Wrapping up 2025
A gift to those who ran out of time
Wrapping up 2025
I wrap up 2025
in glossy paper,
embossed with snowflakes.
Tie a red ribbon,
once to cross,
and twice to end in a bow.
A gift to myself,
this 2025,
for sticking around.
While I tape and tie,
I consider counting,
rejections, acceptances, subscribers.
Measuring my worth
against statistics,
as if it mattered.
I never knew how to tie a bow,
or how to cut paper straight,
or how to keep the scissors to hand.
So I bite off tape with my teeth,
wondering whether a thought,
really counts.
Because I remember now,
that I already have a 2025,
tucked away in the past.
This imperfect gift then,
if thoughts could count,
I’d like to give it to Sandy.
(by Lisa Fransson, December 2025)
For Sandy
If my writing strikes a chord with you, a very simple way to support me is to like this post. It will help me reach more readers.
In other writing news:
My Substack read of the week was I AM HERE NOW: Making lunch by Jane Dugdale because it shows how textured prose can be even when writing about something mundane, like making lunch:
Applied for another grant (Swedish).
That same grant application, one of three currently out there, was turned down, just two minutes ago. The good thing about that is that now I can work on what I like and not on the thing that I had applied to work on.
Another grant application (Swedish) was turned down, just now. That one is a big one, just to allow for writing time. Applications are open to established author twice a year, and I apply every time.
Attended an authors’ Christmas party at Kemptown Bookshop in Brighton.
My agent found another publisher to submit Legend of Maderwerth to, so that went off on 1st December.
I prodded another publisher again, asking for news on LOM, but no reply.
Wrote two thousand words on a new short story that I was hoping to finish before December is out, but alas, work has to take priority, and it’s relentless at the moment.
Spent two hours typing up research notes for Ruth’s story, and read and downloaded another twenty articles, and I continue reading. BUT I’ve realised I’m going to need a comprehensive timeline before I actually start writing the story, so I will start on that in January.
Currently reading A Line Drawn or Printed by Jayne Marshall
If you have read this far you’ve already made a difference to This Writing Life of mine. But should you wish to, here are a few other options of how to support me:
Subscribing to this from now on roughly fortnightly missive from me will remain free for everyone, but I do aim to deliver a well-thought-through observation, hopefully with a positive spin, a lesson learned, knowledge shared. This takes time, which is why, if you enjoy reading and have the means, there’s an option here to upgrade to a paid subscription. As paying subscribers you’ll get access to monthly video diaries in which I tell you what I’ve been working on for the past month (basically what your contribution has funded) and any news to hold myself accountable to you, and from now on I’m also starting to add monthly historical essays as yet another perk for paying subscribers. Your contributions make such a difference, not only are you enabling me to continue writing stories, but you make me feel as though what I’m doing is worthwhile.
Or if you’re unable to commit to a subscription a mulled wine to fuel my imagination over the Christmas period would be most welcome.
My novel The Shape of Guilt is available to buy with free delivery from Blackwell’s in the UK or from Barnes & Noble in the States, and if you’re a Swedish speaker you can find out more about where to buy my Swedish children’s books here. Or you can leave a review of The Shape of Guilt here. And finally, here’s a tip jar:
Beautiful gift to Sandy, Lisa. I feel your loss. Nobody can replace a friend who is gone before we do, but I am sure she is watching over you. I really do. XX