From Babylon to Bookstacks: How the New Year Inspires Readers and Writers

Evan Swensen
January 1, 2025

As the clock ticks to midnight and we prepare to usher in a brand-new year, a shared sense of possibility hovers. Resolutions are made, goals are set, and many of us open a journal or book to capture the spirit of transformation. But did you know this timeless tradition of marking new beginnings has a surprisingly literary history? From ancient Babylonian clay tablets to the digital dashboards of Goodreads, the intersection of reading, writing, and New Year’s resolutions is as fascinating as it is inspiring.

The origins of New Year’s resolutions stretch back over 4,000 years to ancient Babylon. During Akitu, their 12-day New Year’s festival, Babylonians made promises to their gods, inscribing these resolutions onto clay tablets. These commitments—often about repaying debts or returning borrowed goods—were believed to secure divine favor for the coming year. While the specifics of these resolutions might seem distant from our modern aspirations to “read more books” or “write daily,” recording intentions for self-betterment remains deeply rooted in tradition.

Fast-forward several millennia, and the literary world picked up the baton. In the 17th century, famed satirist Jonathan Swift embraced the spirit of self-improvement through his New Year’s resolutions. Swift was as sharp in his reflections as he was in his prose and once resolved “not to let trifles, or little vexations, disturb my quiet.” It’s a timeless aspiration—how many of us have wished to let go of life’s minor frustrations? Swift’s journals became his private stage for mapping out personal growth, embodying the idea of writing as a tool for transformation.

For bibliophiles, the new year is often synonymous with ambitious reading challenges. This tradition, surprisingly modern, gained traction in the 20th century when public libraries began encouraging readers to explore more titles. With the advent of Goodreads, these challenges exploded into a global phenomenon. Today, millions of readers pledge to devour everything from a modest handful of books to staggering triple-digit goals. There’s something magical about that first blank list on January 1st, waiting to be filled with titles like Great Expectations or The Catcher in the Rye. For many, it’s not just about turning pages but turning over a new leaf in their lives.

Speaking of Great Expectations, January has historically been a month of inspiration for writers. Charles Dickens reportedly began drafting his beloved novel in January 1860. The story’s themes of transformation, ambition, and hope align seamlessly with the spirit of a new year. Pip’s journey from humble beginnings to grandeur dreams mirrors the narrative we hope to script for ourselves when we say, “This year, I’ll do better.”

But it’s not just literary greats who find fresh starts in January—modern writers embrace the month with gusto. Many authors consider the post-holiday lull the perfect time to embark on a new project. From jotting down plot ideas to starting the first chapter of a novel, January feels like an invitation to write the story of your dreams. And while not everyone pens a classic like Great Expectations, the effort to create something new is a victory in itself.

Its universal appeal makes the union of New Year’s traditions with reading and writing so delightful. Whether you’re promising to finish that towering stack of books, journaling about your dreams, or committing to a daily writing practice, these acts are as much about self-reflection as they are about self-expression. Writing resolutions, in particular, tap into an enduring human desire: to leave a mark, however small, on the story of time.

So, as we stand on the cusp of another year, why not embrace these literary traditions? Dust off that journal and jot down a resolution inspired by Swift’s wisdom. Browse your local library or favorite bookish platform to set an audacious reading goal. Or channel your inner Dickens and start crafting your masterpiece, even just for fun.

The beauty of these rituals lies not in perfection but in the promise of growth. Just as a blank page holds infinite possibilities, a new year invites us to imagine, create, and transform. It’s a tradition as old as Babylon yet fresh as the stories waiting to be written this January. So, go ahead—open up that computer and let the magic of the new year unfold, one word at a time.

Here’s to a year of great reads, bold writing, and the stories yet to come!

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