New year, new pages: How the Jericho Writers team is approaching 2026
A new year always brings a fresh page. For writers, it’s a chance to pause, reflect on what worked (and what didn’t), and think about how we want to show up for our writing in the months ahead.
At Jericho Writers, we’re writers and word-lovers at every stage. Some are published, some are drafting, and some don’t write at all, but we all love reading and keeping creative routines.
So, for 2026, we asked some of the team to share their insights, approaches, and lessons. From small daily habits to protecting mental space, from letting go of comparison to finding joy in the process again, here’s how the Jericho Writers team plans to keep moving their words forward this year and maybe inspire you to do the same.
Finding joy and avoiding pressure
Hear from some of the Marketing & Membership team on how they’re rediscovering the fun in writing.
"My next book releases in March and is totally done - I've finished my proofread and it's now off with the publisher to work their magic. For reasons that I'll go into in my next Diary of a Published Author episode, I've decided to hold off on signing a new contract, which means for the first time since I got my book deal in 2021 I am not writing to deadline. Let me tell you - it has been SO refreshing. After going through a phase of feeling like I'm on a literary conveyer belt, I'm actually enjoying writing again. So if I had one tip to offer up the people reading this who are still hoping and praying for that full request or offer, it would be to enjoy writing to your own schedule while you still can. Once you get published, your writing becomes a business, and it is very easy to lose the joy, so make the most of this time you've got where you can just write because you LOVE it." — Becca Day
"I'm contracted to write another book in 2026, and will also be working on editing the novel that's due out in July. My creative focus for next year is going to be on refining but embracing my own process, as well as remembering that comparison is the thief of joy. As anyone who's met me on Townhouse, at Festival or on events may know, it takes me aaaaaaaaaaages to get 'inside' a book idea - but once I do, I tend to work quickly and intensively. This year, I've let myself panic about this way too much, and I've compared myself to far more organised (less chaotic!) writers.
In 2026, I intend to stress less and be kinder to myself. I want to remember that no two authors work in the same way and that it's OK for the start of my projects to be slower and less apparently 'productive' than might be the norm for others. I hope that accepting this will mean I'm less frustrated in the early months with my next manuscript and therefore feel happier to keep showing up, even when the words aren't flowing easily."
— Laura Starkey
"Alongside my work at Jericho Writers, I’m a yoga teacher and I notice a lot of overlap with writing. Progress doesn’t come from pushing harder or doing more. It comes from showing up, working with what you’ve got, and paying attention to what actually feels like can be done.
Some days I do a full hour’s yoga practice, other days I just roll out the mat and breathe. Both count. Fitting writing into my day isn’t about adding more, it’s about seeing what I can take away to make space for it.
I’ve found routines work best when they follow your energy rather than fight it. Writing, like movement, is a long game. The goal isn’t punishment or perfection. It’s staying well enough to keep going."— Tanya Lewis
Consistency and daily habits
Tips from both the Writer Support team and Marketing team on building routines that actually stick.
"It's easy to set yourself a goal for the New Year. You start off enthusiastically and then a week, a month or two months later you start to feel as if you've failed because you haven't stuck to that original goal and beat yourself up. Which leads to giving up on your goal altogether.
It's much easier and realistic to start small and build on it.
Start with half an hour per day, writing, research, anything at all to do with your writing but dedicate that half an hour solidly to your project.
It's not really the motivation that gets you to the end goal, it's discipline.
When that becomes part of your schedule (they say it takes on average 72 days to form a new habit) and if feels more natural then forced, you'll find that you naturally drift over the half an hour towards an hour. There'll be times that you can't fit it in, that's fine, give yourself the space and grace to fall and get straight back on. Let your writing become a new part of your life.
And don't forget to celebrate the small wins." — Cleo Slevin
"My writing goals this year are to finish the second rewrite of my current manuscript and to keep querying the previous one (I'm setting myself a goal of at least 80 rejections). Every "no" still means the work is moving forward!
One mindset I really believe in is frequent and regular turning up to one's writing. It is a fundamental foundation that's easy to overlook because it's not flashy or a quick-fix! And on the days when you really, really don't want to or think you can't, simply aim for 5 sentences or write for just 10 minutes. — Rachel Davidson
"2026 is the year of getting more words on the page. It’s time to ignore the inner voice that screams, “The character arc isn’t there yet,” “I need to do more research,” or “Why not try outlining again?” These are all things that can be fixed in the edits. For now, it’s the first draft that matters most." —Jonny Milne
"For 2026, I'm aiming to introduce more structure into my week and organise my time more clearly. I am an avid note-taker but can find it difficult to carve out time to sit and write for a project I do alongside Jericho Writers, often preferring to strike while the words are flowing. For the New Year, I want to carve out more time regularly to sit and dedicate to writing, mimicking the inspiration I find in our Writing Rooms and particularly the members who consistently showed up in the Writing Retreat. By committing to my writing, it helps me get in the right headspace and even have further ideas for content that I can then pitch. With all of this I also want to be kind to myself and recognise more when I am not in the right headspace at that moment. For those moments, I can go back to my other creative outlets and hobbies, which often help kickstart that motivational path anyway. So in 2026, I'll build more of a schedule but also remember to stop and take a break when needed too. Take time to enjoy reading, being out in nature or just having a small sweet treat!" — Emily Mitchell
Taking breaks and self-care
Advice from our Courses team and People & Services team on stepping back and looking after yourself while writing.
"I am not a writer, but for what it's worth, I think my advice to anyone is to accept that sometimes you need to take a step away and give yourself permission not to write/work on your to-do list etc. Working to your targets and holding yourself accountable is obviously great, but sometimes we also need to remember that we're human (and life gets in the way!) and we also need to take time out to decompress and get perspective too." — Rachael Cooper
"Remember that writing a novel isn’t a race. If the words stop flowing and you find yourself stepping into 2026 without touching your manuscript, give yourself permission. Breaks aren’t a loss of momentum; they’re a clever way of tricking your brain into having ideas again. Sometimes the clearest ideas arrive only after you’ve closed the notebook or laptop, and taken some time in the world outside your novel." — Verity Hicks
"My advice for setting good habits for the new year is a simple one: read! We sometimes hear from writers who feel they only have time for writing rather than reading, but whether you're able to read five or 50 books in a year, it will still make a difference to the strength of your writing. Others can worry about accidentally absorbing another author's voice, but this (very small) risk is vastly outweighed by the skills you'll learn from reading the best novels and non-fiction. Whether it's keeping up-to-date with the latest titles in your genre, setting a New Year's resolution to tackle some of the unread paperbacks on your shelves, or reading short stories in pockets of time, reading more will develop your storytelling skills and creative mindset." — Imogen Love
As we step into 2026, one thing’s clear: there’s no single “right” way to write. Whether you’re sneaking in ten minutes before your 9-5 job, enjoying long stretches of uninterrupted flow on a Sunday, or just showing up day after day, the trick is to keep moving forward. And taking breaks count!
From all of us at Jericho Writers, here’s to a year full of curiosity and creativity to keep things interesting. Whatever shape your writing takes, may it surprise you and keep you coming back for more. Happy New Year and happy writing!