10 Great Writing Resolutions (And Why You Should Make Them)

Have you thought of your resolutions for the coming year yet? Setting goals is especially important for writers. Why? Concrete, achievable writing resolutions can help you to develop good habits, stay motivated, and even avoid the dreaded writer’s block.

If you’re looking for some great writing resolutions for next year, we’ve got you covered. Here are 10 great writing goals to tackle in the new year! 

1. Try writing in a new genre

As writers, it’s easy to get comfortable writing in a particular genre. However, this can also cause you to stagnate. A great writing resolution is to push your boundaries and put your writing muscles and creativity to the test by trying out a new genre. Even if you want to stick with publishing your favourite genre, you’ll be surprised what you learn by writing another, even if just for practice.

If you’re a novelist, maybe try writing non-fiction (such as your memoir or a biography) and vice versa if you write non-fiction. Likewise, if you usually write romance, try your hand at sci-fi, and so on. Is there a particular genre you love to read but you find the idea of writing it intimidating? Make it your writing resolution to give it a try! 

2. Outline an old idea

We all have those ideas that have been bouncing around our heads for ages but we just never get around to fleshing out. It can be tempting to see outlining a novel as a time-consuming process—you’d probably prefer to sit down and have the story magically unfold on the page! However, outlining might be what you need to do to work out that evasive idea.  

Outlining an idea will encourage you to do some world-building and create believable characters, which can prompt you to flesh out the story and plot.

So why not make it your writing resolution to dust off an old idea and finally sit down and outline it as a book? You might be surprised at how it develops. 

3. Connect with other writers

A strong support system of fellow writers comes in handy through every part of the writing process. From starting a project, finishing your first draft, editing your book, and eventually querying or self-publishing, you need people to cheer you on and/or give you honest advice and feedback. 

Not sure how to connect with other writers? Make it your resolution! Social media is one of the best places to start. Get involved in the #WritingCommunity on Instagram and Facebook, Bookthreads community on Threads, and #WriterTok community on TikTok. Social media is a great launching pad not just for connecting with other writers, but finding beta readers and writing groups, too. 

4. Write short stories

Perhaps you’re having trouble starting your book, struggling to feel inspired, or experiencing writer’s block. If so, short stories might be the perfect writing resolution for you! Not only are short stories a great way to practise and develop your writing skills, but they can be huge confidence boosters, too. 

Short stories, by their very nature, demand authors to be as concise and efficient with their words as possible. Writing a book is a challenge, but telling the same story in a limited number of just a few thousand words is even more difficult. However, the more you do it, the more you’ll learn to be more economical with your words. Ultimately, it’ll allow you to write more in your books, often at a higher quality, without resorting to writing unwieldy tomes.

Furthermore, short stories are a great way to warm-up before writing a longer project as they help stimulate your creativity—like warming up your muscles before playing sport.

5. Set daily writing goals 

Maintaining a steady writing habit can be tough at times, but it’s important for every writer. So, in the coming year, make it your writing resolution to show up and write, even when you don’t feel like it. Aim to write every day, even if it’s just for 10-15 minutes. The best way to do this and stick to it is to schedule it in your daily calendar.

It also helps to create a ritual around writing that will trigger your brain into ‘writing mode’. For example, try to write every day at around the same time, create a playlist that you listen to only when you’re writing, light a candle when you start your writing session and blow it out at the end. Whatever ritual works for you and gets you writing! 

6. Organise your writing life

It may feel hard to commit to a daily writing routine when everything around you feels chaotic and disorganised. While some things are outside your control (especially during the holidays), there are some ways you can organise your writing life to better serve you and your creativity. 

Start by keeping your project notes and ideas organised in one place—meaning one notebook for each project. There’s nothing more frustrating than flipping through multiple notebooks, trying to find that great idea you had for your WIP. Avoid this by getting a fresh notebook at the start of each project.

Another simple tip is to dedicate a little time to organising at the end of each writing session. Instead of just closing your laptop and calling it quits, spend a few minutes arranging your writing desk for the next day. This could mean placing your writing tools back in their designated spots, clearing away physical and digital clutter, and making sure your desktop is in order for your next writing session.

7. Read more

One of the best ways to hone your craft is to read—a lot! Reading published authors teaches you about what works (and what doesn’t), sentence structure, pacing, and many other essentials of the writing craft. Hence, a great writing resolution for any writer is to read more. 

This doesn’t mean reading needs to be a chore; you should absolutely read for pleasure! Just try to be intentional about your reading. Take note of interesting narrative choices and storytelling techniques. Keep an ongoing list of quotes you come across that you love or find interesting. Read more books in the genre you write to find inspiration or to better understand the competition.

Also, aim to read more books outside your comfort zone. Maybe your writing resolution could be to pick up a classic book or try a genre you don’t usually read. You’ll be surprised by how much you will learn.

8. Share your writing

Sharing your writing is intimidating, but it’s an important part of the writing process. Make it a resolution to share your writing more with other people—whether it’s passing it along to a new beta reader or having a friend read it. 

Sharing your writing could also mean finally taking the plunge and self-publishing your book. Putting your work out into the world can feel scary. But as long as you’ve had your book professionally edited and done your research on the self-publishing process, you should be ready.

9. Create a query plan

If your book is finished and polished (remember, NEVER query an unedited or unfinished novel), perhaps a good resolution is to come up with a query plan. Set a deadline for when you’d like to start querying, then prep your query package—this includes writing a cover letter and synopsis and properly formatting your manuscript. 

And make sure to do your research! Read up on agents you think will be a good fit and create a spreadsheet to keep track of who you query and any responses.

10. Build your online platform

Marketing yourself (and your book) on social media can feel overwhelming—but it’s a must for writers these days. Social media is the best way to build a community of potential readers and fellow authors. So, make it a writing resolution to commit to building your platform.

Approach marketing like your dedicated writing time: set aside a certain amount of time every day for social media. This doesn’t have to be much, 10-15 minutes is fine. Use this time to post, comment, and connect with others in the book community. You’ll be surprised what you can do with just a few minutes every day! 

What if I need additional guidance or help improving my overall writing? 

Are you ready to embrace your writing resolutions this year? If it still seems overwhelming, remember that there’s no such thing as failing at your goals. Setting any sort of resolution is a formality; what matters is taking concrete steps towards them.

But if writing resolutions seem daunting, it can help to have an outside perspective to point you in the right direction. Author coaching is a great option if you feel like you’d benefit from a little extra support—whether it’s help with setting writing resolutions, understanding the detail to achieve them, or working on how to improve your writing in general.