Now that we’re well into January, and we’ve all had plenty of time to evaluate 2009 and look forward to 2010, I thought it might be the perfect opportunity to provide a writing prompt related to resolutions. They’re easy to make, but not always easy to keep. They provide us with a challenge, but are often so unrealistic, vague or irrelevant to our lives that we fail to stick to them. The concept of making resolutions is wrought with contradictions and often prompts feelings of self-judgment and ineptitude. (Or is that just me?)

No matter how you feel about resolutions, they provide a ripe topic for exploring emotions and experiences through your writing. And if you’ve resolved to write more in 2010, why not start by spending some time on this week’s Creativity Corner prompt.

Resolution

Write a paragraph or page describing a resolution that you (or a character) made in the past and what the consequences of that resolution were. Did you reach your goal with time to spare? Did you find that the resolution was too lofty and if so, in what ways? What did you learn about yourself as you tried to accomplish what you set out to do? Why did you choose that resolution and how did you set out to accomplish it?

Resolutions are better known for our failure to keep them than for their accomplishment. Don’t be afraid to write about your weaknesses and dig deep into the experience, whether it was positive or negative. If you are honest about your experience (or that of your character), you will likely find insights into personal (or character) motivation that will help to move your stories in new directions.

When you’re finished, please feel free to share a paragraph or two of your writing in the comments or post the exercise on your own blog and leave a comment here with a link to your writing. Remember, these are exercises. The results don’t have to be perfect. But to benefit from them, you actually have to do the work. Now head to your corners and come out writing!