New Year’s Resolution 2025: The Year I Finally Write My Novel

When the clock struck midnight, the sky exploded as if it had decided to announce to the world that 2025 had arrived in all its glory and brilliance. Fireworks were going off in the air as if competing in a cosmic beauty contest, each one trying to outdo the other in its brilliance and colors. I stood on my balcony, a cup of hot tea in hand, trying to warm my hands as I watched the world celebrate. But my mind was occupied with one thought: this is the year I will finally write my novel.

Let’s be honest. The idea was chasing me like a stubborn little dog wanting to play. Every night, I would hear a whisper in my ear saying, “Write to me, write to me!” But I always found an excuse to postpone it. Work, responsibilities, and even that plant I decided to take care of (which only lived for a week) always stood in my way. But 2025 was different. This year, I decided to treat my novel seriously, not as a passing idea.

Vision: An Underground World and Other Exciting Things

My novel, tentatively titled “Underground Memory,” was more than just a story. It was an adventure, a hidden world beneath the city where forgotten memories and lost dreams came alive. Imagine if your old memories, the ones you buried in the corners of your mind, decided to come back and say, “Hey, here we are!”

The protagonist, Clara, was a librarian living a quiet life, like a character in an unread book. But when she discovered this secret world beneath the city, she found herself face-to-face with her buried memories.  The story was about rediscovery, about confronting the past, and about trying to understand why she had decided one day to wear those striped socks with sneakers. (Yes, those are the kind of decisions that come in the middle of the night and make us wonder, “What was I thinking?”)

The Plan: How would I write the novel without losing my mind?

I knew that writing a novel was no walk in the park. It was more like a journey through a forest full of tangled words and ideas that refused to stay in place. But I was ready. I had a solid plan (or so I thought) to ensure that I wouldn’t forget about the project after a week.

Daily Writing: I decided to write 500 words a day. Yes, 500 words. Even if the first few words in the morning sounded like someone fell asleep at the keyboard. The important thing was to write. Even if the words sounded like they were written by a four-year-old who had eaten a lot of sugar.

Research and Worldbuilding: I knew that the underground world needed some detail. So, I decided to spend some time researching urban legends and underground cities. I also wanted to map out the world I was creating because if I didn’t, by the third chapter I would be lost and inventing new streets every day. (Imagine if the protagonist came across a street I hadn’t mentioned before, and I was like, “Oh, yeah, that’s the new street I just made up!”)

Community and Accountability: I decided to join a local writers’ group. I knew I needed people who understood what it was like to spend hours thinking about how to describe moonlight without it sounding like you were writing a greeting card. I also planned to share my journey on Vocal because I loved the idea of people following my progress and saying, “Oh, I wrote 500 words today." Me too!”

Milestones and deadlines: I set clear goals for myself. By June, I wanted to have the first draft finished. By September, I wanted to revise it. By December, I wanted to send a query letter to literary agents saying, “Hey, I have a novel. Would you like to read it?” (knowing that the responses would be either “yes,” “no,” or “who are you?”)

Motivation: Why all the hassle?

Well, the motivation was a combination of things. First, I loved telling stories. Writing has always been my way of making sense of the world. Second, I wanted to prove to myself that I could complete a big project. And third, I wanted to see my name on the cover of a book. Imagine how I would feel when I saw my name in bold letters on a shelf in a bookstore! (Even if the book was in the “Things No One Has Read” section.)

Challenges: Because Life Isn’t Always Roses

Of course, I knew it wouldn’t be a bed of roses. Self-doubt was my nemesis. There were moments when I asked myself, “Am I decent enough? Is my story worth telling?” But I reminded myself that every writer goes through those moments. The important thing is to keep going. (Even if that meant writing in my pajamas and eating chocolate.)

Time management was also a challenge. Between work, family, and trying to remember to feed the cat, it was challenging to find time to write. But I decided to wake up an hour earlier every day to write. Yes, I know waking up early isn’t fun, but I was willing to make the sacrifice. (Even if it meant I’d sound like a zombie in the morning.) Vocal’s role: Because everyone needs an audience 

One thing I was excited about was using Vocal as a platform to share my journey. I knew sharing my progress would keep me motivated. I also wanted to connect with other writers and readers. Imagine if I could create a community of people who shared the same passion! (Even if it meant we spent hours talking about how to describe moonlight.)

The bigger picture: Because life is too short

Beyond the novel itself, I saw this project as a step toward a bigger creative life. I wanted to prove to myself that I could achieve my dreams. I also hoped to inspire others to follow theirs. Because life is too short to spend it wondering, “What if?” (especially if the “what if” involved striped socks with sneakers.)

The final push: Because getting started is the hardest part

As the fireworks faded and the night settled, I felt a sense of quiet determination. The coming year would be full of challenges but also full of possibilities. I was ready to dive into the unknown, to explore the hidden world of my imagination and bring it to life on paper.

I raised my teacup in a silent toast to the coming year. “To 2025,” I whispered. “The year of the unwritten novel.”

And then I stepped back from the balcony, ready to begin. The first page was waiting. (And the cat was looking at me with eyes that said, “First feed me, then write.”)