Write into the Week: June 29, 2025

“That’s the thing about books. They let you travel without moving your feet.”
–Jhumpa Lahiri

Dear Writer,

I hope you’re having a good start to your week. In this newsletter:

• A writing prompt to inspire your creativity.
• Reading and listening recommendations in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.
• Publishing, residency, and retreat opportunities available now.
• Join our free Monday and Friday write-ins, and meet our community of writers.

Happy writing this week!

—Elle, Curriculum Specialist & Community Manager

Writing Prompt

Inspired by the Writer to Writer section below and my own travel journey, this week, I invite you to let your writing go somewhere unexpected. Choose any approach that feels right for you:

• Write in a style, form, or voice you don’t normally use.
• Drop a character into an unfamiliar setting or situation—and discover what happens next.
• Write a flash piece about a place you’ve always wanted to visit but haven’t.
• Write a poem, scene, or essay about an emotional journey you’re currently navigating.

Go wherever your writing wants to go today. Follow curiosity. Let it lead.

Writer to Writer: Where Has Your Writing Taken You?

Last week, I flew from Hawaii to The Netherlands—two oceans, 3 airports, one extremely long layover, and 30 hours later—I found myself thinking not just about physical travel, but about the many places writing has taken me over the years.

Writing doesn’t just bring us to new locations—it changes how we see the world, who we know, and how we understand ourselves. It opens unexpected doors: creative friendships, surprising opportunities, new ways of thinking, and moments of personal transformation. Some of us started writing by accident, possibly through journaling, or writing the occasional poem or essay. Others began with big dreams: finishing a novel, getting published in a high-profile magazine, or landing on a bestseller list. No matter where you started, your relationship to writing has likely shifted.

This week, I invite you to pause and reflect:

• Where has your writing already taken you—creatively, personally, emotionally?
• What surprising gifts or challenges has it brought into your life?
• Has your “why” changed over the years?
• Are your goals bigger or smaller now? More personal or more public?
• Most importantly, where would you like your writing to take you next?

Writing, like travel, often leads us somewhere we never expected. It’s okay if you’re in unfamiliar territory. You don’t need to know exactly where you’re headed—only that you’re still willing to go.

Reading Recommendations:

Fiction:

• “Foreigner” by Jessika Bouvier. In this short story, Ash visits her ex, Bobby/Joonseo, at a South Korean military base while studying abroad, navigating the charged, unspoken terrain between them. In a story layered with emotional tension, Bouvier captures what lingers after a relationship ends.

Nonfiction:

• “Star Wars Dad” by Blake Pfeil. In this personal essay, told through wit and sentiment, Pfeil attempts to learn more about his father by searching for clues in the ruins of an old drive-in theater.

Poetry:

• “Weaning, I Listen to Paganini’s Concerto No. I” — by Kendra DeColo. Unflinching, yet luminous, this poem explores the visceral contradictions of early motherhood, from grief and awe, hunger and emptiness, to beauty and rupture.

Listening Recommendations:

• From The Essential Guide to Writing a Novel Podcast: “Episode 171 – Top ten list of bad advice for writers“. This episode breaks down some of the misleading advice circulating in the writing world. You’ll also hear ten common dialogue mistakes that can dull a scene or flatten a character.

Publishing Opportunities:

• Nomad Review – Submission Deadline: August 1, 2025 Submissions call for poetry and prose centered around the theme of “fragility.” Check the website for more information on the theme and submission process. 
• Elastic Magazine – Submission Deadline: July 1, 2025. Elastic is a new print lit mag of psychedelic art and literature. They are currently seeking submissions for their second volume: The Interspecies Issue. 

Monday and Friday: Free Group Writing Sessions

Come write with us! Community write-ins are a great way to meet other writers, and carve out space in your calendar for your writing.

Monday: Write Into the Week with Elle

Join me (Elle) for an hour of mindset support, goal setting, community, and dedicated time to write! We’ll meet on Monday at 11 AM Eastern time, at this Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83999379617

Friday: Open Write-In

Join the Writers.com staff for a 90-minute writing session each Friday from 11 AM to 12:30 PM Eastern time. We will write together for the first hour. In the last, optional half hour, we’ll share our writing with one another and connect.

To add yourself, join our newsletter using the join box above, and add yourself to the “Friday Write-Ins” list at the bottom of any email. We’ll send you a Zoom link the morning of the call.

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