Jennifer Vido is the author of The Gull Island Series, sweet Lowcountry romances inspired by her love of coastal living and small-town charm. Serendipity by the Sea won Best First Book from the New Jersey Romance Writers Golden Leaf Contest, and Baltimore Magazine readers named her Best Local Author in 2024 and 2025. A Vanderbilt graduate, Jennifer traded teaching French for writing fiction and discovered that the best stories come from finding balance between ambition and grace. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her at the beach with her toes in the sand with her rescue dog Fripp, dreaming about her next romance.

In Simplicity by the Sea, my lead character Delaney Huger questions whether she should keep pouring into a dream that no longer fits. Many writers face the same crossroads in January, deciding which goals to keep, which to cork, and which new paths to explore. This year, I’m making those decisions with clear intention rather than blind ambition.

Learning to Balance

Three books into The Gull Island Series, I’ve learned that goal-setting for writers requires the same balance my characters seek. It means understanding when to stay the course and when to chart a new direction. My goal-setting philosophy has significantly changed from book one to book three. I used to think I could wait to write another book while completing rounds of edits from my editor. I figured I could use a mental break. Rookie mistake! By book three, I’ve realized that juggling edits with another manuscript is par for the course. The same is true with marketing. It’s a balancing act, especially when family and work commitments tug me in different directions.

To manage my writing, I’ve had to get serious about structure. I thrive when I can stick to a schedule. For example, every night at eight, I’m in my seat, ready to hit my writing goal. On weekends, I give myself grace and don’t hold myself to my word count goal. If I write, I’m ahead. If I don’t, I’m still on schedule. When life veers me in a different direction, like my unexpected cataract surgery, adapting my schedule becomes necessary. I’ve learned not to beat myself up over disruptions. That mindset shift lets me focus on today’s work, rather than yesterday’s missed targets.

When Release Day Reshapes Everything

In years past, I’ve had lofty goals of writing a thousand words a day, reading a book a week, and growing my social media following across all platforms. Needless to say, my grand expectations exceeded my ability to achieve them. This year, I have a January book release to add to the mix, which makes the whole goal-setting prospect daunting. How to balance promotion, social media, and writing another book, in addition to my wellness journey and full-time job, feels impossible. But it doesn’t have to be.

When my calendar starts with a book release, it reshapes my whole year. During the promotional cycle, my writing takes a backseat to marketing. Coordinating blog tours, interviews, and guest posts is crucial to the success of the release, especially for this final book in my trilogy. I have a lot riding on how well the series performs. Managing the emotional energy of publication while staying creative for another book becomes tricky. Teasing the next book while knee-deep in promotion requires careful consideration, not to mention keeping both stories straight in my mind. Budget considerations also play a role when allocating resources for launch marketing vs. saving for the next book. The excitement and disruption of debut week inevitably pushes my next manuscript’s timeline. So how do I navigate all of this without burning out?

My Keep, Cork, Create Strategy

What am I keeping, corking, and creating in 2026? My eight pm writing routine is a solid keeper along with my weekend grace. I might have to use the time to write a blog post instead of reaching my daily word count, but I thrive with a routine. I’m corking daily word count minimums and the pressure to grow all social media platforms simultaneously. I’ll take consistency over lofty goals. Counting followers doesn’t equate to success on the page. In 2026, I’m pre-scheduling social content in batches and listening to more audiobooks. I like holding a book in my hands, but popping in earbuds during my commute or while doing laundry means I can still experience great stories without sacrificing writing time.

Making It Work

Now it’s your turn. Like Delaney, ask yourself whether what you’re doing energizes or drains you, and whether you can sustain it during your busiest season. If a goal doesn’t move your writing forward, let it go—even if it looks impressive on social media. Your sanity matters more than self-imposed deadlines that leave you pulling your hair out.
When life disrupts your plans, lean on the rituals and strategies that actually work. Transition into creative mode by lighting a scented candle or brewing an herbal tea. Use writing sprints to capture words in small pockets of time. Pre-schedule content when you’re in the flow so marketing doesn’t derail your momentum.

Above all, give yourself generous permission to adjust, adapt, and be truly kind to yourself.

Simplicity by the Sea by Jennifer Vido

High-powered marketing executive Delaney Huger is forced to slow down when a trip home to Gull Island for a wedding makes her question the life she’s carefully built and whether it still fits. Meanwhile, charter captain Luke Sullivan, devoted to his daughter and his quiet island routine, finds his steady course shaken by an unexpected connection, leaving both to decide if it’s finally time to risk change and choose a new beginning.

Buy the book now: Bookshop.org | Amazon