Insecure Writer's Support Group badge

My writing plans for 2026

January 6, 2026 /

New year, new plans. Resolutions, SMART goals, out with the bad habits, in with the good habits. Eat less, move more, meditate, write every day, hustle harder. If we’re lucky, that holds till maybe MLK Day, then it’s back to our usual behavior. Usually. I’ve never been much for resolutions, but I used to be all in on goal-setting and morning routines (example: my 2020 goals, which seem hilarious in hindsight). Don’t get me wrong–those are good things. But the last couple of years, dealing health issues and watching Long-Suffering Husband deal with ever more health issues, I have learned to be gentle with myself. So I have scaled back my goals and plans to what feels doable while still caring for myself and my family and living a joyful life. My writing plans for 2026 reflect this new approach.

Before I lay out those plans: This post is part of the Insecure Writers Support Group (IWSG) blog hop. On the first Wednesday of every month, we IWSG-ers share our doubts, fears, struggles, and triumphs. Our awesome co-hosts this month are Shannon Lawrence, Olga Godim, Jean Davis, and Jacqui Murray. Each month our fearless leader (Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh) gives us an optional question to answer. This month’s question is, Is there anything in your writing plans for 2026 that you are going to do that you couldn’t get done in 2025?

If I’m being honest, most of my writing plans for 2026 are things I couldn’t (or at least didn’t) get done in 2025. But then I got things done in 2025 I didn’t set out to do (like querying almost 90 agents), and I’m proud of those things. Anyway. The big thing I didn’t get done in 2025 that I would like to finish in 2026 is my massive edit of Delta Dawn, my domestic suspense novel.

So, without further ado:

My writing plans for 2026

  1. Rebuild a morning writing routine. I’m happy to say I’m already doing this fairly well. I’m not going to go all Stephen King and insist I’m going to write every. single. day (gentle and realistic, remember?), but I’m going to write most days.
  2. Determine a publishing path for Vanishing, Inc. I’m proud of my first novel, and I’m tired of it gathering electronic dust on my hard drive. I’ve been querying like a fiend and have 3 outstanding requests from agents. Hopefully one of those will pan out. If not, I’ll query a few small presses, and if that doesn’t pan out, I’ll throw myself into self-publishing. One way or the other, this book will see the light of day–eventually.
  3. Finish the massive edit of Delta Dawn. This goal is the squishiest of the bunch, because it depends on what happens with Goal 2. If I am fortunate enough to land an agent, I will likely be making another editing pass on Vanishing, because I think most agents provide editorial feedback and ask for changes before going on sub. And that’s just fine. Bring it on. But unless/until that happens, I will continue editing Delta Dawn. I’m more than halfway through and still in love with my story. I just need to show up consistently and put in the work.

And… that’s it. 3 goals that may turn into 2 goals. I feel good about this plan.

Let’s go!

The memery

Yup. Being funnier about it is kinda my shtick.

Me except with a lot more meat on those bones.

Also this:

Me with slightly less facial hair.

And finally, an accurate description of me at the gym earlier this week:

On that note, I’m off to work. What are your goals or plans for 2026?

You May Also Like

Long-Suffering Husband catches a backyard serial killer, and I meet some deadlines

July 1, 2022
Yellow building with cream arched doorway and brown door with brick walkway and garden in front, national park shield on outside wall, labeled Tumacácori National Historical Park

Tumacácori National Historical Park (Weekend Coffee Share #5)

September 11, 2021

In which I am ambushed by the embodiment of pure evil (and there are books)

July 21, 2023

24 Comments