Yes, it’s a cliche. Yes, most people abandon these things before February. I don’t care. I’m doing it anyway.

I’ve had a surprisingly good track record with New Years Resolutions. Last year’s one was setting up and posting regularly to this site, and aside from taking a break in November, I did pretty well at that. In a previous year, I fulfilled my resolution to cycle from Bag End to Rivendell using this tracker (to be fair, I used an exercise bike so I will admit that it may not have been entirely accurate). It does help that the things I’ve chosen don’t require massive amounts of effort, and can be sustained throughout the year. Something to keep in mind.

Here’s my list:

  • Finish editing Summer at Hotel Fulcrum: This is less a Resolution than it is my immediate goal. (It was supposed to be my December goal. Never mind.) I’m more than halfway through my second pass, so soon my previous posts will look very different and you’ll have to read them again. Sorry.
    Deadline: 13 January
  • Write and compile an anthology: I’ve been looking over some of my old stories, and noticed a common theme in a few of them: they tackle the issue of death and what lies beyond. So I’m going to write a couple more stories to flesh that out, and try my hand at putting together an e-book with the (working) title Beyond Death. If all goes well, I will attach this as a freebie to anyone who signs up to my email newsletter.
    Deadline: 1st July
  • Regularly send an email newsletter: What’s the point of having a freebie to sign up otherwise, right? Very few people have signed up so far, but to be honest, I’m astounded and privileged that there have been people letting me into their inbox. So I will be writing and sending a newsletter every month, just for them.
    Deadline: Ongoing. Every Month.

Out of the three, I think the anthology is the biggest and scariest goal. This will be my first foray into formatting a book for publication. But I have a timeline, I have a plan, and it’s going to happen.

I think that’s one of the key things to keeping resolutions. Never entertain the thought that they might fail.

So here’s to the New Year, and success to your every endeavour.

Let’s go.