As part of planning my writing goals for 2026, I’ve made the decision to wind down and close my Ream subscription.
This wasn’t an easy choice, but after a year of trying the platform, it’s become clear that it’s not the right fit for where I am in my writing career right now. I wanted to take a moment to explain why — and to share what I’ll be focusing on instead.
Why Ream isn’t the right fit for me anymore
When I launched my Ream, I hoped it would become a small but lively space for readers who enjoy my work — a place for regular flash fiction, discussion, and community. While I’ve loved sharing stories there, the reality is that the platform never grew to a size that made it sustainable for me long-term.
More importantly, I’ve realised that the way I’ve been using Ream doesn’t align well with my broader goals as an author.
Over the past year, I’ve been rethinking how I approach short fiction in particular. One of the most useful books I read in 2025 was Playing the Short Game by Douglas Smith, which made a compelling case for treating short stories not as standalone products, but as career-building tools — published and re-published in magazines to build readership, reputation, and long-term opportunity.
By self-publishing my short fiction first, I’ve been closing doors that I now want to open.
A shift in focus for 2026
In 2026, I plan to continue writing short stories — but with a different goal in mind. Instead of publishing them immediately myself, I’ll be submitting them to professional magazines and markets.
I don’t think I was ready to take that step when I first started writing short fiction. Now, I feel far more confident in my craft, and I want to give those stories the chance to reach a wider audience.
This shift also means stepping away from subscription-based platforms for now. While they can work wonderfully for some authors, they require a level of scale and ongoing output that doesn’t make sense for me at this stage.
What happens to the stories?
I’m currently finishing the next Reverie Flash Fiction collection, and I’ll be wrapping that project up before closing my Ream subscription completely. After that, I won’t be publishing flash fiction in that format anymore.
Going forward, my focus will be on:
- submitting short fiction to magazines,
- continuing work on longer projects,
- and staying in touch with readers through my blog and email newsletter.
I’ll also be sending emails more regularly, sharing updates, reflections, and behind-the-scenes thoughts on writing — much in the same spirit as the posts I’ve shared on Ream.
Looking ahead
Closing my Ream subscription isn’t about regret — it’s about alignment. Every writer has to periodically reassess what’s working, what isn’t, and where their time and energy are best spent.
For me, this change feels like the right step forward.
If you’d like to keep up with what I’m working on next, the best way to do that is through my email list or by following the blog here. I’m excited about what 2026 has in store — and I hope you’ll come along for the journey.
