Self-promotion Tips for Your Writing Career

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Many writers I know are more comfortable working behind the scenes on their novels than being in the spotlight. Which means they’re not usually comfortable blowing their own horn. Promoting their own work doesn’t “feel right,” they say. “I don’t want to come across as arrogant or narcissistic,” they might say, or “I don’t want to embarrass myself in front of people.” Neither could be further from the truth.

Self-promotion is neither arrogant nor narcissistic, and no, you won’t embarrass yourself, not if you plan how to promote your writing to the right audience. The truth is, If you want people to know who you are and what your book is about, you have to put yourself out there.

Self-promotion is about gaining visibility for yourself as a published author and for your work. These days, it doesn’t matter if you are self-published or traditionally published, writers are expected to carry some of the marketing workload.

Children’s author Linda Kay Hardie at the Writers and Publishers Network suggests not thinking of this process as self-promotion. “Reframe it as getting acquainted with other writers and meeting your readers,” she explains.

You’re not cold calling or going door to door to strangers’ homes, adds Hardie. You’re talking to people you already know about something that you’re passionate about–books and writing.

General tips for self-promotion

Browse the internet and you’ll come across numerous articles about self-promotion tips for writers. Here are a few that are valuable for any writer no matter where they are on their writing journey.

1. Make sure to create a good product. Take the time to produce something that people will want to buy and read. Keep in mind that just because you love your work doesn’t mean it’s quite ready to spring out into the world. Have a professional look over it to make sure that it’s not just technically clean but that the content is meaningful and relevant.

2. Start promoting your product Before the book is published, not just after publication.  That means telling people about what you’re working on even while you’re still working on it. Talk it up. Tell people what the book is about and why you decided to write it. Use social media to share snippets from the book so readers get a taste of what to expect. Or offer a discount on pre-sale orders. Then once the book is finally released, readers will (hopefully) be excited to buy. If you wait to promote your book until after it’s released, you’ve lost time and opportunity for initial sales.

3. Know your genre. Different genres require different approaches to self-promotion, says literary agent Carrie Pestritto on the Manuscript Wish List blog. For example, non-fiction writers will more likely need a strong online platform that promotes their expertise, such as a blog, website, or podcast. Meanwhile authors of middle-grade children’s books will likely do better with in-person events at libraries and schools.

4. Know your target audience. Who are your likely readers? Demographics can play a role in the type of self-promotion you use. Young adults in their 20s and 30s are likely to be found on X and Tik Tok (and Booktok), while older readers are more likely on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram as well as in-person events. Find out where your target readers go to learn about new writers. It’s important to meet your readers wherever they are.

5. Start within your local community. While it’s important to raise your online profile, in-person appearances are just as important. Children’s author Linda Kay Hardie suggests checking out libraries, universities and book clubs, which are usually eager to  work with individuals to provide educational talks and performances as part of their programming. Also check out local bookstores, street fairs and book festivals where you can volunteer to do book signings or readings.

6. Become a good literary citizen. Help other writers promote their books. Share their book info via your social media channels or write a review. If you blog about your own writing journey, remember to talk about the other writers you’ve met along the way. If and when the time comes for you to publish your book, they may do the same for you.

7. Bring extra copies of your book wherever you go. This piece of advice is the most surprising, yet most common sense thing you can do to promote yourself. When you’re invited to a party or some other social event, either bring a backpack with a small supply or keep a few copies in your car. You never know when you might meet someone who expresses interest in your book and wants to buy it. Then you can sell it to them right there on the spot.

8. Consider offering a freebie. If you’ve produced a short e-book, consider offering it for free for a short time, say a week. The freebie introduces people to you and your writing, and can generate enthusiasm for larger works that you have in your portfolio.

If all this makes you feel overwhelmed, don’t fret. Choose the ideas that best suit your audience  and your personality. It might help to develop a strategy for promoting yourself. Remember, quality of communication is more important than quantity.

Most importantly, don’t be pushy. No one likes an aggressive salesperson. Avoid hitting people over the head with your new product. Take a kinder, gentler approach, such as bringing it up naturally in conversation. Be yourself.

Hope these tips help you think about how to promote yourself as a writer. Remember that it’s all about being visible in your community and in your profession. You’ve put in the work to create a book close to your heart, so don’t be shy about telling people about it. 

Picturing Success for Your Writing Career

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A professional colleague once told me, “Success comes before work only in the dictionary.” I remember her words today many years later because I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what it means to be successful as a writer. The truth is, you have to work at being a writer. Success doesn’t happen overnight.

Even before we put any words on the page or think about our next story, we should think about what success means. To truly enjoy success in this odd creative profession we call writing, it helps to picture what success looks like. That picture won’t be the same for everyone. For one person, success might be getting their novel published after slaving over it for five years. For another, it’s finishing a first draft of their first novel. For yet another person, it might be sitting down to write 500 words every day.

When you’re just starting out as a writer, it might be difficult to imagine the big picture of your writing life because you’re more focused on getting words down on the page for your current project, or simply finishing your story. Few writers have any clear idea what their writing careers will look like down the road. They only know that they want to write something that people will want to read and enjoy.

There are two good reasons why picturing success is an important first step in your writing career. It helps you to:

*Imagine a positive income for your efforts
*Work toward a concrete goal

Picturing success isn’t always easy, at least not when you’re starting out as a writer. There are several steps to create that picture that will drive your creative efforts.

Step 1: Define Success
Before you picture success, take time to define what it means for you. What does it look like? What does it feel like in your body? Write down that definition and meditate on it. Your definition won’t be the same as someone else’s, so don’t be shy about defining it in unique ways.

Step 2: Think Ahead
Imagine what your writing life looks like one year from now or longer. Sometimes picturing your life in the future can help you set intermediate goals that will act as stepping stones toward that long-term goal. In the corporate world, they use a similar method called a Blueprint for Success. Apply it to your own writing career and see where it takes you.

Another trick is to use visualization exercises to help you “see” your success as if you’ve already achieved it. Close your eyes and visualize yourself receiving that writing award, reading a positive book review, or seeing your name as a byline. As you visualize your success, note how it feels in your body. That is the mindset you want to re-create as you move forward.

Step 3: Find a medium that best fits your picture.
Once you’ve defined success on your terms, consider different ways to picture success. Some creatives might prefer drawings or photographs while others use words. Whichever medium you choose, make it something that is meaningful and helps you see the possibilities for your career success as a writer. Here are a few ideas to get started:

* Meditation. Take time out of your day to meditate for a few minutes. Meditation can slow your brain which can help clarify the picture of your writing life. The mind can get fuzzy at times trying to juggle so many thoughts and tasks. So a brief meditation about success can bring your writer self into sharper focus.

* Journaling – Write about your writing dreams. Jot down ideas on how to achieve them. This might be a good place to jot down your definition of success, what it looks like and feels like to you. Journaling can help you sort out any feelings of self-doubt or confusion or fear that you might have related to your writing career.

* Create a vision board or a collage. Compile photos from your own collection or cut them from magazines to create a collage representing your writing career. Choose the images that best tell the story of your writing life, the goals you want to achieve or what you want your writing life to look like.

* Sketch your vision of success. If you enjoy drawing, sketch pictures that demonstrate your picture of success the way you defined it. The act of drawing or sketching can reinforce your writing goals so you feel more connected to them.

* Repeat affirmations. Create several affirmations to reflect what you want to achieve in your writing life. Then once a day, repeat those affirmations several times. The act of repetition, just like the drawings, can reinforce your picture of success so you don’t lose sight of it.

* Write a note to your future self. With a pen and paper, describe the writing life you’d like to achieve a year from that moment. Remind yourself what your goals are and what obstacles you must overcome to achieve them. Most importantly, be kind to yourself. Then fold up the note and bury it somewhere out of sight. Make a note to retrieve it in one year to review and reassess your progress.

* Write a manifesto. A manifesto is a declaration of intentions. To picture her own success as a writer, Octavia Butler created a manifesto that helped her stay focused on her writing goals. Whether or not you aim as high as Butler, your manifesto can guide your efforts as a writer.  Much like affirmations, a manifesto can reinforce your picture of success.

* Create a symbol of success. Think of a symbol or icon to represent what success means to you. It could be a star, a book, a smiley face, a rolled up scroll, a heart. Make sure the icon has meaning for you and relates to your vision of success. Then put the symbol somewhere where you can see it every day, whether it’s by your desk, a refrigerator, a mirror. Seeing the symbol everyday can serve as a reminder of what you want to achieve in your writing life.

Step 4: Revisit and Revise
No matter which medium you choose, it’s important to revisit your picture every so often, usually six months or a year. Have your goals changed? Has your definition of success changed? Have you set new goals for yourself? If your picture of success hasn’t changed, keep working. If it has, rewrite your goal, resketch that picture of success, then get back to work.

Keep your picture of success close so you never lose sight of what you want to accomplish.

How to Connect with Readers in Four Simple Steps

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It’s often said that to be a successful writer, it’s important to connect with readers. That’s true, whether you’re writing nonfiction, memoir or fiction. Connecting with readers through social media and marketing newsletters is one thing, but connecting with them through story telling requires a different mindset and skills set.

Think of this connection another way, more like a partnership or collaboration. Each party brings certain skills and experiences to the table. That collaborative experience occurs during the actual reading of the book when the reader is consuming the author’s words. The two partners create the story together: readers with their imagination, and writers with their pen.

You can’t have the story without the reader in mind. Readers are always looking for good stories to consume. They want to love the stories you write, and they can’t wait to be your partner.

Think about your own reading experience. Which authors resonated with you? Which ones drew you into their stories, made you follow along on the protagonist’s journey, to feel their pain and joy? That is the value of the writer-reader connection. That is what it looks like and feels like, and that is what we, as writers, should strive to achieve.

In this collaborative relationship, writers contribute the following:

* Creativity and imagination, a spark of an idea for the story in the first place.
* Sweat equity and perseverance to get the story done
* Their heart to provide the emotional depth
* Life experience to tap into to make the story relatable for their readers

Readers provide the following:

* Time away from their daily tasks to immerse themselves in the author’s work
* A desire to be educated or entertained or to simply escape into a different world.
* Life experience that contributes, and sometimes enhances, their understanding of the stories they’re reading.

Fantasy author K.M. Weiland describes this partnership this way:

“Our job is to guide the readers’ imagination, but it’s their job to put their imagination to work in the first place. The story that their minds project will never be exactly the one we, not to mention their fellow readers, see.”

As writers, how do you connect with readers? There are four steps to achieve this.

1. Understand readers’ expectations of your genre. Each genre has certain required elements and story structure. Without them, most stories fail to appeal to readers. For example, in contemporary rom-coms, readers expect a light-hearted tone, playful banter between the love interests and a happy ending. Without those elements, you can’t truly call it a romance and readers will be disappointed. To connect with readers, make sure you live up to their expectations and give them what they want.

2. Create relatable characters. Or more specifically, a protagonist they can believe in and relate to, one they are willing to follow on their journey. Give characters a flaw or two, make them face problems on the way to achieving their goals, and give them talents that will help them overcome those obstacles. Make readers care about your characters.

Book coach Karyn Fischer suggests giving your protagonist a quirk or unique personality feature to make them stand out, such as an odd-looking tattoo that has a personal meaning to them or an ability to do magic tricks. Those features or talents make them memorable. 

3. Create emotional tension. Stories laden with emotion can leave a lasting impression on readers. That emotion can be created with conflict, opposing goals, secrets, danger, high stakes, even romantic tension. For example, the depth of emotion in The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah is what makes that novel so memorable and why many readers name it as one of their favorites.

4. Consider readers’ life experience. As part of the collaboration between writers and readers, life experience plays a big role. Writers tap into their own life experience to create their stories, but so do readers, who use their life experience to acknowledge the experiences of the characters. Writers may not know what their readers have gone through in their personal lives, but they can create stories with common themes that most people have experienced, such as grief and loss, career achievement, friendship, self-doubt, community and hopefulness. It is this shared experience that can create the best connections with readers. 

Writing might be a solo endeavor, but readers are also part of the journey. When you think of story telling as a shared experience between writer and reader, you won’t feel so alone when you write your next story.

Eight Ways to Reconnect with Your Writing

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As much as I loved the holidays, I’m glad they’re over because I’m ready to get back to the business of writing. I haven’t looked at my current work-in-progress or completed any meaningful projects since October, and I have felt disinterested in any form of writing.

Now that 2026 is here, I’m ready for a fresh start but at the same time, I dread tackling the massive revision I’ve been putting off the past few months. Since then, I have felt disconnected with my writer self. Between the holidays, illness and a sore foot, I’ve had little interest in writing, not even a short story or essay. My only consolation is that several other writers I know have expressed similar experiences.

What does that disconnection look like? For me, it was staring at blank pages and having a calendar with no interviews scheduled. It also was a series of avoidance tactics and excuses for not writing. Anything to get out of my commitment to write or work on my novel. Everything felt like an effort. Disconnection affected my physical body too, such as brain fog and a general emptiness inside.

The good news is that there are numerous ways to climb out of this lull in writing activity and reconnect with your writer self. All it really takes is 15 minutes a day and a little ingenuity. Below are some of the tactics I’ve used to reconnect with my writing and jump back into a creative mindset.

1. Start your day with a warm-up writing exercise or brainstorming session. On a blank sheet of paper and pen (or your computer screen if you prefer) jot down whatever topics come to mind. It could be a bullet list of story ideas, a description of something you see out your window, or a description of the last thing you ate. You could write about your pet, your best friend, your spouse or your boss. Maybe write a quickie review of the last movie you watched or the last book you read. You don’t even have to keep what you write. The point of the exercise is to simply put words down on the page, so your creative juices start flowing again.

2. Write in your journal. If you already write in a journal, congratulations. If not, a journal can serve as a useful starting point to get back into a writing routine. While the exercise above is more about taking stock of your surroundings, the journal is meant to help you explore your internal landscape–your thoughts and feelings. Again, start writing for 15 minutes and see where it takes you.

3. Take a walk in nature. One of my writer friends swears by this technique. Whenever she feels stuck when writing a scene, she walks in nature, usually with her dog. By the end of an hour or so, her mind has cleared and she’s resolved her writing problem. The next time you feel stuck in your writing or need to reconnect with your writer self, go for a walk. Then when you feel refreshed, sit down at your desk and start writing, even all you write about is what you saw on your walk.

4. Use a writing prompt. If you’re still staring at a blank page, try using a writing prompt to get the words flowing. One common prompt is “I remember…” Fill in the blank with any number of situations you remember from your life. Other possibilities include: “What if…” and “I believe…”  There are plenty of other sources for writing prompts you can find online, such as Reedsy and Writers Digest.

5. Re-read something you wrote and published previously. It will remind you of the success you’ve had in the past. Would you do anything differently? Perhaps rewrite paragraphs differently, or give it a different ending? By re-reading something you wrote, you might feel encouraged to try something new.

6. Find a writing buddy or join a group write-in. As writers, we tend to spend a lot of time alone in our own imaginations. But spending time around other like-minded souls can motivate you to write again. You can bounce ideas off each other, swap writing tips and review each other’s work. Besides, it’s comforting to know that you’re not alone, and that can be enough motivation to keep writing. Group write-ins are similar but in a group setting, like a library or classroom. Everyone is writing. There is a feeling of community when you’re all working alone, but together (if that makes any sense).

7. Skim through a book (or two) about writing. One way to reconnect with writing is to read about writing technique. Learning something new can inspire you to experiment with it in your own writing.

8. Sign up for a workshop or webinar. Much like reading about writing, taking a workshop or webinar can inspire you to try out a new technique, or to look at your own work with a fresh perspective. Or check out some videos on YouTube to get into the spirit of creative writing again.

No matter which strategy you try, remember to start slow and ease into your writing routine, one day at a time. You don’t need to spend hours either. Sometimes all it takes is 15 minutes. Before you know it, you’ll be reconnected with your writer self in no time.

2025 Words of the Year

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For writers, authors and content creators, words are the most important element of our business. Without words, we wouldn’t have any work to do or any stories to tell. The popularity of words, however, come and go like the winds of winter. Here one day, gone the next.

As you may have heard on the news, Merriam-Webster recently revealed its word of the year for 2025. If you had the word Slop in the office pool, you would win bragging rights.

Slop refers to the low quality digital content sometimes produced by artificial intelligence, which may include fake news that appear to be real, talking cats, ridiculous videos, and AI-generated books. Simply put, slop is a product of little or no value.

“AI slop has turned social media into an antisocial wasteland,” reported CNET, an online site covering technology.

In addition to slop, there are several runners-up, according to Merriam-Webster:

* Gerrymander – the act of dividing a state, school district, etc. into political units to give one party an advantage over others

* Touch grass – to have real-world experiences and participate in activities away from the  online digital world

* Performative – something made or done for show, usually to bolster one’s own image or make an impression on others

* Tariff – a tax on goods

* Conclave – often refers to the assembly of cardinals to elect a new pope

Merriam-Webster selected their top words based on how many times they were looked up. You can learn more about their selections on their website. Other dictionaries and literary sources have shared their words of the year as well:

* Parasocial = From Cambridge Dictionary, parasocial refers to the one-sided relationships that people form with celebrities, influencers, AI chatbots and book characters.

* Rage bait = From Oxford University Press, rage bait is online content designed to elicit anger or outrage by intentionally being frustrating, provocative or offensive in the hopes of increasing traffic or engagement on social media.

* Vibe coding = According to the Collins Dictionary, vibe coding is software development that turns natural speaking language into computer code using artificial intelligence.

All of these terms got me thinking about my own selections. Which words or terms did I hear the most throughout the year, or made an impact on our day-to-day business? I came up with the following:

* Affordability = With so much concern about rising costs, especially of health care insurance and groceries, affordability became a term everyone mentioned.

* Good trouble = peaceful activism without violence or aggressive tactics in order to make a point or persuade positive action. A good example of good trouble is the 25-hour marathon speech Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey gave earlier this year to protest the U.S. president’s administration policies.

* AI fatigue = a condition brought on by hearing too much enthusiastic discussions and news updates about artificial intelligence.

* Performance politics = Politically-motivated activities seemingly staged for the purpose of influencing the opinions of selected groups of people while making other groups or individuals feel uncomfortable.

* Inclusion = providing access to products, services and amenities to all individuals, especially in underserved communities, to provide equitable opportunities and experiences.

Editor’s note: I generally avoid writing about politics in my posts and prefer to keep this blog focused on writing and creativity. However, most of the words of the year reflect what has occurred in our world the past year, so I couldn’t ignore them.

What about you? Do you have a word or phrase of the year? What words do you think will dominate the news headlines in 2026?

I am taking the next two weeks off to celebrate the holidays and plan my posts for 2026, though I may post again during New Year’s Week if I feel inspired. Look for more news, trends and inspiration in the coming year. Until then, thank you for reading and have a Merry Christmas.

The Most Memorable Books of 2025

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Looking back over the past year, 2025 was a banner year for reading. Not only had I finally gotten around to reading several authors I’ve wanted to read, but several books were true surprises.

My choices cover a range of genres from historical fiction to contemporary romance, from literary fiction to mystery and magical realism. I selected these books based on the following criteria:

* A compelling premise. Did the story hook me from the start?
* Strong main character (and not necessarily likeable either)
* Engaging storytelling that kept me turning the pages
* A satisfying conclusion that actually made sense for the story

Below are my top seven picks of the year followed by honorable mentions. How many of these stories have you read and enjoyed?

The Best:

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

This book had been on my Want-to-Read list for ages, and it did not disappoint. Based on a true event and set during the Depression era, the story highlights a group of women who volunteer to deliver books to poor residents in rural Kentucky as part of Eleanor Roosevelt’s traveling library. According to the marketing blurb on the back cover, it’s a “captivating tale of friendship, true love and reaching for what’s possible.” I’m looking forward to reading more of Moyes’ books.

The Sentence by Louise Erdich

Here’s another author I’ve wanted to read for a while. The Sentence takes place in Minneapolis over the course of one year from November 2019 to November 2020, taking readers through the narrator’s experience during the Covid pandemic and the George Floyd murder and ensuing riots. All the while, she deals with a capricious ghost haunting the book shop  where she works as well as her conflicted feelings about her marriage and her efforts to reconcile her own dark past. An intriguing character study of one woman’s life in turbulent times, and Erdich’s Native-American heritage brings an added narrative layer. I’m sure I’ll be reading more of her works.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Evelyn Hugo, a retired film star of the 1950s and 1960s, hires a novice magazine writer to help her draft her memoir. Over several ensuing weeks, the actress shares her life story, though she does so at her own pace and is determined to control the narrative. The hired writer wonders why she was chosen for the job because the two women have nothing in common. Hugo, by her own admission, is not the kindest person in the world and her relationships are fraught with tension. This was another fascinating character study, and the story stayed with me longer have I closed the book.

The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods

Fans of magic realism will enjoy this novel by Woods, set in Dublin where a vanishing bookshop casts its spell over three unsuspecting characters who have played minor side roles in their own lives. Told through two timelines and three characters’ point of views, readers follow them on their journey to self-discovery and self-empowerment. What I enjoyed most is the way Woods weaved and intertwined the characters’ lives despite the different timelines and how she created a magical bookshop that only a few could see.

The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict

In her novels, Benedict often features bright, talented young women whose career achievements are suppressed by the strong, dominating men in their lives. This story is no exception. Most people knew Hedy Lamarr as a stunningly beautiful Hollywood film star of the 1950s. What they don’t know is that she was also a scientist. She grew up in an aristocratic family in Austria, and through her marriage to an Austrian arms dealer, she often overheard conversations detailing the Third Reich’s  plans. After escaping to the United States and becoming a screen star, she used her scientific knowledge to design a communications system that would help the U.S. fight the Nazis. Except as a woman, no one would listen to her idea.

Murder Under the Tuscan Sun by Rachel Rhys

File this one under gothic romantic suspense. In some ways, the tone and storytelling of this novel reminds me of Daphne DuMaurier’s Rebecca. When a recently widowed woman responds to an ad for a companion to an ill aristocrat at his estate in rural Italy, she has no idea what to expect. While there is no actual murder, there is plenty of suspense as the widow experiences strange dreams, ghost sightings while she cares for her charge who doesn’t seem to want her help. Over time, the two grow closer even as he seems close to death. This was a surprising read that kept me turning the page.

The Day I Died by Lori Rader-Day

After reading two earlier works by Rader-Day (Little Pretty Things and The Black Hour), I fully expected another stellar novel. I was not disappointed.  From the opening pages, I was taken on a wild journey through the eyes of the story’s protagonist Anna, who has a unique talent of analyzing people’s handwriting. The local sheriff isn’t convinced of Anna’s abilities, but hires her anyway to help in his search for a missing boy. But to solve this mystery, Anna has to face her own fears about her past and her relationship with her own teenaged son.

Honorable Mentions:

The following didn’t make my best list but are all worthy of your time.

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
I don’t usually read horror novels–I get too easily creeped out–but Garcia’s writing helped create a dark and suspenseful story. I just didn’t buy into the romantic relationship.

Book Lovers by Emily Henry
After hearing so much about Emily Henry, I had to check out one of her books. This was a solid, engaging story, but the more compelling story line was the relationship between the two sisters.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
I was fascinated by the premise of this novel. Imagine what your life would be like if you made different choices.

The Memory of Lemon by Judith Fertig
A mix of magical realism and contemporary romance, this story is about a young baker who has a knack for tasting people’s emotions and has the ability to sense which ingredients will touch her customers’ hearts.

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix Harrow
A young woman unwittingly uncovers a network of secret doorways to other worlds and explores many of them to find her father who had disappeared long ago. I don’t read many fantasy novels, but this was a surprising and entertaining read.

What about you? What books did you read this past year that impressed you most? Which books would you recommend?

Design Your Own Reading Challenge for 2026

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Mention the term reading challenge and some people will roll their eyes. Not me. I’m a big fan of them, so much so that I’ve created my own challenge the past few years.

For those not familiar with them, reading challenges are a test of sorts to coax you to read different types of books, explore new genres or new authors. It can be done either alone or as a small group, and for any length of time, whether it’s for three months or one year.. Reading challenges can spice up your reading life and even help you tackle those books in your TBR pile. It’s one of the reasons I look forward to the start of the new year, so I can begin a new challenge.

If you decide to participate in a challenge, or want to create your own, here are a few things to keep in mind:

* It’s not about how many books you read, but the quality and nature of those books. Some people aim to read as many books as they can, but do you really want to rush through the reading experience? Books are meant to be consumed at a slow, steady pace to absorb the plot, characters, theme and emotions.

* Set a goal for yourself. What do you want to accomplish during the challenge? Is there a certain genre you want to explore that you haven’t read before? Perhaps you want to return to the classics? Or an author you’d like to read more of, say Stephen King or Agatha Christie.

* Set a time allotment. Most challenges I know usually take place over the course of one year. But maybe you prefer a shorter challenge, like three or six months where you can focus on a particular genre or author.

* Have fun with the challenge. Be imaginative. Come up with unique categories, such as a book you found in the garbage or dumpster. (Hey, you never know what you might find there.) Check your TBR shelf for inspiration.

With these tips in mind, you’re ready to start 2026 with a brand new approach to reading. If you’re not sure where to start, I’ve come up with several challenge options that you can adapt for your own use.

Reading Challenge #1: By Prompt

Challenge #1 is the traditional version you’ve likely heard of with a never-ending list of prompts. Do a search online and you can find all sorts of challenges of this nature. There are roughly 40 prompts in the list below, but you don’t have to follow all of them. You can add or alter the list as you see fit. Most importantly, have fun.

1. A favorite author
2. An author from your hometown
3. An author you’ve never read
4. A book you read when you were in high school
5. A genre you don’t normally read
6. A book that’s been sitting on your TBR shelf for more than 2 years.
7. A book with more than 400 pages
8. A book with less than 200 pages
9. A book published in the year you were born
10. A book with a one-word title
11. A book you bought second-hand or at a discount store
12. A book you bought new
13. A book you borrowed from the library
14. A book recommended to you by a fellow reader
15. A book set in a foreign country, not Paris or London
16. A book with a color in the title
17. A book with a number in the title
18. A book with a place in the title
19. A book made into a movie or TV series
20. A book by a debut author
21. A banned book
22. A fairytale retelling
23. A workplace romance
24. A memoir by a non-celebrity
25. A book with an job/occupation in the title
26. A book published in the past year (2025)
27. A book published more than 100 years ago.
28. A book published by a small or indie publisher
29. A book with a lengthy subtitle
30. A book written by two authors or one author with a pseudonym
31. A book with a character with a unique name
32. A book you found in the garbage or dumpster
33. A book with a picture of food on the cover
34. A book with a body of water on the cover
35. A book you heard about on social media
36. A book by a minority author
37. A current bestseller
38. A book with a person’s name in the title
39. A book set in Hawaii or Alaska
40. A young adult mystery or romance

Reading Challenge #2: By genre

Each month is dedicated to a different genre. For example, January might be ideal for curling up by the fire with a lengthy fantasy or science fiction series. Another month might be dedicated to current bestsellers or indulging in one of the classics. I always find October to be the perfect time for a good mystery or horror novel, while February is always reserved for romance because of Valentine’s Day.

I’ve listed the most common genres below. How you want to assign one to each month is up to you.

Mystery/suspense
Romance
True crime
Science Fiction
Fantasy/Romantasy
Memoir or Biography
Non-fiction
Literary fiction
Young adult
Classic literature
Current bestseller
Horror
Spy thriller
Paranormal
Historical fiction

Reading Challenge #3: By theme or topic

If genre is too basic and you wish to take your reading challenge to the next level, try making reading choices based on theme. You probably notice from your TBR collection that you’ve acquired books with similar themes. For example, I tend to read books about libraries, bookshops and struggling writers. Perhaps you read stories set on a university campus or feature students as the main characters. Or your favorite memoir is about sports celebrities. You get the idea.

Themes can be fun to read because they’re broad enough to cover different genres and authors, so you don’t have to think about that aspect of the challenge. Here are some common themes, or come up with one of your own.

Money or finance
Love/romance
History
Family
Faith
Pets or animals
Books or libraries
Bodies of water
Sports
The arts (dancing, music, painting, etc.)
Sports
Food/Cooking
Earth/environment
Science or technology
Health or medical theme

Reading Challenge #4: By Setting or Location

If none of the aforementioned categories rocks your boat, there’s another option: by location. Whether you love to travel or prefer to stay close to home, reading a book set in a specific location can transport you to any place in the world. Think of these possible locations for your next reading challenge:

Parts of the U.S.:
Washington, D.C.
California
Texas
Florida
New York City
A farm in the Midwest
Pacific Northwest
Boston or Northeast
New Orleans
Southern states
Hawaii
Alaska
On a cruise ship

Outside the U.S.:
Mexico
Canada
Paris, France
London, England
Italy
Greece
India
Germany
The Caribbean
Japan
China
Russia

Reading Challenge #5: By Time Period or Decade

I came across this challenge by The Book Girls Guide and thought I would add it to our challenge options. The ladies at Book Girls Guide do a great job of compiling and summarizing books for their readers. Every year for the past six years, they’ve presented a reading challenge based on decades. If you love historical fiction, this might be the challenge for you. Sure, it’s one single genre, but with the focus on the time frame of history, no two stories are alike and you can learn so much about events and people who shaped history.

My challenge to you is to choose one challenge and have fun with it.

Creative Ways to Express Gratitude

~ The Regal Writer ~ Leave a comment
Photo by Dmitry Zvolskiy on Pexels.com

Next week, many families in the U.S. will be celebrating Thanksgiving with their loved ones. It’s a time to give thanks for all that life has given them.

It’s at this time that my thoughts often turn to gratitude. I pause to reflect on one simple question: What am I grateful for?

Gratitude, though, doesn’t have to be a once-a-year experience. It can also be a regular habit, something to meditate over once a day or once a week. When gratitude becomes a habit and part of a regular thought process, it can offer many health benefits, according to the UCLA Health blog. Expressing gratitude can: 

* Reduce depression
* Lessen anxiety
* Support heart health
* Relieve stress
* Improve sleep

With so many potential benefits for your health, it’s no wonder many people, including writers, have adopted a gratitude mindset. Fortunately, writers have many paths to express gratitude, ranging from something as simple as a gratitude list to more complex projects like writing an essay or short story.

Is there something – or someone – you are grateful for? Take a moment to say thank you, and not just verbally. Use your creative skills to express your feelings. Here are a few ideas to accomplish that, or use one of your own.

* A gratitude list – Take stock of the things you are grateful for in a simple list. Take a moment to jot down the people and things that are important to you. Getting into a routine of making a gratitude list every week or every month can improve your mood and your mindset. 

* A gratitude journal – For some people, a gratitude journal is a regular part of their gratitude practice, something they maintain every day rather than once a week or once a month. They use the journal to record their thoughts about gratitude, and keep track of the ways they express it to others. While the gratitude list may be completed as the mood strikes you, the journal is usually maintained every day and can become part of a regular routine.

* Write an essay. Is there a particular person or event that changed your life in some way? Consider writing about it as an essay or narrative non-fiction piece. The aim isn’t about getting the piece published – although that would be a bonus – but to express gratitude in an unusual and unexpected way.

* Write a short story. If essays aren’t your thing, consider writing the event as a short story. If there’s someone special you want to show gratitude toward, use them as inspiration for one of your characters.

* Send a greeting card (or make your own). I’m a bit old fashioned and love sending greeting cards at Christmas. But there’s no rule that says you have to do that only at that time of year or at birthdays. A greeting card at Thanksgiving expressing that you’re thankful for someone’s love, support, or friendship can be especially meaningful because it’s not competing with other greeting cards. If you have the time and inspiration, design your own greeting card and write your own heartfelt message.

* Write a letter. Contrary to popular assumptions, letters have not gone out of style. A note or letter, especially if it’s handwritten, can be one of the most memorable gifts you can give to someone. People tend to keep these letters and notes for a long time. If you’re not sure what to say right away, draft the letter first then rewrite it on some nice stationery.

* Create a gratitude jar. Don’t have time to write a letter? Want to keep track of all that you’re grateful for? Try keeping a gratitude jar. On slips of paper, write down the name of a person that you appreciate being in your life or an event that changed you in some way. This approach is helpful if you don’t have to sit down to think of everything you’re grateful for, but rather on the fly. After a while, the jar will fill up.

This is an exercise for yourself; no one else needs to know about it. When you’re feeling blue, you can read each slip of paper to remind yourself of the people and events you are most grateful for. 

Do you have a special way of expressing your gratitude?

I’ll leave with this inspiring quote from Plato: “A grateful mind is a great mind which eventually attracts to itself great things.

No blog post next week because of the holiday. Until next time, know that I am grateful to you, my readers, for all your support. You’ve helped me keep this blog going for more than nine years. Thank you!

Overcoming Rewriting Paralysis

~ The Regal Writer ~ Leave a comment
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

Whenever I get to the end of my first draft of whatever novel I’m working on, I’m filled with a range of emotions: joy, relief, satisfaction and pride. After spending weeks and months crafting a story I hope readers will love and creating characters I care about, I’m ready to celebrate.

The celebration is short-lived, however. Because I know there’s more work to do. A LOT more work. Being an intuitive writer, I don’t do much planning beforehand except sketching out the initial scenes. By the end of the drafting phase, my manuscript is a mess. That’s when I come face to face with the monster in the room – the rewrite.

For me, revision and rewriting is a daunting process, much like getting my wisdom teeth pulled. I usually spend hours staring at my pages wondering what to do next.

Recently, I came across a term for this. It’s called rewriting paralysis, defined by a state of being stuck and unable to move forward with a writing project because you’re frozen by the daunting task of revision.

For more information, check out this excellent piece by creativity coach Anne Carley who explains what rewriting paralysis is all about. There are several signs that you’re experiencing rewriting paralysis (sometimes called analysis paralysis because you’re over-analyzing a writing problem).

* You experience brain freeze. Or what others might call writer’s block. After looking at so many scenes, your mind goes numb. You wonder if you’ve covered every aspect of your story. Even if you do sense you’re missing a scene or two, your brain stops working. When you try to finish your story, the words won’t come.

* You feel emotionally spent. You’ve poured so much of your emotional energy into writing the first draft that you have nothing left for the rewrite.

* Your inner critic takes over the creative process. Maybe it berates you for sloppy work or keeps reminding you that you’re wasting your time. The critic’s non-stop chatter discourages you from finishing the rewrite.

* Self-doubt creeps in. Now that you’ve finished the draft, you’ve given the manuscript time and space to breathe. But in that space, the critic’s cousin Self-Doubt makes its presence known.  The more you doubt yourself, the more you wonder if you’re doing the right thing or if you should start over.

* You feel overwhelmed by the task ahead. Paralysis sets in because the project suddenly seems too big and overwhelming to tackle on your own. You’ve created a monster, but now you wonder how to turn it into Cinderella. You’re not sure how or where to begin the rewrite process, so you set aside the manuscript and hope for inspiration.

Fortunately, there are remedies to re-energize your project and push through the rewriting phase. I’ve experimented with some of these with some success. They might help you too.

Strategy 1: If the project seems too big and overwhelming, it might help to attack the rewrite by breaking it down into smaller sections, working through each Act or several scenes at a time. Author and book coach Janice Hardy suggests creating an editorial map that lets you see how your story is progressing. She also recommends creating a revision plan to organize each edit and check them off as you finish them.

Strategy 2: Draft a synopsis of your current work-in-progress. The end of the first draft may be the perfect time to draft a synopsis to make sure the story is progressing the way you imagined. The synopsis can reveal problem areas that need to be fixed. For example, when I drafted a synopsis for my current project, it revealed part of my protagonist’s backstory that explained why she felt so conflicted toward her deceased mother. Up to that point, that backstory had been a mystery to me.

Strategy 3: Review story structure. Paralysis might occur because you haven’t worked out the plot of your story, or it might be missing certain elements. The end of the drafting phase might be a good time to review story structure. There are multiple structure types, and it’s not always easy to choose the best one that fits your story. For information about story structure, check out this guide from Reedsy or this blog series and book, Structuring Your Novel by author K. M. Weiland.

Strategy 4: Study the revision process or take a course in revision. Author and book coach Jessica Brody teaches an online self-study course The Complete Novel Revision course which breaks down the process into three levels: story edits, scene edits and page edits. Whether you follow Brody’s process or use someone else’s, it takes time to review, reassess and rewrite your story to whip it into shape. Be patient with yourself and with the process.

Of course, before starting any rewriting or revising, it’s helpful to set aside the draft for a few weeks or months. Then print out the manuscript and read through it as a reader would. The time away from your story will clear your head and you’ll see the story with fresh eyes.

Armed with these strategies, you can easily overcome rewriting paralysis and create the novel of your dreams.

Kick Off November with These Holiday-Themed Writing Prompts

~ The Regal Writer ~ Leave a comment

I’ve been feeling a bit under the weather lately, so I don’t have a story planned for this week. But because November is Creative Writing Month, I wanted to help you stay motivated to keep writing. Whether you’re participating in a writing challenge or simply want to rev up your writing routine, there are plenty of story ideas to test your creativity. 

To get you started, here’s 25 prompts to keep you busy during the month and hopefully put you into the holiday spirit. Pick one, two or ten, then let your imagination run wild. These stories can be as short or as long as you want. Most importantly, have fun.

1. Write about someone (male or female) who attempts to host Thanksgiving dinner for the first time.

2. It’s the first snowfall of the year. Write about someone who is seeing snow for the first time.

3. Write about someone who falls for a holiday shopping scam. What do they learn from the experience? Do they help catch the thief?

4. Write about a pie eating contest featuring either pumpkin or apple pie.

5. The person hired to play Santa at the Thanksgiving Day Parade fails to show. What happens next?

6. Several college students who barely know one another drive home together for Thanksgiving break during a snowstorm.

7. A candy cane factory has come up with a couple of new, unusual flavors. What are those flavors? How do customers respond?

8. A young woman shops for jewelry for gifts and is persuaded by the shopkeeper to try on a rather ostentatious ring. When the ring gets stuck on her finger, what does she do next to get it off?

9. A family attempts to cut down their own Christmas tree for the first time with surprising results.

10. On Christmas morning, you find a gift on your doorstep. What is the gift? Who is it from? Why did they give it to you?

11. Write a note of gratitude to someone who helped you in the past.

12. Imagine you have a pet turkey. One morning, it suddenly begins to speak. What does it say?

13. You have a chance to invite a celebrity – alive or dead – to Thanksgiving dinner. What do you talk about over your festive meal?

14. You participate in a Christmas cookie challenge with several participants. What cookie do you make? What unusual ingredients or techniques do you use to set your cookies apart?

15. During the Thanksgiving Day parade, one of the oversized balloons experiences a mishap. What happens to the balloon and how does the crowd react?

16. Describe your favorite Thanksgiving Day food and the memories they bring you.

17. A group of friends or family members make one last hike through the woods before Thanksgiving break.

18. An angel visits you one November night. What message do they bring you?

19. November arrives with an unexpected guest – someone wants to spend the entire month with you. Describe this person, their reasons for making this request and how your home life is altered because of their presence.

20. Create a place called The November Cafe. Describe the cafe and what is offered on the menu.

21. During a family get together, an older family member reveals a secret they’ve kept from everyone for 20 years. What is their secret? How does it impact the family?

22. What is your Thanksgiving Day feast like? Describe what you eat complete with the sights, smells and taste.

23. Write a story about a mishap or accident at Santa’s toy workshop. What happened? Did anyone get hurt?

24. You discover a magical mode of transportation. What is it and where does it take you? What else happens on your journey?

25. It’s a week before Christmas, and you find yourself in the emergency room at the hospital. How did you get there? Did you have an accident yourself, or are you there to help someone else?