The new year is almost here (!), and that means it’s time again to set resolutions and goals. With a clean slate, you can focus on revamping your writing routine for 2020. Below are a few ideas to help get the new year off to a flying start and realize your writing potential.

Set Realistic Goals for the Upcoming Year

Think about what you want to accomplish in terms of your writing in 2020. Is it to redraft a rejected paper that’s fallen to the wayside? To turn in your work well before the deadline? To finally start a project that you’ve been itching to get into? Whatever your goals, keep them focused and realistic so that they are easier to reach and feel less overwhelming. You might also find it useful to create a writing calendar to figure out what time of the day you work best, to get a writing accountability buddy to help you stay on track, or to use apps and online tools to stay organized and focused.

Incorporate Reading into Your Routine

While writing is an important part of any academic career, most people don’t realize how vital reading is if you want to write well. This new year, consider incorporating more reading into your daily routine. Reading is a great way to broaden your knowledge and skills and to hone your craft by absorbing others’ techniques. Whether it’s a journal a week or a few papers a month, setting quantifiable goals will make it easier to start reading in the new year.

Refill the Well

Another great resolution is to remember to take breaks and engage in self-care practices during your writing sessions. Taking breaks, especially when you’re working on longer projects, can help you refresh your mind and avoid writer’s block. Whether it’s a walk around the park, a yoga class, a long bath, or a cup of coffee, refilling the well is an important part of any routine.

Spend Time on Revision and Proofreading

Brainstorming and sitting down to write are both important parts of the writing process, but so is the often-forgotten job of revising and proofreading. Revision is typically a multi-step process that involves tightening your sentences, reworking ideas, and perhaps getting outside readers to critique your work. In addition, language errors and issues with clarity can severely hinder your chances of getting your paper published or receiving a good grade, and sometimes it’s hard for even the most accomplished writers to catch mistakes or unclear passages on their own. For this reason, utilizing a professional proofreading/editing service can be an extremely worthwhile investment. We’re always here to help, and we hope that our flexible, professional, and friendly approach will help you to meet your goals in 2020.

Happy new year from the Stickler team!