It’s the last day of the year, so here’s a very quick roundup of my favourite posts from 2025. As I finish I’m observing the banner (bane of my roundup life) that this post is too long for email, so you may want to read it in the browser or the app.
Things I wrote
My favourite poems, of all the ones I wrote this year, came of stories. Here’s Merlin:
Melusine:
And there were several on Greek mythology:
And this, the odd one out, born of a slight cold and mystery novels:
In terms of fiction, I didn’t write much, but my best story is probably this one, which I wrote after re-watching Andor, thinking about the idea of prison planets, and having a very strange dream about grass.
And then there’s this very short story, which I wrote after reading a book of Irish fairy tales.
Things other people wrote
I’ve not been great with keeping up on my Substack reading this year, but here are a few pieces that have stuck with me:
This was a marvelous essay, besides introducing me to Joy Davidman’s poetry, which I was unfamiliar with.
The world described here is palpable. Everything is strange and familiar at once.
Read it out loud, and you’ll see.
Very much enjoyed this, actually forgot where I was while reading it.
I may have to copy this one out in my notebook. I’ve been reading through the Oresteia since March, and Kate’s take on it is still going round in my brain.
The absence of sound in words, and it works perfectly.
And that’s all for this year. I will see you in 2026.
Iris Shaw
Happy New Year Iris! Very cool that my poem stuck with you.
Happy new year, Iris! It's an honor to have my words remembered by you.