Most of the world is getting ready to celebrate Christmas. It doesn’t matter what holiday you celebrate, though. (I celebrate Chanukah.) Consider giving yourself some writerly gifts at this time of the year–and ones that don’t necessarily cost a lot of money. Here are my 10 suggestions for gifts you can give yourself to help you on your path to becoming a better writer, a professional writer or a published writer:
- a writing retreat–could be a weekend spent right in your home if that’s all you can afford
- a deadline to finish your book, article or essay–I get a ton of my work done under the crunch of a deadline
- a commitment to meet your deadline–your commitment will make the difference
- join a writer’s group, club or MeetUp–get support from other writers and learn from and with them
- registration to a writer’s conference–this might be the best investment in yourself you ever make
- registration to a writing workshop (online or off)–continued education can help you meet your goals and short workshops can be more affordable than a conference
- a book on how to get published or write better–books are an inexpensive way to learn what you need to know and to treat yourself
- time blocked out on your calendar daily to write–this may be the most important gift you can give yourself this year
- an accountability partner or coach–reporting in to someone daily can make all the difference in meeting your goals
- concrete goals for the new year (with action steps to accomplish them)–the best way to accomplish your goals is to set them, have a timeline for meeting them, and know what you need to do to achieve them
These gifts help you realize your potential and become an author. That’s the greatest gift you could ever give yourself.
I love lists like this because they remind authors to take care of their own careers–even if at the moment they are still avocations. Thanks you for a year’s great blogs, Nina.
Best,
Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Excited about how much the new edition of the Frugal Book Promoter (expanded! updated!) can help writers with the tried and true and the new media, too. Now a USA Book News award-winner in its own right (www.budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo) it the original edition was also a Reader Views winner and an Irwin Award winner.
Carolyn,
Thanks for being a great guest contributor to my blog. You provide such valuable information. I look forward to collaborating with you in 2013.
Being a part time blogger, accomplishing every goal is a very difficult task. I’m not much of a ‘Writer’ but I do have my own blog and write about my experiences and personal development.
One of my most important goals is to write an Ebook, the topic is planned, the content will be based on a survey I’ll conduct in Feb. next year and all the other essential parts are planned out as well. Only the work has to begin.
If I can gift myself one thing this Christmas it would be my blog itself; it was hacked recently and luckily I had it backed up. So my blog would be my Christmas present.
Anyway have a happy Chanukah and Good luck. Have fun!
Aditya
Taking on your blog as your gift is huge. I wish you much luck. Make it a daily or weekly commitment. And try blogging your ebook. It will make it easier.
More innovation from you, Nina Amir. I love your inclusion of abstract gifts. Love the idea of giving oneself a writer’s retreat at home – – had never considered that! Given my current lifestyle, it is not possible to give myself a writer’s retreat, but I like the idea just the same. Your gift #10 is also the most influential, I think. I love the idea of setting goals along with concrete action steps. I think that is where I have failed in the past. I have always been good at setting goals, but not as good at detailing the steps necessary to turn dreams into a reality. Thanks for all you do, Nina!
Thank you for being such a supportive fan, Amanda. Good luck in the New Year.
Santa brought me some writing books that I sorely needed this year, as the library wasn’t thrilled that I kept checking them out over & over again, keeping them out of circulation for other readers, LOLZ! So hoorayz on that count!
Working on making writing more of an actual part of my daily/weekly schedule — one of my current blog series is about me breaking my goals down into action plans with targeted milestones.
I am definitely on the lookout for an accountability coach — do you know anyone who’s interested in taking up this mantle? Seriously. For Realz. I’m not joking.
Hoping to attend a writing workshop this summer, but a lot will depend on finances. The BIG hope is that my hubz & I can BOTH go! 🙂
Happy Holidays to you, Nina! Your posts are always a great resource, & I’m so glad to have “met” you this past year! 🙂
You are welcome, Andi-Roo, and I am glad to have met you. Thanks for sharing my posts so freely and for commenting on my blogs.
Of course, I offer coaching (for a fee), but I suggest you go to my FB page (ninaamir.com) and ask around, if you want a buddy for free. See if someone else bites. An accountability partner will work just as well.
Happy reading and writing.