This year was great. Yes, it had its lows in my personal life, but nothing I couldn’t bounce back from. Regarding my writing, this was a solid year. Not every goal I made was ticked off the list, but that’s fine. I am very proud of what I have accomplished.
My 2025 goals were:
- Complete draft three edits of Mielea’s Lost.
- Complete rough draft of Project Phoenix.
- Making more progress on the WIP Backlog.
- Read 12 books.
- Bonus Goal: Get Mielea’s Lost to an editor.
I have completed the third draft edits of Mielea’s Lost and also found an editor for it. March is when my manuscript is scheduled to be edited, and I’m excited. I loved the sample edit, and I feel she is the right match for my story. Since implementing the feedback from the sample edits, I have let the manuscript rest and refuse to touch it further. I’ll be able to see the story again with fresh eyes. I would like to publish by the end of the year, but I’m not taking shortcuts.
Project Phoenix is coming along. The total word count in the Google Doc is 22k. I already know there are plot holes. I’m trying to get to the end of the rough draft first before going back to flesh out those details. That’s hard for me. As soon as I see a mistake, I want to go back and fix it immediately. The rough draft, I feel, can be done by the end of 2026, since I have the ending already written.
The second book of my Sci-Fi series, Broken Shackles (working title), takes place right after Mielea’s Lost events. I have ten chapters already written and scattered parts of another five chapters. When I get certain plot points organized in my head, I should be able to finish this rough draft, too.
I didn’t read as much this year. I think it was from burnout from rereading my own work so much while editing. Some people can balance both, and I realize that I am not one of them. Eight books were read this year. Seven of them were Wolverine comics, and I enjoyed most of them.
More new WIPs added to the never-ending backlog. Two ideas came as potential spin-offs or side books for my Sci-Fi series. One I titled Project Overlord. The other, I wrote down the details for and shelved immediately.
While on vacation in November, I outlined an idea that is more of a romance than what I am used to writing. I love the concept, but I have other WIPs I want to finish first. This is not a ‘shelved’ WIP. More like a Limbo one.
2026 Goals
This year I’m going to set the bar high. Is it a good idea? I won’t know till I try!
Goals:
- Get the last round of Mielea’s Lost edits done.
- Complete rough draft of Broken Shackles.
- Complete rough draft of Project Phoenix.
- Read more.
- Reorganize the never-ending backlog of WIPs and continue backing up handwritten versions.
- Bonus Goal: Getting Mielea’s Lost Published.
Of all these goals, I want to publish Mielea’s Lost by the end of the year. Since I am going the indie route, I know there is a lot of work before hitting the publish button. I would much rather have as much figured out as possible before jumping onto that boat. Will problems still show up? Very likely, nothing truly goes smoothly for me. I think that is just my luck.
Hope everyone has a Happy New Year!
Jade McStar Fantasy/Sci-Fi Writer 