Good morning, Cyberspace! Today’s post is coming a little bit late… Yesterday was a busy busy day full of surprised and happiness and pizza, and I just didn’t get the chance to sit down and write today’s post… No matter, though! I’m writing it this morning, and that’s just as well!

One thing I’ve always struggled with in the past is sticking to the goals that I make for myself. I always start out the new year with these huge aspirations and incredible intentions, but by the time we hit December, I realize that I’ve hardly done…any of it.

Alas alack.

Unfortunately, knowing that I won’t hit my yearly goals still isn’t enough of a curb for me to stop making yearly goals, so today we are going to be talking all about the many different writerly things I want to do this year!

Let’s get started!

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BLOGMAS, 2025 – MY WRITING GOALS FOR 2026

01 – FINISH OUTLINING & REVISING PROJECT GOBLIN

I thiiiink I might have mentioned this in a previous post this week, but I’m currently in the process of re-outlining and revising Project Goblin, my YA Portal Fantasy! It’s been an incredibly fun journey, this rediscovering of the writing magic… Of course, fun must also be married to consistency, so this year, I want to put the fire under my rear and really dig into this storyworld!

Naturally, I have a deadline for when I want this particular project to be finished, but I’m choosing to keep it under wraps for right now. Sometimes it’s easier for me to hit my goals when I keep them a little closer to myself!

02 – RESEARCH INDIE PUBLISHING

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I have decided that–as of right now–I am going to pursue indie publishing instead of traditional. This is a HUGE curveball for me, but I’m extremely excited to get into it and start figuring out what my future will look like as an indie author!

Of course, this kind of thing can’t happen without a whole lotta research, so once I’ve polished off this draft of Project Goblin and it’s off to betas, I plan on doing a deep dive into indie publishing to really figure out what my publishing plan will look like…

03 – PUT MYSELF OUT THERE & BUILD A PLATFORM

Heh. This step is the one I’m kinda stressing over, if I’m being honest. Being an indie author means putting yourself out there, otherwise no one is going to find your books. So, naturally, I need to not only figure out what my marketing strategy will be, but also start it now. It’s going to be a little awkward getting my platform up and running when I’m essentially a nobody living in the middle of nowhere, BUT. I’m excited to at least try.

I’ve had a few ideas for ways I can start reaching my audience, but I haven’t truly started any of them yet! Hopefully in the new year, though!

04 – CHOOSE A NEW MAIN WIP

Once Project Goblin is off to betas and in the stages of getting ready for publication, it’ll be time to choose a new main WIP for me to obsess over. I have two that are currently in the running–both of which are in need of a re-outline. I think it will depend on how Project Goblin’s launch goes that helps me choose which project I’ll commit to, or maybe I’ll re-outline both and then choose from there!

Both stories are projects I’ve mentioned before on my blogs, but I’ll definitely do an introduction post once I’ve officially chosen.

05 – WRITE MORE SHORT STORIES

If there is one thing I’ve learned this year, it’s that I really love a good short story. I had to read quite a few of them for school this past year, and I even got the chance to write one of my own!

A few years ago, I was blessed with the opportunity to be published on Havok’s page, and my story even made it to the short list! (Unfortunately, it got bumped from the anthology selection, but it was still SO COOL!) I’d really like to try my hand at writing another story for Havok this year. The experience was incredible, and the team over there is just a delight to work with. (Also, maybe this time I’ll make it into the anthology!!! Mwahahaha!)

Interested in writing for Havok? Check out their website here!

06 – ENJOY THE CREATIVE PROCESS (don’t stress yourself out)

This right here is the biggest goal I have for the new year when it comes to my writing. Stress has been such a huge, unseen thing in my life, and I’m finally trying to cut it out as much as possible–not just because I want to, but also because I need to in order to stay healthy.

If there is one thing I want to take into 2026 from my 2025 experiences, it is to simply enjoy the creative process. To truly let myself play and wonder and roam. I love writing–always have–but there comes a point when you realize it’s becoming more of a chore than a love. And while writing is, in a way, a job for me, it shouldn’t ever feel like a chore or something that I’m constantly forcing myself to do.

I’m excited for 2026. I’m hopeful. I think, in a way, it is a fresh start for me to fall back in love with the process of writing. This past two weeks of blogging has already helped me in that regard so much!

So as I await the oncoming year, I will remind myself of these goals, but most importantly, that writing is something I love to do. And every single day I have to write and sharpen my skills is a day in which I’ve been blessed.

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TALK TO ME!

What are some of your writing goals for 2026? Any fun projects planned that you can’t wait to get to? Do you have hopes of publishing in 2026? Tell me all about it below!