Home » Blog / Newsletter » Author Life
My 2026 Author Resolution: I’m Finally Taking My Own Advice (Send Help)
I have a confession that will shock absolutely no one who has ever given advice for a living: the hardest person for me to take advice from is me.
I can map out the perfect plan. I can build systems. I can write the “how to” post. And then my brain goes: “Cool. Great. Now let’s ignore all of that and panic-scroll for inspiration.”
So this year, I’m doing something painfully simple. My indie author New Year’s resolution for 2026 is to follow my own advice—on purpose—long enough for it to actually work.
My 2026 commitment: consistency beats intensity. Every time.
Why I’m doing this (and why it’s annoyingly hard)
Here’s what I know in my bones: writing and marketing both reward the same thing— showing up more often than you feel like it.
The problem is that “showing up” is unglamorous. It doesn’t feel like progress on day one. It feels like being a person with a notebook who is definitely not a wizard yet.
And yes, I write about hidden worlds and supernatural consequences. Which means I should be especially aware that small actions have outsized outcomes. (Ironic. Delicious. Slightly rude.)
The plan (small enough to survive real life)
Resolution Rule #1: Make the plan smaller than my excuses.
- Writing: show up daily (even if it’s a “minimum viable session”).
- Marketing: post consistently using repeatable formats—not constant reinvention.
- Site: publish helpful posts that answer real reader questions.
Resolution Rule #2: Track fewer things.
- Did I write?
- Did I publish or repurpose something?
- Did I point people to a “home base” page?
The goal is momentum, not perfect metrics. I’m building a machine that keeps moving even when I’m tired.
How I’m removing friction (the part I usually skip)
When I fall behind, it’s rarely because I lack ambition. It’s because there’s too much friction between “I should do the thing” and “the thing is done.”
Friction I’m deleting
- Waiting for the “perfect” idea
- Rebuilding a system every week
- Confusing activity with progress
Friction-reducers I’m keeping
- Templates (like these blog formats)
- Batching (write once, repurpose)
- A single “start here” CTA
How you can keep me honest
If you see me posting about consistency… feel free to cheer. If you see me mysteriously vanish into the shadows… also feel free to cheer (but louder).
Start here (internal links)
One simple action
Want to try the series without committing your whole soul? Grab the free 7-chapter preview here: Get the free sample.
My 2026 mantra: If I can do it messy, I can do it consistently. If I can do it consistently, I can do it well.
Share this:
Discover more from Brian Thompson Writes
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.