What Are Your Writer \ Life Goals for 2025?

As 2024 comes to an end, many of us are looking ahead to what we hope to accomplish in the coming year. For writers, it's tempting to think of our writing goals as distinct from our "life" goals—but are they really?

Writing is part of life, not separate from it. The stories we tell, the habits we build, and the creative risks we take are all influenced by the lives we lead—and vice versa. Moreover, we need to expand our definition of writing. I haven't written a short story this month but I've written several quizzes and exam questions. Does that count? It should. 

This year, I saw firsthand how life and writing goals feed into one another. One of my goals was to attend more writing-related events—a challenge, given the demands of family and work. But I made it happen:

• I attended the Bar Ilan Conference for the first time in 20 years.
• I participated in at least five other events that I would never have made it to in 2023, including Literary Modiin and local writer meetups.
• I significantly increased my volunteer hours to six a week. Following the events of October 7, I felt a deep need to do something meaningful. This work not only allowed me to give back to my community but also inspired my newest short story, published this year.
• For the first time, I participated in more podcasts than ever before, discussing not just writing advice, but also work-life balance and insights behind With A Good Eye. These conversations reminded me that writing isn't something that happens in isolation—it's deeply connected to how we live, the choices we make, and the experiences we embrace.

As an editor, 2024 brought personal challenges as I worked on October 7 memoirs and academic pieces on trauma therapy in Israeli society, including collaborations with soldiers and their partners. These experiences further underscored the intricate connection between life and storytelling.

Over the last 25 years, I've worn many hats: writer, editor, EFL teacher, and creative writing instructor. Five years ago, I transitioned to becoming an online writing coach, working with writers from Canada, the USA, Israel, Australia, and the UK. This shift allowed me to connect with writers throughout their entire journey, rather than during short-term workshops. The result has been fewer clients but deeper, more meaningful collaborations—a change that has been rewarding.

As I begin to formulate my goals for the coming year, I know they won't be confined to just "writing" or "life." For example:

• I want to continue sharing why With A Good Eye and The Inheritance should be on more reading lists. These books are products of both my creative vision and the life experiences that shaped me.
• I'm considering how to further connect with the literary community, both in-person and online, to enrich my writing and personal growth.

This list is still incomplete—I'm actively seeking new goals. Watch this space. 

Writing doesn't exist in a vacuum. When we attend events, volunteer, connect with others, or tackle personal challenges, we're feeding our creativity. Similarly, the discipline and joy of writing can inspire other areas of our lives, teaching us patience, resilience, and the power of self-expression.

As you think about your goals for the new calendar year, consider how your writing and life might intertwine. Do you want to attend more events, experiment with a new genre, or simply carve out time to write? Perhaps your goals include strengthening relationships, taking up a new hobby, or finding a better balance between work and creativity.

Or are you, like me, still looking for more goals? Maybe you're even on a "goal diet," scaling back on ambitions to focus on fewer but more meaningful objectives. Do you think we, as a society, are too focused on goal setting?

Share your goals—or your goal diet—in the comments below. Let's make 2025 a year where writing and life come together in meaningful, inspiring ways.