Insecure Writer's Support Group by Ronel Janse van Vuuren

Mic Drop. An Author’s Year in Review 2025

It’s the first Wednesday of the month and time for another posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group.

I’m co-hosting this month! My awesome co-hosts are: Tara Tyler, Pat Garcia, Liza, and Natalie Aguirre!

Learn more here.

It’s the last month of the year. I can barely believe it. But a good way to end the year is to look at what I did and what I had wanted to accomplish at the start of it.

A look at what I planned and what I completed:

  • My folklore podcast episodes went as planned.
  • I moved around some of the books I planned to read as shiny ones on my TBR stole my attention, but I read and reviewed as many (more?) books than planned. (Especially ARCs.)
  • I finished a series. Yeah, I totally finished “The Irascible Immortals Series“. So awesome! Okay, so some of the translations and audio still need to be published, but I’m sure it will be done by the end of 2025.

Surprising things that happened:

  • I started reading books discussed in-depth on the Ink and Magic Podcast and thus learned more about writing (some things I understood about story but not how to use it properly, etc.).
  • I started a Booktube podcast (sharing my reviews on YouTube) on the same channel I use for everything. I call it: Reviews with Ronel.
  • I started a Substack. I call it: Ronel the Raconteur. I basically just share my two podcasts there.
  • I also published book 5 in the Origin of the Fae series. Only in English, but in all 3 formats I usually publish in. So cool!
Image credit

Writing and publishing wise…

I wanted to do Kickstarter, but it turns out I’m ineligible to be a creator on the platform as I’m South African (they only allow certain countries to participate on the creator side of things). I did research alternatives, but none of them have the kind of built-in audience for books the way Kickstarter does. Bummer. I did find Jumpstarter, a South African alternative crowdfunding model similar to Kickstarter. But honestly, there’s so much to work through to get something like this to work, that I felt overwhelmed.

I learned so much this year: using different technology and apps; from book clubs and reading challenges; listening to podcasts and reading papers on psychology. It’s like I did a degree on how to be a super entrepreneur, author and person. It was fun. I believe in being a life-long learner, and by diversifying what I learned this year (though not outside my comfort zone), I did start looking at things in a different light (or angle or whatever).

I rewrote a couple of stories in my closet and even published some of them (exclusive to my newsletter subscribers). You can read about this spring cleaning endeavour here.

The idea that anything you do takes exactly as long as you budget time for it was probably the biggest AHA! moment I had this year.

“Work expands to fill the time available for its completion.” Parkinson's Law

Eye of the Tiger – Just a woman and her will to survive.

I said in January that this is my song for the year. Man, I needed the inspiration a time or two. Things got rough as I redefined my author career; not just professionally but personally, too. The economics of time, knowing that saying “yes” to something means saying “no” to something else, sometimes seemed harsh. Why can’t I spend a bit of time researching this shiny new idea?

Yeah, looking back at what I was able to accomplish this year because I budgeted my time is quite amazing. And knowing what I can still do in 2025 because I practiced self-care, just makes me hungry for more.

if you want to be a writer you need to keep writing

So that’s been my year. What did you accomplish this year? You can learn loads more on my For Authors page here.

fairy image credit https://pixabay.com/illustrations/ai-generated-fairy-wings-magic-8121013/

No-one writes about the fae like Ronel Janse van Vuuren.

39 thoughts on “Mic Drop. An Author’s Year in Review 2025”

  3. I once heard a billionaire talk about how to build a fortune, and he referenced the story of the tortoise and the hare. He said, “Be the tortoise.” It’s that way with our time time — consistency over time = accomplishment. Way to go! You’ve done some awesome things.

    1. This is so true. Small steps over time compound in value just like interest on money does. Now if only my energy level was consistent, I’d be consistent!

  4. Thank you for co-hosting today, Ronel. Wow, you have accomplished so much this year–congratulations. I have benefited from your thirst for learning regarding advice for marketing books. I checked out your YouTube channel–looks great. 🙂

  8. Your energy and professionalism are an inspiration, as always. I’ll be doing a post at the end of the month as a year-end wrap-up. I don’t feel like I’ve hit many of my goals, and everything has taken longer than planned (the problem with self-publishing–no true deadlines means the time available can keep expanding, and thus so can the time it takes to get there.

  11. Congrats for all you accomplished this year, Ronel! And here’s to taking good care of yourself! It’s critical. I’m still struggling with budgeting time and practicing self care. I’m going around saying, “There’s power in finishing things,” (Oliver Burkeman) because I get sidetracked very easily (ADHD 😂). Merry Christmas, and thanks for co-hosting today!

  14. Thanks for co-hosting this month. You are always so inspiring. I love your honesty and energy. I’m glad that, overall, you had a good year. Hope Kickstarter makes an adjustment to their policy at some point. Happy Holidays!

  16. That’s a great list, and top of it is, I think, learning to take better care of your self. I think I still need work on that, but the physical things I’ve overcome give me a solid ground for next year at last.
    BTW, I often get your newsletter in Afrikaans to my email. I’m afraid I skip it 😀
    Thanks for co-hosting this month (and every month, it seems!)
    Jemima

  17. Busy, busy year! Excellent writing work. You’re fantastic.

    Don’t miss an opportunity to write why you like (or dislike) a book!
    Have a wonderful holiday season. ⭐

    J

  18. That’s quite a year full of achievements. How lovely to have done all that and to have it up on your blog. You are inspirational. Thank you for co-hosting the IWSG.

  19. Thanks for co-hosting last week – and a year of achievements too.

    Love Parkinson’s law, assume it applies to both co-hosting and whatever being ready for Christmas means.
    Last week was supposed to be archaeology in Scottish hills, reached mainly via Scottish bogs – and – with sunset at 3,30, back at the cottage for a writers’ retreat for two.
    Unpacking the car, realised I’d left my laptop behind, and my handwriting’s so appalling, I struggle to read it myself. Lectures futile, punishments too,
    just as well keyboards and laptops were invented. .Instead, masses of time to read – – had managed to pack kindle.

Comments are closed.