My Writing Goals for 2026

My writing goals for 2026 have become laser-focused as I move into my second year of retirement. With more time available, I have truly put my foot down and committed to writing with renewed energy and discipline.

In a world of negative politics, wars and human suffering, it is a relief to disappear into a book and escape the misery the news channels seem to relish. Reading offers a rare sanctuary from the constant cycle of bad headlines.

2025 proved to be a hugely enjoyable year for writing Books 4 and 5 in the Moreton Scientific Investigation series. I believe I achieved my main goal of improving my writing, reflected in the excellent review rankings both books received (4.6+ on Amazon).

Recent AI Development

A great deal has happened this past year on the non-creative side of writing. With major advances in AI, many people who have never written before now believe they can become instant bestsellers. Unsurprisingly, AI-written books have flooded the market.

I use AI as a tool for spelling, grammar, graphics and research. Using it to create stories is, for me, a non-starter. Writing means immersing myself in each scene and observing characters I have created, not outsourcing imagination to a machine.

AI remains a fantastic tool. It has helped enormously with editing and research, and it has saved me a small fortune. I now create all my book covers and advertising images using AI in combination with Photoshop.

Locations Visited – Used in Book 6 Thaw

I am currently working on Book 6, Thaw, which is set across several UK locations. Cornwall features heavily, and I visited Port Gaverne near Port Isaac in May 2025, a location used in the TV series Doc Martin.

Physically visiting a location adds layers that photos and the internet cannot provide. Sounds, smells, textures and shifting perspectives all feed directly into the writing and bring scenes to life.

Book 6 also includes a section set in Greenland, a place that has featured frequently in recent news due to Donald Trump. Until this year, Greenland had been little more than a shape on a map to me.

Earlier in 2025, I had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit Japan. I play in a brass band, and we secured Welsh Government funding for the trip. On the flight home, we passed over Greenland’s vast ice sheet.

I was mesmerised by the endless glaciers stretching from northwest to southeast. I couldn’t take my eyes off the view and immediately knew I had to use it as a location in Thaw.

Thaw will be published on 8 June 2026, followed by Book 7, Clairvoyant, on 25 November 2026.

Plans for Audio Format

I am often asked whether the series will be available as audiobooks. I currently use ElevenLabs, a human-voice generator, to listen to my books during editing, and it has proved invaluable.

A more advanced version of ElevenLabs is due soon, which excites me as it will allow me to release audiobook versions. A human narrator would be ideal, but at £2,000–£4,000 per book, that option remains unrealistic.

ElevenLabs costs a fraction of that while delivering excellent quality. With luck, Ben Sharman and the team will soon come to life in audio form.

Writing Goals – U-SAM Series

After recently re-reading The U-Sam series, written between 2020 and 2024, I realised it needs a thorough update. The five books represent a steep learning curve in writing, editing, publishing and marketing.

Since publishing the fifth book, Vortex, in August 2024, I have learned a great deal. The series deserves a major revamp, which I will undertake throughout 2026, with plans to republish and offer paperback editions.

Writing Goals for 2026 – Moreton Scientific Investigation Series

Looking ahead, Book 7 in the Moreton Scientific Investigation series ‘Clairvoyant is fully mapped out, with the first six chapters already written. I am well ahead of schedule, as I usually take three to four months to complete a 90,000-word novel.

Book 6 – THAW is completed and polished as far as I can – about to be sent to my brilliant editor Melanie – In Yorkshire. Once her work is done it will be  ready for the publication date 6 June 2026.

I am really pleased with this edition in the series and feel it is the best I have written so far. Fingers  crossed you the readers will feel the same.

Writing Goals for 2026 – New Crime Series

As I write this in early February 2026, I still have over nine months before the publication of Clairvoyant. This gives me the opportunity to lay solid groundwork for a brand-new series, The Wye Valley Murders.

The new series will feature a feisty female DI and blend murder mystery, crime thriller and regional crime.

While it moves away from sci-fi, I have no intention of abandoning that genre and will continue writing the MSI series.

I enjoy reading crime fiction as much as sci-fi and wanted to create a completely different world with new characters. It was a no-brainer. Variety, as they say, is the spice of life.

Writing Goals for 2026 – Short Stories

I love writing short stories. They are deeply satisfying but also the most challenging form for me. Developing an intriguing story and delivering a strong conclusion within such tight limits is difficult but immensely rewarding.

I have completed a dozen short stories, ranging from sci-fi and paranormal to downright quirky. I am now selecting ten for a collection, which will be available on Amazon shortly. Publication is planned within the next three months.

My writing goals for 2026 are ambitious but achievable:

• Two new books (6 & 7) in the Moreton Scientific Investigation series to be published.
• U-SAM series to be revamped and released in paperback format.
• New crime series The Wye Valley Murders to be mapped out and developed, with the first three books planned for publication in 2027
• Short story collection to be published by beginning of May 2026
• Audiobook production to begin once ElevenLabs development allows.