Are you someone who makes New Year’s resolutions?
I admit I am not, but I do like to start the year with some writing goals. I thought it might be fun to share them here and then revisit them in December to see if I’ve accomplished anything. I’ve tried to make them reasonably achievable, but if there is one thing I’m good at, it’s overestimating the amount of work I can accomplish.
So without further ado, here are my 2025 writing goals:
Publish Wyrmrot- This one is very close to happening. The writing and editing are all done. At this point, it is a matter of doing all the little things like buying ISBNs, ordering proof copies, and setting up preorders.
Prepare Wyrmrot’s sequel for publication- it’s already drafted, so that’s one part of it done. I’d love to have this book published by the end of 2025, however, I’m not sure I can get a cover designed in time. At the very least, I can get everything else prepared for it, so that when I do have a cover, it will be ready to go.
Rewrite When Kingdoms Fall- This is the third book in my Lost Queen series and the last one that needs a full rewrite. I anticipate this one being a lot of work thanks to all the changes I’ve made to the previous two books, but I’m hopeful I will get this draft done by the end of the year (I better since I plan to start posting it back to the serial platforms starting in June when Book 2 is done posting.)
Draft something new- I’m not saying I have to finish a new project, but I would like to at least get a good start on one. The one I have in mind is a project I’ve been poking at since 2018, that’s had two false starts before. I’d love to finally settle on a direction and make some progress with it. I previously called this project Fake Witches and then Waves & Witches. TBD if it gets another new working title/real title.
And that’s it. Those are my writing goals for the year. I’d love to also draft a third book in the Wyrmrot universe, and prepare The Lost Queen for publication (or even publish it), but realistically, I won’t have the time for either of those things.
What are some of your goals for the year?
Wyrmrot Publishing Update
As I said in my goals list, Wyrmrot is very close to being ready for publication. Writing is done. Edits are done. Formatting is mostly done. At this point, I’m waiting for the cover and then I can proceed with fun things like marketing, ARCs, preorders, and proof copies. I am hoping that by the next newsletter, I’ll have a cover reveal for you and ARC team sign-ups if that is something you are interested in.
In the meantime, while I wait for the next steps with Wyrmrot, I am working on its sequel. The sequel is already drafted, so now I plan to do one more read-through before I start booking for editing and cover design.
The Serial Fiction Update (The Lost Queen Series)
It’s been a slow month in the realm of serial fiction, which is usually typical for January (at least in my experience). I’m planning to start working on the third book in the Lost Queen series in February with the first chapter going out the same day that Book 2 is set to finish (around the end of May).
One interesting thing that did happen in January was the Wattpad Purge (this is just what I call it.) According to an article in Wattpad’s help center, they would be deleting any inactive accounts that hadn’t been logged into for five years and didn’t have any stories on them.
Obviously, my account is active so it was never in any danger, however, a huge chunk of my followers were inactive accounts. My follower count dropped by about 19% (a little under 1,000). Since I started posting to Wattpad in 2016 and most of my following was acquired in late 2017-early 2018 I can’t say I’m surprised. I’ve been daily (or almost daily) tracking my reads since late 2017, and I can clearly see every time a change was made to the platform and more people left. Make you wonder how long Wattpad will stick around as the top serial platform or if younger generations are no longer interested in the format.
Currently Reading- The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang and Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
Currently Watching- The Apothecary Diaries, Sakamoto Days, Solo-leveling, Nina the Starry Bride, and Shangri-La Frontier (Yes, it’s all anime again. Surprise, surprise.)
Currently Listening- This ambience. It finally rained this week where I live after many months without, but it still wasn’t enough. My only choice is to listen to rain sounds.
And that’s all for the January Newsletter. I’ll see you in February.