Dear 2025 Me: Thanks for the Drafts, But Let’s Write Smarter in 2026

Dear 2025 Me,

You’ve been through a lot this year: multiple style guides, endless reviews, and at least three projects that “just needed a few quick edits.” You wrangled inconsistent terminology, translated developer notes into human English, and survived another year of “Can you make this sound more… friendly?”

But it’s a new year, and we’re not just writing; we’re evolving. Let’s make 2026 the year we write with clarity, strategy, and maybe even joy.

Resolution 1: Write Once, Reuse Everywhere

Let’s break up with copy-paste. In 2026, we’re modularizing content, using snippets, and embracing single-sourcing like pros. The less time we spend rewriting the same paragraph, the more time we have to polish what matters.

Pro Tip: Tag reusable chunks of content early in the writing process. It’s easier to repurpose good writing than reinvent it.

Resolution 2: Collaborate Early, Review Smarter

Remember all those “urgent edits” that came in the night before publication? Let’s prevent déjà vu. Collaboration isn’t chaos, it’s clarity. This year, we’ll bring SMEs, designers, and QA in earlier so reviews become refinement, not rescue missions.(See The Power of Outlines in Technical Writing and Instructional Design.)

Pro Tip: Set clear review roles and deadlines. A “feedback-free-for-all” isn’t collaboration, it’s crowd-sourced confusion.

Resolution 3: Focus on the User (Not the Document)

We write for humans, not compliance bots. So, in 2026, let’s double down on usability. Plain language, short paragraphs, visuals, and empathy are our best tools. Documentation that makes sense gets used; the rest just gets ignored.

Pro Tip: Test your docs. If readers can’t complete the task after reading, it’s not done, it’s just formatted.

Resolution 4: Embrace the AI Editor (But Keep Your Voice)

AI can catch typos and suggest phrasing, but it can’t replace intuition. This year, let’s use tools to accelerate—not automate—our craft. AI helps us write faster, but humans make it meaningful. (See AI Won’t Replace Technical Writers. It Will Make Them Better.)

Pro Tip: Treat AI suggestions like SME feedback: consider them, but don’t obey them.

Resolution 5: Leave a Trail of Documentation Joy

Let’s make documentation feel less like a chore and more like an act of clarity. Write with humor where appropriate, personality where possible, and kindness everywhere. 2025 Me wrote instructions; 2026 Me will write experiences.

Pro Tip: Add a human touch to every guide: a sentence that reassures, a note that anticipates confusion, or even a well-placed emoji in internal docs (yes, it’s allowed).

Here’s to fewer red lines, smarter reviews, and content that genuinely helps.

Sincerely,

Your Future Self (Now With a Style Guide Tattoo)

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