New Year's Writing Resolutions : three tips for success

At this time of year, suddenly everyone decides to be a writer.

OK, so maybe "everyone" is an exaggeration, but there's no doubt that early January is when we get the highest number of "How do I become a freelance writer?" and "Can you give me a job?" enquiries. It's also the time when thousands of new novels get started, and thousands more short stories are penned, their authors all determined that this year will be the year that they'll finally finish that magnum opus and be able to call themselves a published writer at last.

Maybe you're one of these resolution-making people yourself? If so, I have one question for you: what's stopping you?

It's all very easy to say that resolutions are made to broken, but a new year is as good a time as any to decide to start a new writing career - or kick start an old one - so while you're swearing off the cigarettes and signing up for the gym, it could be a good idea to form some writing-based resolutions, too. If you're not quite sure what those resolutions should be, here are some tips for you:

1. Set small goals
Realistically, it's going to be difficult to write a novel from scratch and get it published by this time next year - especially if you've never done it before. Instead, set smaller goals that you'll at least have a chance of achieving.

2. Tell someone

Keeping your goals to yourself is an excellent way to convince yourself you don't actually have to meet them. Tell someone what you aim to achieve with your writing career this year, or, better still, write your goals down and display them somewhere prominent. Now you have a much bigger incentive to actually achieve them.

3. Write

It's a truth told so often that it's become a cliche, but writer's write. Clearly there are lots of different types of writing you could chose to do, and lots of different ways to actually go about doing it, so I'm not going to tell you that you must write every day, every week or even every month. What I am going to tell you is that if you're determined to make your writing career a success in 2008, you're going to have to write. Stick with us throughout the year for tips and hints how to do it...