Goals for Writers to Start the New Year

by Julie Lavender @JLavenderWrites

Happy New Year! Hard to believe another year has come and gone. Did you make New Year’s Resolutions for your writing journey? Or, like me, do you prefer to call them “goals” for a New Year?

I’ve never been one to set goals to write a certain number of words per day or per week. That method just doesn’t work for me. But I do like to have certain bullet points on my list I can check off at the end of a week or month. 

Here are some of writing journey goals I try to accomplish at least weekly. When I’m really ambitious, I shoot to complete each one on my list daily. Since this isn’t usually feasible, I give myself grace, and I’m happy if I get everything marked off by the end of one week. Then I start over again the next week. 

Sometimes, I make a blank chart of these goals and then print one a new one weekly. That way I can check them off as I go and even make notes right on the paper. 

Won’t you join me in setting some or all these goals for your writing journey this year? 

PRAY 

* Pray about personal writing projects.

Bathe everything you write in prayer!

* Pray for fellow writers.

Let’s face it—we ALL need prayer, and what an honor to pray for our friends.

*Pray for upcoming writers conferences.

Pray by individual name or in general!

* Pray for readers.

Ask the Lord to point readers to just the words they need to grow their relationship with the Lord this year.

WRITE

* Write a devotion.

Write about a recent event that taught you something about the Lord or your writing. Use the devotion as a reminder to keep your eyes open for what God wants to show you about your writing journey. Keep the devotion simply as a reminder or send in the devotion to a magazine, online or print, that accepts devotion pieces for publication.

* Write a query.

Think of an article, devotion, kids’ book, or other writing project that you’d like to write. Craft a query to an editor after outlining the piece. Plan to send in the query when it’s perfected and ready to go.

* Add words to a WIP (work in progress). Add a paragraph, chapter, or a certain number of pages to get you closer to completing the work. 

* Work on a proposal for a current WIP. Tackle the proposal section by section until you get it ready to send off to an editor or agent.

READ

* Read a chapter or two from a book about writing.

No matter how much we know about writing, there’s always more to learn!

* Read nonfiction. 

Read from a nonfiction book in a subject you want to learn more about or in a subject you’re currently writing about.

* Read fiction.

Pick a book in the subgenre you want to be published in (romantic suspense, historical fiction, and so on) or choose one for pure enjoyment to take your mind off a current project.

* Read the Bible.

This one should have been first because it’s the most important, but I hope you don’t even need a reminder. If this comes to as naturally as breathing, then pick up a faith-based Bible study book or Christian living book to further your journey with the Lord.

SHARE on social media

* Share a post or meme about God’s goodness and faithfulness. 

Easy to do, right? Because He is so good, all the time!

* Share good news about another writer. 

Create an announcement on social media highlighting a friend’s new release, recent podcast segment, or new blog post. Celebrate the accomplishments of fellow writers on social media!

* Share a tip for writers.

Post something you’ve learned that will help another writer.

* Share an update or good news about one of your writing projects or accomplishments

Bring awareness to some of your work with a post that exudes thanksgiving to God for the writing opportunity and/or brings attention to the publishing house or editor with whom you’re working. 

What about you? What writing goals have you set for the new year? Won’t you share them with me and fellow writers and readers here? 

TWEETABLE

Goals for Writers to Start the New Year from @JLavenderWrites on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Julie Lavender is the author of the recently-released picture book, A Gingerbread House, published by End Game Press. Julie’s excited to continue her writing journey on another trip around the sun and with the Son as she prays, writes, reads, and shares daily, weekly, and monthly throughout all the days ahead of a brand new year.