by Suzanne Lieurance
January is the perfect time to reset—not by piling on goals or pressure, but by gently stepping into who you’re becoming.
This year, I’m inviting you to try something different.
Instead of setting a long list of writing resolutions, our January writing challenge is about living as your future-writer-self—starting now.
Not someday.
Not when you have more time.
Not when the book is finished.
Now.
What Is the January Writing Challenge?
This challenge runs for the entire month of January and focuses on one simple idea:
If you want to become a successful, fulfilled writer, start living like one today.
Your future-writer-self already exists.
She (or he) has habits, beliefs, and rhythms that support writing with ease.
This challenge helps you begin adopting those qualities now, in small, realistic ways that fit into real life.
No pressure.
No perfection.
No catching up if you miss a day.
Just intention and gentle follow-through.
What Does Living as Your Future-Writer-Self Mean?
Your future-writer-self isn’t defined by a publishing deal, a word count, or a number on Amazon.
Your future writer self:
* Respects their writing time
* Trusts their voice
* Makes writing part of daily life
* Stops waiting for permission
* Shows up even on imperfect days
Living as your future-writer-self means asking one simple question each day:
“What would the writer I’m becoming do today?”
Then doing one small thing in alignment with that answer.
Here’s How the Challenge Works
Each day in January, you’ll focus on one intentional action that reflects your future writer identity.
Some days it may involve actual writing.
Other days it may involve mindset, boundaries, or creative nourishment.
Here’s what matters most:
* The action feels aligned, not forced
* It supports the writer you want to become
* It can be done without stress or overwhelm
You don’t need hours of free time.
You don’t need perfect conditions.
You don’t need to do it “right.”
You just need to show up as the writer you already are becoming.
Here Are Some Daily Prompts to Guide You
Use these prompts throughout the month.
You can rotate them, repeat them, or simply choose the one that fits your day.
* How does my future-writer-self start the day?
* What does my future-writer-self believe about their writing?
* What kind of environment does my future-writer-self create?
* How does my future-writer-self handle resistance?
* What does my future-writer-self do even on busy days?
* How does my future-writer-self treat unfinished work?
* What would my future-writer-self stop overthinking?
Then take one small action that answers the prompt.
Here are Some Examples of Aligned Actions
Living as your future-writer-self doesn’t have to look dramatic.
In fact, the quieter the action, the more powerful it often is.
Here are a few examples:
* Writing for ten focused minutes without judging the result
* Opening your manuscript instead of avoiding it
* Saying no to something that drains your creative energy
* Creating a simple writing ritual you can repeat
* Reading something that inspires you as a writer
* Organizing your writing space with intention
* Speaking about your writing with confidence—even privately
Small actions compound. Identity grows through repetition.
Here’s Why This Challenge Works
Most writing challenges focus on output.
This one focuses on identity.
When you shift how you see yourself, your habits follow naturally.
Writing stops feeling like something you have to push yourself to do and starts feeling like something that belongs to you.
You’re no longer trying to “become” a writer.
You’re practicing being one.
And that changes everything.
Here’s A Simple Way to Track the Challenge
You don’t need a complicated system.
At the end of each day, jot down:
* One thing you did as your future writer self
* One thought or belief you chose differently
* One small win you noticed
That’s it.
By the end of January, you’ll have proof—not just hope—that you’re already living the writing life you want.
So Start Where You Are
You don’t need to feel confident to begin.
You don’t need clarity on every goal.
You don’t need a perfect plan.
You just need the willingness to show up as the writer you know you’re meant to be—one day at a time.
January isn’t about pushing harder.
It’s about aligning more deeply.
This month, live as your future-writer-self.
You’ll be surprised how quickly the future starts to feel like now.
