New Year Writing Resolutions

So, a Happy New Year to one and all - or at least to everyone who lives by the Gregorian Calendar ...

This, of course, is the time of year for resolutions. Perhaps it's the Celt in me but I rather like the idea of a period outside of time, between the old year and the new, when you can take stock, remember what has gone before and think about what is to come. Resolutions are, I'm sure, just one modern manifestation of an ancient need to mark the middle of winter, the darkest point in the year, the hoped-for return of the sun. Without getting all new-age on your ass, it does often feel like there is a pause around this time, a moment of stillness when the world is frozen (as it has been here in the UK) and nothing much moves. A good time to think.

So, anyway, one thing I've been thinking about is writing resolutions. I thought I'd do the clearly insane thing and post them for all to see. Some of these are things for me to achieve - proper SMART resolutions as discussed by Nicola Morgan. Some of these are just hopes and aspirations that are to some extent out of my control. But this what I hope and aim for in 2010 :

• Find an agent for Hedge Witch, my first novel
• Continue to write at least 500 words per writing day on average
• Complete a draft of Engn, my second novel
• Make at least 3 short story sales ...
• ... including one that qualifies me for Associate SFWA membership
• Reach 50 blog followers ...
  
• ... and 200 Twitter followers
• Read, I don't know, oodles of depressingly great books by other people. One a week sounds like a good start.

That should be enough to keep me going! Achieving all of those would make for a truly wonderful year. If and when any one of them happens I'll be a happy man ...