2025 comes to a close. It’s been a big year, with lots of challenges, successes and failures. I published, read, watched and gamed. I’ve written, drawn and programmed. I’ve met some goals, and missed others.
Overall, I’m glad with how 2025 turned out. Maybe I could have done a lot more, but I also could have done a lot less. So, I am a happy author-man.
As for 2026, I’m hitting the ground running with my suggestion to-do list already keeping me productive on a daily basis. I’m excited to see how much I can get done next year.
Projects
The big project news of 2025 was publishing Champion Bold, my first science fiction novel. I’ve heard some good reviews, and I’m working on two sequel books (one direct sequel, and one following a popular secondary character).
There isn’t a single project on my list that I didn’t work on this year. I world built or wrote important scenes. I developed characters and outlined plots. I’m looking forward to bringing more to print, and I’m hoping to get more of them to my readers soon.
2026 Goals
Major Project: Get the Colonel Lieutenant to print, or at least final draft
Major Project: Get Orcfyre to print, or at least final draft.
Major Project: Get 1st Minnesota story book 1 to rough draft
Minor Projects: Get each project to detailed outline, some scenes written.
Books
I fell short of my reading goal by a good number: I finished 14 books out of a goal of 36. But that’s largely because I’m still adjusting to not bussing anymore. In the summer I can read on the porch, but in the winter I have to make time.
Most of what I did read was fiction, either from my Tom Clancy re-read or from the Shanarra series I’m slowly working through. I most disappointed I haven’t finished more of my research books, particularly Seven Plots. But, we move on.
2026 Goals
Finish 24 books total
Finish audiobook of War and Peace
Finish 3 Research books
Finish 6 Non-Fiction books
Movies and Shows
I finished 18 movies and 11 seasons of TV shows in 2025. I’m happy with the number of movies I finished, but a bit disappointed I only for through 11 seasons. That’s less than one a month. My lists of both are long and getting longer, so this is definitely something I want to get better on.
2026 Goals
Finish 24 movies (2 a month)
Finish 18 seasons of shows (1.5 a month)
Games
I only finished 3 story games in 2023. Now, this isn’t a lot, but it doesn’t take into account open games (games without stories). those game I could replay multiple times without really finishing them.
For 2026, when I start an open game, I’m going to set myself a challenge. Something like ‘get these achievements’ or ‘win as this faction’. That way, I have a set goal that I can reach, and when I reach it I can move on, and always comeback to replay for a different challenge later.
The way I incorporated the games into my suggestion list (one day is story game, next day is open game, then back) helps immensely.
2026 Goals
Finish six story games
Finish ten open challenges.
Events
I managed to get to two conventions, two brewery events, and my launch party this year. That’s not bad. I’ve got one event for sure lined up in 2026, and several others I’ve got my eye on or I’m on waiting lists for. I’m considering bringing back Book and Beer, if only to keep myself going to events. We’ll see how that goes.
In the year since I last told myself the cake calories didn’t count, I have managed a number of steps forward. I published my third book, Champion Bold, and its three supplements. I did two conventions and one book event, all of which were successful. And I made progress on several other projects. It was a good year. One I’m hoping to continue into the next.
As I hit my birthday, I wanted to take a moment to consider my project list. What am I working on? How important is it? And what do I need to do to advance it before the next birthday?
Primary Projects
Primary projects are the major projects that I’m actively trying to get published. I have at least one completed draft and I’m rewriting or editing for publication.
The Colonel Lieutenant
Renaissance Army Book 3 * Dystopic Speculative Fiction * Renaissance Army Setting
Book Three of my main series, this book sees Sasha Small, now a commissioned lieutenant of the Renaissance Army, return to the Third Field Regiment in a moment of crisis. She is faced with a test of leadership and of her skills as a military officer.
I completed one draft of this book and I’ve been working on the next. I’ve got the first quarter or so done, and I know how I want it to end. But getting from A to Z and making sure the letters in between build it effectively is the real challenge. I’m making good progress. Now if I can make fast progress.
Orcfyre
Horus Book 1* Fantasy * Vi-World Setting
This first book of a planned trilogy. This book sees Horus, a human/orc warrior, and his adopted sister Ashlynn, on a quest. A quest that could save Horus’ life. Their adventure is interrupted by a civil war that forces both of them to face the truth about their relationship with the world.
I’ve gone through several drafts of this story, slowly working out my problems with each iteration. Do I have it this time? I think so, but if not, then I think I’ll be closer to the last draft.
Secondary Projects
Secondary Projects are projects that I want to publish. These ones I’m writing to get a rough draft ready, looking to get feedback on.
1st Minnesota (Untitled)
Historical Fiction
This project is the story of a soldier who enlists in the 1st Minnesota Regiment at the start of the American Civil War and fights through its three-year service. The character experiences Bull Run, the Peninsula and Seven Days, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Gettysburg, and so much more.
I’ve got lots of research notes and books on the subject. I know it’s going to be more than one book, though I haven’t worked out the exact divisions. I’ve got everything ready to start writing. What I need to figure out is first person or third. Or some hybrid of the two.
Tertiary Projects
Tertiary Projects are projects where I have the idea developed and I’m focused on running through the PBRG process and writing key scenes.
Champion Impact
Champion Book 2 * Science Fiction * Light Star Universe
The sequel to Champion Bold, this story follows Augustine de Zama in his adventures. Since the first book was funded through Kickstarter, I need to get info from some backers on aliens and characters, then I can slip them into my outline and start hammering out the story.
Dress Reds, Inc.
Champion Series Spin Off * Science Fiction * Light Star Universe
A spin off from Champion Bold, this book follows Genevieve Wright, a fan favorite. Genevieve is hired to go to a region under an emerging threat. But in addition to warfare, she finds herself dealing with the politics and cultures — and alien species — of the region.
Light Star Short Story Anthology (Untitled)
Science Fiction * Light Star Universe
This anthology is a collection of short stories from the Light Star Universe. If this works the way I want it to, it’ll include three stories from myself, and two stories from the LSU co-creator. But we’ll see how it goes.
Retirement (Untitled)
Fantasy * Unique Setting
Retirement is a fantasy story set in a world where the gods must choose mortal replacements every century. The hero has been chosen to be a god, a distinction he does not want. But since he’s been chosen, he now has to deal with the consequences or face the annihilation of his soul.
Quaternary Projects
Quaternary Projects are projects that I developing. I’ve got more than a basic idea, but short of an actual story. I’m doing some light PBRG work to help flesh out the details.
Commonwealth War
Speculative Fiction * Renaissance Army Setting
A book or books about the Commonwealth conquest of Atlantic America, set well before the story of Sasha Small. In the same style as Tom Clancy’s Red Storm Rising, with multiple characters showing different aspects of the war. I know the history, but I need to work on the characters and plot lines.
Conarth Story
Science Fiction * Light Star Universe
A story of the Light Star Universe, this book involved the Conarth, one of my major alien races in the universe. I don’t want to go into too many details right now, but this will be an interesting project because it’ll be largely a political story with a military backdrop. Looks like I’ll be watching a lot of West Wing.
Contrition (Untitled)
Dystopic Science Fiction * Contrition Setting
This is a setting where I’m looking for a story. The setting is thousands of hears in the future, after an alien race has devastated humanity and left it in ruins. The aliens declared that humanity had ‘reached Contrition’, but never told humans what they had done. I have some ideas, but trying to come up with a story that isn’t repetitive of what I’ve done before has proven difficult. Plus, I want a story that explored the setting.
First Knights (Untitled Project)
Fantasy * Vi-World Setting
This is a story of how the knightly or paladin orders of the Vi-world started. I’ve had to build and really flesh out the mythology of the world to set this one up. Now, I’m outlining and plotting.
General of the Pen
Fantasy (I think)
This is the project I’m building as part of the PBRG blog series. It’s a fun project and maybe I’ll turn it into an actual book. Or maybe not. At this point, it’s just for fun. As for the genre, it is 19th Century tech level, but no magical elements, so I’m unsure if it is fantasy or not. Something more to research.
Resurrection (Untitled)
Science Fantasy * Apex Setting
This project is set in a world where some humans have developed special powers. The main character has been resurrection after his execution because it turns out he was innocent, and the powers that be need his help finding the real culprit. But being executed while innocent doesn’t do much for one’s dedication, and he begins to plot his escape. I’ve got the beginning written, and I know where this ends. Currently, I’m plotting out the middle.
Tales of the Templars
Speculative Fiction * Short Story Anthology * Renaissance Army Setting
This is a project I come back to every now and then; a collection of short stories about the other Templars from the Renaissance Army series. About how they came to be part of the project, and their experiences as apprentices. I’ve got one story done, several others started, and the rest plotted out or at least outlined.
Quintenary Projects
There are projects that I have as ideas. I sometimes work on them, but largely they’re waiting for time, or for more inspiration.
RPG Lit: Stories of role-playing games stuck in their characters.
Battle Stories: Narratives of famous battles (such as Jutland and Operation Pedestal).
Good Generals: Narrative biographies of good generals many people don’t know about (such as George Thomas and Winfield Scott).
Bad Generals: Narrative biographies of bad generals (such as Charles Townsend and Rafael Cardones).
Campaigns: Narratives of famous or not famous campaigns throughout history (Burma campaign, or the Winter War).
War Stories: Narrative of not so famous wars (such as the English Civil War or the Seven Years War).
Ship Stories: Stories of the history of famous warships (USS Enterprise, HMS Warspite).
Wars of the Renaissance History: Various histories of the Iron Republic, or the Imperial Commonwealth
Special Action Force Vanguard: A World War Two story I ran as an RPG a long time ago; I’d like to bring it back as a story, but I’m working out how. Cthulhu-horror? Straight military history?
Other Vi-world fantasy stories: various stories set in the same fantasy world as Orcfyre and the Firt Knights project.
As we close out 2024, I look back and consider the year. How did I do? Where did I succeed? Where did I fall short?
This review is not about recrimination or blame; it is about acknowledging what I did well and what I did not and approaching the next year with a sense of how I can improve.
Projects
I am on the verge of publishing my next book, delayed only because of my last-minute move, which was time consuming and exhausting. Champion Bold is almost ready; I’m at the point where I’m calculating the book cost so I can assign ISBNs and then orders proof copies. The supplement books are right behind them.
I am about a third of the way through the re-write of Renaissance Army Book 3, The Colonel Lieutenant. This is my next big project after I finish Champion Bold. I’ve got other projects I’m working on as secondary or tertiary projects, each of which I’ve picked at sometime during the year. None of which I’d really announce as a primary project at this time.
My other big project work is how I’ve been revising my writing process. There’s a whole blog series I’m working on, but essentially I’m doing as much world building and planning as I can, to cut down on post-draft corrections. The idea is to make writing an easier and quicker process.
Books
By my count, I finished 27 books in 2024, both reading and listening. These were heavily weighted towards fiction (22 out of 27). Short of my goal of 36 books, but still a good showing.
2025 is going to be a little more difficult because I’m losing my bus rides, which is where I do most of my reading. Instead, I’m going to have to find time elsewhere to sit down and read.
Also, as part of my move, I made a list of all the books I own that I haven’t read and came out to more than a hundred. So clearly in 2025, I’m going to want to whittle that number down.
Movies and Shows
I watched a surprisingly little amount of new content this year. I only knocked 10 movies and about 15 seasons of TV shows off my watch list. That’s not great. Part of the issue is that I no long have new stuff playing while I’m writing or playing computer games; I try to sit down and watch it fully. Which is hard to do, because I have so many other things to do. I did get into reactor videos, which has also influenced my watching habits.
I want to knock more things off my to -watch list, and part of doing that is going to be doing some minor world building and brain storming while I’m watching new things. I might also incorporate one new episode of a show as my ‘you just got home spend half an hour relaxing’ routine. Whatever I can do to knock things off my watch list faster than they get on there.
Games
I played a fair number of games this year, but I didn’t really finish a whole lot of them. I did end a couple, but many of the games I was playing through at the start of the year I’m still playing through at the end. That’s not good. These are great stories to play through and I need to focus on finishing them and moving on to new ones.
So, I’ll be spending more time playing video games now that I’m done moving. Enough time that I can make progress on the games, but not enough that I fall behind on my projects.
For 2025
For 2025, now that I’m in a new place and I’ve got space to spread out (and I’ve shed a lot of excess crap) I’m looking forward to hitting the ground running. With a revised writing process, and 100 ISBN’s purchased, I’ve got room to write and create. I want to be efficient in knocking things off my lists, and with some effort I think I can be.
