5 New Year’s resolutions for writers

This year, all my resolutions are related to writing. Here are my goals for 2013:

1. Never use the word “utilize”

There is no good reason to use “utilize” because “use” will do just fine. It’s a lazy, useless corporate verb, and it has to go. Therefore, I will not use “utilize” in any press release, article, Web page, or social media post in 2013. Utilize—you are dead to me.

2. Read at least one book by a new author

I am a voracious reader, but I tend to favor the classics and a select few modern fiction writers. I need to expand my horizons, so this year, I will discover a new author and read at least one new work.

3. Write a fictional short story

I am taking the plunge into the deep end of the writing pool with this one. As a medical writer and contributor to PR Daily, nonfiction is my purview. I haven’t written fiction since college. But as I am doing with my reading list, I also want to expand my writing horizons to a fictional short story. Perhaps it could be about a writer.