5 great New Year's resolutions for writers

The New Year is a great time to make changes in your life. If you’re a writer looking to improve your craft, make headway in a project, or become more productive, these resolutions will help kick-start you into action.

Many writers find it very effective to set small, daily goals. Pick a feasible amount of time or word count that you know you can accomplish and will stick to.

• A good example is to write for one hour every morning before work.

If you stick to small goals, you'll find that you get a lot done and aren’t mentally intimidated by the challenge. You’ll also probably feel like writing more once you get started.

One of the best ways to boost your creativity and expand your body of work is by trying out a new genre.

• For example, if you write fiction, try poetry. If you're a journalist, you could try writing short stories.

While you may not love the result, it's a great exercise for your brain and will help you come up with new ideas.

One of the most important things writers can do is read a lot of books. Books inform your writing and can give you inspiration and new ideas.

Resolve to read more books by authors you admire.

Reading books that are currently popular can also give you a good idea of the type of writing that is likely to get published.

If you want to be a professional writer, you're not helping yourself by keeping your work locked up in a drawer. Get those finished pieces out and start submitting them for publication. You may be surprised by the results!

A great way to get and stay motivated is to be held accountable by other people. Gather a group of writers and set deadlines for one another. Then, get together and critique each others' work.

Getting feedback from people you trust can help you improve your pieces. Reading other people’s work can help inspire ideas in your own.