Updated October 24, 2024
There's an unspoken hope that at 12:01 am on January 1, 2025, a "magic wand" will somehow conclude the trying times of the past year and steer us back toward normalcy.
Nonetheless, we have this moment to reflect on 2024 and anticipate a fresh beginning, so today I present five New Year’s resolutions every author should consider for 2025.
1. Build More Connections
As an author, your connections can play a vital role in whether or not your book is successful. Whether it’s a family friend who hosts a book launch party for you in their home, a colleague who writes a glowing review of your work, or a fellow author in your genre with whom you've become friends, these individuals are all a part of your tribe and the who will help spread the word. And they are likely doing so because they genuinely care and want the best for you and your book. 
As you head into 2025, resolve to reach out and offer to help others with whatever they may be working on, or to simply reconnect with some positivity to brighten their day. Even better, find other new authors in your genre—whether they’re in your local community or part of a writer’s group—and ask how you can help them with spreading the word about their book. Word-of-mouth recommendations really do sell books.
Consider the following to build your connections:
- Start a podcast or record a webinar with another author
- If you don't already have a blog on your author website, now is the time to start one
- A newsletter is one of the most valuable marketing tools that you can have—make sure you have a newsletter in the new year
- Collaborate with an influencer to get the word out about your book
If we all lift each other up in small ways, we can reach new, exciting heights together!
2. Share Even More Knowledge
As authors, you all have a story to tell or information to share that could change the lives of others, and it often extends well beyond the pages of your book. Moving into 2025, commit to a new way of sharing your knowledge, or to expand what you’ve already been doing. It could not only help others along the way but it also builds opportunities for further engagement with your following.
- Attend book festivals and conferences to share your knowledge, your work, and to network with other authors
- Mentor others, whether young authors just starting out, or those who aren't yet privy to all of the opportunities available through self-publishing
- Share tips on social media about your own experiences and advice for success
- Appear on a peer's podcast or write a guest blog to share your expertise and expose your work to a new audience at the same time
3. Master Social Media
Often viewed as the necessary evil of author promotion, through all its faults and downfalls, social media has brought us together in incredible ways since 2020. And as an author, it proved to be all that much more important in building a fanbase and keeping those fans engaged.
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If you are one of the few who still haven't established your social media presence, NOW is the time to let go and get active. But before you do that, it’s important to develop a mindset that you do not need to be everything for everyone on social media. Take the time to identify where your target audiences are spending their time and seeking out books and authors of interest to them. Once you’ve identified the platform that is best for you—whether it be Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok—start there. The same goes for those who may feel that they're spread too thin over multiple platforms already.
When it comes to social media, the two most important factors are:
- Maintain a social element to your presence by not only staying active in your own content sharing but also commenting, liking, and sharing the work of others
- Deliver consistent, worthwhile content. You’ll have greater impact with a focused, dedicated effort to maintain one social media profile than three that feature lackluster, irregular posting
Social media is not going anywhere, and while it will continue to evolve with new platforms emerging, it’s critical that, as an author, you embrace what feels authentic to you and make a conscious effort to spend more time in this space.
4. Prioritize Community Outreach
As an author, it’s tempting to want to “go big” and reach audiences well beyond the limits of our neighborhoods. But let’s all resolve together to make our communities a top priority in how we build awareness for our books. Make note of local bookstores and libraries that you can approach for an event or to donate a copy of your book for their shelves. Think outside of the box to local cafes, schools, and other businesses whose regulars might greatly benefit from your knowledge. Connect with a local writer’s group—or start one if you find it doesn’t already exist—to share ideas and opportunities for collaboration.
Beyond the creative and supportive energy this will pump back into your community, your efforts likely will not go unnoticed and word of mouth could quickly spread, taking you and your book to the next town over, the next city beyond that, and to other audiences you didn’t know were possible.
5. Write Authentically
Now, I'll leave you with one final resolution:
In 2025, write from your heart. Trust your gut. Take pen to paper and write the book you’ve been holding on to, unsure if others will accept or like it.
Have faith in who you are as a writer—or who you want to be—and authentically share your voice with the world.
We all deserve those feelings of fulfillment and joy when we get to be the truest version of ourselves, so I encourage you to grab 2025 by the horns and make it the year you share your passion with as many people as possible. With your new author resolutions ready to go, your best year yet awaits you. 2025 will truly be a “new chapter” for all!
