January Wrap

The month that lasts a 1000 days

Are we all glad that January is coming to an end? I have mixed feelings about it if I’m being honest. While I am not a huge fan of how the last week or so seems to drag on, making it feel like 7 of the 12 months all exist within this period of time, I am also aware that with the arrival of February, that slow, easy January rest starts to ebb away, ready for the return of Spring.

The Tired Dancer 1979 by John Reinhard Weguelin: Wikimedia Commons

I have enjoyed cultivating a new routine that was filled with a sense of slow peace, which I so desperately craved, despite having a cough that has plagued me for 2 weeks now and brought with it minimal sleep and many frustrations. I have felt like I have achieved a lot without pushing myself hard. And that is exactly what I wanted for the month.

So let me break down January into what was achieved and accomplished:

• KDP Royalities, Orders, and Page reads: This was the best month I have had since my initial release back in Feb/March 2025. My estimated royalties sit at around £24, which includes ebook/paperback/hardback sales. My orders are at 783, mostly due to a free book promotion I ran, and my page reads from KU are at 1583.

• I made it through to the final round in the Facebook Indie Author Awards and will find out in February where I placed.

• I released Tidings of Terror with the Library, exclusive to Borrowbox. This is also available to my Substack subscribers and a private Facebook group.

• Words Written: 20167

• Edits: Tidings of Terror, and started Crestwood Falls 2 (2nd round)

• Outlines plotted: 2

• Patreon Posts: 5

• Substack Posts: 7

• Redesigned my website

• Finally sent off for my ID

• Books read: 4

• Subscriber counts increased by 2 on IG, 33 on TT, 4 on FB, 8 on SS, and gained 1 paid follower on Patreon.

• Attended a book club meeting that I have been trying to get myself to for 2 years.

• Started Noctuary.

All in all, it’s movement, and for a month where I didn’t push marketing or myself, I am more than happy with the progress.

Areas for Improvement

The areas in which I would have liked to see some improvement are exercise - I told myself to go out for a walk at least 3 weekday mornings. I did this until my cough got to the point where it was a struggle to walk uphill or in the wind. I also didn’t take myself out on a writing day, which I wanted to start doing twice a month. Being at home working and living can make me feel a bit hemmed in, and I want to make myself go outside more and be present. Again, this was often due to coughing.

February Aims

For the coming month:

• I would like to continue to cultivate my writing routine, making sure I get words down daily, no matter how many that is. My brain works better with consistency.

• I would also like to have Crestwood Falls 2 read, sent out, and received back from beta readers, as well as the cover finalised.

• Once this cough gets more manageable, I am intending to go walking more and take myself out for a couple of writing days.

• I will also be finalising my 2026 Writing and Publishing Calendar this month, ready for my New Year's fresh start on March 1st. I am often pretty indecisive and flit between multiple projects. This in itself isn’t a huge deal, but I would like to limit this to 3, so that I am actively making larger progress strides across them. It’s all too easy to feel like you aren’t getting anywhere when you are writing more than that, but spreading your words thinly across them all.

• I need to also write up my January Field notes for Noctuary, discussing what I have learnt, and finishing the short story I wrote for that theme.

• Host a giveaway to celebrate a year since my debut publication.

How did January go for you? Did you rest and take the month easy, or did you go for that January energy push and make some strides?. Feel free to message me, or reply and let me know how you are getting on.

Emma-Louise