Tip 32: Reflect on your writing year

A framework for reflection - five simple steps to close off your year of writing.

Hello writing friends

As we approach the end of 2024, it’s the perfect time to pause, reflect and celebrate everything you’ve achieved in with your writing this year.

Even if it feels like the year flew by in a blur of drafts and deadlines, taking a moment to look back can provide clarity, motivation and gratitude. Whether you wrote every day or wrestled with creative blocks, your writing year deserves recognition.

Here’s our simple framework to guide your reflection and prepare you for 2025.

1. Look back on 2024 👀​

Let’s start with a celebration. What did you write, create, and share this year?

• Output: Jot down everything you can think of - finished projects, fragments, submissions, blog posts, or ideas you captured. Big or small, it all counts. What are you proud of? Maybe it’s a single sentence that stuck with you or finally hitting “publish” on a piece you’d worked on for months.

• Practice: Reflect on how and when you wrote. Were there moments when you felt focused or even found yourself in a state of flow? What routines, rituals, or spaces helped you stay productive?

Take stock of these accomplishments, no matter how messy they feel. They’re the foundation of your writing life.

2. What got in the way 🤳​

Next, consider the bumps in the road. Writing rarely happens in a vacuum and disruptions are inevitable.

• Life events: Did work, family, or relationships pull you away from the page?

• Recurring distractions: What tended to interrupt your plans—overpacked schedules, competing priorities, or lack of time?

• Creative challenges: Acknowledge internal obstacles like self-doubt, fear of failure, or the sting of rejection.

Naming these obstacles is not about self-criticism; it’s about understanding what shaped your writing year.

3. Let’s get grateful ❤️​

Now, shift your focus to what helped you keep going. Gratitude is powerful fuel for creativity.

• Who supported you? Think of mentors, writing groups workshops, or even a particularly inspiring book or article.

• What did you bring to the table? Did you build a new habit, develop a skill or try a different approach? Celebrate your growth and determination.

Gratitude reminds us that writing is rarely a solo journey. Who or what made your path a little smoother this year?

4. Wrap up the year 🎁​

With your reflections in hand, what have you learned about your writing life in 2024?

• Do any themes or patterns stand out?

• What insights will you carry forward into 2025?

Looking ahead, think about the obstacles you’ll likely face next year. How can you plan to tackle them? Name the people, tools, or routines that will support your progress. What do you need to keep going?

5. Before you say goodbye to 2024 👋​

Is there anything you’d like to do in the next few days to close out the year?

• Hit a milestone or wrap up an unfinished project.

• Let go of old habits that aren’t serving you.

• Say thank you—to others or yourself.

• Get prepared for 2025 by organising your space, making a plan, or simply writing a list of small, actionable tasks.

Sometimes, these final weeks hold an opportunity for a little closure - or a spark to carry you into the new year.

This framework is not about perfection or ticking off boxes - it’s about honouring the year you’ve had as a writer. Reflection can provide a sense of closure and clarity while setting you up for an intentional start to 2025.

So grab your favourite notebook or open a fresh document and give yourself the time and space to wrap up your writing year. You’ve earned it.

Looking forward to writing with you in 2025,

Chris and Bec