2026, A New Year of Writing

I do not make New Year’s Resolutions in a formal way. I know my limits but I do make changes at the start of the year simply to reflect Christmas has been and gone, too much food has been consumed, winter (in the UK) is still with us.

These facts present opportunities:

• to spend time wisely and sustainably rather than chasing around preparing for a one-day celebration
• to lessen the food intake, increase activity
• to stay warm and occupied

Hopes for 2026

Last year, I completed a massive rewrite of the novel manuscript I am now querying with literary agents. I am now planning the next book. But the flu bug arrived 10 days ago and spent the whole of Christmas with me, delayed festivities, and left me in a post-viral state of lassitude.

Tips for Staying Motivated

Learn from other authors by:

• reading positive posts and stories on social media. The authors who tell the truth about their own road to publication should be congratulated for the work they do in supporting all others, such as @kathryn.sharman & @lesleykarawriter who have both posted about the advantages of publishing later in life & the experience they’ve gained along the way. In particular, both writers share with honest positivity, and they are not the only authors who are discussing this topic online.
• reading books. This should be obvious but I’ve had to work out what I can read, and when, while writing my own manuscript, or editing. It’s been trial and error and I’ve had to accept my reading output can be reduced while my writing preoccupies me. Reading for relaxation is a skill that has to be cultivated.
• watching films. Taking in stories through the visual world of a film or tv series feeds the brain with imagery and (almost) subliminal details that can be processed and fuel my own creativity. Copying another writer’s work is never the aim here but every story I write has elements of imagination based on experienced reality filtered through a learned sense of what makes cracking good yarn.

Keep your hopes real by:

• talking. It is necessary to be shut away when writing. But the person I live with (my husband Pete) is patient and kind, funny and wise. He feeds me with great meals and listens to my concerns and joys. I can ignore the real world for a while and then engage with it for refreshment and renewed ideas.
• getting outdoors. In wintertime, this can be a limited activity but I have found 10 minutes outside feeling the chill on my face and breathing in fresher air is more rejuvenating than fretting over whether I should be going on longer scooter-walks. Knowing my limitations and working with them is key.
• persevering. However much you aim to write, whatever it is you are writing, one uninvited guest may try to stop you. If you are writing, you are a writer. You deserve this chore, pleasure, whatever state you are feeling. What you are NOT is an imposter. There is plenty of advice around the Internet to help you over come the feeling that you cannot achieve your 2026 writing goals, or you do not deserve to be successful.

Some Previous Later Writer Posts

The following might help you work out for own writing focus for 2026.

My Writing Process

Hope for Writers

Brainstorm Your Next Story

Writing My Own W.I.P.

Let’s Talk About You

The main index of posts is here.

A very happy and fulfilled 2026 to all of you.📚🙂

Top Tip

Lean on the wisdom of others and develop your own strategies.