Writing Year in Review 2025

This hasn't been my most productive year when it comes to words written and new stories created, but it's been a big one for me in several other ways. I actually have a novel out in the world now. Readers can check out the first couple of chapters and then choose to make a purchase on various platforms. And they have!

During the last week and a bit of the holidays, I've had a nice surge in sales. Really hope these readers enjoy the book I put so much proverbial blood, sweat, and tears into. I've always endeavored to write stories that I'd enjoy reading myself, and I hope I've entertained some fellow consumers of engaging narratives!

If you're one of the several dozens of persons who snapped up a copy, thank you so much for the support! I appreciate it so much, and I'm now 100% dedicated to writing a sequel in the New Year.

Here are some stats I put together tonight for my year's end:

~120 magazine and indie pub submissions, along with 51 agent queries.

3 magazine acceptances.

2 new publications - Nature Magazine's Futures and Sci Phi Journal (accepted this year).

2 future publications for Spring 2026, including one where I will be narrating the story for a podcast and public radio show!

152 rejections overall.

9 personalized rejections, including 3 spectacularly positive ones !

1 full manuscript request from an indie pub, which unfortunately resulted in a rejection. That one stung.

Self-published a novel for the first time, Chester and the Sex Robot vs the Woke Mind Virus of course !

Learned a hell of a lot re: self-publishing. Getting a cover artist, formatting for various platforms, creating ebooks, advertising, and of course, learning how to use social media.

AND I had to figure out how to create a publishing company, get ISBNs, register domains, and create a website. Good gravy! But hey, I am so so prepped now for my future writing endeavors. I'd been playing catchup after the book launch, but now I feel like I know what I'm doing.

Check ya later, 2025, and a happy 2026 for us all !

Kitty's liable to sleep through the fireworks hehe