It’s lucky 2013 and yeah, I have some work to do. Instead of making New Year’s resolutions I’m thinking I’m just going to set a few concrete goals for the coming year, do my best to meet deadlines and allow myself the freedom to dream big.

First, I need to write more. I’m not talking about books; currently, I have two to edit, one to complete and a fourth in the works. There’s more to writing than novels. I consider myself to be a long-distance writer, but I’m thinking there’s much to learn from delving into shorter pieces such as blog posts, short stories, flash fiction and maybe even poetry (although this is probably the biggest challenge of all for me).

Second, I need to figure out the whole marketing thing. I might even pick up a book or two, attend some webinars and get myself a bit of education. I know how to use Facebook, but twitter eludes me. I know book bloggers are very important to Indy writers, but approaching established blogs is much like sending out query letters. Of course, if you don’t ask, you’ll never know.

Third, while on the topic of asking, I need to send out more queries, not just in Canada, but in the United States as well. Being independent is a lot of work, and I’ll admit I’m not so great at the marketing, selling and promotion part of it. Even with a traditional publisher, a writer has to make efforts to sell their work, but some of the pressure of constant promoting might be alleviated – might.

And fourth, I need to focus. It’s too easy to get caught up in what others are doing. I enjoy interacting with other writers and artists on Facebook. Blogs are intriguing, articles are inviting. Knowing what’s going on in the world of writing is essential, but there are times when hours pass by and suddenly I have spent the day trolling the internet in search of who knows what instead of working on my own stuff.

Last of all, I need to remember that I’m kind of good at this writing stuff. It’s okay to be proud of my accomplishments and show off my work. There might be days when I want to toss the entire lot in the bin, but I’ve had enough feedback to know my work isn’t half bad. With each new book, blog and bit of writing I complete I learn something new, both about myself and my writing.

So, in short, 2013 is going to be a good year for me. I feel the tingling in my fingers and excitement in my heart. Watch out world, here I come.