5 Steps to Starting a New Writing Project

Forget resolutions. Just begin with this…

image courtesy of Danielle Macinnes via unsplash

Chances are, writing more is one of your New Year’s resolutions. But you really don’t need a resolution to make a new start in your writing life. Here are ways to be more creative this year, with or without resolutions.

1. Change up your space. Make the mental shift that your new novel requires by selecting a new writing spot. Simply going to a different cafe or library, or selecting a different spot in your home, can give you a boost. Every time you sit down in your appointed space, you’ll think, “This is where I write my novel.” You’ll be amazed how motivating that physical trigger can be.
2. Create mini-goals to reach a major goal: Put a “start my novel” and “end my novel” date on the calendar now. Then give yourself mini-goals: choose how many words you want to write per week. By writing just 2,500 words per week, for example, you can complete an 80,000 word novel in eight months. To reach 2,500 words per week, make a habit of writing 500 words per day, five days per week. If your schedule won’t allow you to fit in five writing days per week, try writing 1,250 words just two days per week. (Take the 6-Week Writing Challenge to build and maintain a writing habit).
3. Don’t always consider the big picture. Each day when you sit down to…