New Year's Resolutions to Support Your Writing

Image ID: A clipboard sits on a table strewn with holiday decor. On the clipboard the words "2025 goals" are written in Sharpie.

It’s that time again—when the dust has settled on the holidays, and we turn our attention to the new year. And with the new year comes new intentions.

I'm sure I'm not the only one making resolutions to finally finish that work in progress. To help you prepare yourself for success, here are some tips for setting (and reaching) your 2025 writing goals:

Assess

Take an honest look at what your manuscript needs and make a list of everything left to do. Are you truly in the polishing phase or could the characters use some further development? What about your plot—is it rock solid? Now is the time to be brutal. The more comprehensive you are with assessing what your manuscript truly needs, the better you can budget your time to get it done.

Set a deadline

Once you have a list of everything you need to do, it’s time to make a plan. Open your calendar and figure out how long you think it might take you to accomplish your goal. Set a deadline and write it down. It’s okay to be flexible; if you get a little way in and discover you’ve underestimated how long you’ll need, you can adjust. But the process of setting a deadline and working toward it is an important part of accomplishing your writing goals.

Build in wiggle room

Life happens. Work demands arise, kids get sick, computers break. Make sure your deadline includes a little grace for the unexpected.

Break it down

“Finish manuscript” is not only unspecific, it could be quite daunting. Break your larger goal into smaller ones, such as closing plot holes or refining your protagonist’s character arc. Set deadlines for these smaller goals and write them in your calendar as well.

Consider the obstacles

Historically, what has stood in your way of accomplishing your writing goals? Is it time? Physical space? Mental headspace? Write down each obstacle and brainstorm ways to mitigate it.

Set up accountability

Being beholden to another person can keep you on track. Consider finding a fellow writer to be an accountability buddy. Even the simple act of telling a friend or loved one about your goal can help.

Reach for your goals!

Good luck on your 2025 writing resolutions. Feel free to reach out to learn how Allegory Editing can help you reach your goals. And in the meantime . . . happy writing!

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Image ID: Andrea, a white woman with brown, curly hair, stands in front of a tree. She wears a blue dress and is smiling at the camera.

Andrea Karin Nelson is the Founder & Executive Editor at Allegory Editing. In addition to her developmental editing work with published novelists, playwrights, and essayists, Andrea brings a unique set of experiences and skills to her editing craft. Twenty years as a writer and theater maker has developed her keen sense of story structure, plot and character development. Her plays have been commissioned and produced across the United States and performed in both English and American Sign Language. Fifteen years as a Master-Level, Certified Sign Language Interpreter has finely tuned her ear to the subtleties of language and the nuances of human interactions. And with over two decades as an educator, her teacher's heart allows Andrea to personally tailor her work with each writer. Click here to read an interview about Andrea’s journey founding Allegory. You can contact her at andrea@allegoryediting.com.

Procrastination

IMAGE ID: A man is sprawled face down on a couch. A laptop sits on the floor next to him. One hand is lazily placed on the keyboard.

No matter what we call it, most writers struggle with procrastination. When we procrastinate, we might consider ourselves to be lazy. Once that thought crosses our minds, the negative internal dialogue starts, and then we’re caught in a cycle that can keep us from achieving our writing goals.

We ruminate over procrastinating, feel bad, procrastinate more, and feel worse.  

Experts say procrastination is related to the regulating of emotions, not poor time management skills. A 2013 study revealed that we often choose activities that promote “short-term mood repair” over “the longer-term pursuit of intended actions.”

Humans tend to avoid inherently unpleasant tasks, whether those tasks are difficult, boring, stressful, or scary. And let’s face it, writing is hard. Stressful. Maybe even scary. After all, we writers have a lot to say, a lot to share, and when we can’t accomplish that, we feel bad. Our emotions take over.

In those moments, organizing the holiday gift-wrapping supplies sounds better than sitting down to write.

Writing is a challenging endeavor, and not every session will be productive. As Ernest Hemingway famously said, “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” However, it’s important for writers to remember self-compassion, quiet the internal dialogue, and get to work.

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Image ID: Amy, a caucasian woman with brown hair and glasses, smiles facing the camera. Behind her is a large tree.

Amy Cecil Holm is Allegory Editing’s resident Line Editor, Copy Editor, and Proofreader. She draws upon decades of teaching college English to help authors polish their prose. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in creative writing and has worked as a journalist, technical writer, and educator. Amy has taught courses in English composition, literature, creative writing, journalistic writing, business writing, and developmental reading, among others. She has a keen understanding of grammar, punctuation, and diction and uses her careful attention to detail to help prepare manuscripts for submission and publication.