Resolutions Work
2026 Resolutions: The Year You Finally Finish Your Book
We all have them. That draft on the desktop, a notebook of fizzled ideas, or a hopeful idea in the back of your head that if you could just come up with the perfect plot, you would have a best seller.
But here is the sad truth: there will never be a “perfection” that is easy to find, and wishes alone will not bring a story into existence. Instead, we often continue through life with the idea that we just must wait—that the perfect moment will come, the muse will strike, and it will all fall into place.
The trouble is, is that it is just not the truth. Waiting often leads to sadness and depression. Proof? Well, I would have a best seller now. But 2025 is almost over, and I don’t have any of it. I can’t fix that now, but 2026 could be the year. Maybe.
So, in the interest of hope, let’s say that this year will not be the year of starting stories, novels, songs, albums, or portfolios, but the year of finishing them.
I have been thinking and reading about this idea as we approach the New Year. I too would like the finish things. Here is the roadmap.
1. Goals
Have a goal in mind, with an idea to roughly guide what you are building. Before you buy a new notebook or open a fresh document, ask yourself: What is this?
- A 100,000-word epic fantasy?
- A tight, scary short story?
- A novella?
Many writers fail because they treat a short story idea like a novel, or vice versa. Define the scope early so you know what you are aiming for.
2. Plan (Even if You Hate Plotting)
You might be a “Pantser” (someone who flies by the seat of their pants), and that is fine. But you still need a direction. You don’t need a 40-page outline, but you do need to know three things before you start:
- Who is the hero?
- What do they want?
- What is stopping them?
3. Find the Voice That Pilots Your Course
The biggest reason writers quit in Chapter 3 is that they get bored with their own voice. They try to sound like Tolkien or Hemingway instead of themselves. If the writing feels like a chore, you are probably writing in the wrong Point of View (POV), or your words are not fitting in with that vital part of yourself that fuels the imagination of the story.
4. The Grind (Pacing)
The middle of the book is where dreams and stories go to die. It is the “dead middle” where the excitement of the start has faded, and the end is nowhere in sight. This is where the new plot saves you. You need to introduce new conflicts, raise the stakes, and keep the story moving. Remember: If you are bored with the story, the reader is going to be even more bored.
5. Keep on Going
Writing is not about writing for hours a day without stopping; the journey is long, so just be consistent. If you write 500 good words a day, you will have a novel by the end of the year. Make a goal to write without ceasing, and the rest will follow.
Your Goal for January: Perhaps start by writing for just 10 minutes a day. Do not worry about quality. Do not edit. Just build the habit. If you have a great idea, start chipping away at it.
Welcome to the New Year. May we all have a happy and productive 2026.