8 Questions Writers Should Ask Themselves When Setting Goals and Resolutions For The New Year
This blog post was written by a human.Hi readers and writerly friends!
Setting goals and resolutions is an important part of getting ready for the start of a new year and new decade and asking yourself a few critical questions can get the creative ball rolling. Consider these eight questions when outlining your goals for 2020 and think about what achievements and improvements you made in 2019 compared to 2018 and how you’ll bring that momentum forward into the new year.
What is your single biggest priority as a writer in 2020?
Do you want to finally publish your novel? Are you still writing the story? Are you in the editing phase? Will you self-publish or traditionally publish the story? What part of the process are you currently in and what preparations need to be made to make this goal a possibility in 2020?
A photo of a writer working at a laptop in a living room decorated for autumn. Photo by Vlada Karpovich.
As creative individuals, writers often juggle a million different passion projects at any given time, but to effectively execute any one task, we must focus out efforts on one project at a time. What project makes the most sense for you in 2020?
Take it from me —someone who has been officially diagnosed with adult ADHD—when I say I know how hard it is to focus your energy on one thing, but it’s equally as important as it is difficult. I don’t necessarily believe in the Jack of All Trades, Master of None sentiment, but I know if you have too many irons in the fire, you certainly will get burned one way or another.
The truth is that we just don’t have enough time and attention to do EVERYTHING. So, I challenge you to tackle the biggest, scariest project this year, and better yet, early in the year, to get yourself up over that dreaded hurdle and keep the killer momentum going.
How many books do I want to release in 2020?
This question isn’t just for traditionally published authors with book deals and advances. You know what they say about dressing the part? It’s the same with writing—if you want to be a published author with all those shiny book deals and advances, you must start acting like one now, and moreover, writing like one. If you can write an entire book, move it through several stages of revisions and edits and produce a polished, final copy that’s a feat of strength on its own, especially if you can do it in one year. Additionally, it’s even more incredible if you can do that a few times each year, but that’s what it takes to become a traditionally published and professional writer—consistency, dedication, patience, and perseverance. So, whether public or private, how many books will you release this year?
How much time will I devote to my writing each day, week, or month in 2020?
Part of being a dedicated and consistent writer is building time into your schedule for writing. This is the key to conquering writer’s block and harnessing your creativity and it’s crucial for any writer wanting to turn their passion into a full-time career. Consider when and for how long you will write every day. It might be a trial and error process but try a few different schedules and see what works for you. You might not be a “Wake up to write at 5 am” person like Amy Landino, but you might be able to squeeze in an hour every night before bed or something similar and less intense. Start with just 20 minutes a day and gradually increase the time so that you reach your desired time block for writing while building the daily writing habit without throwing your existing schedule into chaos.
How much money will I invest in my craft in 2020?
Consider what route you will take and start doing research. Maybe you are self-publishing—one avenue that isn’t cheap. You’ll have to pay for editing, layout and cover design, and marketing. Perhaps it’s time you got you’re a writing services listed on a proper website rather than you’re your LinkedIn profile? Hiring a developer, or at the very least, a designer who will put together your site using a hosting platform such as Squarespace or Weebly, will set you back a few hundred, depending on the complexity of the site. Maybe you want to learn more about writing by taking a few master classes. Add up all the different ways you can invest in your brand as an author and budget for these expenses so your creative growth in 2020 isn’t gated by money or lack thereof.
What are my weaknesses as a writer?
A photo of a woman working on a laptop in a cozy living room. Photo by Vlada Karpovich.
We all have strengths and weaknesses and there are a few different methods of determining what your weaknesses as a writer are:
Have your manuscript professionally critiqued/reviewed.
Open up your manuscript to beta readers.
Participate in a critique group for feedback on your writing.
Have a friend who is well-versed in your genre read your manuscript
Post parts of your manuscript on free reading sites like Wattpad (I wouldn’t post the entire thing for free. Consider posting the first third of the story and adjust visibility as needed. Even though your writing is protected by US Copyright Law, it can be hard to know when someone breaks the law if they aren’t caught. This will better protect your writing against plagiarists.)
Once you’re aware of the trouble areas in your writing, you can work to improve them in 2020. Writers can have several strengths and weaknesses. Maybe narrative is your forte but dialogue…not so much. Maybe you need to learn how to employ the senses and imagery to create a more immersive and engaging reading experience. Maybe you need to improve your openings or endings. There are plenty of writing exercises to help you build your skill and strengthen these weaknesses.
What are my weaknesses as a marketer?
Many writers cringe at the thought of marketing their writing but it’s not really as scary as it initially seems. It just takes a little doing to get familiar with how marketing works but once you get it, it can be fun. To determine how familiar, you are with marketing what strengths and weaknesses you have, you can do the following:
Hire a marketing professional or schedule coaching call with one.
Join author groups online and in person and see how the other members market their work.
Read books and articles on marketing and follow tutorials on YouTube.
Research how other authors in your genre have successfully marketed their own novels.
How can I get involved in my writing community?
While marketing is an important aspect of successful businesses in 2020, it’s also important to take care of yourself, both in an out of your craft. I’m not going to get all self-care-lecture-y on you, but you should, for your own sanity, get involved in the writing community both online and locally. I know it’s sort of become a mood to lock yourself away with your coffee and keyboard (or typewriter) and write all day long, but it’s important to have a constructive crew of like-minded creatives to surround yourself with. Other writers can act as sounding boards, sources of inspiration, and often, they have plenty of useful advice and information to freely give. Not only that, but by having critique partners, you strengthen each other’s writing because every manuscript can benefit from a second set of eyes.
Some ways to get involved in the local writing community:
Join a local writing group
Joining or forming a local book club
Attending local or regional writers’ conventions, conferences, retreats, or workshops
During NaNoWriMo, check for local Come Write-Ins in your area
Some ways to get involved in the online writing community:
Join Facebook writer groups
Join Betabooks.co to connect with beta readers and become a beta reader yourself
Engage with writers and readers in your genre on Twitter and Instagram by using relevant hashtags and commenting frequently on posts you truly love/connect with.
How can I grow my tribe in 2020?
This shouldn’t come as a surprise but like marketing, growing your community’s engagement is going to take some doing. Remember it isn’t and should never be just about the numbers. You want to make real connections with people and develop a group or true fans that will support you. This is your tribe and if cultivated carefully and correctly, they’ll stick around for a long time, through the thick and thin. They in turn will help grow the tribe and the wonderfully vicious cycle repeats.
So how do you grow the tribe? Some ways to inspire engagement on your platforms are:
Engage with other users on social media, especially in your genre and medium.
Provide quality, valuable content to readers via newsletter marketing My blog post for how to craft a successful email newsletter is linked in the Further Reading section below.
Pay for targeted adds through Facebook and Google (these are proven to be effective due to their highly skilled algorithms)
And that’s it for my 8 questions that writers should ask themselves in 2020. Of course these are just a few guidelines for narrowing down your goals for 2020 and it’s just a starting area. If you’d like to see more questions like these, and if you enjoyed this list, let me know! What are your goals and/resolutions for 2020?
Bibliography
Karpovich, Vlada. “A person working from home on a couch.” Pexels photo, uploaded on October 20, 2021. Accessed September 1, 2025.Karpovich, Vlada. “A person using a laptop.” (Thumbnail photo). Pexels photo, uploaded on October 20, 2021. Accessed September 1, 2025.
Further Reading
Spring Cleaning for Writers: 10 Things Every Writer Should Do Before 20205 Actionable New Year’s Resolutions For Writers In 202020 Bookish New Year’s Resolutions for 202020 Tips and Tricks for Successful Email NewslettersBookish End of the Year Survey (2022)Book Wrap Up & Rating All The Books I Read This Year (2022)How to Read More Books21 Bookish Resolutions for 2021Bookish End of the Year Survey (2020)20 Bookish Resolutions for 202010 Tips For Planning Your Reading Challenge5 Actionable New Year's Resolutions For Writers
Related Topics
How To Organize Your Digital Life: 5 Tips For Staying Organized as a Writer or Freelancer5 MORE Ways to Stay Organized as a Writer or FreelancerGet Things Done With The Pomodoro Technique5 Reasons Most Writers QuitWhen Writing Becomes DifficultSelf-Care Tips for Readers and Writers5 Healthy Habits For Every Writer8 Ways To Level Up Your Workspace And Elevate Your ProductivityThe 4 Most Useful FREE Apps for Writers in 2022 (Sync Across Multiple Devices, Not Only iOS)
Recent Blog Posts
This blog post was researched, written, and published by a human author without the assistance of generative artificial intelligence (gen-AI). Gen-AI models are trained on text written by humans, therefore, the presence of specific punctuation, verbiage, tone, or predictable, marketing-style phrases alone are not sufficient indicators of gen-AI usage. I implore readers to use context clues, critical thinking, pattern recognition, research, and employ their best judgement when determining the validity of human authorship of print and digital media today. If you want to learn more about my stance on gen-AI and it’s role in media and the publishing industry, I plan to release a blog post on this topic very soon, so stay tuned for that. This disclaimer will be updated once that post goes live. In the meantime, I will continue to be transparent about which tools and resources I use in my work.
5 Actionable New Years’ Resolutions For Writers
Photo by Ivan Samkov.
This blog post was written by a human.Hi readers and writerly friends! This week in Freelancing, we’re going over my top 5 actionable New Years’ Resolutions for Writers, so you can make the most of the New Year season!
Share your writing with others more often
It can be hard as a writer to be vulnerable and open to criticism, but it is crucial to our growth and improvement to feel comfortable putting our work out into the world, despite what others say. Always use your best judgment when dealing with criticism to determine if it was constructive or just negativity. But by opening up and letting the world into our stories, we grow and gradually become used to having other eyes on our work. Coming to terms with this is essential for aspiring writers desiring professional writing work.
2. Try a new writing style or medium for telling stories
Do you usually write in a certain POV or tense? Do your stories typically take on a humorous or satirical tone? What voice do you normally write in? Is your target audience the same every time? Change it up by writing new stories in different ways.
Another way to freshen up the writing process is to work with different methods of storytelling. Of course, audio-visual mediums can be used for storytelling and often are, but I’m specifically referring to the written word—poems, plays, short stories, novelettes, novels, articles, blog posts, and reviews. Consider writing in a different medium to explore and learn new techniques, styles, and practices.
3. Watch, read, and write stories in genres you’re unfamiliar with
This one likely requires some research but by branching out into a new genre, you learn all kinds of different storytelling techniques and styles that were gated by your own genre. By stepping out of your comfort zone, you open up your craft to new growth. Diving into new genres can seem unappealing at first, but you’ll find all kinds of hidden gems in other genres and the challenge will breed new creativity.
4. Make creativity part of your everyday routine
I written extensively on consistency and building in time for writing but the gist is this: writing every day makes you a better writer because a) practice does make perfect and b) it acts like exposure therapy by bringing you face-to-face with the fear associated with the writing process (fears of inadequacy or imperfection) often enough that you get used to it and overcome this obstacle.
Photo by Ivan Samkov.
As someone who was incredibly busy and believed in the idea that creativity strikes only at certain time, I used to think this was impossible, but I can assure you it is achievable. Consider one of the previous options such as writing in a new medium. By writing new blog posts for this blog, all the time, I am exposing myself to the writing process and therefore making it increasingly easier to write in my passion projects.
The blog takes off the looming pressure of trying to achieve constant perfection and allows me to just write freely. Then, when I sit down to write fantasy, it’s easier every day, and since I’m all warmed up from writing blog posts, I can produce better quality work.
5. Learn to enjoy the writing process and not just the end result
How does that quote go? It’s all about the journey, not the destination? Writing is exactly like that. Our novels and stories are for others to enjoy and the process itself is for us to enjoy. It’s the intimate, scared process of bleeding onto the page, of pouring out our souls, and manufacturing stardust into the written word, and therefore it should be enjoyed.
Writers should completely and fully feel the fear, pain, sadness, confusion, satisfaction, happiness, excitement, and fulfillment, as well as all the other emotions that come with writing. They should wholeheartedly appreciate and understand the process of taking a fleeting thought and sculpting it into a living, breathing idea that takes root in the mind of others. They should value and hold dear the writing process because it is as integral to their being as air to the human lungs.
Photo by Ivan Samkov.
It’s never about the destination, the end product—because it’s not meant for us—it’s meant for our readers. It is however, about the process, the journey, the steps we take to get there and everything we experience along the way—the learning, the reckoning, the weaving of words to form a story. Most writers have a love hate relationship with the writing process and this is as it should be. However, we should also recognize the value and the wild, seemingly untamable beauty in the process.
Alright, let’s liven things up a bit, shall we? Sorry to get all mushy about writing on you there for a second. It’s something I hold dear to my heart so any chance I get, I am going to take the time to discuss the writing process.
That’s it for my 5 Actionable Writing New Year’s Resolutions for 2020! I really love all of these goals because they’re practical, actionable, and sustainable. I know those seem like buzzwords people just toss around, but I do really think these writing resolutions are ones that we all can stick to year-round!
What do you think of my writing resolutions? Do they overlap with your own writing resolutions? What would you add to this list? Comment below and let me know what you think!
Bibliography
Samkov, Ivan. “Woman working home office.” (Thumbnail photo). Pexels photo, uploaded April 25, 2020. Accessed September 1, 2025.Samkov, Ivan. “Woman writing in notebook. Pexels photo, uploaded April 25, 2020. Accessed September 1, 2025.
Related Topics
Spring Cleaning for Writers: 10 Things Every Writer Should Do Before 20208 Questions Writers Should Ask Themselves In 202020 Bookish New Year’s Resolutions for 2020How To Organize Your Digital Life: 5 Tips For Staying Organized as a Writer or Freelancer5 MORE Ways to Stay Organized as a Writer or FreelancerGet Things Done With The Pomodoro Technique5 Reasons Most Writers QuitWhen Writing Becomes DifficultSelf-Care Tips for Readers and Writers5 Healthy Habits For Every Writer8 Ways To Level Up Your Workspace And Elevate Your ProductivityThe 4 Most Useful FREE Apps for Writers in 2022 (Sync Across Multiple Devices, Not Only iOS)20 Tips and Tricks for Successful Email Newsletters
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This blog post was researched, written, and published by a human author without the assistance of generative artificial intelligence (gen-AI). Gen-AI models are trained on text written by humans, therefore, the presence of specific punctuation, verbiage, tone, or predictable, marketing-style phrases alone are not sufficient indicators of gen-AI usage. I implore readers to use context clues, critical thinking, pattern recognition, research, and employ their best judgement when determining the validity of human authorship of print and digital media today. If you want to learn more about my stance on gen-AI and it’s role in media and the publishing industry, I plan to release a blog post on this topic very soon, so stay tuned for that. This disclaimer will be updated once that post goes live. In the meantime, I will continue to be transparent about which tools and resources I use in my work.
Bucket List For Writers: 75+ Things Every Writer Should Do Way Before They Kick The Bucket
This blog post was written by a human.Hi readers and writerly friends!
I’m a writer! I love lists! I love buckets! Okay, that third one might not be quite so true—I mean who loves buckets? Apparently, Shayla Raquel, the editorial blogger I borrowed inspiration—and this list—from. Shayla says Catherine Smith of Sooner Not Later first came up with this idea and she even completed 52 bucket list items in 2015. Low whistle. 😏 Impressive.
A lot of the goals on Shayla’s list are actual goals I have on my own bucket list so I thought it would be fun to put my own spin on it by scratching out what I’ve completed and adding my own items as well. I’m going to have to get creative to cross off green eggs and ham as a vegan!
Make sure to read until the end to get your free PDF version so you can start crossing off items right away!
Without further ado, here’s the list!
Travel
Go on a writing retreat
Visit Stratford-upon-Avon to see where Shakespeare lived
Take a weekend getaway to Walden Pond and live simply for a while—no cell phones!
Set off on a literary pilgrimage to a site where your favorite author lived or spent his/her time writing
Visit a printing plant to see how books are made
Go to a book signing and show support for a local author
Visit a famous bookstore in another state
Go to a writers convention
Visit a bookstore or library in another country (like Dublin, Ireland’s “The Long Room”)
Visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Spend a day in the Library of Congress
Experiences
Do something weird just to write about it
Use the 5 senses while reading or writing
Start a book club or writing workshop
Write an in-depth book review
Complete the “100 Books Everyone Should Read” list from Bussiness Insider
Start a personal library
Go to the late show at the circus
Create art out of books that are falling apart
Read at least one book from every genre
Cosplay as a book character and see if friends can guess it
Read a ridiculously difficult book, like Ulysses (Not my line, but OMG! I’ve never read anything truer in my life.)
Take a character quiz for your favorite story
Start a savings fund for self-publishing
Try editing a book
Personal Development
Find a mentor
Write an affirmation statement that expresses all your strengths as a writer
Buy a book for a child
Read The Elements of Style
Donate any unused or forgotten books to a local library
Donate copies of your book to a worthy cause
Join at least three writing associations
Mentor a teen who is interested in writing
Create a productive writing space
Trade manuscripts with a close writer friend and critique each other
Subscribe to a "word of the day" email
Tutor students in English
Write a private self-help blog for yourself
Bookish Buys
Collect a series
Buy old books at garage sales—and barter!
Get an autographed book
Purchase a real inkwell and quill
Go to a book signing and get a selfie with the author
Visit a library
Buy a beautiful leather (or vegan leather) journal
Pick up a vintage polaroid camera
Have a movie marathon based on the books you love
Buy a first edition copy of a bestseller
Purchase a handmade book
Buy a typewriter
Literary Eats
Host an Alice in Wonderland tea party
Eat a cake that’s designed like a book
Make green eggs and ham or other ficticious dishes
Visit a coffee shop you’ve never been to
Have a midnight dinner like in the Night Circus
Have second breakfast
Throw a Great Gatsby-themed party
Write On!
Get an article published
Write under a pen name
Write a poem
Submit to Writer's Digest
Write fan fiction
Send fan mail to your favorite authors
Write a comic strip or graphic novel
Write 100,000 words for one project
Guest blog for someone famous
Write in a genre that you hate
Write a letter to your future self
Self-publish a book
Send your ready-for-publication book to at least three traditional publishing houses
It looks like I’ve still got some things to check off my own list! Have you done any of the items above? Comment below and let me know what you think of the list! Don’t forget, the concept goes to Catherine Smith and Shayla Raquel for originally doing this bucket list for writers! Check out Shayla’s list here and Catherine’s Facebook page for Sooner NOT Later here.
If you love this writerly bucket list as much as we do, click here to download the printable PDF version so you can start crossing off items right away!
And that’s it for my writerly bucket list! Have you crossed any of these off of your own bucket list? What did you think? Did I forget anything! Let me know in the comments below!
Bibliography
Further Reading
Raquel, Shayla. "Bucket List For Writers" Accessed December 15, 2020Visit the Sooner NOT Later Facebook PageBucket List For Writers Printable PDF by Payton Hayes
Related Topics
How to Read More Books in 2022How I Read A Book: My Book Reading RoutineHow To Organize Your Digital Life: 5 Tips For Staying Organized as a Writer or Freelancer5 MORE Ways to Stay Organized as a Writer or FreelancerGet Things Done With The Pomodoro Technique5 Reasons Most Writers QuitWhen Writing Becomes DifficultSelf-Care Tips for Readers and Writers5 Healthy Habits For Every Writer8 Ways To Level Up Your Workspace And Elevate Your ProductivityThe 4 Most Useful FREE Apps for Writers in 2022 (Sync Across Multiple Devices, Not Only iOS)20 Tips and Tricks for Email Newsletters That Don't SuckView my FAQ page for inspiration for your own!
Recent Blog Posts
This blog post was researched, written, and published by a human author without the assistance of generative artificial intelligence (gen-AI). Gen-AI models are trained on text written by humans, therefore, the presence of specific punctuation, verbiage, tone, or predictable, marketing-style phrases alone are not sufficient indicators of gen-AI usage. I implore readers to use context clues, critical thinking, pattern recognition, research, and employ their best judgement when determining the validity of human authorship of print and digital media today. If you want to learn more about my stance on gen-AI and it’s role in media and the publishing industry, I plan to release a blog post on this topic very soon, so stay tuned for that. This disclaimer will be updated once that post goes live. In the meantime, I will continue to be transparent about which tools and resources I use in my work.
Questions That Readers or Critics Should Ask Themselves
This blog post was written by a human.Hi readers and writerly friends!
As readers, we often turn to books as a form of relaxation, inspiration, and escape, but it shouldn’t always be completely mindless. When we read, we should ask ourselves some key questions so we can critically assess the story as we read it and evaluate our thoughts once we’ve finished with the story. Instead of just consuming media at face-value, we should actively try to look at what content we consume with a more critical-thinking sort of approach. This will allow us to garner a better understanding of the story’s themes, tones, subject matter, and ultimately, it’s purpose. Likewise, when we are critiquing somone’s work, we want to give them organized, useful, and actionable feedback so as to improve their writing. Some questions to think about as a reader are as follows:
Did this story engage me? Why or why not?
Is the story composed of compelling characters, an engaging plot, and interesting themes or is it just another fantasy or romance novel? Is this story a page-turner? Have you read it more than once and if so, what keeps you coming back? What makes you put the story down?
Did this hold my attention throughout?
Where was I most engaged and why? Does the writer consistently build and release tension throughout the story? Do you find any parts of the story that are dragging along and other that are moving too quickly? Do you find yourself having to reread sections because of boredom or because the author didn’t take the proper time to describe the situation using all of the senses?
Are any things confusing to me?
Could I follow the piece, or were there gaps, or need for more information? What else did I need to know? Is the writing style or plot confusing? Are there historical elements that require prior knowledge? Does the writer talk down to you as a reader or expect you to know things that they didn’t include supplementary information for?
What about language?
How would you describe it? How does it function in terms of what you feel the writer is trying to do? Is the writing convoluted or beautifully woven together? Does the writer use wordy, awkward, or clunky language that is distracting to the story? Does the writer expertly craft sentences that make you as a reader sigh and think, man I wish I’d come up with that?
What are you getting from the piece?
This could be any number of things, but it’s really helpful for you to feedback to the writer what is coming across for you, including the overall meaning or themes present in the story, emotional impact or enjoyment or anything else that you take from the story. Writers are really hungry to know what is coming across to their readers and what it looks like on the reader’s end.
And that’s it for my list of the five questions you should ask yourself as a reader or critic. What do you think of this list? Do you agree or disagree? Let me know in the comments below!
Bibliography
Thumbnail photo by John-Mark Smith.
Related Topics
Active Reading Vs. Passive Reading: Using Psychology-Based Critical Reading Skills To Increase Information Absorption & RetentionRead Like A Writer: What Analytical Reading Can Teach UsQuestions You Should Ask Yourself As A Reader or CriticHow to Read More BooksHow I Read A Book: My Book Reading RoutineHow I Got Started Reading When I Hated ItGet Immersed in Your Reading: Writing With All Five SensesReading Slump Emergency Kit: 15 Surefire Ways To Break Out of a Reading Slump!Self-Care Tips for Readers and Writers
Recent Blog Posts
This blog post was researched, written, and published by a human author without the assistance of generative artificial intelligence (gen-AI). Gen-AI models are trained on text written by humans, therefore, the presence of specific punctuation, verbiage, tone, or predictable, marketing-style phrases alone are not sufficient indicators of gen-AI usage. I implore readers to use context clues, critical thinking, pattern recognition, research, and employ their best judgement when determining the validity of human authorship of print and digital media today. If you want to learn more about my stance on gen-AI and it’s role in media and the publishing industry, I plan to release a blog post on this topic very soon, so stay tuned for that. This disclaimer will be updated once that post goes live. In the meantime, I will continue to be transparent about which tools and resources I use in my work.