to my calendar on my phone as well as physically writing it in my yearly agenda book. I am a very visual person and the act of not only writing something by hand in my book but also being able to physically see it staring me in the face daily, helps to make it real to me. I also like to mix modern technology with old school agenda calendar books. That’s how I roll.
Some good scheduling tools that I use are Google Calendar, OneCalendar, and I really love Fringe’s 17-month Agenda books.
Eliminate Distractions
This one is extremely important especially when you’re an aspiring author. It is rare that you will be able to get quality writing done if you are being constantly interrupted. Make sure when scheduling your writing time, you pick a time when distractions from other people will be at a minimum.
Also, turn all your electronics to their silent or do not disturb settings during your writing time. I would guess that 99% of the texts, emails, and phone calls we all receive are not urgent in nature. You can answer them once your scheduled writing time is over. The same goes for checking your social media pages. They can wait until you’ve accomplished your daily writing goals.
Stop Procrastinating
Last, but certainly not least, stop procrastinating! I’m as guilty of this as anyone else and I can tell you that putting off your writing to-do list will hurt you and your writing career. It is far better to treat your writing as you would any other job you may have especially if your ultimate goal is to be an accomplished author.
