I’m really bad at keeping resolutions, but it can’t hurt to try, right?

#1: Start a novella

Bringing out the big guns for the first resolution…sort of.

I got plenty of ideas for novellas, but between writing and submitting all the short stories last year, I never really focussed on any of them. This year, I would like to at least try to write some part of a larger narrative–nothing too long, but definitely longer than what I usually write.

I’m not putting pressure on myself to finish it. If I do, then great, but just starting at this stage will make me happy. Taking the first few steps is good enough for me for now.

#2: Comic script

This is a bit vague. It could either mean write a whole new comic script, or maybe even edit and submit the one I wrote for my MA to somewhere?* Either way, I would like to get back into comics, as I truly adored studying them and focussing on them for my Master’s.

Writing a comic script is quite different to writing prose. One thing I like a lot is that when I describe an appearance or a setting to the artist, I can have them hide things for the keen-eyed reader to find! You can tuck things away in backgrounds or use a character’s appearance to imply a backstory and there’s no guarantee a reader will catch it on their first read–the trouble with prose is that I point out the scar on the cheek or the suspicious crack in a glass, then you have to pay attention to it because I’ve wrote it and you’ve read it! But putting things in the script that can be hidden in the art is just so mischievous and fun and something I love about writing comics.

(*Post about that story in the future maybe?)

#3: Dabble in poetry?

I’m not actually totally sure about this one, but I’ve written it now so…I guess I got to try?

I’ve never been a poetry person, but I’ve been considering doing the occasional bit of verse for fun. Back in university I had to do poetry for a couple of modules and I got some good feedback on a few bits and pieces, so I reckon it wouldn’t hurt to try. My mum has always been good at poetry, so maybe she can help me!

#4: Keep on submitting

As I said in the ‘Looking back at 2023’ post, the rejections can get a bit dejecting. But I want to keep on going! If nothing else, the practice will be good.

It’s only the beginning…

I hope to achieve at least all of these goals, but if I don’t then I would not be too mad at simply keeping the same pace as I set in 2023 and only fulfilling resolution number five. I have to remember that I’ve only really just started properly focussing on my stories and that things won’t happen over night. As long as I keep writing, keep submitting, and keep trying, then I have nothing to be ashamed of. Putting myself out there is scary and getting rejections is difficult, but patience and persistence are key!