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2025 Writing Reflection: How I Built My Author Business (and Didn’t Play It Safe)

ByMichelle

A recap of my 2025 writing year—what I published, what I learned, and how shifting to an author-entrepreneur mindset changed everything.

One of my favorite things to do at the end of the year is pause and look back—not just at what I created, but at how I changed along the way.

When 2024 ended, I made a decision that felt equal parts thrilling and terrifying: 2025 was the year I went all in. I officially set up my LLC. I launched my Shopify store. I treated my writing not just as an act of creativity—but as a business.

And honestly? It’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Somewhere along the way, my mindset shifted. I stopped thinking of my books solely as my “babies” and started thinking of them as products with purpose—stories meant to reach readers, not sit safely on a shelf. That shift changed how I write. I stopped playing it safe with my characters. I started pushing harder emotionally. I wanted to see if I could break them… and then put them back together stronger.

Was it easy? No.
Was it fun? Absolutely.

At one point this year, my husband said, “I’ve read four books in a row by you. I think I need something else.”
Which I took to mean: HOW are you writing this many books?

The truth is simple. I’m driven, disciplined, and determined—the three Ds. They’re my mantra. Because there is nothing I want more than to sit down at my laptop and build immersive worlds with deep mythos and emotional stakes that make you feel like you’re inside the story. If I can do that—if a reader forgets the real world for a few hours—then I’ve done my job.

This year also brought something new: collaboration. Creating worlds with another author has been wildly fun. We get to dream up the magic systems, the rules, the twists… and occasionally text each other things like, “I think we should kill off this character,” followed by, “Diabolical. Let’s do it.”

(Apologies to our characters.)

I also accidentally launched a podcast.

What started as “maybe one episode a month” quickly turned into weekly episodes, a full guest lineup, a website, branding, distribution on every major platform—and yes, editing it all myself. Turns out I’m equal parts disciplined creator and chaos-powered Gemini.

And then there was audio.

At the beginning of the year, I looked at my backlist and thought, Heck. I can do that. So I did. Narrating my own audiobooks became one of the most rewarding—and challenging—creative leaps I’ve taken.

2025 has been a year of no regrets and full commitment. Of showing up. Of pushing harder. Of building this dream piece by piece into something sustainable, creative, and meaningful.

I’m not at the finish line yet.

But I’m closer than I’ve ever been.

By the Numbers

  • 342,000+ words written

  • Average writing days/month: 16

  • Average words/month: 28,500

  • Monthly writing goals: met or exceeded

Releases in 2025

Books

  • Once Upon an Ancient Curse

  • Once Upon an Enchanted Castle

  • Once Upon a Silver Strand

  • Once Upon a Midnight Dreary

  • Once Upon a Woven Wish

  • Desiring the Highland Laird

  • Loving the Highland Warrior

  • The Lost Kingdom

Audiobooks (narrated by me)

  • Blood and Bone

  • Flame and Fury

  • Smoke and Ashes

  • Once Upon an Ancient Curse

  • Once Upon an Enchanted Castle

  • Once Upon a Silver Strand

  • Once Upon a Midnight Dreary

  • Once Upon a Woven Wish

Podcast Episodes

  • Season 1: 13

  • Season 2: 29

Thank you to every reader, listener, and supporter who made this year what it was. I can’t wait to show you what comes next.

Here’s to whatever magic 2026 has waiting.

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