My 2025 Writer Goals – DA’s Treasure Map

How did we get to the end of the year already? I haven’t even started on the list I made for myself… or did I? It’s been a year, but according to the list, I still managed to make progress. Go me!

As I write this, I have just completed the final uploads on the Goddesses In Love Collection, which released 12.15.24. This project didn’t happen overnight – as a matter of fact, it took over 2 years and many iterations for it to be finalized, as you see it below. Each story was released and fine-tuned individually, each story had questions answered in the subsequent books, and the cover had to blend the symbolism of four very different goddesses into one cohesive look. I am happy to report that those who worked with me to make this all happen understood the assignment.

Sometimes, “working” or “writing” isn’t what you would expect at all. Sometimes it looks like rocking a baby to sleep, having dinner with friends, celebrating the start of a new life, or mourning the loss of one cut too short. Sometimes, it comes out not in the words of fiction, but as a post on social, or an essay on how a song made you feel. But I have found that I can’t have one without the other, in fact, it is crucial that I taste new foods, travel to new places, and do things in solitude so that I can put sights and sounds to memory without distraction. That is what the real work is all about and I absolutely made more time for that this year.

My theme word was Joy for 2024 and while it took me a little longer than I would have liked to get things wrapped up, I kept moving forward with a specific end goal in sight while having fun in the process. Mission accomplished!

Anyone who is interested in checking out last year’s post can find it here. In summary, here are some of my past theme words:

• 2018 – Balance
• 2019 – Patience
• 2020 – Balance (not surprising I went back to that word)
• 2021 – Grace
• 2022 – Alignment
• 2023 – Deliberate
• 2024 – Joy

I have spent the past few years really thinking about what I wanted to bring into my circle, and concentrating on what makes me happy. I’ve made changes in my attitude and surroundings to accommodate the future I want to live in, all while wrapping up projects and clearing my slate for my “level-up.” I’m ready for 2025 and the word that comes along with it but there is still some work to do!

Limiting social will continue to be key for me. Also, after recognizing a fight I don’t want to take part in, I must continue to walk away from triggers. There were some challenges I worked through and communications I made which were proud moments for me, but were also simultaneously draining emotionally. I would like to add more time to meditate so I can fill the well more frequently and get myself in a better headspace to better navigate those periods. I spent a lot of time with friends and family and made a conscience effort not to pick up the phone when I did. It made all the difference to me in the conversations I had. I was more present in those moments than I had been in some time, and it felt good.

I found “Joy” in the creation process, adding things to this latest release that I saw along the way which inspired me. Part of the real reason I do better taking breaks from social is that I have serious FOMO creatively (lol), and I want to do ALL the things. It just isn’t feasible, so I now talk myself off the ledge and pick one or two things I would like to try for each project. For this last paperback, we played with blackout pages to separate the stories which I LOVE! This was a baby step toward hardcovers and sprayed edges, both of which I would love to do with the right project. Who knows, perhaps Persecution and Wrath will be the perfect project to practice on!

I still plan to attempt audio, but still not clear on the best way for me to do that. It may involve me narrating, so I drew up plans for a makeshift sound booth and 2025 may find me dabbling with that. I most likely will start with shorter content and work my way up to full-blown stories, since I have heard that it takes a while to “train” your voice. I feel a chapter at a time could be a good way for me to practice, but finding time to learn a new skill could be difficult. You may see this on my list every year for some time.

While I believe “Focus” is a good theme word for this next year, I may need something that has a little more oomph. Something that can get me where I need to go. There are loose ends to tie, projects to wrap up, and trips to take. I am out of the funk of burnout and ready to pack as much as I can in 24 hours but I recognize also I need to get what I am working on completed before starting something new. 2025 is going to be fun, but I need to remain disciplined.

Okay I’m going all in with this one… Mama needs to retire, lol. By retire I mean from my day job, which would give me way more time to write, which will bring me more of the word I had for last year… Joy! It would also deliberately align me to provide myself more grace and patience as I seek balance in my life. See how I did that? We are pulling all the stops with all the past words!

So here is where I am right now for 2025 – future goals:

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DA’s 2025 Writer-Do List

Prepare Book 1 of Supernatural Mystery series for publication as I finish Book 2

Research and Outline Books 3 and 4 of the Supernatural Mystery series

Order covers and develop blurbs/back matter for the Supernatural Series and prepare to launch

Learn more about YouTube and creating audio content

Learn more about Kickstarter

Continue to take courses that align with my Author Journey

Launch “Shifters In New York Collection”

Update all back matter and digital files on all platforms – Both Series

Launch Goddesses In Love Collection (Books 1-4) in Hardcover

Develop audio files of Books 1-4 for Goddesses In Love series & the New York Shifter stories

Continue Research and Drafting of Witch Single Title Project and Non-Fiction Project

Continue to Rework Short Stories/Essays and submit for publication

Blog at least 2x per month

Play around with children’s book ideas

Find more amazing readers to join my journey on Goodreads & Book Bub

TRAVEL!

Work on RETIREMENT from my paycheck job

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Seems like my list is about the same, but I’m okay with that!

On a personal front, I am about 98% there with the office, still need to tackle the closet, but I have a plan, so it is just a matter of finding the time to implement. I think after another big purge and some digitizing of old photos, I will be able to clear out enough room to allow me to breathe. That will be when the fun truly begins! I have promised myself more regularly scheduled visits with my Muse, and this will be the year we really dig in. She’s been patient, but it is her time to shine. 2025 is her year to show us what she’s got! Fingers crossed we both have the focus required to complete the task at hand.

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Do you write annual goals? Do you find it helps as much as I do? Share your post in the comments, I would love to see what you have planned for 2025! In the meantime, happy writing, and I will see you in the New Year!

Happy New Year Everyone!