6 Resolutions This Freelance Writer Made At The Start Of 2021

Here we are, fully one-third done with 2021, and perhaps many (not all) have forgotten the writing promises we made to ourselves as 2020 wrapped up.

Successful writers have a few things in common.

Like putting in the grunt work, writing till the ink runs dry, and lest we forget editing. This can be difficult, tedious, and time-consuming, but the results are worth it.

It involves dedicated effort and a lot of time spent linking words together you may have discarded or forgotten.

It takes a fair amount of focus on your future goals when you want to be a writer or author.

In the next months or year, what will your goals be?

Every writer should try to have defined goals for their work that they continually keep in mind and sharpen.

Once their book, product, or client sales hit six figures, prolific authors didn't stop setting goals. If you're aiming for bestseller status, you should set your own challenges to work towards and create an easy-to-follow roadmap for jumping from one step to the next.

Success leaves clues, after all.

So have you thought about your goals as a freelance, business, or corporate writer? And if so, how are you doing with them?

For my friends and followers who are writers or writers "soon-to-be", these were a few of my goals, and here's how I'm faring so far.

1. In 2021 I Will Publish Three Times Weekly

Every writer has something they want to write but can't seem to make time for in their busy life. It might be an essay, a blog post or topic, an article published on a website or magazine, or that book that you are working on at the moment.

You know that piece you always seem to have trouble getting out of your head, but you would love to see it come to life.

Where are you with that? Did you put pen to paper and publish your work?

UPDATE: I've stayed true to myself on this goal. With regular publishings on Medium, Newsbreak, and Vocal, I can confidently share that my average is 4.3 articles published every week. And this does not include work I'm contracted to produce by my clients. 

2. Take A Course On Writing

Even the most experienced writers find a course to take advantage of. Especially given the continual "work-from-home" period we're still in.

It's time to become better educated with distance, or "Zoom" learning at this point in time, and there are numerous streaming classes these days.

If you traditionally write fiction, perhaps now is the time for a poetry course. If you're used to writing blogs about horticulture, learn a trick or two about creative non-fiction to expand your arsenal.

A writing-specific course can help a ton in improving your writing skills, such as giving you more clarity on general language usage and boosting your confidence, among other things.

UPDATE: The work-from-home thing definitely worked in my favor. I've since explored, signed up, and paid for two writing courses, - one in creative non-fiction and another in email copywriting, and also a coach. And yes, they definitely stretch you!

3. Create My Outlines Faster

There is no prize for the fastest pen in the west, only your pride and potentially more business. Speed doesn't make it, or you, any less creative, though.

How fast can you outline your article? How about bullet points for a client's blog post or perhaps even a technical piece?

Try this. Choose from a current job your working on, or even just a random topic for this exercise. Open up your smartphone and start the stopwatch function.

Write the outline, and write it as fast as you can.

Then learn to do it faster.

Reskilling, or as I call it, UP-skilling, is essential, especially if you are a freelancer with multiple clients or need to increase productivity on a daily basis.

UPDATE: I've gamified my writing. Truly. I totally set a Howler Timer, give myself a 3..2..1, and GO. It works. Be faster. Be better.

4. Diversify My Client Base

A good client list is diverse. If your client list doesn't have diversity, consider what other types you might want to write for or work with. Precisely to fit the needs of your business (but in different directions than your usual niche).

A diverse group of clients could turn out to be a more clever move than one thinks.

Sticking exclusively to the same niche or topic could hold you back, especially as a freelance writer, and you just might discover a passion for something you didn't know existed. 

The best thing you can do right here, right now, is to spread yourself out. Not THIN, just OUT. Find niches within your niche, embrace new clients or topics, and you'll see that you will grow as a writer.

UPDATE: From a unique consulting firm to a defense contractor and even a boutique pharmacy, I can say I've definitely hit this mark.

5. Type Faster and Be More Accurate

If there's a skill that every writer could use, improve, or develop, dollars to donuts that it's their typing speed.

How fast do you type? Go on, measure your speed and word count.

How fast can you type up one of your existing pages?

Learn to type faster. Your typing speed will increase over time, and it will ultimately pay off.

UPDATE: I struggle here. While I do indeed type faster, this is one skill I have very slooowwwlllly improved upon. More work to be done here, that's for sure.

6. Get Uncomfortable

Every single person, writer or otherwise, has their comfort zone and an opposite. A DIS-comfort zone.

What is a writer's discomfort zone? Some people prefer to have the topic set and prepared ahead of time, while others like to plunge into the uncertainty of diving right in.

When writers refer to their comfort or discomfort zone, it is different for everyone. For some, working under a deadline is unbearable; others will postpone the dreaded "foodie" articles until the last minute.

Here's a challenge for you as a freelance writer who wants to get out of their comfort zone; how about achieving an ambition you've always wanted and/or pursuing ideas outside your norm?

Just do it.

UPDATE: I definitely pushed the envelope here. I decided to write for Newsbreak, which is more a news channel vs. a creative outlet like Medium or Vocal. So far, so good. Writing in a "newsie" fashion, I have found it is invigorating!!

The Last Word

I hope that what I've shared and that these points for freelance writers help you with your writing. Not just in the six items I shared, but also in my follow-ups and update. 

And hey, if you want to swipe some of these ideas, or maybe are curious, by all means, steal away.

Happy writing!