It's the second day of the new year and I haven't yet made writing resolutions. Granted, I'm actually preparing this blog post a couple of days in advance, so I haven't had to embrace 2023 quite yet. I'm still in that "what day is it" fog between Christmas and New Year.
However, once this post goes live, it will be the last day of a lengthy vacation that has been much needed. During my time off, I've been tempted to start up a new project or two; however, I resisted the urge. I did get some writing done, but not as much as I was hoping. But that's okay.
As we look ahead to the new year, you'll be bombarded with advice on what resolutions to make and habits to kick.
At the moment of writing this, I'm not making my 2023 writing goal quite yet.
Oh sure, I have a vague idea of what I'd like to accomplish. But I plan to wait until I get back into the swing of my normal schedule before I make big resolutions.
Why?
I'm worried my goals will be biased. I'm looking at writing goals with all this extra free time on my hands, instead of looking at them alongside my regular eight hours a day of working a full-time job and freelancing in my extra time.
One thing I have done in 2022 that I plan on taking with me into 2023 is focusing on one day at a time. I don't know what year I'll be reflecting on this time next December. A lot can happen in a year and many things can change that I'm not expecting (both good and bad). So truly, one day at a time.
My hope is that I'll make room for writing as best I can each day, submit to literary magazines with a bit more thought, and revise stories that are currently only handwritten. I also hope to read more in 2023.
That's all these are, though. My hopes for the year. The moment I attach the word "goal" or "resolution" they become something different. They become inflexible as if I'm going to grade myself.
Have you set writing goals or resolutions? Or have you hesitated on doing any of that like me?
Nicole Pyles is a writer, blogger, and bookworm living in Portland, Oregon. Her stories and poetry have been featured on The Voices Project, Arlington Literary Journal, Sky Island Journal, and in the anthology Dear Leaders Tales. She loves promoting authors with WOW! Women on Writing as a blog tour manager and reviewing books on her writing blog, World of My Imagination. She has also started blog, Notes on Scripture, that includes reflections while reading the Bible.
4 comments:
"I'm worried my goals will be biased. I'm looking at writing goals with all this extra free time on my hands, instead of looking at them alongside my regular eight hours a day of working a full-time job and freelancing in my extra time."
Yes! This right here. I usually get a bit of a break after Christmas and it is so easy to look at those open days and think about how much you can accomplish. But then life happens. Mom! Mom! Hon, do you know...
I'm trying to get better about meeting my goals but that also requires realistic goals. And I think that a daily focus is a good way to do this. Goals for the week, the month, the year are insubstantial in so many ways. "I'll get to it tomorrow."
Daily goals give you a much sharper focus and also more small successes. You can always include one or two weekly goals as well. Thank you for the realistic perspective!
So smart, Nicole! You're right to wait until you feel the vibe of the New Year. I've had Covid since Christmas Eve, when I came down with a terrible fever, but I'm starting to feel better. I worked every day except for Christmas day while I was terribly sick and I kept wondering if my emails were even making sense! I created a one word theme for 2023 that I shared in the markets newsletter, but decided to wait to create goals until I could think straight. This morning, I thought of my big hairy goal for the year, but I'm also working on monthly goals. That's manageable for me, setting a couple goals at the start of the month.
Congrats on your new blog!
I'm so sorry you got COVID! I hope you are feeling better. I like the idea of setting a couple of goals a month too. Much more manageable!
Thanks Sue! I hope that a daily focus rather than a big picture focus helps me out. So far, a few days into the new year, I'm VERY glad I waited to make goals.
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