Dear Writing Diary Entry #40
A New Year with New Writing Goals and a New Novel
In this entry, I share my writing goals for 2026 and updates on my new fantasy novel!
January 10, 2026
Dear Writing Diary,
Happy new year! I hope whoever is reading this is starting 2026 off on a good note. Over the holidays, I was able to take some time to relax and enjoy the festivities with my family as well as write, and I feel rejuvenated to begin what I hope will be a busy but productive year.
My 2026 Goals
I have been focusing on drafting my goals for 2026, and I thought I would share some of them with you below in no particular order to give you a preview of things to come:
· Publish an audiobook for The Fated
· Publish an untitled fantasy novel in the fall in all formats (including an audiobook!)
· Design the cover for my untitled fantasy novel
· Participate in 4-5 book signings and bookish events
· Take more classes on the business-side of self-publishing
· Appear on a podcast!
· Boost book sales on platforms other than Amazon (like most authors, most of my sales come from Amazon, but I would love to diversify where my sales are coming from more)
What are your most ambitious goals this year? I would love to hear them, so leave a comment below or reply to this email.
Indie Scholarship Opportunity
Given these ambitious goals I have shared above and the significant costs associated with them, especially with audiobook production and editing costs, I would be deeply grateful if you could nominate me for the Indie Scholarship. This scholarship is hosted by a group of NYT and USA Today bestselling self-published authors for self-published authors who are just starting their writing journey and are seeking to continue to grow in their career. The funds from this scholarship would greatly help with the audiobook production costs for The Fated and my untitled novel for later this year. It is important to me to hire a human narrator, however, the cost to hire one can generally range from $2,000-$5,000 or more. The scholarship would also provide me with the opportunity to take part in book marketing courses, consultations, and PR opportunities that would expand my books to new readers.
If you have enjoyed reading my works and want to continue seeing new stories from me, please consider nominating me for this scholarship opportunity through this FORM. It takes only a few minutes and has 3 short questions, so I would be very appreciative if you could take the time to nominate me. Also, for the third question, my website is Katelynsam.com. Thank you!
Updates on Untitled 2026 Novel
Over the holidays, I finished the initial round of revisions for the untitled fantasy novel I plan to release later this year! Now, I am in the process of selecting an editor and will send the manuscript in for professional edits, hopefully in February. While I can’t share much detail about the plot yet, I have made a Pinterest board, compiled with images and graphics that fit the fantastical and whimsical vibe of the story, so feel free to check it out HERE. I am excited to share more updates on this project soon!
Free Bookish Goodies
Lastly, as always, I have 2 promos for you to kick off the new year! Check them out below to find some free e-books to begin your 2026:
· Fantasy and Science Fiction Book Giveaway
Here’s to seeing what 2026 holds.
-K
P.S. Whoever’s reading this, if you’ve enjoyed these glimpses into my writing life, could you please hit the subscribe button? I would love to share more of my writing journey with you in the future. :)
