My 2026 author goals: A year of craft, reach, and connection

Every year, I like to pause and get intentional about where I’m headed—not just what I want to produce, but how I want my creative life to feel.

In 2026, my focus is clear: elevating my craft, expanding my reach, and creating work that connects—on the page, on the airwaves, and beyond.

Here’s what that looks like in practice.

1. Writing two new books (and refreshing my Inkspell backlist)

At the heart of everything I do is storytelling. In 2026, one of my primary creative goals is to draft two new novels—two fresh stories that challenge me, sharpen my voice, and keep me doing what I love most: showing up to the page consistently.

But this year isn’t only about what’s new. I’m also making space to return to my Inkspell titles—to revise, polish, and re-release them with fresh intention.

The truth is, I’ve learned a lot about craft in the last five years. I write differently now: with more control, more depth, and a clearer understanding of pacing, tension, voice, and emotional payoff. Those earlier stories still have strong bones and big heart—but they deserve a version that reflects the writer I am today.

That means taking a thoughtful second pass—strengthening the storytelling, tightening the execution, and, giving them a POV rewrite so the reading experience feels more immediate, immersive, and aligned with my current voice.

It feels like the best kind of full-circle: building new worlds while also honoring the ones that helped get me here.

2. Reading twelve books (and trying something new)

Reading has always been essential to my writing life, and in 2026, I’m keeping things simple and doable: one book per month.

Like many readers, I gravitate toward celebrity memoirs and romance—but this year, I want to stretch a bit. My goal is to try at least one new genre and stay open to stories that surprise me, teach me something, or pull me into a completely different kind of voice on the page.

Because reading widely doesn’t just make me a better writer—it keeps me curious, grounded, creatively energized… and reminded why I fell in love with stories in the first place.

3. Securing two book deals

This is the big, ambitious goal for the year.

In 2026, I’m aiming to land two book deals—and I’m stepping into this goal with confidence. I trust the work I’m creating, and I trust my agent to help guide these stories into the right hands. It’s a goal rooted in belief, persistence, and forward momentum.

Also… crazier things can happen, right?

I’m not setting this goal from a place of pressure. I’m setting it from a place of possibility. The goal is to keep the pipeline moving, keep improving, and keep putting strong, polished stories in front of the people who can champion them.

4. Pitching audiobook and film rights for my Inkspell titles

Until now, I hadn’t pursued audiobooks for my Inkspell titles—largely because of the expense and limited access.

That’s changing.

With agent representation and new doors opening, 2026 is the year I begin pitching audiobook and film rights for those titles. I’m excited to explore what it could look like for these stories to reach audiences in new formats—through a narrator’s voice, through a screen adaptation, or through opportunities I couldn’t realistically access before.

There’s something incredibly energizing about the idea of taking stories that already exist and helping them evolve into something bigger.

5. Launching the Just Write Julie podcast

This one has been on my bucket list for a long time.

In 2026, I’m officially launching the Just Write Julie podcast—a space where writing meets strategy, and creativity meets clarity. The show will bring together conversations about craft, career, communication, and what it really takes to build a sustainable creative life.

It’s the intersection of everything I love: storytelling, teaching, messaging, and real behind-the-scenes conversations with people who are doing the work. It feels like a natural extension of who I am as a writer, communicator, and educator—and I can’t wait to bring it to life.

Looking ahead

None of these goals exist in isolation. Together, they represent a year of intentional growth—creative, professional, and personal.

Thank you for being here, for reading, for supporting my work, and for walking into 2026 with me. I’m excited about what’s ahead—and I’m grateful to share the journey.

Here’s to a year of courage, clarity, and stories that matter.