How to Celebrate Your Writing Wins and Set Yourself Up for a Confident 2025
The 2024 writing season is winding down, and I have a question for you…
Have you taken a moment to acknowledge everything you did in the last year?
Have you looked at what you are proud of and really let it sink in—deep into your heart and bones?
If you're like me, I bet you haven't done that yet; maybe it's not even on your radar, but I'm going to invite you (both of us) to make it a priority before the clock strikes twelve on January 1.
Here’s why acknowledging our progress matters:
This time of year, it is easy to look up and realize it's over. The last twelve months have ripped by us in a flash and flurry, and there are probably a ton of things we wanted to do, resolved to do, and well...didn't.
It's easy to focus only on our unmet expectations and what we could or should have done.
That energy will not serve us well now nor set us up for a healthy, productive 2025.
If I don't check myself (this email is my reminder), I will naturally focus on the gap, the lack, the need to's and have to's, and the didn't get to's.
That will make me spiral into disappointment.
I have to be incredibly intentional with my thoughts and energy this time of year to avoid feeling like I didn't do enough and remind myself that my feelings are not facts because the truth is I did a damn lot, and I bet you did too.
There is a time to focus on what needs to change and make plans to achieve, but it's not right now.
Right now, it's time to accurately assess your assets because, as a very smart person once said to me, "You cannot build on the success you don't acknowledge."
Often, we need a season of containment where we take stock before we can expand again.
So, with that, I'm inviting you to come up with a list of at least ten things you are proud of for 2024.
They can be writing-related or not, and please dig deep.
Why are you proud of these things?
What do they mean to you?
Then, come up with a way to acknowledge yourself and your efforts!
Wrapping Up Another Beautiful Year of Serving Writers
Last week, we did wrap-up calls for group coaching at Write It Scared.
To prepare, I asked each writer to answer the same questions I just asked you and I want to share the highlights of that experience and celebrate those individuals.
Here are some of their wins for 2024:
I have created a consistent writing rhythm around my hectic life.
I got brave, took a writing workshop, and shared my work for the first time with other writers.
Hitting 50k words in my novel.
Not being as hard on myself as I normally would for not getting as far as I would have liked in the novel in the last 3 months.
I went from being lost in September with no plan to having a solid writing routine and a plan to finish out my draft.
I’ve become less critical of my first draft.
I learned how to re-adjust my goals without guilt or shame when “life happened.”
I showed up for my story and shared about it when I was afraid to do that before.
I rediscovered my joy of writing.
I have kept moving and have momentum in my story despite the messiness.
I feel more secure in myself as a writer.
I’m learning to tame my inner critic.
My writing received an award.
I cut 15K from my draft.
I only have 6 more scenes before my revision pass is finished.
I’m almost ready to go out to beta readers.
I’m grateful for this safe, authentic, group!
I tell people I'm writing a book now.
I made decisions for my story when indecision held me back before.
Yeah. I had tears in my eyes during those coaching calls.
I'm incredibly humbled by these individuals. They created those wins by taking action in service to their goals. Not big, sweeping action. No need for a “Hail Mary” here. Just small, consistent steps forward. Day by day, week by week, inch by inch.
I challenged them (with love) to celebrate themselves. This was hard for many. It’s hard for me, too.
I asked them to consider the relationship they want to have with their writing over the next three weeks (given the chaotic holiday season).
Then, we discussed a plan of action to make that happen until the next coaching cohort begins in January.
Words can't convey how honored I am to be part of these writers’ creative journeys.
In the spirit of recognizing and celebrating your hard work and making a healthy assessment of what you would like to change for next year, I encourage you to:
Make a list of what you are proud of from 2024 and why.
Celebrate your efforts. It doesn't really matter how in my book. It's more about the meaning associated with the action.
Decide on the relationship you want to have with your writing as you close out the year and what action you need to take to create it. If that means you're resting, fantastic; if you continue to write, also fantastic. Just apply the lens of your reality to set up realistic expectations!
Remember, we cannot build on success and effort that we don't acknowledge!
