📌 Two Free Writing Resources I Take Advantage of This Time Every Year

Set some writerly intentions and get the story gears grinding in 2024

I’ve already written a little bit about my cuckoo-pajamas feelings about goal setting, but no matter what you think of goal setting/resolutions/chaosenergy, there are two things I've done every year for the past few years that I look forward to each new writing year. And you are in luck because now’s the perfect time to sign up for both if you haven’t yet!

1. Julie Hedlund’s 12 Days of Christmas for Writers - This is a “free, every day you get an email from Julie” program that is not affiliated with any religious philosophy but is one of Julie’s gifts to the writing community. Day by day, starting on December 26th (but you can easily catch up if you start now), you reflect on the past writing year through compassionate eyes and set your sights on what you want next year to look like. What I love about it is that it focuses on positivity, and though Julie does lean more into the “things you can control” end of things than I naturally do, I find that she also gives you plenty of canvas to dream on, as well. It’s a very flexible, adaptable, and motivational way to look at the present of a new year in your writing life! Can’t recommend it enough.

2. Tara Lazar’s Storystorm - Though this technically starts January 1, the registration is open now. There are tons of prizes and superb advice—but I’m not being sarcastic when I say the real treasure is the story ideas you’ll write down along the way. (I *truly* mine my January Storystorm notes all year, every year.) Also, you keep track of your Storystorm ideas in a zillion ways, but I prefer a basic calendar page that I clip to a clipboard. You can download a printable calendar for free from <puts on a monocle, affects a rasp> this very cyber-portal <coughs, ends strange impression, which sounded more Emperor Palpatine than the Dumbledore I was probably going for>. Also cannot recommend this enough.

Whatever you do to kick off the 2024 Writing Year, I hope it fills you with energy, optimism, and love—and all that shines through in your work.

Also, if you do other things this time of year to set yourself up for the next, I’d love to read them in the comments!

Your “runnin', runnin', and runnin', runnin'” friend,

Elayne

My posts are always free, but my focus isn't; if you found this post interesting or useful, please consider ♡' ing it so I know. Thank you!