Jottings for Your Weekend
Entry No. 64 [Inside: Resources for writing/creative communities, growing in your writing craft, a creative/spiritual retreat, an essay on creativity/spirituality + more]
Hi there —
Welcome to Entry No. 64 from the Jotter’s Corner. Jottings for Your Weekend offers you a curated selection of new and noteworthy resources and ideas that spread the love of writing and creativity as sources of healing and hope. I source the good stuff from other writers, artists, and creatives, offering thoughtful perspectives and adding beauty and healing to this brutal world. I also like to include a recap of my latest work to make sure you’re not missing out on anything.
I’m writing to you in the midst of recovering from a cold that is plaguing my family so this entry will be short and sweet. But as always, I hope you find this weekend’s curated collection of jottings meaningful and helpful as you create a meaningful life for yourself.
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Entry No. 64
1 - Looking for a writing/creative community? Check out these communities currently open to new members:
Redbud Writers Guild — Redbud Writers Guild offers a supportive community for Christian women writers and communicators committed to growing their craft alongside like-minded women. New membership applications are open from October 1-31. I was a member of Redbud for the past two years and can personally vouch for this community.
Exhale Creativity — Exhale Creativity is a part of Coffee + Crumbs, founded by author and creative
. Exhale Creativity offers a vibrant community of creatives—writers, artists, bakers, musicians, and more—who believe creativity enriches motherhood and vice versa. Exhale is open to new members through September 20th. I’m excited to be a new member.Pen & Mend (personal plug) — If you’re looking for something super low-key, low-commitment, and more to support your personal writing journey, upgrade your subscription to my Substack and become a part of Pen & Mend (new member always welcome). As a member, you get access to a private library of over 52 writing prompts, a new journaling prompt each month, access to virtual writing rooms, discounts on workshops and other events, and access to community features. We have a virtual writing room opening on Friday, September 20th. Come write with us! It’s a quiet space to come and write alongside other writers. P.S. Here’s a peek at this month’s Pen & Mend prompt.
2 - Looking to grow in the craft of writing? Here are 2 Substacks to subscribe to:
By the way, Joy recently wrote these words on fire that I cannot get over:
“Every morning, I have to sit down to the page, slap myself across the face, shoot a shot of imaginary whiskey and ask myself: Hey, are you an artist or a copywriter? Are you a woman or a good girl? Are you free or are you owned?
Then I have a little cry (as a treat) and tell myself: Don’t be a puppet. Be a goddamn poet.”
3 - Looking for a retreat centered on spirituality and creativity? Here’s one:
Seasons of the Soul — Hosted by author, creative, and founder of Refine Retreat,
, Seasons of the Soul is a 2-day in-person retreat focused on spirituality and creativity that will be held in Columbus, Ohio in February 2025. Having engaged with Kris’s offerings and been a guest on her podcast, I’m sure this will be a beautifully nurturing time.
4 - [Recommended Read] My favorite Substack essay of the week on the intersection of creativity + faith
Read
’s latest essay in her series “Art’s Open Door” over at is fantastic. Merideth is a beautiful writer, and I loved what she shares in “Artist-God + van Gogh’s ‘The Olive Trees.’” These words of Merideth’s are sticking with me:“Put another way, creating is hoping with your hands.”
—Merideth Hite Estevez
Momentos from My Week
The past two weeks have been fairly uneventful and mainly mundane—mostly working from home, kids in school, lots of baseball, and a cold making its way through my family. This week’s moments are basically a collage of beauty I’ve been capturing recently. While picking up my youngest from school, I found another tiny feather at my feet—such a big delight from such a tiny object. I’m still listening to what is being spoken through these tiny feathers finding their way to me. Prior to my coming down with cold symptoms, I took myself on a writing coffee date and enjoyed a delightful “dirty ube latte”—that deep purple color, y’all! I cannot get enough of ube-flavored foods and drinks—such a treat. And finally, regarding the vase of flowers in that last photo above, I clipped those from the bush in my front yard. What a gift to bring such beautiful floral clippings from my yard into my home.
Thanks for reading!
I hope your weekend and week ahead are filled with inspiration, healing, and a little extra hope.
Keep jotting down the good stuff.
Let me know if something here inspired you!
Loving this! Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for this post, Kristin! I always look forward to your work. I hope that you all feel better soon!