@DiAnnMills

Our family celebrations often involve a game of dominoes. Me? I like stacking them up and watching them fall one-by-one. 

Unfortunately if writers don’t make a few plans for their writing career in January 2019, our publishing dreams may fall flat. Every writer is motivated by something, and when we lose track of why we embarked upon this wonderful journey, our dreams and ideals never hit a winning mark. In fact, they are destroyed. 

If we write when we feel the muse, edit when the mood strikes us, promote when it’s easy, and submit when we have nothing better to do, our careers will fail. So how can we avoid the domino effect? I’ve listed ten things we can all do.

Ten Ways Writers can Take Charge in 2019

1. Understand priorities and stick by them. Life is filled with interruptions, and only we can decide which distractions are important and which ones are merely annoyances.
2. Establish a budget for conferences, marketing, promotion, how-to books, reading, electronics, business expenses, and other miscellaneous expenditures. 
3. Calendar due dates for writing projects ahead of time. If a manuscript is on spec, establish a deadline to finish and stick to it.
4. List the writing projects that need research and calendar the work.
5. Determine social media goals: learn new platform and work smarter on new ones
6. Analyze the many blogs available for the writer and the world of publishing. Select and follow those that are consistency professional with respected authors and information.
7. Evaluate current writing groups, online and live. Which one(s) allow the writer to learn and give back to others?
8. Create an “Idea” folder for every project. Writing ideas come from the world around us—from blogs to articles to book projects. 
9. Update author bios and include various lengths.
10. Take an honest look at your professional photo. Is it time for a retake?

Facing the New Year with a plan means writers are destined for success. Watch how your dominoes stack up this year.

How have you developed a writing and publishing criteria for 2019?

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She is a storyteller. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, Suspense Sister, and International Thriller Writers. She is co-director of The Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference and The Mountainside Marketing Conference with social media specialist Edie Melson. She teaches writing workshops around the country. DiAnn is active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.

Follow DiAnn on Twitter: @DiAnnMills