Whether you are an indie author, or an indie reader, here are some New Years Resolutions for 2026.
12 New Year’s Resolutions for Indie Authors
#1. Go Wide - Expand beyond Amazon by publishing on Kobo, Apple Books, Google Play, and Barnes & Noble. Diversify your income and reach new readers. Also if your goal is to become a serious writer, then it is time to get rid of Amazon's "KDP Select Training Wheels" and think about your long term career goals as an author. KDP Select is great if you are just starting out as an indie author, but if you want more earning potential then Going Wide needs to be your goal.
#2. Join Books2Read.com - Create Universal Book Links for all your titles so readers can find them easily on every store, including Kobo, Apple Books, Google Play, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, etc.
#3. Build a Reader Newsletter - You should already have a website and a blog, but now you need to improve upon it by building a Reader Newsletter for your fans. Start growing your mailing list using platforms like MailerLite or ConvertKit to keep fans engaged between releases. Aim to send out Newsletters to your fans every 2 to 3 months, informing them of new releases, book sales, freebies, what you are working on, etc.
#4. Submit to Literary Magazines - If you have short stories, novelettes and novellas you should make a habit of submitting them to literary magazines. Eg. Peasant Magazine is looking for fantasy, historical fantasy and historical fiction short stories. Ideally you want to be submitting to magazines and literary journals that pay a better rate, but free / non-profit magazines can also be useful if your goal is to attract new readers.
#5. Publish Hardcovers and Paperbacks - If you've been solely focused on selling ebooks you should take the time to make paperback and hardcover versions of your books. You can use a print-on-demand service, or you can print a few hundred copies via a book printer that you can then sell at book fairs, book signings, etc.
#6. Update Old Covers and Blurbs - Still using the same old book covers that you've been using for 10+ years??? Maybe it is time to update your book covers, change your logos, branding, back cover blurbs, etc, and attract more readers.
For example below are the older versions of Charles Moffat's novel "The Demon's Sacrifice" plus the newest version.

December 2019 Cover |

October 2023 Cover |

November 2025 Cover |
#7 Update and Optimize Author Pages - Update your profiles on Amazon Author Central, Goodreads, BookBub, and other key sites so that they are putting your best foot forward and getting your message out there consistently to potential readers.
#8. Spend Less Time on Social Media - As writers we are frequently told that we need to use social media in order to reach out to fans and sell more books, but here's the trick... Your website and blog(s) are actually a more effective tool for selling books. ArcaneTomes.org is living proof of this. Authors who have their books listed on a variety of blog websites see more steady sales than authors who are solely on social media and have zero blog presence. Also many blogs (including ArcaneTomes.org) provide this service for free.
#9. Make an Email List of Colleagues - This is different from a newsletter. This list for author colleagues only that you can converse with privately, sharing ideas, getting feedback, and scratching each other's backs when it comes to marketing.
#10. Invest in Professional Editing - Some authors out there also operate side businesses where they edit the work of their fellow authors. Eg. Charles Moffat is an experienced editor and edits fantasy books. Such editors can help you to publish higher-quality books releases that will have a higher chance of getting returning fans, better reviews, and more book sales in the long run. Hiring an experienced editor and/or proofreader can make a big difference.
#11. Business Cards / Bookmarks - If you haven't made business cards and bookmarks already, now is your chance. Add it to the list of activities for you to do in 2026.
#12. Make Your Own New Years Resolutions - Include things like running a paid promotion, recording audiobooks, writing a serial, writing a different genre or subgenre, etc.
12 New Year’s Resolutions for Indie Fantasy Readers
Looking to scratch an itch this year? Do it by reading!
#1. Discover 12 New Indie Fantasy Authors - Read at least one new indie fantasy author each month. And where you can find lots of Indie Fantasy Authors??? ArcaneTomes.org
#2. Cancel your Streaming Services - Get rid of Apple TV+, Disney+, Crud+, etc and start reading that pile of books next to your bed instead. You will save money, be happier, and have more money and time to read and buy more books. Staring at a TV screen is bad for your eyes anyway.
#3. Buy a Fantasy Magazine - If you love short fiction, fantasy magazines and literary journals are the best way to get what you want and find new authors that you will love. Eg. Peasant Magazine publishes fantasy, historical fantasy and historical fiction short stories.
#4. Join a Fantasy Newsletter - Make a list of indie fantasy authors that you enjoy and ask to get their newsletter. You can usually find their newsletter listed on their website, or you can email the author directly and ask them to add you to the newsletter manually. Signing up lets you stay updated on new releases and special deals.
#5. Leave Book Reviews - Go through your shelves and make a list of every book that you've read already and then go write book reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, etc. Indie Authors will especially appreciate your thoughtfulness.
#6. Explore Subgenres - Try reading different fantasy subgenres that you haven’t read before; You can browse ArcaneTomes.org via the Bookshelf or you can browse our Topics for things like grimdark fantasy, portal fantasy, urban fantasy, or steampunk fantasy.
#7. Create an Online Reading Journal/Blog - Track which fantasy books you've read, your favorite quotes, and personal ratings/reviews for other readers. Plus if you read lots of indie authors you'll be helping out indie authors by giving them free advertising. Don't like blogging? You can do the same thing via websites like Goodreads.
#8. Listen to Audiobooks - Try reading more indie fantasy books via audio format so you can get more reading done faster while you are commuting or exercising.
#9. Join a Fantasy Book Club - Whenever it is time to choose a different book you can make an effort to recommend indie fantasy authors to the club, and ask that the organizers include more indie fantasy books in the reading schedule.
#10. Share Your Favorite Books - Don't let your books collect dust on a shelf. Share them with your friends and family, your coworkers, and if you don't have any plans to read them again you can also give them away, give them to used bookstores, donate to libraries, etc so more people can discover the same authors that you enjoy. If you join a book club you can also share your books that way too.
#11. Attend Book Signings and Book Fairs - Find more authors the old fashioned way, in person!
#12. Make Your Own List of New Year's Resolutions - Include topics like completing your collections, buying more indie bundles or boxed sets, attending virtual author events, re-reading old gems, buying more indie books via the author's website/Books2Read, contacting authors to ask for signed copies, find a reading buddy who shares your tastes in books, and participating in Readathons and other Reading Challenges.