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Writing Goals: 2016

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The first post of 2016 had to be about writing as that is the most important thing for me this year apart from my regular job. The new year started off with a bang and not much of a hangover, so I have been thinking clearly and know what all I want to do this year. No, I'm not listing down my resolutions here. Hell, I don't even have them. My writing has gone through a lot over the past seven years (yes, it has been seven years!) and I need to start taking it more seriously now and be true to myself and what I think. I see a lot of discussion on Facebook regarding blogging and what are the changes to be made for the new year. I read every comment like a silent spectator and I did nod when I agreed with what someone had to say. Blogging somehow has become a way of life for me, and I'm going to make the most of it this year.

So the goals for 2016 are:

Write what I want: More than 1000 posts on my blog and every single one of it has my heart, blood and soul. Actually, except one. There is only one post on my blog that was written with a gun pointed to my head. The rest of all is my opinions and my thoughts, no matter how silly they were. This year I'm going to focus on what I want to write and write about it only. I'm not going to follow a trend or do what others are doing. I have never ever done that and I will not do that this year as well. I'm going to write about what I want and I don't care what people think about it. Over the years I have learnt that no matter what I write, there is at least one person who gets offended by it. In that case, I might as well as do it right eh?

Personal posts: Sometime last year I decided to not write much about my personal life. It was a momentary decision and not something that I believe in now. My blog is a personal blog, and its needs to have a personal touch to it. Like I said above that I'm going to write what ever I want to and this would include personal posts as well. I have nothing to hide in my life as I know what I'm doing and why I'm doing it. So this year there will be a lot of personal posts on the blog about the wonderful and the moronic people in my life. And as usual if you feel that a character in the post strikes a chord with you, please go through the LOL Disclaimer before picking the phone and creating havoc.

Washing dirty linen: As much as I am not a fan of washing dirty linen in public, some people get on to every last nerve of my body making me want to trash them. I am a firm believer of tit for tat. I treat people the way they treat me. So if someone is talking dirty about me behind my back, I'm not going to be worshiping them either. But this year I'm going to show them the finger and keep them away from my blog. My blog is too precious to be tainted by eccentric characters. Also, there are other ways of giving it back to people.

Book reviews: I plan to read at least thirty books this year, but I will only review books that stand out for me. In a good way or in a bad way. I'm going to continue writing my book reviews the way I always have. I cannot do a simple review. I always do a detailed review and talk about what I liked and what I did not. The most important thing while it comes to book reviews for me is honesty. My review is always a honest take on what I felt about the book. I cannot sugar coat my words or cut down on what I have to say just to please the author. I know a review is like a huge motivation to an author, but if I'm spending my money and time on reading a book it needs to be worth it. If not, I obviously am going to complain. A good blogger friend of mine had recently reviewed a mediocre book and raved about it. Which is funny because I had had a talk with the same person regarding the book and we had laughed about the zillion shortcomings in the book. But apparently the author was a friend and hence the blogger was bound to give a five star rating. Safe to say, I lost respect for that blogger. Which is a pity because there was some decent writing on their blog. But this thought doesn't let me click on their blog link when ever I come across it. I don't want to be someone like that. My views, my thoughts, uncensored. That's how my book reviews are and shall always be.

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Fiction & Poetry: Poetry has always been the USP of my blog. I'm very happy with my poetry but this year I want to explore more of fiction as well. Be it a stand alone piece or a series. I want to give it good thought and write great stories. I need to complete my pending series soon and move on to other tales that are crowding my mind.

Contests & Sponsored posts: It is no hidden fact that I write sponsored posts and for contests. Contests are fun but more than 90% of the time, the topic doesn't appeal to me. I have never written about anything that I have no clue about just to win a contest. And that will be the same this year too. Unless the topic is good enough and I have something to say about it, I don't find a point in writing about it. As funny as it sounds, my criteria for sponsored posts is the same as well. Unless the product is not something that I know about or have used before, I know that I cannot do justice to it. Yes, I get paid well for writing about a certain product or promoting it but that doesn't mean that I'd do it for everything that comes my way. It needs to strike a chord within me and make me want to talk about it. Else, thank you for the offer but no thank you!

At least 15 posts a month: The target that I had initially set was 20, but I never know when work shall pile up again. So being realistic, I shall be writing at least 15 posts a month. Weekends are for my husband and my home, so I do not write during weekends. I shall try to make the best out of weekdays and come up with some good posts.

Different topics: I usually write about myself or about love. Most of my fiction and poetry revolves mostly around it and I love it that way. But this year I want to write about a wide range of topics. Social issues, travel, fashion, lifestyle, entertainment and random stuff too. I have always noticed that I have a lot to say about a lot of things, but not all of it make it to my blog. But this year, let us see how it looks on the blog.

So there were the goals for my blog for the brand new year. I also want to read up on a lot of blogs and regularly visit and comment on them. Most importantly, I need to de-clutter my reading list and remove the blogs that have become stagnant over the years and also get rid of the blogs that only write posts for contests or promotions. Me liking a blog post doesn't depend on the fact that I like the person or not. Or I know the person or not. Sometimes a complete stranger's writing leaves me in awe while a good friend's post leaves me cringing. Such is the magic of the blogging world and I am so proud to be a part of it. My advice to all the bloggers out there will be the only advice that I myself follow.

Stay true to yourself and write what ever you want.

Comments

  1. Enjoyed reading your writing goals. I was noddinv through many of them. Which is that one post with a gun to your head I wonder? I think your writing is transparently honest just like you the person. I would want to read more too in the coming year. Good luck, Soumya and wish you a happy new year.

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    1. That one post goes with me to the grave :D

      Thank you so much dear Rachna for all your kind words.

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  2. Love these writing goals, Soumya. I am so glad that you are planning to write more fiction. I am enjoying your current series, and am looking forward to what happens next. :)


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  3. Last year totally sucked for me in terms of blogging. I don't even want to think about it. Lets hope 2016 is better. Please don't take me off your list though.. I won't be civil to you after that!!

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    1. I'll never ever take you off the list. You are too precious to me :)

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  4. Can I just say I love your goals and I love you? Or have I said that enough already? As for people who give 5 star ratings because the author is a friend, the less said the better. All the best for all the goals and we need to meet woman! 2016 is going to be very boring if I don't meet you often enough :D

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    1. You can keep saying it and I will not complain :)

      We need to meet as often as we can. Let's plan now.

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  5. Some really great goals in there - so important to be authentic in our writing, and it sounds like that's the direction you want to head. All the best in 2016!

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  6. You have such clear vision about your blog and writing. I like you ideas and perspective on your writing.
    All the best for achieving your goals.

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  7. I want to write more this year too.. and be a bit more disciplined about writing.
    Best of luck for 2016 :)
    Your goals seem just right to me! I don't wash dirty linen in public either - neither on the blog nor anywhere else like Facebook etc.
    I don't have reading goals but I do want to try new authors and also read more science fiction :D

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    1. I love your goals Pixie! Best of luck for them :)

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  8. That's some good resolutions at the same while being realistic and all positive :) All the best. Happy new year!

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  9. Wish you all the best in your writing goals.

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  10. I stopped writing personal posts too. It seems to me that people are often very hypercritical of such posts, particularly when one is writing about living with mental illness, as I do. It's awfully discouraging. But I'm with you when you say that one should write what appeals to oneself. I wish you luck on your writing journey this year!

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    1. Oh yeah people are more often than hypercritical of personal posts. You should just write what you want to without bothering about others.

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  11. I wrote lesser posts in 2016 than I did in the previous years. This post has made me rethink...it is an inspirational boost ! Thanks Soumya ! Looking forward to your posts !

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    1. You better write more lady, I'm looking forward to read them.

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  12. Great goals Soumya! You final line sums it up --- stay true to yourself. I reckon with personal posts, if you are comfortable sharing it, you should, regardless of what others think or say. I write a lot of personal stuff but I don't write about other people in my life without their permission. About me --- anything goes! :D Good luck with 2016!

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    1. Permission? I don't find the need for that as long as I'm not taking names or giving away details about them. I just write what I want to.

      Good luck to you too! :)

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  13. I love your honesty and your straight forward you are. That is why there are watsapp msgs to say - let's meet ;) Loved your goals and I would love to read as many posts as possible or rather all :) Happy New year of blogging :)

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    1. Thank you dearest Parul, I always have a wonderful time whenever I meet you :)

      Let's meet soon.

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  14. Soumya, I appreciate your honesty and dedication for writing :)
    Found someone to have some genuine recommendations about good books. Really glad about it ^_^

    Keep Writing dear :)

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  15. Liked reading your writing goals. I agree we should write when we actually want to write. And so well said about book reviews. Writing honest (not harsh) book reviews no matter who the author is. And yes, different topics and voice make a blog unique.

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    1. Thank you so much Tarang! We should always write what we want to. And book reviews need to be honest.

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  16. I had these same ideas of writing for this year. Main reason is to improve my writing.

    I liked your resolutions. I had stumbled upon your blog a very long time ago and found it interesting but couldn't find the URl again. Here I am again. :)

    Good luck to you!!

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    1. Thank God you are back now :)

      I hope you write more this year too.

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