Make 2026 the Year for Writers

Forging ahead in the New Year

The ball dropped. The band played. People kissed and sang “Auld Lang Syne” or just cheered. And we marked the end of another of Earth’s journeys around the Sun. Now, according to western year counting, we are in the year 2026. Many people are putting out their resolutions for this further journey through icy space around the star that keeps us all from turning into Popsicles.

No such resolutions here, though. Just encouragement for you to continue on.

My hope, of course, is that you will do so through your own diligence and mental effort and without anything being generated for you by the technology that is known by the highly inappropriate term “artificial intelligence” (AI). Sorry, but I had to mention it. Don’t worry, though. I won’t be harping on it quite so much this year, not because I in any way, shape, or form embrace AI, but because we all need to focus on more important things for us all as writers.

“What things?” you ask.

Glad you asked that.

Challenges in the New Year

Getting people to see our work as having value is certainly a challenge. And that includes Amazon and other book selling sites. Sure, they have to make some money out of a sale, but the squeeze is on. Amazon, for example, pays out only 35% royalty on books priced under $2.99.

We also have the challenge of readers now used to those book giveaways that were supposed to be the golden ticket, not to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, but to our books getting known and seen. Why buy when they can be a bit patient and get the book for free or, especially this time of year, on sale?

Book marketing scammers have multiplied like those tribles on the original Star Trek TV series. They spam us in email. They send us direct messages (DMs) on Twitter (X is stupid). They post comments on our articles about how good our stuff is and how they can get it in front of readers. They post fake promos of our books, using our own book blurbs off of book selling sites, thinking we’re too flattered or ignorant to notice. They claim our books would be great in their book club or on their book review site and that it will only cost you… well, I have no idea since I never bother reading that far. Or they propose to create a video for you (very likely AI generated) that will result in tons of sales.

Another challenge is keeping people interested in a series. You writers on Substack know this angst well. But it can hold true for writers who publish their series in book form, like The Illusion Exotic. Part of the issue is how much is out there, human created or AI generated. It’s a literary feast. Another part is writers having to rush to get out the next chapter or book in that series so the readers don’t wander off to graze in another part of that buffet. That rush can lead to burnout and reduction of quality (more typos, sloppy punctuation, grammar glitches, weak characters, plot holes, timeline tangles, etc.).

Such challenges can ruin the writing experience, especially if you are like me and worry about such things.

Plus, you have challenges, not just in writing, but in life—jobs, lack of jobs, children, other relatives, economics, politics, technology, etcetera, etcetera. They can interfere in your writing, or that writing could be your refuge.

“But there is hope,” you say.

I agree.

Meeting Those Challenges and More

First, resist book giveaways and watch how you price your books to get the most royalty you can.

Second, learn to recognize those marketing scammers. (Many of you probably already have.)

Third, if you’re serializing a novel on Substack, stick with it or let readers know when a chapter will be late. (Again, many of you already do.)

Fourth, if you are serializing published books, try doing some teaser posts on your blog, Substack, or other social media. Example: “I’m making great progress on [name of series].”

Most of all, don’t give up. I say that not just to you but also to myself. There have been times this year… Well, anyway, for many of us, writing isn’t an occupation but something from deep within us and very fulfilling. We see what we write as more than just words on paper or a screen. Our characters live in our minds (until we whack them, that is). Putting them through their paces becomes like a puppet show in our heads.

“So, how is 2026 the year of writers?” you ask.

Another great question.

Making This the Year of Writers

Keep writing, keep learning, keep growing.

This simply said but not so simply done. The main thing is to believe in yourself. Then you won’t need AI or any other technology to do your work for you.

Best wishes to you all in 2026!

My six books (so far):

I ask a small favor: if you’ve bought and/or read any of these, please post a review here or elsewhere online.

Where to Buy:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub | Books-A-Million | Everand | Apple Books | Kobo | Smashwords | Thalia (German) ebook & print | Angus & Robertson | Mondadori (Italian) | Vivlio (French/English) | Fable | Thriftbooks

Audible Links

Wind Down the Chimney and Other Eerie Tales

The Stardust Alliance and More

The Wiccan Tales

The Greeting Card Girl’s Christmas

From the Files of Fontaine Investigations