by Heather Hein— Valentine’s Day: A holiday for some, a horror story of isolation, a pageant of overpriced, soon-to-be-deceased flowery foliage, kissing couples whose shameless acts of public passion inspire everything from the ironic eyeroll to expectorating spite. For those whom the Fates have favored with a best friend or lover...well, I hope you received … Continue reading The Witchcraft of Writing: Nymphos and Nurturers
By Heather Hein— Greetings, Loyal Votarists! And long live “spooky season”! No, I take that back. I actually loathe the terms “spooky season”, “leaf peeping” and “I love fall!” I’ll keep it to the first one for now. Words matter, my fellow spellcasters. Anyone who’s had an incantation backfire, or who has seen Harry Potter … Continue reading The Witchcraft of Writing: Word Salad
by Heather Hein— Greetings, Loyal Votarists! It’s been a hellishly hot summer in Colorado, hasn’t it? I recently spent two weeks visiting my relations in Florida with my witchy feet (not my head) buried in the sand. Talk about a horror story! I now have a new appreciation for the phrase “well, it’s a dry … Continue reading The Witchcraft of Writing: The Sand Witch
By Heather Hein— Greetings, Loyal Votarists! Here’s wishing you all a blessed Beltane as we celebrate spring, the ever-growing light, and of course, creativity! Together we have stoked the fires of winter and cast spells that guaranteed our survival through the long, cold dark without resorting to cannibalism—at least, that is my hope and assumption. … Continue reading The Witchcraft of Writing: Beltane and Bear Suits
by Heather Hein — Greetings, Loyal Votarists! I hope you’ve all made it through the horror of the holidays without casting curses or dragging Uncle Fred to an abandoned dark well and tossing him over. This month, in honor of Valentine’s Day, I would like to pose a question: Does love have a place in … Continue reading The Witchcraft of Writing: Love Potion Number Nine
by Heather Hein — Greetings, loyal Votarists! As November descends upon the land, darkening our days and leaving us with only memories of summer and as skeletal trees lick the sky, many of us are embarking on that terrifying journey…NANOWRIMO. November is National Novel Writing Month and writers are encouraged to commit an act of … Continue reading The Witchcraft of Writing: Magic Words and Phrases
by Heather Hein — Oh, my little votarists, how I've missed you! It's me again, your favorite word witch, with a bonus blog. In my previous installment, I left you with a little "lump of potential" steaming away in your hands. Now it's time to throw it in the cauldron and see what cooks up! … Continue reading The Witchcraft of Writing: The Grimoire
by Heather Hein — Greetings, Loyal Votarists! I’m glad you’ve come back to learn new spells. Last time I wrote about story seeds—little grains of ideas that germinate into a story or a novel or maybe even a magnificent ten-volume epic saga, if tended carefully. So, by now I hope you have a little file … Continue reading The Witchcraft of Writing: The Pool of Festering Things
by Heather Hein — Warm weather has arrived in Colorado and things are waking up! This is the time when people come out of hibernation, when new experiences begin to happen all around us. Good, bad, weird—everywhere story ideas are just waiting to be put down on paper. Whenever a situation presents itself in my everyday … Continue reading The Witchcraft of Writing: Story Seeds
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