I have a confession to make. I’m a people pleaser. I like to say yes and do things that make people happy. But the truth is, people pleasers tend to make terrible writers. Writers have to be selfish. They have to be able to say no to invitations, distractions, and all sorts of enticing things that can disrupt their writing schedule. Writing a book takes a lot time, and I’m exceptionally slow. Part of the reason is probably because I’m a discovery writer or what is commonly called a pantser, someone who writes by the seat of his or her pants—without an outline. After three books, I think I’m finally ready to change.

It’s been seven long years since Stars on Ruby Mountain came out. It’s time to finish the third book in my Scattering Stars trilogy before I’m eighty. Seriously, these days eighty feels like it’s closer than ever. Although I’m making progress on Stars at Devils Tower, something has to change if I’m going to get it done. My goal for 2026 is to organize and prioritize!

I looked up the definitions of these two words to get a clearer picture of what lies ahead. To organize means to put in things in order or make arrangements or preparations for something. To prioritize means to treat something as more important than other things. Although I love the idea behind the prioritize definition, I’m not thrilled about the implications of what it means to organize. More on that later…

In search of motivation, I borrowed a couple of tips from a popular self-help book first published in 1989, Stephen R. Covey’s mega-bestseller, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Covey’s second habit is “Begin with the End in Mind.” Basically, define your goals and create a clear vision of your future. If I apply this to my book, it means an outline for my story is long overdue. **shudders**

I need to map out step by step exactly where I’m going with my story, instead of typing scene after scene and chapter after chapter with only a vague idea of what will happen next. By now, you’re probably thinking, “Well, duh.” And you’re right. It’s time to ditch my old habits and graduate from a pantser to a plotter. **shudders again**

The second habit I borrowed is “Put First Things First,” in other words, prioritize. I’m not very good at this either. Instead, I usually spend my day doing chores and putting out whatever fires demand the most attention. Distractions aren’t necessarily bad things; they just prevent you from keeping your priorities in line. I heard a great quote the other day from John Hilton III: “The enemy of the best isn’t the bad. It’s the pretty good.” It can be hard to separate the necessary from the unnecessary and make time for what matters most. But since finishing my book is the priority right now, I have to stay focused on the goal.

Creating takes lots of time and effort, but it brings joy. It’s amazingly satisfying to bring something to life that didn’t exist before. What do you want to create? Make time to write, paint, craft, or build something wonderful in 2026 and have a great year!