From Edie: Start the year strong with the essential lists every writer needs to plan projects, spark ideas, and stay focused on their writing goals.
The Lists Every Writer Needs for the New Year
by Julie Lavender @JLavenderWrites
Are you a list-maker? Do you have a To-do list? Books-to-read list? Grocery store list? Errand list?
The beginning of January often sparks list ideas in creatives. A list of goals or aspirations for the year or maybe even a monthly one.
Most writers not only like making lists, they like writing about them as well. Why? Because readers like lists.
If you’re stumped about the topic for your next blog post or article submission, try compiling a list related to an upcoming writing project. Here are a few examples to help you get started.
Lists about Devotionals
Are you planning to write a devotional this year? I found several posts based on lists pertaining to devotionals.
Here, you’ll find an article about the Top 10 Devotionals for Women in 2025. https://www.brittanyrust.com/blog/top-devotionals-2025
The author first disclaims nothing replaces God’s Word, but adds that devotionals are a source of encouragement and hope. She gives a brief overview of her devotional selections, lists pros and cons for each devo, then shares additional books by that particular author.
Here’s a slightly different take on devotionals. On this website, https://todaydevotional.com/blog/6-reasons-to-read-a-daily-devotional, you’ll find an interesting article on “6 Reasons to Read a Daily Devotional.” The author expounds on these benefits of reading devotions: spiritual growth, connection with God, hope and encouragement, guidance for life, cultivation of spiritual discipline, and community and fellowship.
What unique list pertaining to devotions or devotionals might you choose to write?
Let’s take another direction.
Lists about Children’s Books
Are you planning to write a children’s book this year? School Library Journal compiled a list for every day in December. Thirty-one lists of books for kids, like Great Board Books, Picture Book Read alouds, Bilingual Books for Kids, Gross Books, Poetry Books, Early Chapter books, and many more. You can find these lists here: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2025/12/25/31-days-31-lists-2025-science-nature-books-for-kids/
The Christian Children’s Authors website often shares lists of books with specific characteristics. For example, you’ll find “Five Christian Picture Books with Beautiful Illustrations” here https://christianchildrensauthors.com/2025/06/28/five-christian-picture-books-with-beautiful-illustrations/.
What kind of list could you make related to children’s book writing? “Top 10 Children’s Authors from Georgia?” “15 Children’s Books About National Parks?”
Lists about Writing Contests
Do your plans this year include entering a writing contest? Will it be your first entry? Perhaps you should consider keeping a journal of your entry process and then turn that into an article, like, “5 Steps for Entering Writing Contests for Newbies.”
This article, “Writing Contest Tips,” includes a list of suggestions to accomplish before submitting:https://christianchildrensauthors.com/2025/06/28/five-christian-picture-books-with-beautiful-illustrations/.
We can even find articles with lists about keeping lists! Standford Education promises to help the reader “keep a to-do list that actually gets done.” Read it here https://ctl.stanford.edu/students/keeping-do-lists to keep your lists written efficiently and to help you feel successful at the end of the day.
Has the New Year brought thoughts of list-making to mind? Turn these thoughts into a blog post or article related to an upcoming project, and you’ll be researching, brainstorming, and moving your writing journey forward in the early days of the New Year.
TWEETABLE
I Love lists. I even add items to my list—things I’ve accomplished— just so I can… mark them off!
ReplyDeleteOne thing I do is keep a running “To Write About” journal in my Notes on my phone. It helps me always have something to write about! ❤️