The Writer’s Guide to Setting Your 2025 Resolutions

The New Year is a great opportunity to review your writing progress from 2024 and set intentions for your writing practice moving forward. Remember, whether or not you achieved the goals you set for yourself last year, you always have the chance to start again with refreshed hope and motivation. As the New Year approaches, here are some tips for setting your 2025 writing resolutions. 

 

1. Reflect

 

Before planning for the new year, it can be helpful to reflect on your writing practice over the past 12 months. Grab a journal and a pen and reflect on questions like:

 

What writing goals did you achieve in 2024? 

What did you struggle with, and what did you learn from these challenges?

What habits and lessons do you want to take with you into the new year?

What do you want to let go of?

Are there any unfinished goals you’d like to carry over into 2024?

 

Write candidly. Be honest with yourself about what worked and what didn’t work. Taking a balanced perspective on your progress—both celebrating wins and lamenting stumbling blocks—will help you find a stable foundation on which to build. 

 

2. Dream

 

Next, create a vision for the future. Write down a list of all the writing goals you’d like to achieve over the next year.

 

As you make this list, be bold and let your imagination run wild. If there were no obstacles, what would your ideal writing year look like?

Include anything that comes to mind, big or small, such as:

 

Finish the novel or poetry collection you’ve been working on.

Participate in a writing challenge like NaPoWriMo. 

Experiment with a genre or writing technique you’ve never tried before.

Establish a consistent writing routine. 

Submit your work to literary magazines, contests, or agents.

Perform at an open mic or join a writing class. 

 

Whatever you envision, don’t edit yourself. 

 

3. Prioritize

 

Now you should have a list of all the dreams, possibilities, and opportunities you can envision for the new year. In all likelihood, you’re not going to be able to achieve everything on that list, so you need to narrow it down.

Ask yourself:

 

Which goals excite you the most? 

How much do you think you can realistically achieve in a year? 

Which goals align the most with your long-term vision as a writer?

 

Ideally, narrow your focus to 2–3 writing goals (that are both personally meaningful and realistically attainable) where you’ll spend the majority of your energy. 

 

4. Plan

 

Once you’ve narrowed your list down to 2-3 main goals, think about the behaviors and habits that you’ll need to commit to in order to achieve those goals, and create an actionable writing schedule for the new year. 

 

You can use the SMART goal framework (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) to translate your lofty vision into concrete actions. For example, if one of your primary goals is to grow your audience, then a SMART goal might be to publish one poem per month on your writing blog and submit to ten literary magazines by the end of the year. 

 

Breaking your goals down into manageable steps keeps them from being overwhelming. For example, instead of agonizing over the process of writing and publishing an entire poetry chapbook, just focus on writing 30-60 minutes per day—committing to the habit, day by day, will help you get to where you want to be in a year’s time.  

 

5. Commit

 

You should have a list of 2-3 core goals and a plan or schedule to help you achieve these goals. 

 

To solidify your commitment, sign and date this list and put it somewhere you’ll see it every day, such as taped to your bathroom mirror or on a sticky note above your desk. 

 

Be sure to save your list—it’ll be a good starting point when you’re reflecting on your progress at the end of the year. 

 

6. Celebrate

 

We’ve all had the experience of setting audacious New Year’s Resolutions, only for our habits to taper off by the end of January. 

 

To keep yourself motivated throughout the year, be sure to celebrate your wins, no matter how small. Treat yourself to something special whenever you finish a draft, stick to your writing routine, or submit to a literary magazine. And remember to review your goals periodically, to remind yourself of your “why.” 

 

Setting resolutions is a great ritual for committing to your craft and honoring your creative dreams. We hope this guide to setting writing intentions inspires you to dream big for 2025 and make a plan for learning, growing, and creating as a writer.

 

Good luck creating your resolutions and happy 2025!