by Guest Blogger Robbi Hess

It's that time of year -- the time to look back at what you've accomplished with your writing last year and to plan for success for next year. The one thing I have truly learned is that in order to make it happen you really do need to write it down.

It's all well and good to say you're going to do something but if you commit it to paper and then post it where you can see it, you'll be motivated. And because you've written it down you've made that promise to yourself that this is the year it's gonna happen.

Okay, so what are your writing goals for 2011? Are you going to finish (or start) a novel? Are you going to break out of your comfort zone and query a different magazine with your article ideas? Is this the year that you're going to start a blog and stick with it?

Have you decided that you're actually going to come up with an editorial calendar so you don't have to worry every week what you're going to write about? Believe me, having an editorial calendar will make it easier to face the blank screen if you know in advance what you're going to write about.

Maybe you've decided that in order to be a writer you need to write every day -- something, anything. A  good resource for thought-provoking writing promts is "A Writer's Book of Days" or even "Tarot for Writers." Both books are good resources for writing prompts and can give you a years' worth of ideas.

Whatever your writing plan for 2011 is, write it down and make it happen! Set goals. When you check off goals that you've met, the momentum will keep you rolling forward.