10 writing tips to kickstart 2026
BY Katie Smart
1st Jan 2026
As you step into 2026 and set your intentions for the year, we’re sharing 10 practical writing tips to help you develop your craft, set a regular routine, overcome creative blocks, and bring your stories to life.
1. Give yourself targets
Set realistic goals – perhaps you like having a daily wordcount target or want to aim for a chapter a week. Broader deadlines work too: maybe you want to finish a third of your draft by the end of spring or complete your manuscript by year's end? Goals keep you motivated and help you maintain momentum – just remember to be flexible and adjust them if needed.
Keep reading to the end of the blog for an opportunity to win a free writing course if you share your writing goal with us on Bluesky.
2. Establish your routine
Treat your writing like a non-negotiable appointment. Whether it's rising early to complete your mornings pages, stealing back time on lunch breaks or commutes, or setting aside your Sunday afternoons – consistency matters so much more than battling to find long, luxurious expanses of time. Regular writing helps keep your story in your head and makes for steady progress.
3. Know what’s at the heart of your story
Figure out what sits at the centre of your story and hold onto it. Knowing the answer to this fundamental question ‘What’s at the heart of my story?’ will help you drive your narrative forward. Keep returning to this core belief as your guiding star. Then, when it comes to rewriting, keep the question in mind so you don't lose sight of your story's identity.
4. Don't expect instant perfection
Perfectionism kills momentum – give yourself permission to write badly. Your first draft won't be perfect, and that's completely normal. When you’re in the early stages, switch off your internal editor.
5. Use prompts
If the blank page intimidates you, try writing longhand in a notebook or use writing prompts. Set yourself a five-minute timer and write everything that comes to mind without stopping. This lifts the filter between your brain and your hand, limbering you up for the real work ahead. If you’re searching for prompts, check out our 30-Day Writing Bootcamp – and we also run regular free prompt-based writing competitions on Instagram, be sure to follow us so you don’t miss out!
6. Generate ideas with ‘What If’ questions
Another thing to do when you’re feeling stuck is use ‘What If’ questions to interrogate your story ideas and build plot. Eg., What if my protagonist didn’t drive home? What if my character found a missing dog? What if the city experienced a blackout? Questions like these help open narrative pathways and deepen your story.
7. Understand your characters
Don't treat characters as chess pieces. Take the time to truly get to know them: create character fact files, mood boards, playlists, or try writing them into difficult situations just to see how they'd react. Most importantly, understand what motivates them and how their backstory shapes their choices and personality.
8. Find your writing community
Writing courses are a great way to get some accountability and meet a group of likeminded writers – and you never know you might just find a beta reader for life! You could also join a local or online writing group or try reaching out to other writers on social media.
9. Save all your drafts
Label and save every draft of your work-in-progress. When you’re feeling stuck you might need to return to earlier material or lift passages for your new version. Sometimes our gut reactions during the editing stages are too strong, and we need to shift slightly back toward earlier work. Equally, knowing that you have an archive of old material will free you up to edit without fear!
10. Don't worry about wasted time
Not every writing day will be productive. Some days the words won't come, and that's okay. Use those times to plot, plan, or simply read good books for inspiration. Sometimes your subconscious needs time to think through thorny plot issues or find inspiration for new scenes.
#WriteCBC January 2026
To celebrate the new year, for #WriteCBC this month we’re asking you to share your 2026 writing goal with us on Bluesky @cbcreative.bsky.social.
We can't wait to read your goals! One winner will be awarded a free short online writing course place (worth up to £230). Two runners-up will be selected to win £50 course gift vouchers.
The competition will start at 11am on Thurs 1 Jan and run until Fri 9 Jan. To enter writers should reply to the pinned post on our Bluesky account with their writing goal for 2026. Remember to use the hashtag #WriteCBC.
Enter by 10am on Fri 9 Jan for a chance to win. Prizes will be announced at 11am on Fri 9 Jan. (Times stated as GMT.)
Please email help@curtisbrowncreative.co.uk to claim your prizes.
Full prize T&Cs below.
Terms & Conditions
- Only one entry per person.
- Over-18s only.
- This competition is just on Bluesky – there isn't another way of taking part.
- Winners and discount winners can redeem their free place (worth up to £230)/£50 voucher for use on any of the short online courses listed on this page. Prizes are not eligible for use on courses that are not found on that web page.
- If you're in receipt of more than one discount offer, you can only trade in one per course enrolment.
- Free places valid only on courses running in 2026.
- Winners and runners-up cannot exchange their prize for cash.
- If a winner has already paid and enrolled on all the applicable courses (yet to run), we will refund the £230/£50 fee discount (as relevant).
- If a winner or runner-up has already taken all relevant courses, they may gift their prize (as relevant) to another writer.