2025: A Retrospective

So, this post is for the regular blog, but I will be referencing my goals for 2025 that I wrote up that is available for my subscribers only. It will be the same for my 2026 goals. If you want in on the goals (and the monthly reports I put out to follow up on them), you can subscriber here. It’s a dollar (Canadian) a month, and I have no plans on raising the price. I do hope on having more things on offer, eventually.

Alright, let’s check in on what I had for 2025 and if I got anywhere close (without looking at them, I’m guessing I didn’t get everything done I wanted to). Let’s crack on, shall we?

Writing/Publishing

• Complete the final book in the current trilogy, and submit the first book for publication

AH HAH HAH HAH HAH! Oh god. Oh no. This did not happen. Not even close. I remember The Bear popping into my head and I jumped on that. Damn it. Welp…

• Complete the rough draft of another novel; leaning towards Redbreast.

AH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH! Oh boy. That’s a failure on two counts. Not only did I not complete the rough draft of another novel, I didn’t even write one word of Redbreast. FML. Good lord. The book I did start writing to cover this goal ended up being The Bear. I did not complete it. I didn’t even get to the halfway mark.

• Complete the special edition of The Dying God & Other Stories and publish it.

Oh Jeebus. No. This did not happen. Not even a little bit. That’s a three for three failure rate. Let’s see what else I failed at in 2025…

• Prep The Timbercreek Incident (was once The New Haven Incident) for publication in late 2026 through Overdue Books.

Hah! I did work towards this goal. I got the final draft of the formatting to approve still, and I do have a cover, but need to create another one to decide which would be the special edition version. If I can get that done, then I’ll be able to publish this one on schedule. Knock on wood.

• Sort out a book for publication through Overdue Books in 2025 (probably Sky Road Walker, since I don't have a contract with Renaissance for it and nothing's been done, so I might just take it back. Must email them about it).

Welp, there was no publication from Overdue Books in 2025. I did, however, retrieve the rights to Sky Road Walker, so it’s not like I achieved nothing from this goal at all. Still, I’m so far behind in this goal. This is depressing.

• Get started on cover ideas for The Lioness of Shara Mountain.

Yay! I did this one. The Lioness of Shara Mountain has a book cover! Who knows what’s actually going to happen with it, but I did create the book cover, and I’m really happy with it.

• Go to an out of town SFF convention (When Worlds Collide looks best).

Nope. This didn’t happen. In my defence, my mother came to visit in October, and as soon as I found out, I abandoned all plans to make sure I could spend that money when she came up. I do not regret failing on this goal. It was absolutely worth it.

Ko-Fi/Art

• No idea how I'm going to achieve this, but aiming for ten subscribers in 2025.

NOPE. That’s not a surprise. I haven’t been advertising this at all, and I’m not producing much value for it yet. I need to get my act together on this site before I start outright asking for monetary support.

• Complete my first book-binding project so I can offer it as a commission on the site.

Sigh. No. Damn it.

• Have two rebound books completed in time for Can*Con 2025 (one to sell, one for display)

Sigh. Nope. But I don’t really have a space to work (being on the top floor of an apartment building, I think it’ll be poor form to spend weekends banging about to carve leather. The downstairs neighbours deserve quieter weekends.

• Complete a dice bag to put up on shop on site.

Did I do anything this year? No. This also did not happen.

• Complete 12 small watercolours

*silent weeping*

• Complete 1 large(ish) oil painting

YES! I did this one. When Mum was up from Australia.

• Complete 1 large(ish) acrylic painting

No.

• Complete painting for Can*Con auction

Yes! It was the same as the oil painting goal, but that’s more than allowed, I think.

• Start to set up an art live-stream programme. This isn't a high priority, but it's something I'd like to do in the future as part of my bid to escape office life.

No. This also didn’t happen. I’m sad, actually. I forgot this was a thing for me. Maybe I’ll do something next year to help with my art goals? Maybe not. The set up takes a bit, and I’m not sure I have the spell slots for it.

Personal

• Start journalling nightly again. It really did wonders for my mental health when I did it a few years ago, and I think I will absolutely need it this year.

I did this. I struggled with consistency after Galahad died, but I did do it, and it did help.

• You bought an instrument. Learn to use it, damn it.

Nope. I really struggle with having time. I wish I could get away from work and have my lessons during the day like I did when I was in school. This would be nice to have, actually. I do miss making music.

• French. Learn it. This is long overdue.

I’m not fluent by a long shot, but I am working towards this, so I’m counting this as a much needed win. I have so few, it seems.

• Start meditating again. This year is going to be hard. I'll need it.

I did do this. As with journalling, I’ve struggled with consistency, but I did do this, and I still do. Continuing will be something I need to do in the coming year.

• I'm going to try to be kinder to myself. I have a feeling this will be my most challenging goal of the year.

As it turns out, this was the most challenging goal. I am working at it still, and I’ve been trying (and often failing). Maybe, considering how little I managed to do this year, I should be less kind to myself. Maybe I’d get more stuff done if I return to the severe school ma’am glowering at me over her glasses…

Sigh.

Well, what a depressing look back at when little I’ve done in 2025. It was a year of struggle, to be sure, but I did hope to have more done. I’m so annoyed at myself. Maybe 2026 will be better for me.

I hope your 2025 was successful and full of love and laugher. And here’s to 2026 being even more beautiful for us all.

Starlings, you’ll have my goals for 2026 this week.

For now, be gentle to yourselves in this transitionary period. I shall see you all next year!

Slán go foill!