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Writers Don’t Need Resolutions. We Need Writing GOALS.

12/28/2019

 
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I am not a fan of New Year’s resolutions. I cannot think of a single time that my life changed significantly because of me following through on a resolution, and in fact, it seems that most of my attempts at resolutions have sent me backward on my goals. 
 
What has worked for me is to decide on a small goal, meet it, then commit to another small goal and meet that. When I have followed the path of tiny goals, I have been much more successful than I ever was with resolutions.

Now, I understand that setting a small goal might feel like the same thing as making a resolution, but I would argue otherwise. When I set a resolution, it’s usually because some part of my personality, habits, or behaviors is driving me crazy and I want to overcome that by changing several patterns at once. Overnight, I’m supposed to eat better, exercise more, wake up earlier, and be more productive. But the reality is that I never do that because it’s too much all at once. I can’t focus on battling my middle-aged body and try to figure out how to get to the gym six days a week (in the snow no less) with kids, the house, the job, and so many life complications. 
 
What works for me is to attempt a teeny-tiny goal, meet it, and then set another one. One example of when this worked well was the Inktober activity. In October of this year, I joined Inktober, where writers and artists create a single piece each day based on a one-word prompt. For the first week, I wrote a haiku poem (a haiku is a poem with three lines with syllables of 5-7-5). This activity only took me three to five minutes a day. The goal was tiny and I felt successful quickly. 

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Inktober challenge story
After writing a haiku poem for the first week, my confidence was up. So, I wrote a 50-word short story for the next two weeks. Each day, I would sit down and write a short story, which was usually closer to 100 words. I’d cut it down to 50 words, post it on Instagram, and move on with my day. 
 
For the last week in October, I created a series story. Each day, I used the daily prompt and continued the story that I wrote the day before. The process was interesting, because I couldn’t go with a totally new idea because I needed to string several prompts together. 
Inktober challenge story
Inktober forced me to write every day for a month. Although I would love to say that I write every day all the time, I don’t. I write a few times a week and usually set aside one morning to write for a couple of hours straight. The problem isn’t that I lack the discipline to write every day; I lack the opportunity. Between work, kids, family, pets, and taking care of myself, I can’t make daily writing work. Yet, incredibly, I wrote every day in October for the Inktober project. 
 
When I set a tiny goal (write a haiku poem, write a 50-word story), I was able to do what usually feels impossible. I was able to write for 31 days in a row. The outcome was exhilarating and I kept writing every day through November. In fact, the momentum generated in October got me through the rough draft of my next book, which I expected would take another two months to accomplish. 
Inktober challenge story
So, if you’re like me, skip the resolutions. If they don’t help you, then don’t bother with them. Instead, consider taking on a small goal, meeting it, and then another small goal.

Would you like some help doing this?

This January, I plan to write a small piece each day. The prompts I’m following are listed below.  If this sounds like fun, you’re certainly welcome to join me. 
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January Daily Writing Prompts

Each day, write a haiku poem, a free verse poem, a 50-word story, a 100-word story, or one paragraph (description of character, setting, plot, or scene) based on the prompt. Feel free to interpret the prompts in any way you choose.
31 days of writing prompts


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Amanda
1/1/2020 12:20:55 pm

I am thankful for this blog. This is just what I need to start writing again.

Patricia Martin
1/1/2020 06:08:28 pm

I am SO glad to hear it! Reach out if I can do anything to support your writing.

Patricia Martin
1/1/2020 06:19:13 pm

Here's my January 1st piece:

Snow (50 word story)

17 degrees feels like negative 1. There is no bad weather, only bad clothing. I wrapped the kids in fleece and parka so that only eyes could be seen, from the hill’s top we flew an inch above the ground to breathe in snow crystals until our legs gave out.

Patricia Martin
1/2/2020 07:02:56 am

Here's my January 2nd piece

Cleaning Up (haiku poem)

I didn’t know that
Champagne stains white carpet. It
Looked so rich and clean.

Patricia Martin
1/3/2020 07:52:53 am

Here's my January 3rd piece


Crisp (haiku poem)

Do you remember
When the crisp air blew inside
We huddled so close?

Patricia Martin
1/5/2020 08:39:32 pm

Silence & Foggy (description of setting)

I slid off the lift and veered to the right. Ahead of me, I saw barely twenty feet of the steep slope before the mountain fell into the foggy silence and the rest lay a mystery within the mist. There was no choice but to push on, so I pulled down my goggles and leaned forward.

Patricia Martin
1/6/2020 01:19:22 pm

January 6th

Brown leather (free verse)

Do you remember hunger season? The cold days, the short days.
We gave the babies strips of brown leather to chew so they wouldn't cry at night when their bellies growled the loudest. We wrapped them up close to our chests and warmed them by the fire; their hair smelled of wool and chestnut and pine.

Patricia Martin
1/8/2020 06:38:39 pm

OK, last one I'll share.
Jan 7th Dead Battery (Description)

She cranked the key to the annoying sound of grinding, chunking clicks. If the car didn't start, she was stranded; the weekend alone in the remote cabin turned nightmare without cell or escape. She popped open the hood but none of the unfamiliar bits of metal and rubber suggested they were the culprit. Back in the driver's seat, she rested her head on the steering wheel. There wasn't enough food or firewood to last the weekend, and here she would stay with a dead battery and no chance of rescue.


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