What’s on *your* vision board for 2026? Maybe it’s starting a side hustle (hiii, Etsy bracelet biz), auditioning for the spring musical or finally publishing your poems for the world to see.
Dreaming big is one thing, but actually taking the leap? That can feel…kinda intimidating.
So we’re here to help: Welcome to Make It Happen 2026, your guide to glowing up your goals this year. All week long, we’re sharing real advice from GL girls who decided to go for it—whether that’s growing an online platform, writing a book or turning a creative hobby into actual income. Ready to get majorly inspired? Thought so!
Meet Ali M., 17, who published her own novel.
📚 The Biz:
“I’m a self-published author. I’ve been writing short stories since I was 8. When I was 14, I wrote my first novel. I worked on it every day, no matter what, even if it was just a little at a time. After finishing, I self-published my book using Amazon KDP. Now, I’ve written a second novel.”
💰 The Bucks:
“I get $2 for every book I sell, so what I make isn’t a ton. But it’s enough for some spending money!”
⭐ Your Turn:
Once your manuscript is ready for launch, look into self-publishing platforms like Amazon KDP, Apple Books, Google Play Books and Barnes & Noble Press. (Still in the writing phase? Ali recommends creating an outline and setting deadlines to help you stay on track.) These services don’t charge upfront fees, but they take a cut of your sales, so spend some time picking the best one and setting a price that fits your goals. And you’ll need to market your book: Social media is great (and obviously free), but investing in some targeted ads can help get your novel noticed.
Hey, girl! Just to let you know, this originally ran in our June/July 2025 issue. Read our print mag for *free* today when you click HERE!
Want more writing inspo? Check these out:
📚 EXCLUSIVE! The Sherlock Society author James Ponti shares the secret to writing a good mystery
📚 EXCLUSIVE! Crisanta Knight author Geanna Culbertson is here to talk fantasy fiction and future projects
📚 Teen author Madison McMahon dishes on her *amaze* debut novel
Top image: @alimarieauthor
