Swapping Resolutions for a Roadmap

Happy New Year

We’ve all been there. It’s the first week of January, and the pressure to "reinvent" ourselves is everywhere. But if I’m honest, I’ve never been one for New Year’s resolutions. They always feel a bit like a deadline with no brief—all of the pressure, with none of the creative joy.

This year, I’m stripping away the "shoulds" and focusing on the "coulds." Instead of rigid resolutions, I’m looking at 2026 through the lens of Writer Goals.

From Wattpad Shortlists to Ebook Shelves

The biggest highlight of my 2025 was seeing The Concorda Files climb the ranks during the Open Novella Contest on Wattpad. Reaching the shortlist was the validation I needed to take the next step. This year, the goal is to polish it up and get it released as a standalone ebook across all major platforms. It’s time for these files to go global.

Seeking a Home for the Short Stories

I have two pieces that are polished, proofread, and sitting on my hard drive, practically begging for readers.

• The Custodian: My latest sci-fi short.
• Only Three Pills Left: A dive into a time-travel, Groundhog Day style story with a sprinkle of horror.

The stories are ready; the challenge now is the "where." I’m currently scouting for the right literary journals or anthologies to submit to. If you have any favourite speculative fiction markets, I’m all ears!

The ONC 2026: The "Choose Your Own Adventure" Phase

The 2026 Open Novella Contest is right around the corner, and I’ll be using it as a springboard for my next big project. I have a gritty Sci-Fi/Crime concept brewing in the back of my mind, and if the prompts align, that will more than likely be my entry.

However, I’m leaving room for the muse to surprise me. If the ONC prompts spark something entirely new, I’ll follow that trail—but that doesn't mean the Sci-Fi/Crime idea is going away. One way or another, that story is getting told this year.

The Reading Ritual

In 2025, I managed to get through 27 books. This year, the goal is simple: beat that number. Whether it’s 28 or 50, I want to spend more time immersed in other worlds to help fuel the ones I’m building.