Every year in November or December, I write a newsletter about what I published that year, which serves not only as an eligibility post to aid those who read for awards nominations, but also just to take stock. This year, except for a story chapbook I distributed 33 copies of for fun at Can*Con, I didn’t publish any fiction — for the first time since 2011, eep. But I do still want to take stock of my writing this year, as I always find it a valuable exercise, to look back on the year.
It’s a little early — December hasn’t happened yet! — but I’m doing this now, in all honesty, because I’m feeling a little extra November-y. The world is grey, the sun is shirking, and a frustrating home repair project is eating what hours remain after long hours spent on bill-paying freelance work, teaching, and trying to get my novel drafted by deadline. It’s a season for brooding.
One reason I published nothing this year is that I have two books scheduled to come out next year. The other reason is that I have not been writing much short fiction lately. But here’s the fiction writing I’ve done in 2025:
Finished drafting my novel The Swordmaster (this was mostly done in 2024, but a bit in 2025.)
Revised my novel Mercutio after developmental edits, copy-edits and proofreading.
Planned, researched and drafted The Next Novel (that’s the one I’m still drafting, but it should be done next month. This one has required tearing up and starting over a few times, but it’s finally coming together.)
Successfully applied for a Canada Council grant for the novella I’ll write next year (this required provisional planning and outlining, and writing the first chapter.)
The Library of Thorvald Boeck, by Harriet Backer, 1902.
It was a busy year: my freelance work was demanding, and I taught a journalism course in both the winter and fall semesters, and taught a couple of smaller writing workshops. Mentored a writer through the SWFA program for a few months. Planned and took a long-put-off family trip to Europe. Spent many hours re-landscaping an overgrown part of our property. Dealt with a long insurance nightmare after a car accident. Got much more active with the union of which I’m a member as a university contract instructor. Volunteered in my community, some of it with my kid and some on my own. Wrote two short profiles for a magazine (the first, about writer Danielle Teller, just came out.) Wrote a newsletter every two weeks. And I read and blurbed nine books by other writers in 2025, if my count is right.
And this year had one bright first for me: I was guest of honour at a convention, at Can*Con.
All in all, more a year of sowing than reaping. I do feel like butter scraped over too much bread at the moment, but the main thing, when I look back at this year, is that I learned a tonne. I haven’t even kept track of how many research books I’ve read for my work in progress but it is a lot. I’ve thought very hard about my craft as a novelist, and I’ve levelled up with all the projects I’ve worked on. So really, one can’t ask for a better creative year than that.
In two weeks, I’ll be back with a newsletter on “my favourite things, 2025 edition”, which should be lots of fun. Thanks for subscribing.