writing

A Guest Blog by Jenna Sherman

Writers stepping into a new year often carry more than fresh goals—they drag along half-finished drafts, old disappointments, and a vague sense that they “should be further along by now.” If that’s you, you’re not broken; you’re just due for a system reset, not another grand resolution. This guide is about rebuilding momentum in small, concrete ways so your creativity feels less like a guilt trip and more like a place you actually want to go.

If You’re Skimming, Start Here

Here’s the short version of how to restart your writing year without blowing it up:

• Shrink the canvas. Think in 20–30 minute “writing sprints,” not epic three-hour sessions.
• Protect one anchor block. Choose one recurring slot in your week that is non-negotiable writing time.
• Track effort, not outcome. Count sessions, minutes, or pages—not likes, subscribers, or rejections.
• Tie your writing to a theme. Give the year a working title (“The Year of Finishing Things,” “The Year of Showing Up”) so choices feel coherent, not random.

If you only did these four things consistently, your year would look very different.

Pick-Your-Mood Rituals (Quick Menu for Busy Weeks)

Use this table when you’re short on time or energy but don’t want to lose your streak.

You’re not trying to be heroic every day. You’re trying to keep the conversation with your work alive.

When Formal Study Becomes Part of Your Writing Path

Sometimes “renewed energy and purpose” comes not only from habits, but from structured learning that stretches who you are on and off the page. Earning a degree can act like a long-form revision of your life: you gain new skills, deepen your confidence, and give your days a clearer sense of direction. For writers who are also navigating careers, a business-focused program can be especially useful—helping you understand how organizations work, how money moves, and how communication drives decisions.

A business degree can introduce you to practical skills in areas like accounting, business strategy, communications, or management that make you more effective, whether you’re freelancing, leading a team, or building your own venture. Exploring online business degree programs can also make this path more realistic, because online formats are designed so you can keep working full-time while staying on top of your studies.

The point isn’t that every writer should go back to school—it’s that education can be one more intentional way to align your daily life with the future you’re writing toward.

Small Systems Beat Big Resolutions

Big resolutions sound impressive—“I’ll write 2,000 words every day!”—but systems keep you honest.

Problem: Resolutions rely on motivation, which swings wildly.
Solution: Systems rely on default behaviors and constraints.
Result: You write even on boring, non-heroic days.

A few system-level tweaks that help:

• Default place: Decide where “writing happens” (a specific chair, app, café). Same place, less friction.
• Default cue: Pair writing with something that already happens (after coffee, after school drop-off, before bed).
• Default shutdown: End each session by jotting a one-line note: “Next time, start with…” This cuts down on warm-up dread.

Think of yourself less as “a writer trying to be disciplined” and more as “a person running a tiny, kind writing studio.”

Questions Writers Ask at the Start of a New Year (FAQ)

Q1: Do I really have to write every day?
No. Daily writing can be powerful, but it’s not a moral requirement. What matters most is predictability. Three focused sessions a week, protected like appointments, will beat erratic bursts every time.

Q2: What if I’m starting completely from zero again?
Treat this like rehab, not punishment. Start with 10–15 minutes, three times a week, for a month. Your only goal is to rebuild trust with yourself: “When I say I’ll show up, I do.”

Q3: Should I focus on craft, platform, or money this year?
Pick a primary season. You can have mini-goals in each area, but decide what this quarter is mainly about: skill-building, audience, or revenue. That choice will simplify every “Should I do this?” decision.

Q4: How do I handle comparison to other writers?
Shrink the comparison set. Instead of scanning the entire internet, choose two or three writers as “quiet mentors.” Study their work for technique and process—not as proof you’re behind.

Micro-Reset Checklist for Your Next Writing Week

Use this once a week. Don’t overthink—check as you go.

• I chose one primary project to be my “north star” for the week.
• I scheduled at least three specific writing sessions on my calendar.
• I decided in advance what “done” looks like for each session (e.g., “500 messy words,” “revise intro,” “outline three scenes”).
• I prepared my tools the night before (charged laptop, notebook, files open to the right doc).
• I picked a tiny reward that doesn’t derail me (nice tea, a walk, or an episode of a show after the session).
• I set one boundary: something I will not do during writing time (email, social media, chores).
• I planned a five-minute Friday review to note what worked and what I’ll tweak next week.

You can screenshot this, stick it somewhere visible, and run it on repeat.

One Online Tool That Makes Daily Pages Easier

If you like the idea of “morning pages” but struggle to stay consistent, you might enjoy 750 Words, a site designed to encourage writing 750 words a day in a private space. The platform gives you a clean, distraction-light screen, automatically tracks your word count, and saves as you go, so you can focus on pouring words out instead of watching the clock. It also uses streaks and simple stats to nudge you into regular practice, turning “I should write” into a small daily challenge you can actually win.

This Year, Make It Smaller and Truer

You don’t need a reinvention montage to restart your writing life. You need a handful of sturdy rituals, a clearer project list, and a kinder story about where you are in the process. Treat your sessions as experiments, not verdicts. Let systems carry what your willpower can’t. And remember: a year is just 52 chances to start again next week—one honest, doable session at a time.

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Jenna Sherman is a mom of three (two girls and a boy). She created Parent-Leaders.com to help other parents acquire the skills they need to raise future leaders by providing a collection of valuable, up-to-date, authoritative resources. Take a minute to visit Jenna Sherman’s blog for helpful tips.