2026 Writing Goals

My 2025 Writing Goals went really well, so I'm continuing on to make this a tradition. For my 2025 goals, I wrote down 16 goals. I did not expect to accomplish them all, and I was perfectly OK with that. I didn't even expect to get halfway through. I felt like 5 or more would be good. The idea wasn't necessarily to accomplish them all... if I did, fantastic. The idea was to list out all the goals that I'd like to see myself accomplish, some combination of them. And work towards getting as many as I could.

I wound up accomplishing 13.

The only 3 that I didn't accomplish, I didn't have complete control over. The ones I had control over, I completed them all. That felt good. That means to me, if I dedicate the time, I can do what I want to do as long as I control it. As for the ones that I didn't have total control over, I got a few of them. Just not those last 3.

So, for 2026, I have made a similar list. This time around, it is 22 goals. 13 I have complete control over... if I have the time. I planned it out in my head, and if I worked at an excellent rate all year, I could do them all. Not probable. Again, it's OK. This list will have me trying to get through as many as I can. I likely won't get them all, but I can get a lot. Also, 9 goals that I do not have complete control over. Those will be harder. But that's why I have to focus so much more on the quality and dedication to my craft.

Another look at my list above. I finished 2025 by completing a goal in late December. A novel-- Code Name: Greenies-- was supposed to be one novel, but it turned out to be two. I finished the 2nd draft of the first volume at the end of 2025. So, my first goal listed for 2026 is to finish the 2nd draft of the second volume of Greenies.

I did write these goals in an order that I'd loosely try to follow, but it's not anything I feel I HAVE TO stick to. Things can change. That happened to me last year, an opportunity arose, I changed gears, switched projects, and then reverted back to my plan after the detour. So, I'll be flexible this year as I was last year. The plan is not to go through these in a specific order. The plan is just to get as many of these goals accomplished as I can, writing more, to become a better writer, to advance my career, to increase me repertoire.

But I am trying to go in some sort of order. That first one is to write the 2nd draft of volume 2 of my novel Greenies.

I have a goal to write the 2nd draft of a short story-- Code Name: Headaches. Honestly, the first draft of that was sort of a blend of a first and second draft as it got edited along the way. In any event, the story needs to be strengthened, especially the characters. It's too short, so I need to dive deeper into it. As you can see below, in the K section of all my stories, "Keeping my Headaches to Myself" is a Sci-Fi-Horror, so it should be longer than 1,464 words, allowing for more tension and build-up. I probably have to, at least, double the length.

Another goal is to write a 1st draft of a horror short story. I've realized I love coming up with horror stories, and last year I came up with a new horror short story. I feel I have a flare for them as I just write things that scare ME. And I've gotten praise on past ones, so maybe that should be a tradition... to write a new horror short story/novel/screenplay each year.

Then, we got a bunch of script goals. I've been working on increasing that repertoire as I have been reaching out to more agents and managers and taking other steps to try to get in front of the right people. If you catch their attention with ONE script, they ALWAYS say, "What else do you have?" I need several more answers to that. Currently, I have 7 completed scripts, all polished up and ready to go. 5 are comedies, 2 are different kinds of thrillers... 1 of them being a horror itself. If I catch someone's attention with 1 of my comedies, I feel good about having 4 more to present after. But more is better, and more kinds of comedies is good too. Of the 5 comedies, 3 are Rated R, 2 are PG-13. 2 of them have fantastical elements, 3 are more grounded. As you can see, saying I have 5 comedies is one thing, but not all are similar kinds of comedies. What if 1 of the fantastical comedies is well received, and someone wants to see more? I only have 1 other one. So, I need more comedies of varying types. Also, I only have 2 in the thriller genre, so I need more of those. LONG DESCRIPTION to bring myself to saying, the 1st draft of a scrip-- Code Name: Floss-- needs to be done. I began an outline beforehand, so, I'll need to finish that and then get going. That's a comedy with fantastical elements.

1st draft of a script-- Code Name: Mother. I have an idea for this, a script in the thriller/drama genres. It's grounded... in terms there are no fantastical elements. I haven't outlined or done any character development or anything like that... I just have the beginnings of ideas written out.

Writing the 2nd draft of a script-- Code Name: Gun. This is a comedy script with fantastical elements. This one makes me laugh just as I think about it. I'm really excited about this one because some of it is outlandish. I hope it could help to make me stand out from a crowd. I wrote the first draft last year shortly after the idea suddenly came to me in the middle of playing a game of Call of Duty. I literally started writing ideas in the middle of the match so I wouldn't forget them. See, Mom? Video games CAN do some good!

Writing the 2nd draft of a script-- Code Name: Job. This script I wrote years ago. I wasn't good enough at writing scripts yet. I wasn't good enough with pacing and with cutting out ideas that weren't necessary. I wasn't good enough at taking a funny idea and making it hit. I know that now. But when I look back at it, I see so much potential, and a lot of funny ideas. This one will need an overhaul. But luckily, I have a full script written to work with. Just got to trim and change A LOT. Oh yeah, it's a comedy. Grounded? Eh, there are no fantastical elements. So... in that sense... yeah. As you can see below, last time I made any edits to "The Job Share Act" was April 15th, 2021. This edit is going to require some heavy lifting.

Writing the 1st draft of a script-- Code Name: Titanium. This is a sci-fi-thriller script that I want to write based on a story of mine. I think I can turn it into a script. I also think it can be done in a "lower budget" type of manner, while still remaining a big idea. So, I hope it will have appeal to people.

Writing the 2nd draft of that script-- Code Name: Floss. Well, after spending some time away from it, I'll need to go back and edit and polish it up.

Writing the 1st draft of a novel-- Code Name: Magic. This is an idea I got a couple years ago which I am really excited about. It has a ton of backstory and history and world-building that I have to do... I have already started doing some of it. I try to do all of that stuff little by little in my spare time so that when I finally get to sit down with this big project, a lot of that will be done, and it will just be about outlining and character creation and writing. Like my other novels, this one is a fantasy with action and some comedy. This one will be more suitable for most ages, as these others, eh, not so much.

And then to round out the editing process for projects... 2nd draft of the script-- Code Name: Mother.

2nd draft of the script-- Code Name: Titanium.

2nd draft of the novel-- Code Name: Magic.

Sounds like a lot already. Again, probably won't get all that done in 2026. But still, if I put my mind to it, I can get through a lot of that. A lot of it is about being disciplined and making myself sit down and start working on stuff. A lot of these ideas are already floating around in my head, I just need to allow myself to write them out. And then... the goals that I don't fully control.

Get published in 1 publication.

Get published in 2 publications.

Get published in 3 publications. I'm always submitting short stories to publications. I currently have 66 pending. I have plenty stories written that I'll continue to send out throughout the year. So, the hope is that I can get into some more publications.

Make it to the 2nd round of a competition.

Make it to the 3rd round of a competition.

Win a competition. I have scripts and stories in several competitions currently... so, I'll be waiting to hear back from those. I have a few more on the horizon that I'll be entering. Hoping to see if something can go somewhere!

Get an agent or manager. Had that on my list last year. I began querying agents and managers at some point last year. Before the summer, I believe. Obviously, no luck yet. But no one can expect that to happen immediately. I'm going to keep trying. I query agents and managers with my scripts, with my novel (and I have a new one now too), and with my short stories that are good for IP. There's a couple other programs I am participating in, in trying to get a meeting with someone if possible. That'll be a big one. Obviously a tough one.

In all likelihood, the last two on this list rely on that last one of getting an agent or manager. The first being to get a novel or novella published. I suppose it isn't entirely reliant on it, but I also do not plan on self publishing. Not at this time, anyway. I might explore that in the future. But for now, I want to seek the route of getting traditionally published. I have been sending out queries for my novel that I completed back in 2023 all the while, and I have even started sending a novella out as well.

And then the last one, selling a screenplay. I honestly don't know how you do that without an agent or manager unless you are that 1 in 10,000 crazy story. However, that doesn't mean the agent comes first. If someone wants to buy your screenplay... they want to buy your screenplay. That makes it WAY EASIER to get an agent. You're pitch is basically, "Looking to make 10% on a sale that is already a done deal? You just need to do the paperwork." It happens. But likely, the reverse is more common. Anyway, it's a goal. A lofty one. But hey, you need combinations of goals. Easily attainable goals, goals that range between easy and medium, the mid-tier goals, difficult goals, and then the really lofty goals.

The point is to push yourself. You don't go to the gym and lift the weights that don't make you break a sweat. That doesn't develop muscles. That develops a scent of metal on your hands for no gain and a waste of time. So, those are my 22 writing goals as of now. I have no idea what may change, what opportunities may arise that change my course, but I have a loose plan.

And I start now.