January always feels like a blank slate.  For the past couple of years, my husband and I have done No Buy January, so it’s also a time for us to step back, reorganize and re-prioritize.

My month has already been off to a great creative start.  I got to visit a book club for a discussion of Grand Openings Can Be Murder.  I almost cried just watching everyone file in with battered, well read copies of my book.  One attendee bought the book used, and it was a copy I had already signed.  She wanted it signed again, to her.  That was a first for me.  But it was a ton of fun.

I am writing this a couple of hours before I head out to host an open mic night at Sweetwater’s café in Murphy.  I’m doing  Alessandra Torre’s 5 Days to 10 K Writing Challenge, and I’ve used part of the time to draft the piece I’m reading tonight.  I also wrote my short story submission for the Sisters In Crime North Dallas anthology.  It’s been awesome doing word count sprints and getting applause for literally just writing words.

What can you do to start 2026 in a more creative frame of mind?  Can you use a short project as a palate cleanser or to re-invigorate your work?  Who do you want to share your work with?