Hi, this is Celeste. I have been writing poems since 2017 and my low-fantasy crime novel Project Dylan since 2022.

Letters for Creatives is where I share my thoughts on writing, creativity, and interview creators/authors bi-weekly. Subscribe and join 620+ creatives if you want them in your inbox. Take a look at the archive before you get the next letter from me.

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There is no way December is here. It still feels like September. I have written a list of goals for 2025. As usual, they are lofty goals. Not spilling the tea this time. I want to try and see if I could actually achieve them without anyone knowing. You would have guessed it right if you know me ;)

Alternative to NaNoWriMo

If you have not been participating in NaNoWriMo lately and want accountability to write, I have started a leaderboard on TrackBear for us to hit 100K in 2025 Q1. (Guilty that I need the accountability myself. I am aiming for 80K, instead of 100K.)

To join a leaderboard, click ‘leaderboards’ on the left.

Click ‘use join code’.

Then, enter join code fcfd0d20-fc3b-4e16-ad56-8d112c3617f3 for our leaderboard, ‘LFC 2025 Q1 - 100K’.

It doesn’t matter if you are outlining, drafting or revising a book. You can track by words, pages, chapters, scenes, lines or time on TrackBear. I can’t wait to see you there and keep us accountable on our writing projects. See you there!

(If you are still hesitating about starting something, now is always better than never. When you say “I will do it tomorrow/next week”, you never do. Think about it. I would have never found the joy of storytelling and writing if I thought about how bad my English level is, compared to native English speakers. Start that project, okay?)

Trying new newsletter platform

I am tinkering with Beehiiv, another email newsletter platform. I think I would use both platforms until I feel the need to switch. I am just building the website and importing all the letters now. You will know when that happens.

It has everything that Substack offers. Beehiiv is much better if you are looking to grow your newsletter with its referral program and boosts. Click here if you want a 30-day free trial + 20% off for 3 months!

2024 Newsletter Wrapped

Check out 2023 and 2024 prompts and the annual review for 2020, 2021 and 2022 and 2023. Check out the interview series here.

Your favourite 2024 letters

Writing and storytelling:

The requirements of writing great stories

The point of writing stories

Keeping track of plot beats

Can authors write anything?

Interviews with authors and creators:

Karina Kupp on building Chill Subs and submitting to literary mags

Remy Bazerque on culture shocks, his directing, writing career\

Rebecca Jones on her French countryside life in her château

Kathryn Vercillo on her virtual book tour and collaborating with fellow writers

Jimmy Doom on character building, choosing names and more

I started a new series called Literature Lab, to deconstruct storytelling elements in fiction. I analyzed the prologue of I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai for the first one. (I am working on the next one, on Alain de Botton. Don’t tell anyone, it is our little secret.)

Happy holidays! :)

You can upgrade with a paid subscription, for the full access to:

• Full access to the Literature Lab series, deconstructing the mechanics of fiction, including prologue, plot, character arc and more

• 120+ newsletter issues on creativity, storytelling and writing

• Full access to interviews with creators and published authors, on their writing/creative process, getting over roadblocks, their creative hero and more

• 2023 and 2024 writing/creative prompts

Prompt #19

Brainstorm your goals for 2025. It can be creative projects, the one thing that you have been thinking about doing (for months or years) or general aspects like health, career, etc.

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See you on TrackBear,

Celeste