by Patricia Bumpass
Journaling is a wonderfully easy way to get and keep your career focused and moving forward.
As we leave 2020 behind and embark on the newness of 2021, the future lies before us.
What will (does) 2021hold for you personally as well as professionally?
Did you achieve every goal you set for your writing career in 2020?
If not, why not?
No matter how you answer these questions, your journal can help you make 2021 your best year ever.
For your life. For your writing.
Keeping track of your accomplishments in your journal will allow you to pinpoint areas for improvement and growth.
When you reflect back on the end of 2021 one year from now, you will be amazed at what you have accomplished.
Use the following journaling tips to help build your writing practice and career to its full potential in 2021.
1. Become friends with your journal.
Use it to record your thoughts. Your fears. Your hopes. Your dreams.
2. Record your plans.
Every business needs a plan of some sort.
A business plan. A marketing plan.
You do have both…Right?
3. Use your journal to assess where you are and where you’re going.
If you haven’t built a regular journaling habit, start it Now.
Your business depends on it. Your sanity too.
It’s O.K. to start small.
At the end of every week, pull out your journal and write down the answers to the following questions:
- What have I done this week to move my writing career along? This could be as simple as naming your business or as complex as marketing yourself and completing a big project or finally building your writer’s website. No matter how big or small, take time to recognize your achievements.
- What could I have done that would have moved my writing career further along? This question keeps you accountable to yourself and your business.
- What can/will I do in the next seven days that will move me closer to making my writing career a reality and living the writer’s life?
- You have to take some action to live the life you imagine as a writer. Let your journal help. Commit to yourself and your business by writing down what specific actions you’re going to take in the next week to become the writer/business owner you desire to become.
4. Don’t forget to show your gratitude.
Use your journal to record everything you’re grateful for.
This can be personal and professional. (If you want, you can keep a Gratitude Journal but that’s a topic for another post.)
5. Keep Your Why in Front of You.
You’re going to have days where you feel excited about your writing career and business.
Then there will be days where you just can’t seem to get motivated enough to write a single word.
It’s during those times that you can pull out your journal and review your success as well as remind yourself of areas for improvement.
Just reading your thoughts and ideas can spur you on towards your finish line.
6. Record your mission and vision statements.
Every company you’ve ever worked for has a mission and vision statement.
They are the guiding force for every action that is undertaken.
Why should your writing business be any different?
7. Write down your thoughts on your ideal client.
If you want to serve a certain segment of the Earth’s population, write it down in your journal.
Keep track of their thoughts, their needs, their wants, and why/how you can satisfy those wants and needs.
Breathe Life into Your Career
Just like water and food give life to your body, journaling can breathe life into a new or fledgling writing career.
As you reflect back on 2020, go ahead and make note of every significant thing that happened with your writing.
The Good. The Bad. The Ugly.
Then go ahead and get that plan going for 2021.
Become best friends with your journal and propel your writing forward in the New Year.
About Patricia Bumpass
Patricia (Pat) Bumpass (www.patriciabumpass.com) is a North Carolina-based freelance writer. She writes a weekly blog for her current employer while building her freelance writing business. Pat enjoys writing and has journaled since she was a teenager. She lives with her 17-year-old son who is blessed with Autism.
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