Looking Back…
… Not At Last Year, But The Whole Journey
”So here’s a post we hoped we’d never write... the issue of Trail that goes on sale today will be the final ever printed issue of the magazine. Almost 36 years after we first launched as Trail Walker in 1990, we’re sadly bringing down the curtain on what is still Britain’s biggest-selling and (in our humble opinion) very best magazine dedicated to hillwalking, mountains and outdoor adventure.”
Trail Magazine Facebook post
When I read that Facebook post, my mind tumbled down into a well of memories. For me, although my first article in Trail magazine wasn’t my first published piece (it was my third), it was my first article in a national magazine (the January 1992 issue, if you want to be specific).
And then, as I checked through my notebook, where I still record every piece I’ve had published in a magazine, I spotted that the January 2026 issue of Writing Magazine (out at the beginning of December) carried my 1,000th published magazine piece.
We’re at that time of year when all the social media platforms are burgeoning with “Review your 2025 and Plan Your 2026” advice and recommendations.
But it struck me while reminiscing over my first article in Trail magazine that although looking back on the past year can be useful, looking back over our entire writing journey is just as important, if not more so.
Reviewing the last twelve months, I noticed that I’ve not written for as broad a range of magazines as I have in the past. Part of that is because of the other work that has come in, and part of that is the old Pareto Principle (80% of your income comes from 20% of your clients, so you concentrate on those 20%).
At first, I felt a little despondent, and I couldn’t put my finger on why. Then I realised that in the past I’ve always been proud of the breadth of publications my work has appeared in. (I like to see magazines I’ve not been published in as a challenge 😜.)
And while it makes sense to concentrate on the clients who send the most work your way, the demise of Trail is a reminder that it’s not a good idea in the writing business to put all of our eggs in one (or only a couple of) basket(s).
In the same way that Trail has decided the economics of producing the magazine to the standards they want don’t add up these days, I have no guarantees that one of my regular clients won’t take a similar decision.
But the milestone of my 1,000th published magazine piece suddenly changed my perspective. That illustrates my writing journey to date. And as I flicked through my copies of my published pieces, they reminded me that throughout my writing journey I’ve had good years and bad years.
In the past, magazines have come and gone, as they will continue to do, too.
So while looking back over the past year is important, I think looking back over our entire writing journey is just as important for perspective. And it doesn’t matter whether your writing journey is six months old, six years old, or sixty years old. Just stop and see how far you have come.
Last month, I shared my journey of how the publication of my third novel, Flaming Murder, hadn’t quite gone according to plan. And while this wasn’t the end of the world (the ebooks and paperbacks are now live across all your favourite bookstores 😁), it took the shine off things a little.
But then I took another step back. (Actually, I took all three paperbacks off the shelves and placed them on my desk.) When I looked at my novel-writing journey to date, suddenly it took on a whole new perspective. Three books look and feels a significant body of work.
Just looking back at the kerfuffle of publishing the third novel was blinding me to the bigger picture.
I’ve said before on this platform that the world turns, and in this business of writing we have to adapt in order to make the most of the opportunities that come our way.
But looking back over my entire writing journey has reminded me how far I have travelled, and it’s put some tribulations from this year into a better perspective.
So, by all means, take some time to look back at your 2025 writing year. But don’t stop there. Take a mental trip down memory lane to when you were starting out, and just marvel at what you have achieved since then. You might surprise yourself.
Upcoming Events
Just a reminder that there’s still time to register for my three-webinar series on self-publishing that I’m leading on behalf of Writers Online.
Webinar 1 - Publishing on Amazon (7th January 2026)
Webinar 2 - Amazon Alternatives (14th January 2026)
Webinar 3 - AI for Self-Publishers (21st January 2026)
For more details, click here.
And starting in January, I’m writing a monthly self-publishing newsletter for Writers Online. If you’ve already signed up for their emails, the first one should drop into your inbox soon. If not, you can sign up (for free) here:
https://www.writers-online.co.uk/information/creative-writing-winter-retreat
In the meantime, may I take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas, and I hope 2026 is a creatively productive one for all of us!
Until next month, keeeeeeeeeep writing!
Best wishes,
Simon
Sad to see another print mag go. And Trail is another for which I've done a few things.
1000 published articles is a very impressive number: my DACS list doesn't quite reach 300. Congratulations.