So is this strategy a trade secret? :o

Nah it's just a simple set goal of the number of words I want to add to a story every day (currently set at 250). I'm free to write more than that of course, but if I reach that goal I no longer guilt myself for lack of progress, whereas previously if I didn't hammer out something like a 1000 words any given night something was wrong with me. So while I'm not putting out a story after one night of great writing, I'm also no longer avoiding writing for days at a time just so I don't feel that pressure.

And suddenly stories were an annual thing.

At least you add on to your stuff. I've got over a dozen stories I haven't added to since at least 2006.

Good to hear it's Villainess getting done next, I loved that character.