We’ve come to the end of the year, and while it’s definitely a time for celebration (buh-BYE and good riddance, 2021), it’s also usually a time for reflection and re-evaluation. What great things did you do this year, when did you get in your own way, and what lessons can you take into the new year?
First off, celebrate the things you did well! It’s been a(nother) tough year, and if you managed to get through it and get things accomplished, that’s a win right there. Whether it was putting out a book (or more than one), writing again after a long hiatus, dreaming up a new project, starting your newsletter, etc., be proud of yourself for getting things done for your writing dreams. This will look different for everyone, because success is a relative thing, but go you!
What are the things that have tripped you up this past year? It’s a little bit easier to generalize on these things, because I think most writers go through them—most people, really (I’m pretty sure I did all of these myself):
Imposter syndrome – I talked about imposter syndrome recently, and said there that I don’t think it can ever be fully conquered. BUT what can be useful is figuring out where imposter syndrome is coming from and neutralizing it that way—is it a pattern you’re stuck in, the fear of doing something difficult, the worry of failure? Name it and claim it.
FOMO – What other people are doing (and especially when they seem to be doing it well—with seem is the operative word there because social media is very good at hiding the hard parts) is always going to make us feel like we’re not doing enough to be at their level. But they got to where they are by a route that you can’t replicate; you need to get where you’re going your own way, using your own experiences and talents.
Perfectionism – Are we all guilty of this one? Trying for perfection is paralyzing for actual progress. Just do the thing. If it’s a hot mess, you fix it for the next time, and you learn from it. Nothing is ever a waste of time, and it’s better to do something than to hem and haw over it and then miss the opportunity to do it at all.
Making things hard on yourself because you think that’s the way it should be – I saw this SO much this year (and did this to myself too). You do not have to layer 75 different tropes on top of each other to make your story interesting. You do not have to write about things that you’re not interested in and that you’ll have to do a ton of research on because everyone else is doing it. You do not have to learn every single social media platform, do every TikTok dance, follow every trend. You can learn new things and challenge yourself, of course, but also do what makes sense for you and your life and your abilities at this moment in time without overcommitting or burning yourself out.
What can you do differently next year? The new year is always a good time to shake things up and reset your routine to find new, fruitful ways to move forward and get inspired. Here are some ideas:
Lean into trends or innovate – Following trends isn’t inherently bad, and it’s actually kind of a good thing in trope-heavy Romancelandia where you can ride the waves of a trend for a while. (And if you’re self-publishing and you write fast, you can quickly pivot to match those trends.) But if you can find a way to innovate and tweak a trend or a trope that creates something fresh, that’s also a great way to find new readers and get yourself into a more creative space. In either case, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel and do something totally new—in my opinion, nothing is ever really new; it’s just a permutation of something that’s come before. Romance readers want the familiar, with something just a tiny bit different to keep it interesting.
Try something new to you – I talked previously about my foray into Instagram Reels and how it pushed me out of my comfort zone. I won’t force you to do Reels or TikTok, but can you try something that’s going to stretch your creative muscles, whether it’s on social media or in your writing or in your marketing? Is it doing something like Reels or lives and showing up more often on camera to connect to your readers? Is it switching up your writing routine or writing in a new sub-genre? Or is it maybe re-covering your books in a new style or marketing with other authors to find a new-to-you audience? Get out of that comfort zone and take a risk!
Try new partners – Is it time for a new CP or beta or editor? Are you feeling like you and your usual partners-in-crime aren’t on the same wavelength anymore—either that you’ve gotten ahead of them or you haven’t caught up to them yet? Have you outgrown your editor that you’ve been with for a while? Shaking up your inner circle (gently, of course) is something you should do as you grow as a writer so you don’t stagnate. Continue to develop your skills with people around you who can meet you where you are.