Congratulations! We made it!
I know some of you had a tough year (you know who you are) and are not sorry to see the back of 2025. Mine wasn’t quite as bad, but it was a character-building year. I’d prefer to keep moving up. After a chaotic holiday season, the New Year break has been a cherished time to reflect, sum up my year, and plan for 2026. And I’ve got some great plans!
By the way, thank you so much to everyone who has emailed, reached out, or told me in person that you appreciate my insights. I realize that your time is valuable and you get to choose what you read, so thanks for joining me in learning more about publishing, writing, and authorship.
On to publishing insights!
My 2025 Word? Connection. And it was a great year for connections! I had a goal to expand my referral network providing connections to clients for page layout, indexing, cover design, and even intellectual property help. I’m building my networks every day – and love connecting projects to professionals. It goes to show that if you identify and set a goal, the payoff will be real.
My 2026 Word? Strength. I like this idea which embraces so much from momentum to perseverance. I have a lot of goals this year and it’s going to take a push to get through some of them. Additional words that match my goals? Output! We editors are in the output business – words, manuscripts, books, projects. Success is hard sometimes and as we all build our businesses, hard work requires strength. May 2026 be your year to tackle new challenges, do big things, reach those goals! (Don’t forget to set some stretch goals, too.) It’s going to be a hard year, but worth it. The fantastic Dr. Wendy Harpham celebrates her word for the year! It’s perfect!
Starting a Commonplace Book: After years of searching, I finally found a leather journal cover in the size I wanted with inserts like lined paper, dotted paper, and even watercolor paper. I’m a big journaler, especially when traveling jotting anything from funny moments to restaurants for next time. In my work life, I keep a weekly journal of wins and lessons learned, a work planner, and even a reading journal for book tracking. But, I think this year I might use this new journal cover to create a commonplace book – a central journal perfect for tracking book quotes, thoughts, ideas, goals, and new ideas. The idea of a commonplace book isn’t a new one, but it puts all of your creative thoughts into a central place. It’s a way to take notes and look for inspiration in daily life. No fancy headings or journals necessary. Looking to get started with a journal for the new year? Expert Elizabeth Andrews has a great list for getting started. For the record, I chose a Traveler’s Notebook.
Lists of Lists: Over the New Year’s break, I summarized books read for the year (79!) and my annual list of quotes. It was a year of big classics. Someone recently asked why readers like book-tracking sites like Goodreads and StoryGraph, and it occurred to me that it’s less about tracking my own reading and seeing what my friends are enjoying right now. Plus, once those sites see what you like, the recommendations can be quite good. Looking for more ideas? Check out Lit Hub’s Lists of lists, a round up of the best books of the year lists.
Changes in Publishing — You Have to Hire an Editor: Last fall, as I talked to many publishers and agents, it became increasingly clear. You must have an outside professional editor in order to get your project successfully published. Publishers are laying off editors and those who remain have less time to walk you through a clear concept or encourage you to meet your deadline. They barely have time to answer basic questions. (Very different than when I was an in-house acquiring editor. I spent hours walking authors though projects and submissions, talking them off ledges, encouraging them, providing feedback and more.)
Publishers increasingly want to acquire your book (via pitch or proposal) and then go dark for the 12 or 9 months before you submit it. They often expect you to figure out the rest on your own. And unless writing is your full-time job or you know publishing, book production, and writing inside and out, you’re going to encounter a lot of unknowns. Additionally, the crossroads that many authors face deciding who and where to pitch, how to self-publish, or how to get started, well, it’s harder than ever. It’s gratifying to me to find that my ability to guide authors along their journey – from words to process – has value. As we all look at who we are and what we do, I would encourage you to identify your niche and how you serve customers or want to.
Is Being an Author Still Worth It? Author Amy Williams asks the question and it’s useful to think about. Is it still worth trying to get published in 2026? Throw AI into the mix, and things get even murkier. The answer is yes, of course, but I would say (as I always do), as long as it aligns with your goals. But as you dream of being a published author, the first question to ask yourself is why? Are you a writer with a story or message that just can’t stay contained? Are you looking to build your business? Level up your career profile? Or even produce supplemental materials for your speaking or consulting practice? All are legitimate projects, but might have different paths to completion (via author, editor, and agent Terry Whalin.)
Hourly vs. Per Project Billing: As I was having a coffee meeting with another freelancer a few weeks ago, the topic came up of billing. She asked why an editor chooses hourly or per-project billing. It was a good chance to think through why I think per-project billing is most efficient and cost-effective for both my clients and me. To be clear, many editors bill hourly or by the page and it’s very okay to do so. Some types of editors will always bill this way as it’s standard to their type of editing.
That said, her question made me think about the benefits of project pricing and why it’s best for my clients:
- I price the total project – writing, development, advice, coaching, coordination of other editors if needed, schedule management, and industry knowledge. You pay one fee and get the full package.
- Total project pricing means the client and I are both all in. They pay me an engagement fee (which is a commitment to the project) and I don’t have to ping clients for monthly money over a 2-year long project. When it’s all done, we celebrate as I send my final invoice. Otherwise, the day-to-day business is all about the project and the author’s goals.
- In addition to writing and editing, I answer questions, encourage, motivate, push when needed, offer suggestions, and sometimes, go back to the drawing board. I never want an author to feel they’re on the clock every time they call me to ask a publishing question or review an idea as we explore the best a book can be.
- My process in quoting a per project rate gives me a chance to prepare a client proposal. The proposal confirms what I’m hearing from the client and answers questions about how this all works. If we’re having communication problems with the client proposal, I know the project (or the client) isn’t going to be a good fit.
- Being on the concepting, coaching, and editing side at the top of the project is what I love best. It’s what I loved most when I sat in the acquisition editor’s chair.
Ultimately, we all get to choose our projects, and there is definitely a get-to-know-you time, but writing a book and working with an editor is a commitment. I love having a process for meeting and on-boarding new clients, and based on my project success so far, it works! (Pro-tip – every once in a while, the relationship doesn’t work out. Have an out clause/kill fee in your contract.)
A Letter to Yourself: Last but not least, there is Cafe Pli, a cafe in Paris that lets you write a letter to your future self. Depending on the option you choose, you can write a letter or postcard to yourself 1, 5, or 20 years in the future. They store it and pop it in the mail so you can inspire yourself or send encouragement. Of course, it’s a coffee shop, so it’s a perfect place to sit with a coffee and your journal and think about what your future self might need to hear. What would you write to yourself to read in your future?
Speaking of Projects …
Now is the perfect time of year to get started on book ideas, proposals, and manuscripts. Have a spring deadline with a publisher? Want to get your agent moving on submissions? Chances are that you need help with positioning, crafting a proposal, drafting or polishing your manuscript, or even getting it polished up for final submission. It’s a great time to dream about what you want to accomplish this year and give me a call to brainstorm some ideas.
Web: connectorcreator.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reneewilmeth/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/feedmedrinkme/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/145293696-renee-wilmeth
Music: My song of the year for 2025? Spotify says it was Tate McRae’s Sports Car and Madison Park’s Ocean Drive. But my year ending fave? Martin Solveig’s Hello!
Books: Just finished my annual re-read of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, a perfect way to celebrate her 250th birthday.
Recipe of the Month: France’s galette des rois is a perfect way to celebrate January. They’re easy to make at home with puff pasty and almond cream (although, I use chocolate ganache). David Liebovitz gives you step-by-step instructions.
Connecting. Creating. 
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