It’s the first week of 2017 and we’re just beginning a brand-new 365-page book which means that it’s time, if you haven’t already, to make a New Year’s resolution.

As we take some time to reflect on the past year, it’s time to set our sights on the New Year and how we can make 2017 the year that we reach and exceed our goals.

While the past can’t be changed, we can take what we have learned and put it to good use in the New Year. If you want to finally resolve to write the book of your dreams, here are three pieces of encouragement to get started.

Cultivate the book within you.

Our founder, Gordon Dorrance, wanted to provide everyone “with a book in them” the freedom to publish their work, and we at Dorrance have kept this pioneering spirit alive and well for nearly 100 years. That’s why at Dorrance Publishing, we encourage everyone to cultivate the book within them.  As a Chinese proverb once said, “A book is like a garden, carried in the pocket.” To us, we see our authors as gardeners. They take the seed that lives within their minds and plant it into the words of their stories. From there, they give it the attention it needs to grow and prosper, and ultimately they publish their book and share its beauty with others. In 2017, take the time to plant your seed and watch it grow.

Create a legacy.

Legacy —we hear this word frequently, and more often than not, it’s associated with famous athletes or celebrities. The power and esteem that is associated with the concept of leaving a legacy is something that many aspire to achieve. As an author, you too can leave your mark and create a legacy. When your musings are printed in indelible ink, your stories live on within the pages of a physical book, its newfound home. In this New Year, ask yourself this question: “What could I write that would help leave my mark?” Use this as the guiding force of inspiration to help you write about anything that comes to mind. The story that lives inside of you is waiting to emerge, and 2017 is the year that you can make it happen.

Just start writing.

Sometimes the hardest part about the entire writing process is actually getting started. We’re in the first chapter of 2017, and there is no better time than now to pull those ideas from our imaginations and put them on paper. Though it might sound simple, for some it can be difficult. But rather than giving up, resolve to push past these boundaries and begin writing the first chapter of your book.

As we embark on a New Year, set your sights high and your goals even higher. This is your year to make your dreams a reality!

Copyright Dorrance Publishing, 2017