It’s at this time of the year that I start to get my thinking cap on, and come up with a plan for the following year. December seems to be a time for reflection and thought about what I achieved in the previous eleven months and what I want to achieve moving forward.

This year is no different. I’ve managed to write two books and half of two books (so technically three books), which is great. I tried an experiment in January and carried it on throughout the year, and I can write in more than one genre at a time.

But then I started working part time, and that made things a little tricky. While I could write in the mornings, because I have so much free time at work, I have been writing while there…and neglecting writing at home.

And then I started going to the gym, and my writing time pretty much disappeared at home.

But I need to be writing at home. I can’t guarantee that I will have writing time at work, so I need to juggle my time again and work out what routine will suit me best. I know that I do my best writing in the mornings. I also like going to the gym early, which is three mornings a week.

There are only so many hours in the morning for me to work with.

I’ve also been reading paperbacks in the morning’s, in bed, once I’ve made my coffee. And I’ve been enjoying this time to myself and setting myself up to start my day.

And you might be thinking, well hell girl, you’re reading and drinking coffee in bed, and then getting up, going to the gym and or writing? You don’t start work until 1 – what are you worried about?

I have a one-hour drive to my job. I pretty much stop what I’m doing by 11am and have lunch and get myself ready for work.

And I’m getting up at 6am, having a coffee and reading in bed, getting up about 7:30 and having breakfast, before hitting the gym by 9 and home by 1015. So technically, I have three quarters of hour to write in… but it doesn’t happen like that.

I need to make it happen. And it will, and this is why I use this time to do some …planning and adjusting and thinking. To work out the best way to move forward in 2026.