I will remember 2025 positively because…

[AlinaX]

I guess on a personal level, 2025 wasn’t too bad. Amongst other things, I cowrote a long sci-fi fetish tale with @Bazzle that, um, required my stopping in Buxton in the Peak District for lunch. As one does. Hopefully 2026 will see a sequel.

Hopefully 2026 will not be the year Humanity obliterates itself.

 

[SugarStorm]

In terms of creative writing, I’ll remember 2025 as a positive year for a myriad of reasons.

I published my first story at the end of January. I’ve since found out that there are individuals out there who like what I write. It’s weird, and I’m still not used to it. My fantasies used to be my own, and now they’re not.

In November I signed on with a small publishing outlet, an LGBTQ-friendly publisher, just to see if I could. Turns out that yeah, they were happy to have me.

I’ve met some really cool, kind, and encouraging people here. @THBGato, you’re a champion for so many of us within LS--honestly, I’m not sure what I would’ve done without you.

Additionally: @redgarters, @Areala-chan, @EmilyMiller, @Jackie.Hikaru and @onehitwanda--you’ve all helped shape how and what I write. You've not only provided inspiration, support, and nuggets of wisdom, but also encouragement at the moments when it mattered, and needful perspective when I was stuck in my own head... Probably more than any one of you realize.

I’d be remiss not to mention my two visits over at the AwkwardMD and Omenainen Review Thread. They were good experiences. I parked my ego at the door, went in to learn, and came out having done just that. I do wish I’d been more sure of myself before going there, though. My overall takeaways are to keep POV consistent, and that I have yet to figure out what's right or wrong when it comes to workplace romances. I ‘learned’ I can’t please everyone (duh), and that once I have a story in mind, I just gotta commit.

I've received so many wonderful comments this year from a lot of people. I know some of them frequent AH: thank you. You're amazing.

I got reviewed by stacnash (link). Supposedly this is a badge of honor of sorts, so I’ll be treating it as such. They chose an odd story to review, but I admire the commitment. A good number of zingers, too.

A blind man can see that your preference is to craft slow-burning romances, but you couldn’t resist attempting to bolt that theme onto your story about dominance and its place within the relationship dynamics between the two. Even the most skilled writers would’ve struggled to achieve it, but you struggled so much because you resorted to using a staple gun to fuse the two.

There have been a few laugh-out-loud forum moments this year. My idea was to list my favorite threads, but @Jackie.Hikaru fucked it up by posting a gif from my favorite anime (Gintama) with the caption “start writing smut, ya nerds” (or something to that effect) to which I lost it. I can’t help it. Every time I think of forum posts, my mind reverts to that one and I start giggling, so yeah, that's not happening.

Here's to 2026

 

[EmilyMiller]

Additionally: @redgarters, @Areala-chan, @EmilyMiller, @Jackie.Hikaru and @onehitwanda--you’ve all helped shape how and what I write. You've not only provided inspiration, support, and nuggets of wisdom, but also encouragement at the moments when it mattered, and needful perspective when I was stuck in my own head... Probably more than any one of you realize.

Wow! Thank you for saying that, and no I didn’t realize . No man is an island and all that .

 

[Bazzle]

I guess on a personal level, 2025 wasn’t too bad. Amongst other things, I cowrote a long sci-fi fetish tale with @Bazzle that, um, required my stopping in Buxton in the Peak District for lunch. As one does. Hopefully 2026 will see a sequel.

Hopefully 2026 will not be the year Humanity obliterates itself.

For me this long story was also something very new for me - writing about aliens and science fiction was really good fun, as was bouncing creative ideas around.

I look forward to working with @AlinaX on the sequel. Buxton is well worth visit. I don't believe aliens are living there...or are they?

 

[redgarters]

I've been reading on lit for a long time, started writing for real in 2024 but I only found that there's a community of writers and readers here in 2025. I'm thankful for that, and it's one of the best things about this year. I've met so many lovely people here who've helped me on my journey, by writing amazing stories that I've learned so much from, by offering encouraging feedback, writing advice, beta reading, help and support and generally being amazing humans. There are many I've loved to engage with, but here I want to give special thanks to @DawnDuckie , @SugarStorm , @EmilyMiller, @Nynah , @HelenL and of course the amazing @THBGato. The way T shines with positivity, encouragement and support can not be underestimated. She is an incredibly giving person and so many of us writing in LS have benefitted from her friendship and advice. Thank you T, you are one of the best things about 2025 (even though we first spoke in the year before).

I got reviewed by stacnash (link). Supposedly this is a badge of honor of sorts, so I’ll be treating it as such. They chose an odd story to review, but I admire the commitment. A good number of zingers, too.

I clicked the link and saw my comment on your stacknashed story, and it reminded me that I need to thank you again for writing it. That story gave me the tone and title for my longest one, A Melody Of Surrender. The MC's name, the rise and fall of the story, the whole lyrical/musical undertone and structure of it derives from it. A Melody is some of the best writing I did in 2025 I think, and that's in a big way thanks to you.

Outside of Lit life has been good, and I'm thankful for the small personal and family victories that mean so much. Thanks for a great Lit year everyone, your help, your encouragement, comments and community.

 

[THBGato]

Okay, stop now please. I am far, far too middle-class and British to cope with people being nice to me directly.

xxx

 

[Actingup]

In November I signed on with a small publishing outlet, an LGBTQ-friendly publisher, just to see if I could. Turns out that yeah, they were happy to have me.

That’s a real achievement- congratulations! And lots of other wonderful things to celebrate.

PS I read the ‘Nash’s comment- she’s rather special in her own way, but it’s unlikely that there’s much merit in her analysis.

 

[Areala-chan]

Okay, stop now please. I am far, far too middle-class and British to cope with people being nice to me directly.

xxx

I'm an American of no class, so all I hear when I read this is, "Thank you, ma'am, may I have another?". You will be praised, and you will like it.

 

[Areala-chan]

Getting back to Emily's point, I will remember this year as positive because it was among my most productive yet here on Lit. I got invited by @lovecraft68 to participate in an event celebrating his Lit-iversary and the story that resulted from that random ask is one of the best I've written. I met several new authors, @SugarStorm and @BeneathHerBraid among them, who encouraged me to step up my game. IRL, I learned a new skill, visited Hawaii, and got to drive my dream car even if I couldn't buy her (and yes, if you read "Chasing Cars", that is my basic bitch dream car).

I spent New Year's Eve wrapped in a blanket reading a Lovecraft-inspired anthology.

I struggled with depression, but depression also struggled with me, so it turns out we're still evenly matched after all these years. Falls count anywhere, so I have to constantly be on guard against my own brain.

Guess we'll see what 2026 brings, eh?

 

[calmlikeabomb]

The death of my mother forced me to grow up. I am a better son, a better brother, a better husband, and a better uncle.
And I am a better writer.

 

[lovecraft68]

Getting back to Emily's point, I will remember this year as positive because it was among my most productive yet here on Lit. I got invited by @lovecraft68 to participate in an event celebrating his Lit-iversary and the story that resulted from that random ask is one of the best I've written. I met several new authors, @SugarStorm and @BeneathHerBraid among them, who encouraged me to step up my game. IRL, I learned a new skill, visited Hawaii, and got to drive my dream car even if I couldn't buy her (and yes, if you read "Chasing Cars", that is my basic bitch dream car).

I spent New Year's Eve wrapped in a blanket reading a Lovecraft-inspired anthology.

I struggled with depression, but depression also struggled with me, so it turns out we're still evenly matched after all these years. Falls count anywhere, so I have to constantly be on guard against my own brain.

Guess we'll see what 2026 brings, eh?

I got excited until I realized you meant HP Lovecraft, oh well.

Thank you for accepting my invitation, it was a privilege to have you be part of it.

 

[Jackie.Hikaru]

2025 was a very tough year for me. Lit was a candle in my night. You’ve helped me more than you know. So thank you and I love you all.