IWSG - December 2025

   

Click here to find out more and to see a list of other IWSG blogs.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

The awesome co-hosts for the December 3rd posting of the IWSG are
 Tara Tyler, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Pat Garcia, Liza, and Natalie Aguirre!

For a while now, I've struggled with the whole promotion thing of being an author. I loathe being in sales. All the pushing to sell without being in your face about it stole the joy that made me want to write in the first place. Everything you create turns into a "product" you feel obligated to sell.

It turned into burnout a couple of years ago, and I stepped back from writing. But I love it. After a few weeks, I stepped into writing but hardly any promoting (none paid) and was able to write again. I stopped worrying about algorithms and ad dashboards and chasing ways to make a buck.

And the writing became a gift again.

Then last December, I nearly died. For the first couple of months of 2025, as I healed from the pneumonia and subsequent surgery, I made a decision. I would finish every series I've begun.

I’m happy to say I’m about halfway there. This year, I published the final three books in my Lilac City series.

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Twickenham was already done, but last year (before I got sick) I started a Christmas novella I intend to complete this year. It's so close to being done!

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My REKD series is done, though I'm still publishing shorter stories in that world.

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I have one more book to finish in the Safe Harbors series (it's partly done).

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Wildstone is only kind of done, since I have future plans for a series of short stories set in this world. I also I plan (if I live long enough) to write a cozy mystery trilogy in that world.

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I pulled a book that was meant to be part of its own series (that never happened), rewrote it to fit in my Huckleberry Falls series, and now I only have one more book to complete this series.

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Under my fantasy pen name of Rae Kinsley, I have the first of my portal fantasies out. The second book is written but they have duo plotlines, and only one is good in the second book. Once that's fixed, I can complete this duology.

Hopefully, by this time next year, I can report that they are all done.

Anyway, if you’re feeling burned out or overwhelmed,

I hope you find a way back to the part of writing that feeds you.

Because it should be joy first.

Always.

P.S. I'll be in Hawaii when this posts.
I like their philosophy. 😏