I Am Poetry
I can imagine myself as anyone or anything embracing weeds as well as peonies,
letting them simmer with contemplation
Calls from Behind a Door
Ignore my calls to stay hidden. Drag me out from behind this cobweb-scribbled door. I’ll pretend to be surprised when you scream in elation, when you hold your trophy close to your heart. Find me.
Lost For Words
should speak to you my long lost love
Prized Myths and Fairy Tales of the MockingOwl Roost
Welcome to the first prize winners issue of the MockingOwl Roost – the Prized Myths and Fairy Tales of the MockingOwl Roost. This beautiful collection of fairy tale and mythology-based flash fiction, micro-essays, and haiku/tanka sequence pieces come from authors around the world.
Borderline (Shepley Woods)
In the woods we are borders of our own creation, a witness to a different scene translations from black to white…
Quarterly & Special Issues
Submissions next open from June 1 to August 31 2024
November 14, 2021
Now, as an adult who happened to marry a man equally Christmas-crazy as myself, I decorate early for Christmas, not when it’s “normal.” I start putting up the decor in October.
November 14, 2021
Throughout this month, I and others from the Roost staff have offered some tips and suggestions for getting those juices flowing again as you push through NaNoWriMo, aiming for that 50,000-word goal. So today, I thought I’d offer up some specific writing exercises instead of merely directing you to other websites for resources. These are the ones I’ve found most effective for myself.
November 13, 2021
November 13, 2021
One of the biggest things I’ve had to work on as a writer and as a Christian is having the proper perspectives and “standards” regarding morality in my writing.
November 12, 2021
I’ve found that when I find myself overwhelmed and unmotivated to write, despite my goals and desires, I need a break. Here’s how I do it without sacrificing those NaNoWriMo badges.
November 11, 2021
The 50,000 word goal is attainable with just a little prep, various online tools, and fierce determination.
November 10, 2021
These poems were written from the core of Misha’s being. Raw and beautiful, often moving the reader to the point of tears. I couldn’t put it down.
November 10, 2021
November is a busy month in our household. From day 1 to day 30, we have NaNoWriMo on the brain. In the month, we also have my birthday, two birthdays of those who’ve passed, the anniversaries of passings, several friends’ birthdays, a local event we participate in each year, and, of course, Thanksgiving. These days lead to many reflections for me – and many memorials in written word.
November 8, 2021
“What is wrong with me? Why did I write that? It’s fatal trash….” I think many of us can say that during NaNoWriMo. We’ve written a page, chapter, or even a 10,000-word chunk of writing that we think is the worst thing ever composed by any human. And, so, we face that problem: “What do I do now? Trash what I’ve written, take the loss, and move forward from somewhere else? Or do I keep going and realize this manuscript will only ‘win’ NaNo for me and nothing else, ever? Or do I move on and just hope, somehow, I can come back in December and redeem this piece of literary vomit?”
November 7, 2021
So, as I’ve worked on my own character development, I’ve noticed something in much of the world’s “strong female lead” design. This pattern I’ve seen is this: the “weakening” of women and feminine characters by “masculinizing” the characters in order to have them considered “strong.” Let me explain via some examples.
November 6, 2021
Earlier this month, I mentioned my process for writing 10,000 words in less than four hours. I thought I’d give you the full run-down. May it help some of you as you tackle your NaNoWriMo 2021 writing goals this year!
November 5, 2021
NaNoWriMo 2021 will be the first time I enter this arena. It feels like I am entering the Octagon of writing. Join me to see if I survive the journey.
November 4, 2021
While I am not about to question Shakespeare on his famous line, I am a names person, and that means they are vastly important to me, no matter what the aroma! Names of characters, names of bands, book and song titles…you name it, I’ve got a list of at least three or four hundred ideas. And the list grows longer every day. Good character names are vital for powerful novels.
November 3, 2021
Every person who writes a novel is crazy. We are the captains of leaky ships who believe the rigging will be mended, the crew will not mutiny, the sky will return. There is something inside us that demands we make sail, that points us directly into the hurricane.
November 2, 2021
November 1, 2021
Tips to help you get started on NaNoWriMo day 1, November 1, 2021.
October 31, 2021
Who was the first woman to fly around the world? That’s right…not Amelia Earhart. It was, in fact, our editor-in-chief’s grandmother, Jerrie Mock. We’d like to […]
October 30, 2021
Rinsing the coffee pot on a Friday night, swirling hot water into glass,
it is funny how I revert to Friday nights almost twenty years ago...
October 25, 2021
If you’re a Harry Potter fan or have one in your life who’s interested in cocktails, this is a nicely packaged way to bring the Wizarding World to your table. Cheers!
October 25, 2021
It’s almost here! NaNoWriMo 2021 is just 6 days away. Oh, that glorious, wondrous time when we put aside all reason and write an entire novel draft in 30 days or less. Here are a few things I do each year to get myself ready, to keep myself motivated, and to get that winner’s badge.