2026 theme word: “Ask”

The word “ask” is my theme word for 2026. My cousin chooses a theme word each year to keep him focused on the right things. I thought of a theme word for next year, and the one that floated to the surface was the word “ask.” 

Honestly, a big deciding-factor in my current media stack is a fear of rejection. I publish on my own blog with no comments. I self-published my first book. I don’t often cold pitch clients. I don’t want to get rejected. 

As I work through the first draft of my second book, I am eying a traditional publishing route for this one. That means querying agents and pitching publishing houses. It means facing the likelihood of rejection. It means asking for blurbs and collaborations. 

I also want to cold pitch more in 2026. I want to pull in bigger projects that help me retain more time for writing. 

So, in all of these areas, I will ask.