Welcome to the first IWSG blog hop post of 2026. I can't believe it's a new year already. Thank you to our founder, Alex J. Cavanaugh, and all the other admins of this amazing group. Please visit some other blogs participating today at this list.
And this month's optional question:
Is there anything in your writing plans for 2026 that you are going to do that you couldn't get done in 2025?
Yes, I'm going to concentrate on my writing. I've been busy for the past two years planning the yearly conference for Pennwriters. I love doing it, but it takes away from my own writing time and drains my socia battery. All the social interaction required exhausts me. That includes participating in events to promote my own books. I hope I have the energy to do more events if I'm not so heavily involved in planning that one big one.
In the meantime, I'm working on the second draft of my WIP and hoping to pitch it to one of the agents at that annual conference.
I'm looking forward to the 3rd season of The Night Agent. I didn't love the 2nd season but am holding out hope. The ending of Stranger Things was okay and left me satisfied. I haven't started the next season of The Witcher. It's probably good for me that I haven't been watching much media lately.
I have starting the new year by getting back into my walking routine that had faltered a little during November and December. So far, so good with between 3 to 5 miles per day. Anything to keep the body moving and fight off old age for as long as I can.
I received some wonderful jigsaw puzzles for Christmas. Really challenging and enjoyable. Between walking, puzzling, writing, crocheting, conference work, and getting my granddaughter to the bus, my retirement days are pretty full. Retirement is the best job ever and I hope you all get there soon.
The holidays were wonderful because we had the entire family here for Christmas Eve this year. Usually, we miss one or two. It was so much fun and actually relaxing. Hope yours was the same.
What are you hoping to spend more time on this year? Did you meet goals you set for 2025? Were the holidays had a success for you?
18 comments:
It's great that you're revising your manuscript so you can pitch it to an agent at your annual conference. I've just started getting into puzzles. I do them on my phone.
I had a wonderful Christmas. The best yet. I'm hoping the new year will see me being more productive in all areas of my life. I'm working on getting off of sugary foods. I hope your New Year is great.
Good luck with the conference. I can't imagine how much organisation is involved. Hope you can fit in your other activities nicely.
We love puzzles and put together several a year, including one every New Year's Eve. (Do we know how to party or what?) We're hoping to run a 5K this year but I'd like to get my time down a bit so my poor husband doesn't feel like he's moving in slow motion beside me. LOL
Pulling back from that conference sounds like a good idea. And yes, looking forward to retirement soon!
Good luck with getting back to your writing this year!
I didn't care for the second season of The Night Agent either, but I think I'll still give the third season a try.
I've been doing a lot more walking since our weather has gotten better. I'm not sure of the miles since I focus more on time, but I'm happy with my progress. :)
I'm really into walking more this year (and I met my goal for that in 2025, so it's sparking the new goal), and I am finally going to release some projects I've been holding onto with a fear-death grip. No more with that. It's time to celebrate what I've already done, and get it out there in the world. And the holidays were... interesting. I'll just say that. But also, good.
Anonymously Esther O'Neill, , East of the Sun. Time for youir own writing, hope it works out. : For me, practical - make that essential problems claimed so much of last year.
I never set goals, that way I don't disappoint myself! I agree that retirement is the best job ever. Three miles a day walking for me, two yoga classes per week, one Zumba class and I've learned to play Mahjong. Trying to keep the brain and the body limber! Happy New Year!
You have quite a few excellent projects! Here's to getting them done and done well in 2026!
Concentrating on writing and walking - what a wonderful plan. It encompasses everything a writers needs. Well, almost everything ...
I've been working on a jigsaw too. So much fun this time of year. I get what you're saying about being drained after social stuff. I need a certain amount of downtime/quiet time so I can be creative.
I hope stepping back from that big event helps your writing!
Socializing drains me too--sometimes it takes me a day to recover. 🤣
The holidays were nice here, too.
Sometimes you have to back away from certain things to work on your own projects. I pray you have a blessed and beautiful 2026.
Hi Susan - it sounds like the festive season was fun ... so glad you could all get together. Well done on the walking routine - yes we need to keep exercising. Organising events is challenging to say the least and I'm sure Pennwriters was exhausting ... good for you for volunteering to help. All the best for 2026 - cheers Hilary
I really miss puzzles on the table!! My cats pack off the pieces though, so online only for me. I travel too much to keep track of any series - most TVs in motels now want you to put in your own passwords for accessing shows, and I just ain't into that. Good luck with the new incentive for walking. I had no goals for 2025, but maybe 2026 will give me some story ideas for publication.
I hope you're busy writing this month!
Happy IWSG day! I'm co-hosting this month.
"A good book gets better at the second reading. A great book at the third." — Tyler DeVries
J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) @JLenniDorner ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZChallenge international blog hop
Hope all is going well.
"What I say is, a town isn't a town without a bookstore." — Neil Gaiman
J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) @JLenniDorner ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZChallenge international blog hop
Post a Comment