What a year! Progress update, and plans forward for Words She Keeps in 2026
Dear friends,
As 2025 puts on its coat and shuffles toward the exit, we wanted to pause and say a very large, very grateful thank you to each of you. Since our launch in August, you have cheered us on, read our stories, shared your encouragement, and - plot twist! - revealed your patronage of speculative feminist fiction. We always knew you had main-character energy 🙂
Words She Keeps began as a tiny glimmer. A combination of Susheela’s long-hidden trove of stories and Aurelia’s ability and desire to build community out of thin air.
Four months later, WSK burns bright. 30 stories released, 200+ readers, most importantly, a share of our proceeds to three extraordinary women’s organizations—the US Domestic Violence Hotline, She’s the First, and the Global Fund for Widows. Not bad for a passion project that started with two tired working moms and a very enthusiastic sounding Google Doc.
Now, as we look toward 2026, we’re facing a delightful truth. WSK is a viable pathway to help readers reclaim their attention and imagination, enjoy original fiction, and express meaningful support to women’s causes.
So next year, we’re growing - deeper roots, wider branches, more magic.
Deeper roots
Every story starting in 2026 will now end with “pairing recommendations”: curated art that echoes the story, aligned reads from writers we think you’ll love, maybe even the exact flavor of chai that helped Susheela get the story done on a lazy Sunday morning.
We will create more chances for you to stir the plot: we’ll have opportunities for our readers to share story prompts and make sequel requests. (Naina and Elijah/AI fans, we see you!)
We will offer audio versions of every story, for all your multitasking moments and to allow for an even wider range of subscribers to engage with our content.
Wider branches
Susheela has officially begun writing her first serialized fiction series: It Began With Her, following generations of survivors of domestic violence. Her courageous and powerful protagonists heal through service and leadership, and grow stronger through community and humor. She can’t wait to share more about it with you, and hopes to release it over the course of 2026.
We’re re-hauling our landing page to give you easier access to the archives, so you can quickly find, re-read, and share your favorite stories.
We’re continuing to find ways to support the Substack writers’ community - including by supporting FicStack, a project aimed at building a bridge between the writers crafting incredible worlds and the readers eager to explore them.
A Gentle Heads-Up
In Year 1, WSK was fully free and open to all.
In 2026, to keep this work sustainable - and to honor our several paid subscribers - we’re returning to our originally intended balance of free and paid content.
Every other story, plus newer series like It Began With Her, will now be for paid subscribers.
If you stop by occasionally, there will always be a story waiting.
If you’re a regular traveler in the WSK universe, we’d love for you to upgrade and help us support women’s causes in 2026.
If you’re a loyal reader who can’t afford a subscription, email us and we’ll gift you one. Our goal is to cover costs and fund women’s issues, not maximize profit.
Another meaningful way to help is by sharing or gifting WSK to a friend.
Thoughts or ideas? Write to us at wordsshekeeps@gmail.com
Wishing you rest, wonder, and a holiday season that feels like a deep exhale.
See you in 2026!
Love,
Susheela and Aurelia