"All Work and No Play Makes Jack a Dull Boy" 

Don't Be Like Jack!

In late December 1974, Stephen King sat alone in Room 217 at the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, staring at a typewriter and the bones of a story that wouldn’t leave him alone. 

Snowstorm outside. Empty hotel hallways. An idea that felt equal parts genius and nightmare.

He later told an interviewer:

 “I sat down at the desk and thought, Let's see where this goes. And suddenly I knew—I had the whole book.”

Just like that, in the quiet cold of a Colorado December, King hammered out the final chapters of The Shining. 

He finished not because he felt inspired, but because winter gave him something invaluable: a deadline with a mood.

December does that. It whispers: Did you finish what you meant to finish? Did you honor the story you were given?

And for authors—especially wise, seasoned authors like many of you—it’s the perfect moment to gather your creative energy and make a powerful push toward the finish line.

In today’s Power Writers Report, I'm going to give you six practical ideas to end the year strong.

Let’s go!

Six Writing Ideas to End the Year Strong

With 2026 peeking around the corner (27 days away!?!), it's not too late to make real progress. Here's how:

Idea #1. Conduct a “Creative Debrief” to Remind Yourself That You’ve Actually Made Progress

Every writer is haunted by the same fear: I didn’t do enough this year.

But psychologists call this progress blindness—your brain overlooks wins and fixates on what’s unfinished. That’s why a single unwritten chapter can overshadow twelve months of growth.

This week, spend 20 minutes doing a Creative Debrief:

• List every writing-related accomplishment, no matter how small
• Include finished pages, new ideas, insights, books read, connections made
• Count the messy drafts—they’re still drafts
• Celebrate every inch gained

This isn’t self-congratulation; it’s recalibration. You can’t set good goals unless you know the foundation you’re standing on.

Idea #2. Pick One—and Only One—Big Move for December

December is not the month for setting unrealistic expectations like “write 40,000 words while hosting relatives and baking six trays of lasagne for your Christmas party.”

You need one elegant, simple, achievable “Big Move” that creates real momentum. 

For example:

• Finish one chapter
• Create your table of contents
• Book your publishing consultation (I know someone!)😉
• Complete a first-draft outline

Focusing on one high-impact goal uses a psychological principle called goal constriction—your brain performs better with fewer targets. Writers who try to juggle four goals finish none. 

Writers who pick one? They finish strong.

Idea #3. Upgrade a Daily Writing Tool to Boost Motivation Instantly

Want a sneaky December productivity trick?
 

Upgrade something small that you touch every day.

This could be:

• A new keyboard
• A comfortable, ergonomically sane chair
• A dedicated writing notebook 
• A better-writing app
• Noise-canceling headphones for when the neighbor kids decide to reenact The Shining on your front yard

Behavioral psychologists agree: reduce friction, increase output.
 

When your tools feel good, your writing feels good. And yes, buying yourself a writing-related gift absolutely counts as “productive.”

Friends, this is writing gold!

Verified proof: When I was 15, my parents bought me a new violin for Christmas (actually, it was 150 years old). You know what I did? I actually practiced. My parents couldn’t believe it!

Idea #4. Reconnect With the Spark That Started Your Book in the First Place

Every book has an origin moment—a question, a memory, an insight, a story so inescapable it keeps tapping you on the shoulder.

But over the course of a year, life happens. The spark dims under deadlines, distractions, and the general chaos of responsibilities, opinions, and children and grandchildren who want to FaceTime at inconvenient times.

Reconnect with your spark:

• Revisit your earliest notes
• Read the journal entry where the idea was born
• Reread the quote or experience that made the book feel necessary
• Remember why your book matters

Purpose isn’t fluff. It’s fuel. Neuroscience shows that meaning increases follow-through—and December is a month that requires follow-through.

Idea #5. Visualize Your Future Author Self 

You gotta follow the neuroscience.

Your brain responds to detailed visualization as if it’s a form of mental rehearsal.

So picture yourself next December:

• Signing copies of your book
• Speaking about your message
• Hearing from readers who say your words changed their lives
• Feeling proud because you finished something that mattered

Write the vision down. Let Future-You mentor Present-You.

Read. That. Again!

Idea #6. Write a Commitment on Your Calendar That Forces Momentum

Writers don’t just need discipline—they need structure. Something external. Something that says, “You're really doing this.”

This can be:

• Meeting with an editor
• Attending writing workshop
• Sharing a deadline with a friend
• Or—my favorite—scheduling a free publishing consultation

When you add a date to your calendar, your brain switches from “maybe someday” to “this is happening.”
 

It’s one of the most powerful forms of self-leadership.

Finish the Year Like Stephen King in Room 217

King didn’t finish The Shining because he felt magical.
 

He finished because December offered him stillness, urgency, and the sense that now is the time.

You have that same opportunity.

Not to rush.
 

Not to panic.
 

But to finish with intention.

You have a story worth telling.
 

A message worth sharing.
 

A book that deserves structure, clarity, and a publication path you can feel proud of.

If you want expert help in strategizing the next steps with your book—or you’re finally ready to commit to finishing your book—Let's talk.

👉 Schedule your appointment with me by clicking below:

Let’s end this year strong—and start next year even stronger.

A family divided by war. A valley scarred by blood. A fight for survival and honor.

In 1864, the Shenandoah Valley becomes the crucible for the Eshenbaugh family. Andrew marches with Sheridan's Union cavalry, leaving his wife and children to defend the farm against ruthless highwaymen. Young Will faces ambushes, outlaw vengeance, and the harsh lessons of manhood far too soon.

From stagecoach robberies to deadly showdowns, from campfire camaraderie to the shock of Lincoln's assassination,

Up the Shenandoah plunges readers into the grit, fear, and courage of ordinary people caught in extraordinary times. Will the Eshenbaughs endure the war and reclaim their future—or will violence on the battlefield and at home tear them apart forever?

Rich with historical detail and driven by relentless tension, this novel, based on author Bill Eshenbaugh's ancestors, is both a tribute to heritage and a gripping story of survival, sacrifice, and the unbreakable bonds of family.

Congratulations, Bill, on the release of your compelling novel—and already selling 400+ books!

Let's bring your book to life!