Hello, fellow book lovers! You may recall that way back in January I posted about a self-imposed book challenge I set for myself this year. I’ve mentioned it occasionally since then, but now that there are only four full months left in the year (when did that happen?!), I thought it was time to give an update on my progress. My original goal was to read 26 books this year, … Read more
Plume’s upcoming August/September mailing will feature Judy Reeves, a dynamic writer, teacher, and writing practice provocateur. Judy has been a delight to work with, and we’re so excited to share her writing with you! Check out our interview with her to find out why she’s a writer you don’t want to miss! Plume: When did you know you were a writer? Judy Reeves: I remember the first thrill of using … Read more
Introducing Cushy There are many strong, creative, empowered women out there. I don’t know about you, but I think the more we support and encourage one another, the more women tend to thrive. With that in mind, we here at Plume would like to take a moment to introduce you to another female-helmed business that we have had the pleasure of interacting with. Cushy started out as a personal blog, but … Read more
The first creative writing class I ever took was back in the 90s. I’d been living in Chicago and was back home in San Diego visiting. My friend Karin invited me to join her at a writing class at a place called The Writing Center in the part of downtown that was long ago Chinatown, and still a little sketchy. The teacher, Judy Reeves, doled out writing prompts like hors … Read more
I still remember the first time I submitted work to a literary magazine. My favorite undergraduate writing professor made everyone in the class submit work to a small, local journal for the experience. I think she was pretty aware none of us were ready yet, but I appreciated the push. It led to my very first rejection letter and to a copy of the journal that declined to publish me! … Read more
We all carry lots of titles–teacher, reader, swimmer, carpooler, weightlifter, daughter, mother, stepmother, grandmother, scientist, philosopher, feminist, cat person, dog person, linguist, foodie, show-binger, traveler, entrepreneur, spouse, counselor, fan, and so many more, but there’s one title that we creative types often struggle with: writer. What is it about this particular title that gives so many of us pause? Does it feel too sacred, too intimidating, too unearned? It is … Read more
Here’s one from the archives that feels evergreen. Enjoy, Plumesters! Setting as Character We’ve all read something, whether it’s a story, essay, poem, or any other form of literature, where the setting seems to leap off the page in a way that feels visceral and singular. I have always been drawn to stories with a memorable setting, and lately have come across two that have been particularly vivid. A few … Read more
Plume Fundraising Update Many of you contributed to our GoFundMe, and we can’t thank you enough for your generosity. We haven’t quite reached our goal yet (We’ve raised just over $1800 at this point), and have found that GoFundMe is not the best platform for us moving forward (It’s a long story, but the TL/DR answer is that we don’t recommend GoFundMe if you want helpful, expedient customer service and … Read more
A Change of Venue Do you ever feel like you need to get out of the house and/or office to write? Though it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, I love writing in cafés. I try to squeeze in as much writing as I can, but I almost always spend my one dedicated writing hour a week at my favorite neighborhood café. Maybe you enjoy these types of venues … Read more
The Art of Distraction For most creative writers, we know it’s easy to get distracted from, well, writing. Whether it’s finishing up a project for work, watching the latest episode of The Handmaid’s Tale, or folding laundry, there’s always something else you can be doing that doesn’t require you to sit and stare at a blank screen until something brilliant (or, let’s face it, half-decent) strikes. I don’t think I’m alone … Read more
Just what is self-care, anyway? We hear this expression all the time from our family, friends, the internet, TV shows, you name it: practice self care. But everyone’s idea of what this looks like is a little bit different. Is it a monthly pedicure? A home-cooked meal made from your favorite fresh ingredients? Going for a run? And why, after all, do we need to practice self-care in the first … Read more
As you may have seen on our social media channels, last Sunday Plume held a “baby shower” in celebration of its official launch. We had some yummy brunch food (Mimosas! Tortilla Española! Energy bites!), played games related to Plume (not your mom’s traditional baby shower activities), and celebrated this exciting new chapter in our business with writerly friends and subscribers in the Albuquerque area. Jennifer’s delicious, homemade tortillas (traditional and … Read more