2026: Manifesting

To balance out the heaviness of 2025 I'm committing, in 2026 to achieving goals which energise me and put a smile on my face.

I want to focus on optimism and opportunities (during the cracks of my real life), and this means setting bigger goals.

After a year of ‘slow’, this might sound super ambitious, but I want and need the distraction.

Before I get to my goals... here is my word for 2026.

Manifesting made my 'word of the year' shortlist last year, and as 2026 approached, it really stood out as the right word to take me through this year.

Top of my list is manifesting a clear, pain-free head.

Migraines are my number one barrier to focus, concentration and screen time. So, I'm going into this year repeating to myself: I'm grateful for a significant reduction in my migraine days. In December I want to look back and marvel at how I manifested this into reality!

As in previous years, my monthly blog will continue and I'm going to research Substack. I also intend to enter my work in at least three writing competitions.

I want to make significant headway on my manuscripts (MS) this year, which are all at differing stages:

• MS1 (working title: The Beach) has been through countless drafts and some beta reads.

• MS2 (working title: The Garden) is a first draft in Scrivener.

• MS3 (working title: The Farm) was handwritten and fills a foolscap exercise book. It's been partially dictated into Scrivener.

• MS4 is in my head (along with MS5 and MS6), and I'm slowly getting it down on paper.

So here are my goals:

1. Finalise 'The Beach'

a. Complete current edit

b. Get a developmental edit (It’s time!)

c. Address developmental edit

2. Prepare for second draft of ‘The Garden’

a. Complete a high-level scene summary.

b. Draft a synopsis

c. Work through character GMCs and wounds.

3. Dictate remainder of ‘The Farm’ into Scrivener

So that's my 2026 plan! Whew, feels like a lot.

A giant yellow Post-it is stuck to the wall above my desk, with what I want to achieve in January, and I'll enjoy ticking off my progress...

Stay with me...