Dear ,

"December, being the last month of the year, cannot help but make us think of what is to come." —Fennel Hudson

The end of the year tends to be full of reflection. We pause and look back at what happened in the year gone by and start thinking of the year ahead. Regardless if 2025 was a record year for you, or one of the more challenging, the good news is that there is a shiny new year ahead.

We encourage you to take the time to think back on your creativity. Are there new things that you tried? Be proud of every time you put yourself out there- regardless if it was by submitting to a contest, sending a piece in for consideration, trying a new genre, or picking up the pen after some time away. Count up your wins! It is easy to only recognize the home runs, but the tiny steps count too. They add up, so give yourself credit for each forward movement. 

We look forward to being here for you this coming year as you continue your journey. We hope that you’ll consider being more active in the community this year. Post on the forums! Attend a workshop! Join a genre group! Share with us any ideas you have for new activities. Let’s make 2026 a wonderful year. 

Workshop Wednesdays

December 3 : Plot versus Character with Eileen: How do you keep these two key elements in balance? Are there genres that rely more heavily on one than the other?

Dec 10: Plot versus Character Deep Dive with Jenny: We will explore the concepts shared in the last workshop and discuss how they can be applied to your manuscript. Let’s chat craft!  

December 17: Open Mic with Jenny: Want a chance to share some of your pages aloud? Here’s your opportunity to hear what others are working on and to get feedback on your own work. 

December 24:  No Meeting For the Holiday

December 31: Social and Hang Out:  Come and chat with fellow members at the end of 2025. We’ll celebrate our wins and discuss any exciting plans for the coming year.

At the beginning of the month, we shared a quiet reminder that this is the time of year when our biggest annual costs come due—Zoom, Mighty Networks, and all the behind-the-scenes tools that keep the Creative Academy running smoothly. We haven’t had any contributions come in yet, so we wanted to gently circle back.

If the Creative Academy has supported you this year—through workshops, accountability sessions, community, or a nudge to keep writing—we hope you’ll consider making a year-end contribution.

Every amount truly helps, and it goes directly toward keeping our community accessible, sustainable, and thriving for everyone.

Events:

FORUMS/GENRE MEET-UPS/ ACCOUNTABILITY GROUPS: Be sure to check the events schedule for the regular genre meet-ups and weekly accountability groups. You can join those communities (they’re all listed down the left side of the main page) so that  you’re notified when events are happening. 

Sending everyone all the best wishes for any holiday you may be celebrating and a chance to take some time for peace and relaxation. 

xo

Eileen and Stephanie