Get 2015 Started Right! Inspirational Tips for Writers

New Year’s Day presents us with a bright hope that better things lay ahead in the coming year and a dilemma regarding how to turn that hope into a reality. Do you just buckle down and “keep on keepin’ on,” relying on determination and effort to produce results? Or is it time to embrace the mantra, “If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll keep getting what you’ve always gotten,” and strike out in bold new directions?

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As you reflect on your writing goals for 2015 here are some excellent ideas you might want to consider as you set your goals for the new year.

Begin by giving yourself a pat on the back!

• Joe Bunting of The Write Practice why a review of what you have accomplished in the past year is essential in his post, Why You Should Do a Year End Review of Your Writing. Bunting explains:

A year-end review, though, is about surprise, about looking back and saying, “Oh yeah, I did that. I nearly forgot!”

A year-end review is not about editing or revising. It’s not about critiquing or judging our work good or bad.

A year-end review is about experiencing gratitude, gratitude toward ourselves, gratitude that we made the choice to write instead of watch television or procrastinate. It’s about experiencing gratitude toward the creativity inside us that allows us to put words together in just the perfect way so as to create new meaning.

• Would writing resolutions help? Carolyn Steele on Indies Unlimited explains why she plans to embrace written resolutions to get her writing over the hump in 2015. Check out her post, Writing Resolutions for 2015? A Good Idea? And see what you think.

• Jennifer Brown Banks of Pen and Pro$per has no doubt about the value of resolutions. She offers some ideas in her post 10 Resolutions Every Writer Should Make and Keep for 2015 you’ll want to consider including in your list of ways to get your writing on track for the coming year.

• Everyone needs a little inspiration. Galley Cat’s post 2014 TED Presentations From Writers offers a list of videos guaranteed to provide it. Make sure to check out the TED Talks on How to Tell a Story as well.

• Just as listening to great writers talk about writing can inspire your own writing, reading what they have written help you reach new heights. Kindred Digital Books’ 2015 Reading Challenge is a great way to give some structure to your reading this year. It will make sure you get out of your comfort zone and check out some styles that may be unfamiliar.(I do think they should have included women writers. My own recommendation are Margaret Atwood and Joyce Carol Oates.) Most of all reading great writers can help but inspire your own writing.

Good luck with your writing in 2015!