The Twelve Days of Writing (2025)

Last Christmas season, I spent twelve days of writing, working on Book 4 of my Winnie and the “Wizard” fantasy series. As mentioned in previous posts, I not only finished writing Book 4, aka Boge-Landia, but it was accepted by The Wild Rose Press. Edits will begin at the start of the New Year.  

My previous twelve days began on December 21, 2024. This year, they began on December 24^th. Considering all the food prep required for Christmas dinner, as well as attending a Christmas Eve church service, the idea of beginning 12 days of writing on Christmas Eve might sound a little crazy. But it felt necessary since I’ve got two major writing projects in the works:

1. Working on the first draft of Book 5 of my YA fantasy series, Winnie and the “Wizard.”
2. Proofreading Nickie Dorrin Believes, a completed YA novel (that’s been marinating for the past few years) to prepare for an online novel editing course that begins on January 5, 2026.

Day One – December 24, 2025 (Wednesday)

I revised the “Nickie” ending and added to a scene midway through the novel. My hope is to begin reading the manuscript from the beginning, starting tomorrow. Full disclosure. The computer will read the story out loud to me 😁.

Helpful tip: Having a manuscript read out loud helps you catch minor mistakes your eyeballs miss because your brain knows what you mean.

Day Two – December 25, 2025 (Thursday)

I set the goal of “reading” (see above) three chapters and making corrections to “Nickie.” Despite all the Christmas festivities, I met that goal!

Day Three – December 26, 2025 (Friday)

Edited “Nickie” chapters 4, 5 and 6. I had hoped to also work on the first draft of Book 5, but called it a day after working on “Nickie.” If I can keep up the pace of proofing three “Nickie” chapters a day, I’ll have edits to my 30-chapter novel completed by Day Ten!

Day Four – December 27, 2025 (Saturday)

Again, I put it on my to-do list to proofread three “Nickie” chapters a day and then transition over to Book 5. I changed my mind. I’m getting so into the “Nickie” novel that I kept proofing after reviewing three chapters. I started the day on chapter 7 and read all the way through chapter 14! My new plan is to exclusively focus on proofreading “Nickie” and working on Book 5 AFTER I finish. My favorite part of the writing process is proofreading, so I am in heaven!

Day Five – December 28, 2025 (Sunday)

Completed chapters 15, 16, 17 and 18. Midway through, I got an email from a friend wanting to meet for lunch tomorrow and requesting that I call her with a time to get together. I texted: Sorry can’t talk. Mo is about to die. I didn’t want her to misunderstand so I added: (in my novel) [Oops! Spoiler Alert! But don’t worry. By the time the book gets published, nobody will remember this post. 😆]

Day Six – December 29, 2025 (Monday)

Completed proofing Chapters 19 – 21 before leaving for lunch. When I came back home, I resumed where I’d left off and proofed chapters 22 – 24.

Day Seven – December 30, 2025 (Tuesday)

I began work on chapter 25 first thing in the morning. By 1:20 PM I completed my task. That means I proofread a 262-page novel in seven days! Woot woot!

Day Eight – December 31, 2025 (Wednesday)

Not gonna lie. Still basking in completing my proofreading in under ten days. I’ve given some thought to the opening to Book 5 but haven’t written anything. Well … the day isn’t over yet.

To be continued …

Have a Happy New Year’s Eve!

🎉