As we wrap up 2025, I’ve been looking back at the pages I wrote, the ones I rewrote, and the ones that changed me in the process.
This was the year I stepped into my voice more boldly becoming a Writer‑Director with The Misstep, a project that challenged me, stretched me, and reminded me why storytelling is such a powerful act of hope.
It was also a year of deep inner work. I invested in my self‑love, my emotional awareness, and the kind of honesty that makes writing feel alive. I guided the #oamorexiste retreat in Avalon, and that experience reminded me that stories , whether spoken, written, or lived are bridges between humans.
Through every challenge and breakthrough, I kept carving my filmmaking path one brave step at a time. And I’m endlessly grateful for every collaborator, believer, dreamer, and friend who walked with me this year.
But I want to give a special shout‑out to Stage 32.
This community isn’t just a platform: it’s a global creative heartbeat. A place where writers lift each other up, where filmmakers share their wins and wounds, where resilience is the common language. Your passion, your generosity, your willingness to show up for your craft and for each other… it inspires me every single day.
Stage 32 has been a space where I’ve learned, grown, connected, and felt supported in ways that truly matter. Community matters, and this one is extraordinary.
But I don’t want this post to be just about my journey.
I want to hear from you.
What did 2025 teach you as a writer?
About your craft, your voice, your resilience, your process, your heart.
What surprised you? What challenged you? What changed you?
Let’s close the year by learning from each other , one insight, one lesson, one story at a time.
Cheers to the pages behind us and the ones waiting in 2026. Keep writing with heart.
THANK YOU STAGE 32 <3
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Congratulations on everything you learned and accomplished this year, Sandra Correia!
I learned more about screenwriting and other areas of the industry this year. Some of my scripts surprised me, like the main feature script I'm rewriting. It's been more challenging than I thought, but it's getting better and better.
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Thanks Sandra Isabel for your interesting post. I am new to Stage 32 and agree with your comment community matters. And community that understands your profession and what you are trying to achieve. I am new to screenwriting, though I have written many non fiction books on networking, business and career development, so I know and understand the power of networking. Trust is built through connecting with others and at times being prepared to be vulnerable.
One of the things 2025 taught me about my writing, was its okay to ask for feedback and not shrink and give up when it is constructive, and maybe a little negative. Your network wants you to succeed and be the best you can be.....so feedback is so important when you are new to a craft.
I am grateful for others who took time to give feedback and encouragement. Acknowledging people's wins - you may have missed out, that's okay, it's not your time.
Stage 32 is a great community and I look forward to expanding my network and learning from people like yourself Sandra Isabel.
May 2026 exceed your expectations. Happy New Year.
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This year taught me that I'm not after fame or success... I just had a lot of inner demons and I used my writing as a means of (at least partially) exorcising them - I'm not 100% fine, but it's a start.
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I learned that you never know where a buyer will come from... or what part of your scripts s/he will like!
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Thank you, Maurice Vaughan. It was rewarding:)) That’s such a great reflection. I love when a script surprises us, it’s usually a sign that we’re digging deeper and discovering layers we didn’t see at first. The challenging rewrites are often the ones that push our craft forward the most. Cheers to more 2026 learnings, surprises and successes.
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Thank you so much, Robyn Henderson , your words truly touched me. Welcome to Stage 32! You’re absolutely right: community matters, especially one that understands the creative path, the doubts, the dreams, and the courage it takes to keep showing up. Your background in networking and career development shines through here. You already understand something many writers take years to learn that trust, vulnerability, and genuine connection are the foundation of growth. And yes, feedback is such a powerful part of that. It can sting sometimes, but like you said, it’s given because people want to see you succeed, not shrink. I love your perspective on celebrating others’ wins too. That mindset keeps us grounded and open. What’s meant for us arrives in its own timing. I’m really glad you’re here, and I’m excited to see how your voice evolves in screenwriting. Stage 32 is a special place, and you’re already contributing to the heart of it.
Wishing you a beautiful 2026 filled with creativity, courage, and new connections. Happy New Year, Robyn!
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Stefano Pavone, thank you for sharing this so openly. Writing can be a powerful way to face what’s inside us, and the fact that you’re using your craft to work through those demons is already a huge step. You don’t need to be “100% fine”, progress is progress. Keep going, one page at a time. You’re not alone here.
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So true, Michael David. This industry loves to surprise us. You never know who’s reading, what moment will resonate, or which part of your script will be the hook. It’s a great reminder to stay open, keep writing, and trust that the right eyes will land on the right pages at the right time. Thanks for sharing.
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You're welcome, Sandra Correia. Even though I make a really detailed outline for a feature script, I always discover layers and things when I write and rewrite the script.
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Likewise Maurice Vaughan. I’ve been using Celtx for my scripts, but this year I finally felt ready to level up and switch to Final Draft. I’ve been working with it and it’s so much more user‑friendly, especially for outlining. It was my little 2025 reward to myself.
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I love using Final Draft, Sandra Correia. I haven't used it for outlining yet. I might use the outline feature for my next script.
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Sandra Correia I love your experience in Avalon...yes : ) And, what you wrote about your experience in growing as a creative, particularly as a writer, really resonates with me. I have grown into my authentic, expansive self...which is infinite. We are the cosmos, we are light, and I've understood that, purely and simply, the possibilities are endless, and when a story chooses us, we just need to believe in it, and the process, and trust in ourselves. The most wonderful end of year for all, and a huge, huge shoutout to the Mod Squad for taking me in, and to Stage 32 for showing me the doorway, to a room full...of possibilities.
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I am really happy for that, Maurice Vaughan. Happy New Year my friend <3 May your deepest dreams come true!
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Juliana Philippi, your words are pure light. I love how you describe stepping into your authentic, expansive self; it’s exactly that feeling of opening, trusting, and allowing the creative universe to move through us. When a story chooses us, as you said, the only thing we can do is believe in it and trust the process. That trust is where the magic happens. I’m so glad Avalon resonated with you, and even more grateful to walk alongside creatives like you who understand that we’re part of something bigger, a cosmos of ideas, intuition, and endless possibility. In April 2026, we will go again :)) I am really happy that you joined our ModSquad where we can grow, connect, and keep expanding together.
Wishing you a beautiful end of year, Juliana <3 may 2026 bring even more clarity, courage, love and cosmic creativity.
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Thanks, Sandra Correia. Happy New Year my friend! I hope your deepest dreams come true!
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Happy New Year!
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Happy New Year, Vamsi Tankala.
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Thank you Sandra Correia for this beautiful post, I couldn't agree more. Being more active on Stage 32 this year has enabled me to trust myself more as I embark on this creative journey. Happy new year everyone!
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That I wasted too much time on trying to write an epic story, my own trilogy, my own saga, that I lost sight of why I was so attracted to writing in the first place. The best advice I can give for people to avoid my mistakes is:
1. Never finish your story on a cliffhanger - there's no guarantee of a resolution.
2. Always have a contingency ready.
3. Don't try to write a great story - just write a story, and let public opinion be your critics.
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"What did 2025 teach you as a writer?"
Beat Sheet formatting should be as meticulous as Script formatting.
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That’s the way Marie Hatten. Being more active, sharing your voice, being yourself :)) Happy 2026. Thank you.
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Stefano Pavone, thank you for sharing this so openly. It takes real clarity to recognize when the pressure to create something “epic” pulls us away from the joy that brought us to writing in the first place. Your advice is spot‑on practical, hard‑earned, and generous.Letting go of perfection and returning to the simple act of telling a story is such a powerful reset. I’m glad you found your way back to what truly matters to you as a writer. Here’s to creating with more freedom and less pressure in 2026.
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Michael Dzurak, that’s such a great takeaway. The beat sheet really is the spine of the story, and giving it the same care and precision as the script itself makes everything downstream so much stronger. Love this insight as we head into 2026.
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Sandra Isabel, 2025 taught me that I've still got a ways to go on this screenwriting/TV-writing journey of mine.
And I'm still very glad to take that journey.
Spent the year's final forty days (and nights) cleaning up some technical glitches in my scripts...namely, how to handle time lapses. Instead of using "SAME SCENE - A BIT LATER" and its variations, I now use "LATER." And in a couple of scripts, I was able to turn those time lapses into "SERIES OF SHOTS."
The changes shortened eight of my scripts by a page each: "Really Old School," "Gayle Strawberry and Her Soda Pop Music Makers," "Bleeding Gums," "The Nutcrackers," "Kitten on the Keys," "Small Flyers," "Pushing the Envelope," and "Yes, Indeed!"
You talk about a reminder to "get your readers on your side!"
Thank you so DOGGONE much for all you do for Stage 32...and here's wishing you plenty of success in 2026 (and beyond)!
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Sandra Isabel 2025 taught me many things about myself as a story teller. I write daily now not just twice a week in my journal with morning tea in my garden. I remembered why I love to write, the stories patiently waiting to come to life through my writing, and those who will imagine my stories as they read them. I have found stories at 2 am prompting me out of bed to write a page or two. I recently discovered I fall down rabbit holes in my research, and I must remember to avoid those in 2026 as I do my research.
Joining Stage 32 I have fallen into a beautiful community full of incredibly talented people and feel humbled to be here. I look forward to the rest of 2026.
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One of the most valuable lessons I carried through 2025 came from producer Kelly Edwards, author of The Executive Chair: A Writer's Guide to TV Series Development. When I was her mentee, she taught us to tap into our guts and instincts before writing anything and to check in with ourselves that what we're putting on the page is authentically our voice.
That's not easy. A lot of us come from a "trying to impress others to get my script sold" mindset, and writing from your authentic voice means your inner critic has more ammunition. It can tell you what you're creating isn't enough or isn't good enough because it's just you on the page.
But whether I was writing drama or comedy, the approach worked. It was like discovering a buried treasure trove of ideas I never would have found if I'd been worried about impressing others while I wrote.
That led me to a philosophy I keep returning to: write your first draft solely for yourself, then edit it for the audience. Only you can determine the balance.
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Jim Boston, I absolutely love this. The fact that you spent the last forty days of the year tightening your scripts says everything about your commitment to your career. Your journey is unfolding beautifully, and the best part is exactly what you said: you’re glad to be on it. That mindset is half the battle in this industry.
Thank you for the kind words, they mean a lot. Wishing you a fantastic, creative, and wildly productive 2026. Let’s keep getting those readers on our side :))
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Rose Dupuis, this is beautiful. It’s amazing how 2025 brought you back to the heart of why you write. I have to say, I can almost picture you there, writing in your journal in the garden, warmed by your morning tea. There’s something so peaceful and grounded about that image, and it feels exactly like the energy you bring to your stories. I’m so glad you found this community. Your presence, your curiosity, and your generosity add so much to Stage 32. If you need any advice from our team, send an email to: success@stage32.com. They are amazing. Cheers to the stories waiting for you in 2026 and to the beautiful journey you’re on.
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Joshua Young, this is such a powerful reflection. Kelly’s guidance tapping into your instincts and writing from your authentic voice is one of the hardest shifts a writer can make, but also one of the most transformative. I am grateful you shared with us.
You’re right: when we stop trying to impress and start listening inward, the inner critic gets louder… but so does the truth of what we actually want to say. And that “buried treasure trove” you described, that’s the magic space every writer hopes to reach.
I also have my own little technique to stay aligned creatively: When I’m writing, I intentionally quiet the grounded, practical part of myself and open up the intuitive, higher‑perspective side. Then, when I move into editing, I shift the balance back so I can focus on structure, pacing, and clarity.
And after all of that, I use the AI prompts you’ve taught us. They’ve become such a helpful final layer . A way to polish the craft even further and see the work from fresh angles. Thank you for that!
Happy New Year Joshua and thank you for always inspiring us.
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Sandra Isabel, my gratitude for your kind words and this community, It feels like 2026 is going to be an interesting year for many. Grateful to be here among all of you, I've gained insights from this community of talented people to help me learn some secrets to writing. Thank you, I will touch base with the success team. Everyone have a beautiful day/evening
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Sandra Isabel, you're so very welcome!
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Happy New Year Sandra Correia! I've learned that not all producers have the best intentions and when the option ends, just move forward and hopefully, the right one will make the film. Speaking of, can't wait to see your short, The Misstep!
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Thank you Rose Dupuis. I am grateful for your words and really happy for you. Anything you need, we are here :)) Have a wonderful Sunday.
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Hi, Jane Tumminello. Happy New Year! And yes, that’s such an important lesson. Not every producer is aligned with our vision or our values, and when an option ends, it’s really just a redirection. Moving forward with clarity and trust is the best thing we can do, because the right collaborator will always bring the right energy to the project.
Thank you for the love for The Misstep. I can’t wait to share it with you and the community once the festival circuit wraps and I’m finally able to release it publicly. I am cheering for you and I know you will find your producing match :))