Post by Justine Goldberg of WriteByNight, a writing center here in Austin.
If you’re anything like the rest of us—in other words, human—chances are you’ve made at least a few New Year’s resolutions to amp up your literary productivity in 2012. Maybe you want to read more, or more widely. Maybe you’ve promised yourself to finally write that book or short story that’s been on your mind forever. Or maybe you’d like to get out more, really immerse yourself in Austin’s vibrant literary community. You don’t need me to tell you that these are all worthwhile endeavors. The questions is how in the world will you accomplish them?
In this first in a series of guest blog posts, I aim to provide you with a few valuable tips on how to stick to your literary resolutions this year and in the years to come.
Say no to resolutions
I bet you didn’t see that one coming. By “say no to resolutions,” I don’t mean don’t make them. I mean stop thinking of them as New Year’s resolutions because come February, that brand new year shine will fade, making it easy for you to abandon what you worked so hard for in January. Instead, try thinking of your New Year’s resolutions as self-promises. This will ensure that you take your goals seriously and hold yourself accountable. Don’t make a liar out of you!
Make a plan
This tip is so simple and also the most common misstep people make in following through on their self-promises in the New Year. “I’ll get to it,” we tell ourselves, “as soon as I have a free moment.” This it’ll-happen-when-it-happens mentality is very dangerous territory, friends. Even the most responsible people need a plan to get things done. So develop your reading list now; decide on a certain number of pages you aim to read or write every day; devote an hour a month to research the literary goings-on in your area and decide which you’ll attend. Then write your plan down and keep it somewhere conspicuous—over your desk, on your car’s dashboard, on your bathroom mirror—a place you can’t avoid.
Join a group
As capable as you are, there’s no reason you should have to go it alone. There are countless book clubs, writer’s groups, and local resources that will provide you with a much-needed support system to help you follow through on your self-promises. Join WriteByNight’s new online book club, browse Meetup.com for groups that appeal to you, or ask your friends about groups that they enjoy. Ask me about the Austin Writers Group, the Austin Narrative Workshop, and the Write-in Group, all of which meet at WBN’s writing center on East Sixth Street. Check out WriteByNight, Professional Writers of Austin, American Short Fiction, the Writers’ League of Texas, the Austin Bat Cave, and of course BookPeople for upcoming programs and events. You’ll be surprised what a little dose of community can do.
These are just a few suggestions to put you on the path to productivity in the New Year. If you’d like to get your hands on more juicy tips, you’ll want to check out Running Over Resolution Roadblocks: How to Set, Start & Complete Your Writing Projects in 2012, a seminar presented by Michelle Ward, a.k.a. the When I Grow Up Coach, in collaboration with WBN.
And remember, folks, it’s never too late to start. 2012, here you come!
Justine Tal Goldberg is an award-winning writer and editor of both fiction and nonfiction. Her short stories have appeared in Anomalous Press, Whiskey Island, Fringe Magazine, and other publications. Her journalistic work has appeared in Publishing Perspectives, Austin Monthly and the Texas Observer, among others. She holds an M.F.A. in creative writing from Emerson College. She owns and operates WriteByNight, a writing center and writers’ service dedicated to helping writers of all experience levels achieve their creative potential and literary goals.
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