Goodness, Gracious, my "new" Writing Life is three years old.

Hello Writers

Will this self-publishing ever end?

Goodness Gracious.. soon, please…

My mini celebration on signing off my book would have been more aptly named a micro mini celebration. No sooner had I signed off than nine more pages of things to read and do appeared in my inbox. Onward I went. I gathered the information for the back cover and my author’s photo. I am not a big fan of having my senior side picture taken, but the readers, still to come (great-grandchildren) and other here and now readers, need to know how old I was and what I looked like at the time of publishing. The nine pages went on to explain how I can make or suggest changes once the book design is finished. Goodness gracious….no more changes…please. I am consumed with being done. It’s not the changes, it’s the forms, PDF forms and downloading Adobe Acrobat to make final changes and getting it all uploaded back to their forms. I think I may be terrified of doing something incorrectly and messing up the whole book. Nevertheless, I will, once again, teach myself how to do this. If you are a young writer, you have a wonderful technology advantage.  I will struggle through, and there may be some choice words slip out under my breath, but I will do it. So close, ( I think).

Reading my stories on the Story Circle on Canoe FM

Writers write because they love it. It is a passion. I write for me.

Writers write stories because they want to share. I write my stories for others.

When I send my story to the newspaper or have a story printed in an online or print literary magazine, I never know if anyone reads it. Sometimes I will meet someone in town or at an event who tells me they read my story. I am elated. I know it’s only one person, but that’s all it takes for me to feel validated. Imagine what I will feel like if lots of people read my soon-to-be-published book. Nope, can’t imagine that!

When I read a story on our local non-profit radio station, I feel this same satisfaction, and it's so much fun. You can find and listen to my Story Circle on Canoe FM stories on this website. I hope that if you are a writer of short stories, you will find a similar venue to share. Perhaps you have already found additional unique ways to share.

Goodbye 2025 and Hello 2026

A  Look at My “New” (Three-year-old) Writing Career

December seems like a good time to share my year-end reflections and my goals going forward.

It was three years ago, in November, that I submitted my pitch to the publisher and editor of The Haliburton County Echo for a once-in-a-while story under the banner I created called Writing on the Senior Side, and I am so thankful for their immediate and wonderful support, which included a request for stories every other week. Wow, how exciting and so much fun. It was also the catalyst to do more, and I started writing short stories, submitting them to online and print literary magazines. I started taking writing courses, completing a Certificate in Writing from U of T,  and now my first book is in the final steps. I am hopeful my book, 21 Smithfield Drive, will be a fait accompli by February 2026.

In the meantime, here are my goals and plans for 2026. (Hurray for neuroplasticity!)

• I have started (10,000 words so far) a new endeavour, a cozy mystery novel. I’m getting back to my 500-word minimum per writing session.

• I will continue to write new short stories and submit them accordingly.

•  I will be reading some of my stories on the Story Circle on Canoe FM.

• I am going to book a table at the Art Council Haliburton Highlands Bookapalooza 2026.

• I will continue to write this writer's blog, called Gates Open, on my website -  mgailstelter.ca.

• I am going to plan a fun book launch where, in addition to reading from my book, all who attend can tell one of their favourite childhood or family stories. I like the idea of a Sunday afternoon Wine and Cheese, but not sure about the expense; we’ll see…maybe tea and cookies:)

• With respect to Writing on the Senior Side, I want to get back to more of the humorous side of living our senior lives and combine this with telling our senior memories and childhood stories.

• I am going to write my own marketing plan for my book. It will be specific to me and what my aging body can handle and, more importantly, what I know will be enjoyable. It may sound a little strange, but I don’t care about sales; I care about sharing and inviting others to share.

I hope to connect with you again before Christmas. In case life happens, I will now wish you a wonderful holiday season with family and friends. Keep waiting, and if you have a writer's website/blog, please share it with me so I can learn about your writing pursuits.

Gail