If ever there was a year that could claim the title “Worse Year Ever!” 2020 is in the running! But as this year slowly crawls to a miserable end with no hopes of Christmas gatherings in sight, now more than ever it’s exciting to look forward to a brand-new year filled with possibilities and, with the very real promise of a vaccine, a chance to resume normal life in the near future. This could also be the year your writing career really takes off. If you’re looking for some realistic writing goals for 2021, here’s a guide to get you started.

#1. Resolve to THINK of yourself as a writer.

One of the hardest parts of becoming a writer is that when you’re still trying to break into the field, you often don’t feel like a bona fide writer until you’ve been published. But that’s not true! Being a writer isn’t defined by having an agent or publisher. It’s defined by when you consider yourself a writer and commit to a professional approach to your writing. One of the best ways to achieve that is highlighted in our next resolution:

#2 Resolve to WRITE on a regular basis, daily if possible.

Writers write. Books don’t happen overnight. It takes days, weeks, sometimes months slogging out the words to get a finished manuscript. The key is to not get paralyzed with fear as to whether the writing is good enough, or if anyone will like it when it’s finished. You must keep moving forward and develop as a writer through a lot of trial and error. This only happens when you show up on a regular basis and write. Remember—unless you’re George RR Martin, your novel isn’t going to be 500 pages. Set out with an end-goal in mind, knowing the market you’re writing for and set realistic daily writing goals. It won’t feel so daunting if you know where you’re headed.

#3 Resolve to FINISH a major work this year.

So often I hear of writers who spend years working on the same book. No doubt there are great works of literature that demand that, but if you’re hoping for a more commercial book then consider what’s stopping you from finishing it. Set a deadline. Force yourself to show up at the computer. Put out words even when it’s hard, when it feels like you have no inspiration. Sometimes that’s when the greatest inspiration strikes. And if you’re holding on to a manuscript that you’ve  been reworking for years, consider moving on and starting something fresh. The first book might have been your best, it also might have been an exercise in Can I Do This? The answer is yes, now send it out to get edited by a professional while you write the next book.. Don’t wait around hoping lightning is going to strike. It probably won’t. But if you start the next book while the first one is in the hopper getting edited, then pretty soon you’ll have two books, and when that happens, your confidence will increase and with proper feedback, your writing will begin to improve.

#4 Resolve to learn more about your CRAFT.

Writing is an evolving process. Like any sport or profession, you cannot get better at it unless you both practice it and get great coaching. Practice comes in many forms. Writing. Studying other writers. Reading books in your genre. Coaching can be found in the form of the many great editors who work on a fee-for-service basis, or by joining an on-line writing group that can offer feedback by peers. Here are some of my tried and trued tips to polishing my manuscripts:

  • Beware of overuse of dialogue tags. If it’s clear who’s speaking, consider taking them out and minimize -ly adverbs like said gruffly or loudly or softly unless absolutely necessary. If the dialogue is clear, the reader will know how the words are spoken.
  • Check for repetitive phrases. Overuse of identical words shows a limited range of skill in detailing events in your story. There are programs that will do this for you fast and easily, so invest in one and make your manuscript start to zing!
  • Eliminate any glaring typos. Trust me they’re there. Find them and eliminate them, including bad punctuation and missing periods.
  • Try not to overuse passive words like heard, saw, felt, realized, seemed, had been. Use the word search function and count the number of times you use each of the listed words. You will be shocked at how much you overuse this method of describing your character’s actions. Replace as many as you can with active descriptions. I heard a shot fired, is more exciting when it’s written as a shot zinged over my head. I felt a bolt of fear can be better stated as fear ripped through me like a bolt of ice.
  • Avoid overuse of backstory and flashbacks. Eliminate them whenever possible. Stories are best told in the present tense. Flashbacks and prologues are a bit like cheating. Find a way to weave the backstory into the present and your editors won’t get annoyed with you.
  • Don’t make the mistake of buying into the family and friends bandwagon who claim your novel is the best they’ve ever read. They are biased, even when they say they’re not. They can’t see the forest for the dangling participles. Find a good editor who doesn’t see you on Thanksgiving and pay for as much criticism as you can take. The only way you will grow as a writer is to hear feedback which is impartial and informed.
#5 Resolve to SUBMIT your work.

As scary as it is to face rejection, having a manuscript gathering dust in your drawer won’t advance your dream of being a writer. Better to be rejected and take the lumps and be part of the group of rejected writers than the group that never tried. Don’t waste time wallowing in self-pity if and when your manuscript gets rejected. This business is very subjective. Your manuscript might be great, it might be average. Doesn’t matter. The only way anyone will ever read it is if you make it worth reading. Work harder at learning the craft and develop a thick skin Having a query letter that begins with “All my friends think this is the best book they ever read!” Or even worse, “This book is the next (fill in blank) Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Twilight” will only send an agent running for the hills. Tell the agent what is unique about your story. Convince them you have a twist that hasn’t been done yet and they might ask for a few pages. DON’T send your entire manuscript with the query. Be careful to read their submission guidelines and follow them. They write them for a reason and get very annoyed when an author ignores them.

#6 Resolve to IGNORE that voice in your head.

If you’re a writer, you know what voice I’m speaking of. The voice that whispers It’s too hard. I’m not good enough. Why bother? It is so easy to shoot ourselves down. There are plenty of people out in the world who will do that when you do get published, so resolve to be more supportive of your dream. Think positively when you’re writing. Remember writers have the greatest job in the world. They get to create magic. Transcend reality. Suspend belief. Create anything they can imagine without limits. So be nicer to yourself. You can be a good writer if you work at it. If you’re lucky and have both the talent and the craft, you can be great.

#7 Resolve to try something DIFFERENT.

As writers develop their voice, they can sometimes get stuck in a rut. Their voice grows stale, repetitive, an echo of every other voice they have heard. Resolve to break out of your rut this year. Write in a fresh voice. Expand your idea of what is possible. Inject some new life into your characters. Challenge them to rise to new heights and they will take you with them.

#8 Resolve to EXPAND your network of writer friends.

Some of my best friends are fictional. Writers tend to be loners and the past year has driven most of us even further away from any new networking opportunities. This year resolve to build your network of writer friends. Make time to have coffee with them even if it’s on a Zoom call, and talk shop and writing progress. Keep track of writer’s conferences and plan on attending one when it’s safe. Your resolve as a writer will grow and your connection to writing will be strengthened by your friendships with kindred spirits.

#9 Resolve to READ.

The surest path to being a great writer is to read books by great writers. Read every book you can get your hands on. Don’t be afraid to scribble on them, circle metaphors you like, underline moving passages, highlight a turn of phrase that made you choke up. As you dig into other writer’s secrets, you develop a knowledge that will help you in your own writing.

#10 Resolve to NEVER give up on your dream.

Developing a career as an author takes time, patience, and resilience. When things don’t happen exactly the way we want, it’s easy to get discouraged. As we set off for 2021 my hope is that your writing dreams will come true. Remember, keep an iron jaw, and always keep writing!