Earlier this year, I laid out my writing goals for 2025. I refer back to them from time to time throughout the year to keep me on track and to gauge my priorities as the year progresses. Now, here we are in October, with 2026 on the horizon, so I'd like to take a look at where I'm at relative to my 2025 goals and give you some insight about my next projects as we head into the new year.
But first, a quick recap of my 2025 goals.
My 2025 Goals
1. The Assassin's Code
The Assassin's Code was released as planned in February. It was so well received that I changed gears and instead of working on the next Alchemancer book, I focused on the next Assassin Without a Name book.
2. Elemental Unification
I pushed the release of the next Alchemancer book to 2026, way back when The Assassin's Code came out. That hasn't changed, but I'll likely have to revise the release date to mid-year.
3. The Quiet of the Night
This got put on the back burner, but a short story featuring Elizabeth West remains high on my list for 2026!
4. The Assassin's Skill
The Assassin's Skill was released on October 21. Get your copy now!
5. Magic & Mayhem flash fiction stories
The Magic & Mayhem concept is dead, though the stories haven't stopped! The more I got into this, the more I realized I was doing myself a disservice by diluting my main brand. My main brand is none other than my name, which is first and foremost the thing I want readers to associate with my writing. So, the M&M brand is no more, though the concept of producing exciting standalone fiction hasn't stopped one bit. In fact, not only can you read these stories, but you can listen to them as well, all for free.
6. Character Profiles
I made a lot of progress writing up character background info for all the characters in my books. These are highlighted on each book's page. I still have to get to The Hall of the Wood, but all others are completed. I might move on to my short stories next.
7. World of Uhl
This is all about providing nuanced background information about the people, places, and nations where I set my books. You can see what I've accomplished so far by visiting the World of Uhl section of my website. My goal for 2025 was to build out all of the missing information. This has been slow-going, mostly because I don't want to fall into the trap of worldbuilding for the sake of worldbuilding. I'm running an author business, meaning I need to write stories, not histories of make-believe places. The background info has its place, but not as my primary focus. Still, I plan to keep chipping away at this, especially because I find it useful as a sort of world bible that I reference as I'm writing.
8. Investigate new revenue streams
This one is where YouTube has come in. I don't have enough subscribers yet to monetize, but that's the end goal. If you aren't subscribed already, check out my channel and follow along if you like.
9. Signed print books
I haven't quite fulfilled this one yet, though I do now offer paperbacks in my store, so that's a step in the right direction.
10. Advertising Coursework
I completed the advertising coursework I planned to complete, so this one is done.
Looking over the end of 2025 and into 2026...
First and foremost, I plan to take a little time off from writing. That's not to say I'm going to hit the pause button on my business, but for the next few weeks, maybe even a month or so, I'm not really planning to do any actual writing. The Assassin's Skill is released, and by all accounts, it's been well-received (so far, at least). Taking a little time off to recharge the creative batteries is never a bad idea, and it gives me time to focus on other things, like marketing, which I've not focused on much this year at all.
For 2026, I have two books planned — first, Elemental Unification, which should wrap up The Alchemancer series, and second, The Assassin's Trial, the fifth book in the Assassin Without a Name series, scheduled for release in October (and now available to preorder).
I also plan to spend some time building out the World of Uhl subsection of my website. There's still a lot to do here, so I don't plan on finishing. But I think I can make some significant headway.
Of course, I have more short stories planned for my free fiction library and YouTube to keep up my release cadence of every 2 weeks.
2025 was a busy year, and 2026 isn't looking any less so. But it's better than the alternative, right?
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