New Year’s Resolutions, like anything with a modicum of success, have gotten a lot of backlash in recent years. However, at the core, a resolution is nothing more than a goal tied to a new year start date. With that in mind, I present a list of good writer’s resolutions for the coming year.
- Write More – Do I even need to say it? Most writers need / want / should write more. If you are writing professionally enough, you should try more “recreational” writing. If you have been writing everything “fun” but not enough for money, then it’s time to up your professional writing. If you just flat out aren’t writing enough to build and hone your craft, then of course, you need to just right more, no matter what the topic.
- Expand Your Expertise – Most successful freelance writers end up specializing in a few niches. Typically, clients find it more comforting to hire writers perceived as having some expertise or experience in the topic they are writing about. Of course, a good writer, with the right amount of research, can write about almost anything, but that isn’t well known. Worse, many writers aren’t willing, or able, to do the proper research before firing up the keyboard. Either way, developing expertise in another niche, or writing area, is a great way to not only expand your business, but to get some diversification in your client base. Building expertise is easy. Start writing on a topic. Write basic articles, advanced articles, and everything in between. In a client’s mind, the difference between a writer with some expertise, and one without, is how much the writer has published on the topic. A blog, newsletter, or website full of insightful, well researched, articles about a topic = credibility and expertise.
- Get New Clients – Many freelancers grow comfortable working for a list of the same clients. If that list generates enough work to earn what you want to earn writing, then congratulations. If not, then you clearly need new clients. Either way, at least one more quality client is a good goal for the new year. After all, things happen and that list of established clients can get smaller very quickly due to events out of your control.
- Connect With More Writers – Writing can be a solitary endeavor. There is nothing wrong with that. However, it is useful to have other writers with whom to share ideas, bounce questions off of, and just generally be friends with. Connections with different types of writers (novelists, freelancers, copywriters, etc…) from near and far is a great way to stay up to date on writing trends, get help when you need it, and maintain your general mental health.
- Connect With More Non-Writers – Writers are awesome. However, it isn’t good to settle solely into a small segment of the populations. Writers, especially work from home freelance writers, tend to be a solitary lot. I know I am. But, friends and neighbors are as important.
- Take a Class On Writing – There is always something new to learn. Don’t limit yourself to conventional university or online classes. If there is something you want to learn and a course matches up, then jump in. But, a writing conference breakout session, TED talk, or online seminar are all just as useful to a writer looking to brush up or learn a new skill.
- Take a Class On Something Else – Not everything has to be about writing. Take a history course, or sewing class, or jump in with the trend of learning how to code. Either way, an expanding mind is a healthy mind, and for a profession whose entire worth takes place between the years, a healthy mind is a great thing.
- Get Personal – Make your own resolutions that are specific to your and your life and goals. For example, in addition to the above, I’m resolving to start a that new website I’ve been kicking around for a while, and doing regular updates to some others that have been neglected. I also resolve to build up my presence in a couple areas I’ve neglected such as Pinterest, and my professional Facebook page. I resolve to finish my ebook on becoming a freelance writer step-by-step. I also resolve to get back into running both for physical and mental health. And, I resolve to attend a writing, or developer conference this year, and to travel to new places (and not just the beach again!)
How about you?
What professional New Year’s resolutions are you committing to this year?