Happy New Year!  

Question for all of you? How deep into the 2026 does it have to be before saying “Happy New Year” gets weird. I’m working on some anecdotal proof as we speak.  

Listen, I know there are thousands out there who don’t give a crap about the new year. January 1^st is just another day. And while I empathize with them, there is something about the start of a new year that fills me with excitement (and a little fear, if I’m being honest). It’s that same feeling many of us writers get when we open a new journal or a blank word document.  

It is intimidating but also exciting.  

I’m the kind of person who romanticizes the new year–reflects on the past year and sets goals for the year ahead. Yeah, I know I’m a dork.  

That said, I wanted to share my writing goals for 2026.  

My Writing Goals for 2026 

Writing One Poem A Week  

I know what you’re thinking: one poem a week is nothing.  

It’s been a minute since I’ve written some serious poetry, and I miss it. I’ve been playing around with the idea of self-publishing a book of poetry. Do I know how to self-publish. No. But it’d be a cool process to learn.  

My plan is to work one a poem throughout the week and add each one to a single word document. Essentially, I want to create a scrap book of poetry I can look back on at the end of the year. I may even share some poems along the way. 

Finish and Publish My Web-Fiction Series  

Last year, I stated writing a supernatural mystery. My plan was to release it as a series on Substack, and it still is.  

At the risk of damning myself, I’m going to state here and now that this story will be done by June 14^th and will be released on Substack the first Thursday of September.  

The story is by no means close to being done, but I have all the faith that it will be by my somewhat arbitrary deadlines. Why? I plan to write between 2000-4000 words every week and spend  1-2 hours a week plotting and editing.  

Write and Publish One Blog Post Every Other Week 

Listen, I don’t know how many people read my blogs or if they actually enjoy them. Still, writing blog posts fills me with excitement, whether it’s posting updates on my life, sharing advice, or sharing my work. And I want to continue to do that. I hope you will join me a long for the ride.  

Grow Writers of Twin Falls  

About three years ago, I started Writers of Twin Falls as a way to meet other creatives who share my love for writing. Over the years, it has grown, and I couldn’t be happier with it. This year, I want to venture into doing more events with the group. Here a just a few I’ve been thinking about: 

• Wine and Write Night – A spring event where writers can work on their latest projects, enjoy a glass of vino, and share their work.  

• Writers of Twin Falls Reading – A celebration of the incredible work our members have written. I’m hoping to host this in the summertime.  

• Mary Shelley Night – What writer isn’t familiar with the story of how Frankenstein came to be? I want to host an event at an inn or an AirBNB where the goal is to write through the night—leaving the next morning with a good chunk of their story written.  

I’m excited to see how this group will grow and all the new faces this year will bring.  

Those are my writing goals in a nutshell. So far, these first two weeks are off to an okay start. Wish me luck on my endeavors, and if you have time, let me know some of your writing goals for the new year. Leave a comment down below.