Aanab News: 2025 Wrapped 🥂
Looking back on what was accomplished this year
If you’re new here, read this and this. I’m going to keep this brief so let’s get to it.
2025 in numbers: I published 12 monthlies, 12 track+fields (monthly recaps - December’s will be out tomorrow but still!), three wine news bulletins, three essays in other magazines (The Discontent, Rolling Stone MENA, and Al-Rawiya), and two daily series (14 days of love, loss, and longing in February and Witchy Week in October). Both series were fun yet challenging to do and I’ve been planning the next editions ever since. They will be staying in 2026 for sure.
Some posts from this year
“Subscribers located across 33 states and 57 countries - 44% of readers are in the USA.”
As of January 2, 2025, Aanab had 869 subs, 57 paid. As of today, Aanab is at 869 subs with 60 paid. My email open-rate is steady. People have come and others have gone which means that my newsletter hasn’t grown overall but it hasn’t shrunk either. Surprisingly, I’m okay with this. I would like to hit 1,000 subscribers eventually just because it’d be nice to break into the four digits but if it doesn’t happen, I’ll be fine. I enjoy writing regularly here, sharing it with you all, and having your support (and sometimes with your own money too!). I am happy with my corner of the internet and how it has been evolving.
Other than Aanab:
I attended 5 workshops (character illustration, documentary filmmaking, photo preservation, acrylic painting, film programming)
I shot 8 rolls of photos on film
I tried risograph printing for the first time
I started a part-time job, reporting to a mentor in art & design
I finished my short film, Buffer Zone, and had a public screening of it
Three things I want more of in 2026: walks, books, and analog craft hours.
I went through some subscriber notes and here are a few I can share:
“Reading you always makes my day...” - Ralph ♥️
“Keep up the interesting and thought-provoking work, Farrah! Looking forward to seeing what you have to say in 2026!” - Lara ♥️
“Your work is exceptional, Your knowledge is immense So proud of you, Always, Dad” - Dad ♥️
Aanab News will be back on January 20th.
For the next few weeks, I’ll be thinking about what this newsletter will be in 2026 so please share your thoughts, good or bad, in the comments below.
I’ll be posting a 2026 edition of this post once I’m back. Until then, thank you for being here with me for the ride. I am forever grateful for your company.
Love & olives,
Farrah