Writing

January Jumpstart: 31 Journal Prompts to Kick Off the New Year

There’s something powerful about starting the year with a blank page. And I do this quite literally by buying lots of new journals for the new year!

January feels like permission to begin again. It’s a time to reflect, reset, and recommit to the life (and habits) you actually want. If you’ve ever said, “This is the year I’m going to journal consistently,” this is your sign to start now, in January, and set the tone for the rest of the year.

Consider this your January Jumpstart. Here I offer you 31 journaling prompts designed to help you reflect on the year you’re leaving behind, get clear about what you want next, choose a word for the year, write affirmations that actually resonate, and set meaningful personal and professional goals.

You don’t need fancy notebooks (although I will never turn one down), perfect handwriting, or hours of free time. All you need is 15 minutes a day and a willingness to be honest with yourself.

Let’s do this!

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How to Set Writing Goals That Actually Work

I’m obsessed with goal setting. I set writing goals and goals for other areas of my life each year, each quarter, and each month. Because I’m so passionate about goal setting, I’m constantly reading books, attending workshops and listening to podcasts to help me get better at setting and achieving my goals. I take what I learn, tweak it and try it out. Then I figure out how to share what I’ve gleaned from my personal experiences with you. That’s why I get so excited for my annual Write the Vision Workshop! (This year’s workshop is on Sunday, December 14 at 4 p.m. CT. You can sign up here.)

Why You Aren’t Achieving Your Writing Goals

If you HATE goal setting, it’s probably because you’re not following through. And if you’re setting writing goals each year and nothing in your writing life is changing, chances are it’s NOT because of laziness. You work hard. Probably too hard. You are NOT lazy. But I think I know what’s holding you back.

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4 Writing Books Every Pantser Should Read

Editor’s Note: See Jane Write publishes guest articles by writers who identify as women, non-binary folks, and our allies. Learn more here.

By: Delany Diamond

I’m a pantser, also referred to as a discovery writer or intuitive writer. Unlike plotters, we write stories without an outline, “flying by the seat of our pants.” That means the story organically unfolds as we write.

Early in my career, I found it difficult to locate how-to books that aligned with my writing style. Typically, they encouraged me to become a plotter or offered advice from a plotting point of view.

The rigid structure and demand for planning left me frustrated and struggling to get words on paper. It didn’t help to hear about the many authors who started where I did and turned into plotters. I was certain that if I also learned to plot, I’d write faster and better stories.

The opposite turned out to be true.

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The Word x Word Accountability Planner for Writers

After months (years?) of deliberation, I have finally decided on the topic for my next book and I’ve written thousands of words already. Yay! But I know I must find a way to keep the momentum going. Of course, I’m turning to a planner for help because, yes, I have a goal of finishing and self-publishing this book next year, but you know how the saying goes— A goal without a plan is just a wish.

Recently, I was gifted the Word x Word Accountability Planner for Writers by Hello Story, and this couldn’t have come at a better time!

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How to Build a Creative Practice That Doesn’t Burn You Out

Editor’s Note: See Jane Write publishes guest articles by writers who identify as women, non-binary folks, and our allies. Learn more here.

By: Thenuri Thesara

Your creative fire deserves tending, not taming.

Some days, sitting down to write feels like crouching over a campfire that won’t catch with more smoke than flame. There have been days when I’d be staring at the blank page with that restless itch to write, front and center, met with the weight of every undone task, the relentless buzz of notifications, and that nagging voice that wonders if any of it matters. 

When creativity starts to feel like a chore, it’s a sign your inner fire needs tending, not kindling. Creativity isn’t a wild blaze you light and hope to roar; it’s a campfire you coax, protect, and rest beside. Sometimes it’s bright and crackling; other times, it’s just warm embers.

So today, let’s walk through this journey together and explore how to honor those flames without getting burned.

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