The aim of life is self-development.
– Oscar Wilde
In January, I made some ambitious writers resolutions for 2013. With March wrapped up, it’s time to take a look at how it’s going.
Resolution #1: Less input, more application.
Limit my input and spend more time thoughtfully applying what I learn.
I’ve cut back on blog hopping and created a sandbox replica of Rubber Ducky Copywriter to test WordPress features. Which has helped me clean up my widgets and prevented some image-related blunders. I’ve also stepped up my study of how to be good Twitter tweeter, creating headlines and practicing my writing.
It’s too early to read into metrics, but my blog is earning more comments and followers. (Thank you everyone. It means a lot.)
Resolution #2: Respect my copywriting.
Focus on learning from the gurus rather than make comparisons and finding fault with myself.
Not easy. Especially when learning from the best involves some comparison. And, there’s no way to actually measure my success or failure. However, I have noticed that in general, I’m more confident in my professional skills and professional presentation. I can only guess that it’s working.
Resolution #3: Respect my creative writing.
Stop sprinkling my creative with work copywriting principles and just let it be.
I created a separate, private blog with a page just for my creative writing. My numerous entries on that page and in my journal tell me I’m rocking this one. And not one of those entries has anything whatsoever to do with marketing. (That took some serious practice.)
Resolution #4: Read my professional development books.
Slight problem—I own a more than I thought. For every one I pick up, I seem to find two. I’d also be reading these faster if I put down the other 3-4 books I’m reading for entertainment. If gurus would write helpful, practical development books with magical cat characters or a crime to solve, we’d be in business.
At the moment, I’m studying two books: The War of Art by Steven Pressfield and The Well-Fed Writer by Peter Bowerman (again). Up next: Hey Whipple Squeeze This by Luke Sullivan and Purple Cow by Seth Godin.
Resolution #5: Enter three writing contests.
I’ve entered—and lost—one writing contest so far. Two more to go.
Resolution #6: Fill four journals.
I’m right on target. I’ve completed my first journal and it’s full of ideas, sketches, creative writing, doodles and rough drafts.
Resolution #7: Get a life outside of writing.
Fill a standard sketchbook.
Good news is that I’m drawing more. Mostly doodles in my journal and on scraps of paper. Bad news is that I only have two drawings actually in my sketchbook. That’s two more than I’ve drawn in the past three years but if I’m going to fill that sketchbook, I need to pick up the pace.
Resolution #8: Go 180 days without soda.
I’ve been a bad, bad ducky. The only time I’ve behaved myself this year is during my nasty head cold in January. But I’m drinking more water…that’s gotta count for something, right?
Since I first posted these resolutions, I’ve received a lot of feedback that boils down to “you set yourself up for failure.” Yes, I did. And that’s okay. As I said in the original post, “It’s not about being perfect; it’s about doing better.”
This is just the first quarter and I have some course corrections to make, but I’m still proud of myself. I’m doing what I set out to do—making progress.
How about you? How are your resolutions coming along?
Rubber Ducky Copywriter™ 
I believe it is ok to set goals a bit higher than you think you can acheive. Sometimes you surprize yourself, and even when you don’t reach them you are further along than when you don’t set them high enough.
Thanks Peter. Many times some progress is better than no progress at all. Why quit before you even try?
My sentiments exactly, Peter. It’s a principle I’m applying this year just to see how far I go.
Yup, gotta aim for something before you’re likely to get anywhere. 😉