Hello 2026, So Long Cape of Fear

We’re a few weeks into the New Year… Is there still a fire in your belly from expectations to make this a “better year?” Or are you already starting to fizzle?

I think that fizzle is caused from an ache for the comfort we left behind before starting our new routines. It could be the diet, new exercise routine, or a commitment to remove bad habits. Or maybe it’s the unknown territory while mapping out a plan to complete a big project. How many want to write that book, start that side hustle or finally tackle a large decluttering project.  

Between that fire in the belly or the temptation to let your intentions fizzle, where do you stand as we near the end of this first month of the New Year?

2025 was a good year, when it comes to my personal and professional life, and I’m grateful. But when it came to creativity, it was like dragging a trailer with four flat tires through the mud. I was creating, but it was difficult and sometimes felt forced. It took me most of the year to come close to a first draft of the next volume in the Road Trip Mystery Series. That saddens my creative muse. It’s not optimal, especially since I want to get started on the next Jorja Matthews novel.

The thing about writing is if you’re not writing, you can always find something else writing-related to do to feel like you’re at least doing something.

That led me to focus on other admin and author tasks last year, such as:

• Updating the cover on my short ghost story, 1313 Psycho Path
• Updating the cover on my young adult novel, Born or Bred
• Updating and republishing my non-fiction with a new cover and a new title, Note to My Creative Self, Inspirational Thoughts on Living a Creative Life
• Starting the process of creating audio books for the Road Trip series
• Attending a writer’s conference
• Participating in events to market my work
• Running book promotions to promote my work, which landed my ghost story at #1 on a best sellers list
• Sending out monthly newsletters to continue some sort of reader outreach

While I am happy with what I was able to accomplish last year, I know I can do better. And this year I feel a shift.

A shift to remove that cape of fear that continues to limit me from getting the words on paper. Whether in my books, this blog, social media or any other platform that will allow me to just show up. I want to share what I love and never worry about expressing my truth and my authentic self.

What causes the fear?

What I thought I had already shed… Comparison to others. A desire for perfection. Avoidance of judgment. The habit of getting stuck in the planning instead of just doing.

There’s a question I kept asking myself… If writing and sharing my stories is still what I’m passionate about, why am I letting anything get in the way of my passion?

2026 is here and it’s time to shed that cape of fear.

Time to get back to when creating, writing and sharing what I write excites and energies me. Time to get back to putting myself out there. To sharing my authentic self, not what the algorithms say I should be. Time to share my thoughts, dreams, and fears, even when I’m terrified. (Like when I blogged for the first time about how I wrote my first novel.)

Here’s to 2026, and a shift back to my creative self and the writer I know I can be.

One of the shifts I want to make is to continue to share my journey here on the blog so I hope you’ll tag along to hold me accountable.

Happy New Year and many blessings to you!