Writing is not an easy business. It requires dedication, skill, and the ability to respond to criticism, as well as a very thick skin. For those who love the craft, though, it’s worth the pain and effort.
Going into the new year, it might be time to set some writing goals. Whether the goal is to write more, write better, or just to try something new, here are some ways to get the new year off to a great start.
Take a Writing Course or Attend a Conference
No writer is so perfect or so experienced that she can’t benefit from a writing course. Beginning courses can provide refreshers on writing basics, while more advanced courses can bring new perspective on writing techniques, goals and structure. Writing courses are also useful just because they provide the opportunity to communicate and spend time with other writers.
Attending a writers’ conference also provides a new perspective on the writing business. At conferences, aspiring or experienced authors can meet other authors, publishers, editors, and other publishing professionals. Sometimes a conference is the best place to showcase work, since they often offer pitch sessions with editors and agents. They also provide panels and even mini writing courses, opportunities for critiques, and other great resources and motivation that is hard to come by elsewhere.
It’s fairly easy to find writing courses or conferences in a given area by checking online or asking around. A great goal for the new year would be to find and attend at least one course or conference before January 1st rolls around again.
Write Something New
Nothing stretches the writing muscles like trying something completely new. Not necessarily a new project, although that’s a good goal, too, but something new to the writing repertoire. Try a different fiction genre, or try non-fiction for a change of pace. Switch from novels to short stories for a while, or try short articles instead of that memoir that’s been on the word processor for most of 2009.
Trying something new can not only help improve writing ability and bring a new perspective to the work, but can also open up new markets. If fiction writing isn’t going so well, a foray into short non-fiction for online sites might help beef up both the resume and the pocketbook. Those who want to make money writing have more options than ever before, so breaking out of that box can help achieve long-term monetary goals.
Another thing to remember as a writer is that if material doesn’t get submitted, it doesn’t get published. A great new year’s resolution for any writer, then, is to submit more work. And don’t forget to write, write, write! It’s the best way to learn the craft.
Katriena Knights - I've been writing since before I could read, and now that I've grown-up (sort of) I'm a multi-published author of fiction, mostly ...
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