Reflecting on the Writing Year
As we finish up the year, it’s time to reflect on our writing practices and accomplishments. There will always be shiny new projects and plans in our future, but a sustainable writing practice requires reflection and appreciation for our own hard work.
Here are some of my favorite ways to reflect and record my writing at the end of the year:
#1 Celebrations
Because we have so many ambitions and goals, we’re constantly watching the space ahead of us and aiming towards our future self. It takes a dedicated practice to look back and feel gratitude and pride towards ourselves for accomplishing what we have. So look back on the year and ask yourself;
When did you prioritize your writing? What came out of that?
What investments (time, financial, vulnerability) did you make in your writing practice?
What new and exciting projects did you begin this year?
When did you persevere in writing?
And, my favorite end-of-year exercise — make a list of all of your accomplishments, big and small. Try to fill a page. You’ll be surprised at how quickly the lines fill up!
#2 Flow Moments
How do you actually embody the advice to ‘work smarter, not harder?’ Think back on writing sessions, prompts, classes, or finished work from this year.
When was it easy?
Not just easy, but vibrant?
Were there times when you made yourself emotional with your own writing?
Thinking back on when things were really working, remember that it isn’t random. Make plans to recreate the environments, timing, or aspects of the project that make you excited!
#3 Gentle Goals
Dreaming big is one of the most important abilities of a writer. But, we’re also human. One of the best ways to meet our goals is to understand the full complexity of our lives.
So, when you look back on your goals from this past year, analyze them;
What aspects of your wonderfully strange life did you forget to take into account?
Now that the year is over, what has it reminded you of? Do you have family obligations or self-care needs?
Value the ambition of your past goals while also restructuring them to actually fit your life.
I hope you keep writing and generate some new strategic and fulfilling goals for next year! And if you’re reading this before January 1, there’s still time to join Writing the New Year.
