2010 New Years Resolution: I Am a Professional Writer!

Last year, I set my resolution to write more. Do to the traumatic year I had, I fell extremely short of that goal. Oh, I still wrote and accepted a few assignments, but with everything going on in my life, working on my craft was not a very high priority.

This year I plan to restructure how I look at my writing. Sure I have made some money, but does it pay the bills? Not by a long shot. When most people ask if I work, I tell them I do a little writing from home. Thier next thought is surely, "Oh, so you don't work?" Well, anyone that is trying to make a living writing can tell you it is a lot of work.

So, my New Years Resolution for 2010 is to change the way I look at myself. No longer will I say, "I do a little writing from home." Ask me what I do and I am going to tell you, "I am a professional writer!" And that is just what I plan to be! I have set myself up a few goals. Nothing too hard or stringent, because I think people can set goals to high, and that is why a lot of New Years Resolutions die out, even before the end of January comes along.

New Years Resolution #1

Sure there are a lot better writers than I am, but I will remind myself that there are a lot worse writers out there too. I think I have insecurity issues when it comes to my writing. I'll see this really good assignment, or call for content from magazines, and think I am not good enough to write for them. After all they are a major market! I am done with that! No pain, no gain, right? I plan to submit right along with the best of them.

New Years Resolution # 2

Marketing myself as a professional writer is something I haven't been doing much of either. Some writers will tell you if you write well, the article will market itself. I agree with that in some ways, but yet no body knows about a great product, unless someone markets it to the public! So, I plan on spending some time marketing me; you know getting my name out there. Don't worry, I won't spam you!

New Years Resolution #3

Marketing myself also means marketing my writing. We are like peanut butter and jelly! We are looking for the perfect slice of bread! So that means attempting some of those markets, that I have always wanted to write for. You know, the big guys that actually pay a decent amount for an article or story. Oh, don't get me wrong, I have been very thrilled to earn the few PV pennies from sites like Associated Content and Helium, but it is time to move up in my expectations!

New Years Resolution #4

Fiction. Hmm, I have attempted a few short stories at Associated Content. They were well received by my readers. Some of my writer friends even told me I was pretty good at it, and should pursue fiction a little heavier. I don't know about good, but I sure had fun writing fiction. So, I plan to take a stroll down fiction lane, and submit a few pieces to some fiction venues too.

New Years Resolution #5

Ask me what I do. I am a professional writer! There, that sounded pretty good to me, how about you? From now on, I don't make a little money writing from home. I earn my living through my writing, and being able to do it from home is a perk! Hmmm, that sounds pretty good...I guess I am not to bad at this writing stuff....

Resolution #6 would be to learn links! For now, here are a couple of my fiction attempts.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2168303/jessicas_journal_2012.html?cat=44http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2385086/the_christmas_wish.html?cat=44