New Beginnings, Same Love for Storytelling

January always feels like a deep breath. The holidays have packed up their glitter and glow, the calendar has turned, and suddenly the world feels full of quiet possibility. For me, January isn't about reinvention, it's about gentle beginnings.

When I sit down to write at the start of a new year, I don't pressure myself to become a new writer. I'm still the same storyteller who loves small towns, complicated hearts, and characters who fight for their happily-ever-afters. What does change is my sense of openness. January invites reflection and curiosity. What stories are waiting to be told? Which characters have been patiently tapping me on the shoulder?

Some days, writing in January feels like walking through fresh snow. The path isn't fully visible yet, but each step matters. A paragraph here. A bit of dialogue there. Slowly, a story begins to take shape.

If you're welcoming the new year with a book in hand or a story in your heart, I hope you'll be gentle with yourself. Beginnings don't have to be loud to be meaningful. Sometimes, the quiet ones are the most powerful of all.