Regardless of whether you view them in a positive or negative light, there’s no denying that New Year’s resolutions say a lot about who we are. For example, you’ve likely made some kind of writing-related resolution, am I write? Whether it be to finally finish a book you’ve been working on or to be more active with your writing, this resolution shows that writing is important to you. And whether or not you stick to it also tells us a lot about you- whether you’re more disciplined/organized or more spontaneous/disorganized (we’re not judging… well, maybe a little).

But we’re not here to talk about your resolutions, we’re here to talk about your character’s! New Year’s resolutions are a great way to reveal character. Start by thinking of a character you’ve written or are in the process of writing- whether they be from a book you’re working on or a short story idea you have. What would this character’s New Year’s resolution be? As you know, what drives character action is their desires or what they want, how could this be boiled down into a resolution?

Next, create obstacles for your character. Let’s say your character resolved to ‘be open to romance’ or something along those lines, let’s say their first date since making the resolution is the complete antithesis of everything they want in a romantic partner. They chew with their mouth open, their favorite band is Drake, they’re unemployed- everything that could go wrong, will go wrong. Will your protagonist stick it out through the date? Will they go on a second date to try to remain open? Think of a few obstacles that could happen within the first few months of the year to test your protagonist’s resolve.

Finally, consider your protagonist- this character you already know or are just beginning to know. What reveals character the most is their choices throughout a story. Will your protagonist make the right choices at every turn? Will they make some right and some wrong- if so, why? Will they end up sticking to their resolution or giving up? And be honest about them too, we won’t like them any less for giving up if that makes more sense for their character.

Writing Prompt: Now that you have a general outline, let these scenes play out. Write the scenes necessary to show us your protagonist’s resolution playing out, how they handle each obstacle, and finally whether or not they choose to give up or stick it out. This exercise will not only be a fun way to flex your writing muscles, but also a great exercise in the different ways that character actions and choices can reveal things about who they are.

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1) Set a Reading Goal

One of the most important parts of writing is reading. It’s one of the best ways to learn about technique, style, and the ins and outs of your specific book genre. So, this year, set yourself a reading goal! Make it official by setting up a Goodreads account (if you don’t already have one). Goodreads allows you to set a reading goal and track your progress. It even gives you suggestions based on your previous reads and books you’ve marked as ‘read’. Make sure you plan ahead too. You don’t want to finish a book and sit around for a few days twiddling your thumbs over what to read next. Try to plan your reads two or three books ahead of yourself so that you’re never left idle.

2) Make time for writing/Finishing your book

Just as important as setting a reading goal, you’ll also need set a writing goal. Whether you’re currently writing a novel, between books, or even an active blog writer, you need to stay active with your craft. Start by setting yourself a goal for the year. For example, your goal could be to finish your book by the end of the year. Or your goal could be to write a certain number of short stories or blog posts. Next, make yourself a calendar. Set aside specific nights to write and jot down your goal for each session. Make yourself weekly plans and monthly plans. What do you want to have finished by the end of week one? By the end of the first month? Ultimately, if you stay strict to your plan, you’ll have your yearly writing goal accomplished.

3) Find an agent/publisher

If you’re someone who has already finished your book and is starting to look for an agent or publisher, make that your New Year’s Resolution. Keep writing, but also set aside time each week to devote to searching for a literary agent or a publisher. Make a weekly or monthly goal of how many agents you’d like to contact in that period.

4) Improve weak spot(s)

We all have our weaknesses as writers. Some of us are bad at dialogue, others struggle to set a scene. This is the year to work on your writing problem-area. For part of your writing time, do some exercises that target those problem areas. And when you’re reading, notice what other writers do that you don’t. If you’re mindful of your problem-area throughout the year and actively doing research and exercises to improve, by the end of the year you’ll have improved drastically.

5) Meet other Authors/Join a Writing Workshop

This is the year to push yourself out of your comfort zone, so set a goal of joining a workshop class. They’re easy to find in your local area with a little Google magic, and it’s a fantastic way to meet people with similar interests, get some fresh insight on your writing, and learn new techniques.

6) Start a blog

Even if you’re not necessarily a blogger, starting a blog is such a helpful tool for up-and-coming writers. Write about your day, things you’re passionate about, or even books you’re reading. Create social media platforms and link it to your blog to build a following. The combination of these tools shows potential publishers that you’re a marketable client.

7) Learn on the daily

Writing is partly about knowledge. The more you know, the more you can write about. You never know when the opportunity will come to sprinkle in a juicy factoid. So set yourself a goal to learn something new every single day. Not only will it make you a better writer, but it will also make you a better person.

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As we take some time to reflect on the past year, it’s time to set our sights on the New Year and how we can make 2017 the year that we reach and exceed our goals.

While the past can’t be changed, we can take what we have learned and put it to good use in the New Year. If you want to finally resolve to write the book of your dreams, here are three pieces of encouragement to get started.

Cultivate the book within you.

Our founder, Gordon Dorrance, wanted to provide everyone “with a book in them” the freedom to publish their work, and we at Dorrance have kept this pioneering spirit alive and well for nearly 100 years. That’s why at Dorrance Publishing, we encourage everyone to cultivate the book within them.  As a Chinese proverb once said, “A book is like a garden, carried in the pocket.” To us, we see our authors as gardeners. They take the seed that lives within their minds and plant it into the words of their stories. From there, they give it the attention it needs to grow and prosper, and ultimately they publish their book and share its beauty with others. In 2017, take the time to plant your seed and watch it grow.

Create a legacy.

Legacy —we hear this word frequently, and more often than not, it’s associated with famous athletes or celebrities. The power and esteem that is associated with the concept of leaving a legacy is something that many aspire to achieve. As an author, you too can leave your mark and create a legacy. When your musings are printed in indelible ink, your stories live on within the pages of a physical book, its newfound home. In this New Year, ask yourself this question: “What could I write that would help leave my mark?” Use this as the guiding force of inspiration to help you write about anything that comes to mind. The story that lives inside of you is waiting to emerge, and 2017 is the year that you can make it happen.

Just start writing.

Sometimes the hardest part about the entire writing process is actually getting started. We’re in the first chapter of 2017, and there is no better time than now to pull those ideas from our imaginations and put them on paper. Though it might sound simple, for some it can be difficult. But rather than giving up, resolve to push past these boundaries and begin writing the first chapter of your book.

As we embark on a New Year, set your sights high and your goals even higher. This is your year to make your dreams a reality!

Copyright Dorrance Publishing, 2017

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