Jan 05 2009
New Years Resolutions
It’s a New Year and time for new resolutions…or maybe not.
It all depends on how well you did with your last years’ resolutions. If you haven’t achieved your last year’s resolutions, why make new ones?
Here’s my theory:
A new year’s resolution is not completed until December 31st of the year. If you vow to quit smoking and quit by the 3rd of January only to pick it back up by February 2nd, then you didn’t quit. However, if you slowly reduce your cigarette intake over the year until you are down to zero by December, then guess what. Success!
Writing is the same thing. Making unreasonable goals at the beginning of the year only to find that it is unattainable and unachievable does nothing but discourages you. Why not make small monthly goals. Make a vow to improve your writing by 10% each month, or increase your article count by 10% each month or increase your query letters by 10% each month. If 10% is to aggressive a goal, vow to increase it by 5% or 2% or 1%, just make sure to make improvements.
I’ve been around the block a few times and realize that the year includes the months of February through December. Therefore, there is no need for me to make my life as uncomfortable as possible in January only to regret falling off the wagon in February, March and so on. Take it slow, measure your success and you’ll be able to cross off your resolutions this year in favor of new and improved resolutions for next year.
