Reading time: About 4 minutes
Does this seem to be the wrong time of year to talk about writing resolutions? It’s not!
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It’s August, and New Year’s resolutions are likely the last thing on your mind right now. You’re probably pretending you don’t see the abandoned manuscript glaring at you from the corner of your desk.
But let me poke at you with my metaphorical writing stick.
- Did you resolve to write more frequently this year?
- Did you hope to make the process less painful and more productive?
How’s that going for you? (And please don’t say “fine” while nervously shuffling a blanket over your dusty laptop.)
Some 23 percent of people quit their resolutions by the end of the first week of January. Further, an incredible 43 percent have abandoned them by the end of that month.
The percentage of people who are “on track” by August drops sharply — only about nine percent of resolution-makers keep up by this point. If your resolutions are in the trash heap right now, consider using our “second new year” (September) to resurrect them.
Here are 15 useful tips:
1-See yourself as a writer
This might sound like nothing more than semantics, but it’s actually a powerful tool. Many people who want to write see themselves as lazy or procrastinators. Instead, see yourself as a writer. Ask yourself: What type of person or writer would achieve the goals I’ve set for myself? What characteristics, habits, mindset or way of being would someone who has already achieved that goal possess? Then, BE that person. Be someone who can achieve your writing goals because you already have the mindsets and habits of someone who has been there and done that. It’s like method acting, but with more coffee and fewer dramatic monologues.
2-Set clear, specific goals
“Write a book,” is vague and non-specific. Instead, go for something like “write 250 words a day” or “write for 15 minutes.” These goals are both clear and actionable.
3-Start small
Way too many writers start with big dreams and end up with crushed expectations. Don’t do that to yourself — your ego has suffered enough already! It’s not realistic to write for four hours a day — or even one hour. Instead, write for somewhere between five and 15 minutes every day. I know that doesn’t sound like enough, but daily habits beat occasional marathons every single time. If you can write just 250 words a day (only five days a week and take off two full weeks for holidays or existential crises), you’ll have 62,500 words at the end of a year. Those small numbers add up fast!
4-Break big projects into smaller ones
Big projects can feel overwhelming — they’re so huge, you don’t know where to start. But breaking them into smaller, manageable tasks creates momentum. Each completed step builds confidence and clarity. It’s less about tackling the mountain all at once and more about taking steady, doable steps that lead you to the top. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.
5-Create a writing schedule — and stick to it
Treat your writing time like a meeting you can’t miss. A writing schedule turns intention into action. It removes decision fatigue and builds momentum through routine. You don’t wait for inspiration — you show up, and it follows. Consistency beats intensity over time. Even small, regular sessions add up. The schedule becomes a quiet contract with your creative self — and, unlike your gym membership, you might actually use this one.
6-Use deadlines
Deadlines give shape to ambition. Without them, writing goals can drift indefinitely, lost in “someday.” A self-imposed deadline turns a vague intention into a concrete commitment. It creates urgency, encourages focus and helps writers push through resistance. Even artificial deadlines provide structure and momentum. They help you prioritize writing amid life’s chaos. Most importantly, deadlines allow you to build trust in yourself — you said you’d do it, and you did. That’s how writing becomes not just a dream, but a habit.
7-Track your progress
Keep a record of how many words you write every day and, for big projects like books or dissertations, track how many words you have left to write. This kind of accounting not only keeps you on track, but you’ll also find it to be motivational and inspirational — like a fitness tracker, but for your creativity instead of your steps. Use my free tracking form.
8-Join a writing group or community
Writing can be lonely — but it doesn’t have to be. A writing group offers accountability, encouragement and connection. You’re more likely to show up when others are counting on you. Sharing struggles and wins builds momentum. In community, writing becomes less isolated and more joyful, sustainable and creatively energizing. My popular Get It Done group has helped many writers finish books and many grad students finish dissertations.
9-Eliminate distractions
Distractions drain focus and stall progress. Writing requires attention, and even brief interruptions can break creative flow. So, turn off your phone. Close your tabs. Shut your door. And write.
10-Write first, edit later
Writing and editing use different parts of the brain. Trying to do both at once can paralyze progress. Write first — messy, fast and free. Get the ideas down without judgment. Editing should come later, with clarity and distance. Separating the two allows creativity to flow and makes revision more effective. Perfectionism kills momentum — and creativity — and possibly your will to live.
11-Celebrate small wins
Small wins are fuel for long-term motivation. Writing is often slow and solitary, so celebrating progress — finishing a chapter, showing up consistently, hitting a word count — keeps your morale on life-support. When you honour the little victories, you build momentum, confidence and joy in the writing process. Finished a page? That counts as a win.
12-Have a system for capturing ideas
Ideas are fleeting; capturing them prevents loss. A reliable system — a notes app, notebook or voice memo — lets you seize inspiration on the go. Stored ideas become raw material for projects, sparking creativity and overcoming writer’s block. By recording thoughts consistently, writers build a rich resource, fueling future work and maintaining sustained momentum.
Don’t rely on your memory to do this. Your memory is already busy trying to figure out where you put your keys.
13-Take enough breaks
Rest is part of the process — it’s not laziness! Breaks restore energy and perspective. Writing for too long without pause can lead to burnout and diminishing returns. Stepping away — whether for a walk, stretch or moment of quiet — refreshes your mind and sparks new ideas. Regular breaks aren’t a luxury; they’re an essential part of a sustainable writing practice.
14-Read like a writer
Reading like a writer means paying attention to how the author has structured a piece — not just what they say. Notice sentence structure, pacing, dialogue and tone. Study what works (and what doesn’t). This intentional reading sharpens your craft, expands your toolbox and helps you internalize the techniques of great writing. Plus, now you can legitimately call binge-reading “professional development.”
15-Keep showing up despite the imperfect days
Keep going anyway. Progress, not perfection, is what counts. Writing is a habit built through consistency, not perfection. Each return rebuilds momentum and strengthens discipline. Forgive yourself, reset and keep going. The simple act of showing up — even after a break — keeps your writing goals alive and achievable.
Now is the best time for new resolutions
Look, I get it — writing is hard, resolutions are harder, and by August, most of us have given up more dreams than a pragmatic Disney villain.
But here’s the thing: September is basically the grown-up New Year anyway. You’ll have fresh school supplies in the stores, and that back-to-school energy can help convince you to become the kind of person who writes every day.
Now stop reading about writing and go actually write something — even if it’s terrible. You can fix terrible writing; you can’t fix blank pages, except by writing something on them.
If you liked this post, you’ll also like Ditch the resolutions and make rituals instead.
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Need some help developing a better, more sustainable writing or editing routine? Learn about my three-month accountability program called Get It Done. There is turn-over each month, and priority will go to those who have applied first. You can go directly to the application form and you’ll hear back from me within 24 hours.
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My video podcast last week addressed how to deal with writer’s block. You can watch the video or read the transcript, and you can also subscribe to my YouTube channel.
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Have you managed to keep your writing resolutions from Jan. 1? We can all learn from each other, so please, share your thoughts with my readers and me in the comments section, below. And congratulations to Lola, the winner of this month’s book prize, for a comment on my recent blog https://www.publicationcoach.com/1000-newsletters/ about my thousandth newsletter. (Please send me your email address, Lola.) If you comment on today’s post (or any others) by Aug. 31, I’ll put you in a draw for a digital copy of my first book, 8 1/2 Steps to Writing Faster, Better. To enter, please scroll down to the comments, directly underneath the related posts links, below. You don’t have to join Disqus to post! Read my tutorial to learn how to post as a guest. (It’s easy!)
