Since I started this site a few years back, I’ve posted my goals for the new year and gone back through them to update my progress as the year progresses. In 2026, I want to spend time doing dedicated focus work on my career and craft.
Here are my goals and updates for the past six years: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 for interested people. That’s six years of writing goals that chart my career, my work, and how I’ve grown. As always, I hope this provides any writer a roadmap and inspiration to design their careers.
Last Updated: May 2026
2026 Intention: Level up career and craft
- Graduate from Bennington
- May Update: On track to graduate next month! Ticket is booked and thesis is being edited as we speak.
Submit short story collection to contests- May Update: I changed this to querying agents first after talking with my teachers at school and having them recommend that I start with agents. I sent off my query last month and am just waiting to hear back. I’m currently writing a post on my full querying experience and the direction I got from teachers.
Write nonfiction book proposal- May Update: I’ve decided to cut this from the goals for the year since I have other book projects in the works. I also think that the nonfiction book I want to write the proposal for would be better suited for after I finish the fiction works I am trying to publish. Having those out in the world will give more creditability to the nonfiction book.
- Edit horror thriller novel and prep for query in 2027
- May Update: I finished the book last month! This month I am in full thesis editing mode, so I have started editing the opening pages of my novel and am still set on editing it through the rest of the year into next. I’m not clinging to having it done and ready to query or submit by 2027. I have other projects in the works (one of which is already on query) that will be ready before this horror thriller.
- Read and submit/pitch to magazines regularly
- May Update: I’m on a cadence of submitting out stories regularly to magazines or anthologies monthly and pitching magazines weekly. I’ve got a couple of upcoming articles coming out that I’ll share when they are published.
- Submit short stories to anthologies
- May Update: See above
- Study technology, religion, and philosophy
- May Update: I’ve been reading 1-3 books in each category a month but am not as far into this as I would like.
- Study trauma narrative and writing in horror
- May Update: I have fallen off of this and haven’t been giving it as much space, though I have been reading a lot of horror.
- Finish dialogue guide book
- May Update: I’ve pushed this off till after school and after writing my fiction books.
Write stories based on passion and intrigue- May Update: I’ve been thinking a lot about the stories that come to me lately and where I want to put my creative time and I’ve come to learn that I’m moving out of my short story era and into my longer works era.
Build games and other writing systems/tools- May Update: I’ve made a playable card game, Paper or Plastic, that is a container type card game where players build grocery bags based off cards they draw. I’ve played it myself a few times, with my partner, and with my cohort. It works and is really fun to play. I’ve also made the Scene Builder, a free digital tool version of my popular craft articles Spreadsheeting Your Novel and Scene Cards. It’s in beta mode right now for anyone to sign up and use. It helps you build your stories scene by scene with the necessary elements to make your scenes work and drive your story.
If you’re new to the website, consider subscribing to stay up to date with all my posts. I normally post once or twice a month and it’s always about writing and my author career. I’m Aigner! An award nominated writer of fantasy, science fiction, horror, and all things weird. You can check out all my stories here.
Aigner Loren Wilson 