Sustainable Goals for the New Year
Hello, my pretties!
It’s December, which means two things: Mince pies are socially acceptable for breakfast, and writers everywhere are panicking about next year’s goals.
You know the drill: We make ambitious resolutions. I’ll write a million words! I’ll rapid-release twelve books! I’ll conquer TikTok and master spreadsheets! By mid-January, we’re face down in alcohol-infused chocolate, wondering where it all went wrong.
This year, I want to propose something different. Instead of chasing productivity, let’s talk about sustainability. Let’s aim not for burning bright and fast but instead for keeping the fire lit all year.
Why Productivity Alone Will Break You
Indie culture glorifies the hustle. We’re constantly encouraged to write more, publish faster, spend more on ads, shout louder on social media. But constant productivity isn’t the same as success. Burnout is real, and it kills creativity.
Becca Syme knows this. She has built her platform on encouraging authors to build productive and sustainable writing habits. Her QuitBooks for Writers series, including Dear Writer, Are You in Burnout? and Dear Writer, You Need to Quit, give authors ways to recognize when they may be nearing burnout and tips to recover from it.
Ask any seasoned author: The graveyard is full of brilliant writers who sprinted hard, burned out, and vanished. Sustainability is about pacing yourself so you’re still writing ten years from now—not just ten weeks.
Looking Back Before Looking Forward
Before you set new goals, take stock of the year you’ve just had. And I don’t mean just counting books sold or words written.
Ask yourself:
- What worked well?
- What drained you?
- What surprised you?
- What made you proud?
For me, my proudest moments weren’t orange bestseller ribbons or big paydays. They were messages from readers who said my stories got them through a tough week. They were directing a play, building connections, and finding joy in side projects. That’s what I want more of.
And talking about side projects, what have you achieved this past year outside of your writing? Sometimes we forget that we move through this world as multidimensional beings. We are not just writers. We face many challenges and enjoy many triumphs outside of putting words down in a book.
For example, this year saw my directorial debut—a community production of King Lear outdoors. I also moved house and set up my new home. And I made new friends and spent quality time with old ones. I am sure your life has been equally varied and full. These adventures aren’t just a background to our writing; they inform it. So celebrate all your wins.
Reflect honestly. Even failures are teachers. If you aimed for six releases and managed two, perhaps the real lesson is that two is your sustainable pace. Own it.
A New Way to Frame Goals
Once you’ve considered what worked well—and what didn’t—in the past year, consider your goals for the new year. Make sure they’re reasonable not just for sustaining your career but also for sustaining you. Instead of “How much can I squeeze out of myself?” try asking:
- How do I want my writing life to feel? Energized? Balanced? Joyful?
- What rhythms suit me? Maybe you write best in seasons: three months on, one month off. Maybe you thrive on slow and steady.
- What do I want to protect? Time with family, health, mental well-being—these matter as much as word count.
If you need some added inspiration, here are a few practices I’m embracing—and you might too:
- Set flexible targets. Aim for ranges, not rigid numbers. “Between two and four books next year” is kinder than “four or bust.”
- Build in rest. Schedule holidays, breaks, and days off as deliberately as you schedule launches. Interestingly, I find I work faster when I know I have a trip coming up as I want to go away clean of any lingering work items.
- Diversify joy, not just income. Side projects, hobby writing, or community involvement keep creativity fresh.
- Audit your systems. Are you juggling ten platforms you hate? Streamline. Free yourself from the tools that drain you.
- Celebrate small wins. They sustain momentum. I like a fresh cup of tea after finishing a chapter and, at the moment, I like to add a treat of a cube of Turkish delight!
My Gentle Reset
This year taught me that success isn’t just about output. It’s about resilience. About joy. About remembering that I’m not a machine—I’m a storyteller.
So what are my goals for the new year?
- Write at a sustainable pace.
- Protect my mental health.
- Nurture my community.
- Keep storytelling joyful.
If I hit bestseller lists along the way, fabulous. If not, I’ll still be here, writing, connecting, and creating a life that sustains me.
Final Thoughts (or the Bit Where I Get Philosophical Again)
As the year ends, my pretties, I invite you to step off the productivity hamster wheel. Reflect. Reset. And set goals that won’t just carry you into January but will carry you all the way through December of next year.
Because the real win isn’t how much you produce—it’s that you’re still here, still writing, and still telling stories only you can tell.
Happy (sustainable) writing,
Susan
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