Your Writing Year in Review: Reflecting on 2025

Before we launch into the new year with fresh goals and shiny new ideas, let’s take a moment to pause and look back. The end of the year is an ideal time for reflection—not just on what we did, but on what we learned, what surprised us, and how we grew as writers.

Here are a few guiding questions I often share with my students and clients:

• What did I write this year? (List everything—finished drafts, revised manuscripts, pitches, prompts and exercises, even abandoned ideas. It all counts.)
• What did I submit—and what responses did I receive?
• What writing-related activities did I participate in? (Workshops, critique groups, courses, webinars, reading picture books…)
• What worked well for me this year?
• What challenges did I face—and most importantly, what did I learn from them?
• What part of my writing practice felt most joyful? Most difficult?
• How have I evolved as a writer, even if it’s not visible on the page?

This kind of reflective inventory isn’t about judging yourself. It’s about honoring your creative journey, recognizing your resilience, and taking stock of what’s serving you—and what’s not.

Before setting new goals for 2026, give yourself the gift of acknowledgment. Even if the year didn’t go the way you hoped, you showed up. You grew. You’re still here. And that matters.