One Word to Guide Your Writing Journey in 2026
by The WITS Team
Many writers start the year with intimidating resolutions. Here at WITS, we do things differently. We choose one word to guide our writing journey. Some of us even turn those words into coloring pages, adding an extra dose of creative mojo. Simple. Playful. Powerful.
Join us!
Ellen
My word for 2026 is Renew.
I've relocated with my family to the Kansas City area and plan to re-establish myself in the local writing community.
I'm excited to meet new people and renew my relationship with writing.
Jenn
My word in 2026 is Reset.
In the past couple of years, I have lost my writing spark. 2026 is the year I hit the reset button and reignite it.
Jenny
My word for 2026 is Receive.
2025 was a time of implementing so many new things: websites, business plans, finding local writing organizations, and business networking groups. I went to conferences and hired a coach.
Now it’s time to receive the benefits of all that work. That doesn’t always come easily for me. I give readily, but receiving requires me to slow down, relax, and trust that I’m worthy of what I’ve built. Sometimes the stress of wondering if I’ve truly earned those good things gets in the way. What I’m learning is to give myself the space and grace to simply receive: to let the muse arrive, allow situations to unfold, and trust that the effort mattered.
Lisa
My word for 2026 is Joy.
Why did I pick it? Because it is the one thing I feel creatives need in 2026 and something I am working on reclaiming for myself.
Sarah
My word for 2026 is Rejoice.
I am so blessed and have so much to be joyous about, that I both need to affirm it and to occasionally be reminded.
Wishing you a lovely year of writing!
~ Ellen, Jenn, Jenny, Lisa, and Sarah
Top Image purchased from Depositphotos.
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19 comments on “One Word to Guide Your Writing Journey in 2026”
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My word is sanctify. I want to each day to bring me closer to what God wants me to be - like Jesus.
Ane, that is a beautiful word for the year. Unique, specific, and STRONG.
My word for 2026 is Persistence
Happy New Year to all!
Jenn's comment makes me realize that my word is Regain -- as in confidence and momentum. On the outside looking in, I suspect people around me would be surprised at that.
My word is Gratitude.
I have supportive friends and a purposeful life.
Gratitude is always the very best word!
My word for 2026 is thankful! I'm thankful for the time I have to work on my craft and draft projects. I have a writer's group I really appreciate and very grateful for. I'm thankful for the pieces I had published in 2025. Many are still out and I'm hopeful a few more might be published in 2026. God has been so good!
"Incremental".
Do only 1% better every day.
My word for 2026 is QUERY. It's such a discouraging activity, but this year, for good or ill, I will get my act together and QUERY!
Spark & Cultivate
Two words will be twice the fun!
I am going steal Jenn's word, reset. My husband passed away in March of last year, and I haven't written anything since. I'm hoping 2026 infuses me with the desire to be creative again.
My word is FOCUS.
Always grateful, my goal is to stay focused.
Happy New Year!!!
I like it, Diana!! Happiest of New Year's to you. 🙂
My word for 2026 is RETHINK.
in Dec. 2025, I realized I was in a writing rut and it was reflected in my writing. The book I am working on is stagnating.
Once I realized that, I decided I had to rethink everything outside the box. Only then will I move forward.
My word is Justwrite!
Everyone is using words like renew etc. My word for the year is ignite. Because I want my writing to ignite the passions of others.
My word is Discipline.
I need to be more disciplined this year.
My word last year was Believe.
Now that I believe, I gotta buckle down and DO THE WORK!
My word is 'reaffirm' because I started out with such high hopes and belief in myself, but lack of money and other more personal things got in the way. We want to present our very best but even with self-publishing so much is involved especially financially that I considered I was fooling myself. I did this often.
Now I am reaffirming that I have to try harder and believe in myself more. I still have the same problems, but I also have a me that believes in not giving up and that to keep on trying is the only way to get better. Failing is just another way of learning what not to do. I wrote a post about this and now I need to believe in what I wrote.