2025 in Review, 2026 on the Horizon
So, this was supposed to be a post about The Mummy (1999). And that post does exist, but it currently languishes, unfinished, in the drafts folder. My mood shifted, you see, into something more retrospective.
I can be a bit of a mood writer. I try to fight that latter tendency, though, because it doesn’t make for a good career.1 If you let your mood constantly dictate what you write, then you’ll end up leaving your readers hanging while they wait for a sequel you promised years and years ago.2
Anyway, it will very shortly be 2026! Let’s look at what I’ve accomplished in 2025 and what I hope to accomplish in the future.
Short Stories, Collaborations, Serials, Oh My!
In 2025, I published on Substack one serialized novella and 12 short stories.3 (Several of these short stories are now behind my paywall, The Forbidden Section.)
I took part in two collaborations. One was Caitriana NicNeacail’s Christmas at Selene City project.
The second collaboration was with Jon T for his Weather Reports project.
My most popular short story this year was “Cycles of Haunting.” As of this writing, it is sitting at 462 views. This is so much better than any story I’ve published on Substack so far (unless “George Ferris” did better).
But I bring this up because I want to thank everyone who has read that story, and really any of my stories. Your views, comments, likes, and shares are what keep me going! Thank you!
Raconteur Press
2025 also saw me get published for the first time in an anthology! Raconteur Press included me in Wyrd West: Rawhide Revenants, and I have to say this is still the accomplishment I am the proudest of this year.
If you haven’t gotten your copy yet, why not?
My 2025 Goals
But how did all these achievements stack up to the goals I laid out in last year’s wrap-up post?
Publish two serials. While I did publish one, I was not able to get The Wind Has Teeth published before the end of the year.
Take part in more collabs and contests. I was in two collaborations, so I achieved that part. I could have sworn I submitted to Lunar Awards this year, but I can’t find any record of my submission. I did not submit to any other contests.
Work toward a short story collection. I do have enough stories pulled together for a collection.
Submit short stories to magazines. I did not do this to the degree I originally envisioned, but I did submit a story to two different magazines. Both rejected the story. That’s the writing business for you!
I’m pretty satisfied with this. I’m okay with only partially completing a goal, because it means I tried!
And, now, 2026…
Begin re-writing an unfinished fantasy novel series and have at least a first draft of the first book completed by end of year.
Back when I wrote under the name Suzanna J. Linton, I was self-publishing what I called the Stories of Lorst. The characters of those novels won’t leave me alone, so I guess we’re going to finish this series. I’ll write a more in-depth post on this later.
Publish a short story collection.
As I said above, I do have all the stories I need. I need to revise a few of them and decide if one other story is going to go in or not (it depends on whether it gets accepted into an anthology). I also have to do all the usual self-publishing tasks (get a cover, format the inside, make a blood sacrifice, etc). This will also be documented in a post.
Publish one serial.
I think shooting for two was reaching a little too far. I already have The Wind Has Teeth written, so it would be a shame to not share it with y’all. It still needs revision, however.
Do one more “season” of my seasons experiment.
In a previous State of the Library, I announced I would be moving to a season model, where for three straight months, my monthly short stories would all take place in the same universe. So, for example, November and December stories were both Bramblerest stories. And there will be (God willing) a Bramblerest story in January. Then, in February, we’ll switch over to another universe.
The problem is that I’ve noticed my viewing rating has dropped, and I’ve begun to wonder if maybe the season model won’t actually work for this Substack. I’m going to re-evaluate at the end of April. I’m setting this as a goal to prevent me from giving up before I have enough data.
Goals vs. What I Would Like to Do
Goals are objectives with measurable results, but they are also objectives that can be committed to. Even if there is a measurable result I would like to achieve, there’s the added consideration of, “Can I commit to it?”
I would like to revise my two previous serials and self-publish them as novellas.
I would like to submit to more anthology open calls.
I would like to grow my social media audience.
However, 2025 has taught me that I have a limited pool of motivation, time, energy, and resources. I struggle with juggling multiple projects. Two projects at a time appears to be my absolute limit.4
If I manage to do any of these things I would like to do, on top of my stated goals, then that would be a very great win indeed.
What about you, friend? What are your goals for 2026 and what did 2025 teach you?
Not as a novelist, anyway. I’m able to get away with a little on Substack, but even here, I exercise discipline.
Looking at you, Robin McKinley, and your “Story Council.” Where’s my Pegasus sequel?? It’s been over fifteen years!! (Oh, did you think I was going to reference GRRM? Pfffft.)
Per my custom, I took June off, but one of these stories appears on a different Substack.
And before you start on me: yes, I am fully aware of the accepted wisdom that an author should have a social media platform for visibility, attracting new readers, etc. ad nauseum. I do my best to be engaged on Notes, Instagram, and X, but the bulk of my energy is better served being channeled toward my writing. I am so sorry that I don’t hop onto X every single day to say some banal thing about what I had for breakfast.
I totally get what you mean about characters refusing to stay quiet and leave us the heck alone!!
This year taught me that I can't do everything and I need to pick my projects very intentionally to avoid burnout from overcommitting.
This next quarter I want to return to my next children's nonfiction book in-progress. I want a revised manuscript and a proposal ready to submit to my publisher by March 25 (The Annunciation... Also the anniversary of the Fall of Sauron, LOL).
I agree with you about social media outside of Substack. I have received verrrrry little from any of them. If a post about an episode or story gets more than two or three likes, it's phenomenal. So, nah, I won't be wasting time on them.