I’m not a person for New Years Resolutions. I never really have been, but I especially stopped being so a couple of years ago. Near Years resolutions are the sort of phenomenon that many people say they’re going to do and then don’t follow through on. In fact, this study says “Seventy-seven percent maintained their pledges for 1 week but only 19% for 2 years.”* And I, personally, know my limits and my mentality. Any time I’ve tried to stick to a resolution, I’ve not followed through and have spent the rest of my year saddled with the guilt. That’s not the way I want to live my life.
But there’s never shame in knowing your limits.
Instead, I try each year to make myself more general “goals” to complete through the year. Resolutions are normally something Big and abstract. Losing weight. Eating healthier. Travel more. A list of goals with no set concrete steps to it. Personally, I find this abstractness difficult to conceptualize, and even harder to achieve.
That said, I have some writing-related goals of my own, which go as follows:
- Back in October, I was published in an anthology with a short story about gods and cults. This same place is currently accepting submissions for a new anthology to release this summer, so I’m currently trying to finish
- I have been given the chance to participate in NYC Midnight, an annual short story writing competition. The first round starts this Friday. My goal here is simple: get as far as I can. Wish me luck!
- I have been really vibing with this latest draft of Those Who Emerge from Ashes, my dark fantasy novel about what it means to be a god.
- I have been working on outlining a high fantasy adventure novel and I would like to finish that this year.
- I’d like to finish rewriting Lilium, my paranormal novel about the bonds of family and how they extend beyond the grave.
- I’d like to write some more short stories and see about self-pubbing a collection or something.
- I’d also like to use this blog more. Post more writing advice, more reviews, and just in general more posts about writing!
That said, a lot of these goals are lower-stake and come with their own sets of steps, to help aid in their achievement. Time will tell how well I fare.
What about you? What are some goals you’re aiming to complete in this coming year?
*Study Cited: Norcross JC, Vangarelli DJ. The resolution solution: longitudinal examination of New Year’s change attempts. J Subst Abuse. 1988-1989;1(2):127-34. doi: 10.1016/s0899-3289(88)80016-6. PMID: 2980864.
Author Alex Harvey 
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