The New Year is Coming: My Goals for 2026

Here's where T.E. Main-Ruhle LLC is heading for the new year.

Goals for 2026

1. Work with a publisher or small press 

2. Take more editing courses:

   1. Poynter ACES Introductory Certificate in Editing 

   2. EFA Online Course: Developmental Editing of Fiction: Beginning

   3. EFA Online Recorded Webinar: Editing Sex and Intimacy

   4. EFA Online Recorded Webinar: Romance for Editors: Working with Archetypes, Tropes, and Genre Conventions

   5. EFA Online Recorded Webinar: Coaching Authors on Narrative Distance and Point of View

3. Edit 10 novels

   1. Would love omegaverse, enemies to lovers, rockstar romance, paranormal romance, why choose, lgbtqia+

4. Gain 2 more permanent clients

5. Offer new, bundled author services

   1. Personal Author Assistant Services

      1. General assistance with bookish tasks

      2. Email correspondence

      3. Social media posts

      4. Website design and maintenance 

6. Establish new loyalty perks 

   1. Referral discounts

   2. Returning client discounts

If you're a writer, reader, or bookish business owner, what are your 2026 goals?

My 2025 Editing Wrap-Up Stats: First Year of Chasing My Dream

As many small business owners will tell you, the first year isn't glorious.

Ten months into my full-time editing career, and I am certainly no exception. But, if there's one thing about going down the path less traveled, it is that often there are many, many obstacles that get in the way. It's almost as though our own doubts tend to manifest into nasty little unforeseen stressors and create more than enough reasons to just...give up.

If you're a writer, particularly one interested in publishing, you know the feeling. At the end of the day, we are all in this chaotic, push-and-pull machine of delight and despair together. Which is why we have to stick it out, together. If this following your dreams business was supposed to be easy, we'd all be rolling in cash and glory by now. The real key to all of this, I think, is persistence.

Dreams don't taste sweet at first. They're bitter, weirdly crunchy, with a little extra texture you weren't expecting. All that is to say, we need to continue to embrace the unknown and press on (chew just enough to swallow if you must).

So, with all of that in mind, here's my 2025 wrap-up stats as a romance editor in their first year.

For reference, I started T.E. Main-Ruhle LLC in February.

Books edited: 5

Published books edited: 3

Genres: Across the board, all romance, of course

This year's projects:

Heart Not For Sale - Nora Grey

Small Town Contemporary Romance

Link - Get this book for free through BookFunnel

Bonded by Fate - Lizzy Goldmoon

Romantasy

Alpha's Rejected Witch Mate - Lizzy Goldmoon

Paranormal Romance

In Your Head - K. Hollow

Thrilleromance/Dark Romance

Amazon Link (Preorder)

Finding Her - Becca Ray Blackwell

Sci-fi Romantasy

Amazon Link

Note: Many of these projects lasted 2-3 months or more as multiple editing services were requested, timelines changed, and so on. I do my best to remain flexible where I can.