Aurora Bonner
@aurorabonner.bsky.social
writer, reader, professor, nature lover, yoga enthusiast
Stripes at the Met!
November 16, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Stripes at the Met!
Community doesn’t just appear—it’s something we build, and sometimes building it means taking risks and getting out of our comfort zone.
This week, I wrote about the work of building community in the creative world and how small gestures can develop into meaningful and lasting relationships.
This week, I wrote about the work of building community in the creative world and how small gestures can develop into meaningful and lasting relationships.
November 13, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Community doesn’t just appear—it’s something we build, and sometimes building it means taking risks and getting out of our comfort zone.
This week, I wrote about the work of building community in the creative world and how small gestures can develop into meaningful and lasting relationships.
This week, I wrote about the work of building community in the creative world and how small gestures can develop into meaningful and lasting relationships.
Last week I lost ten days of work on my novel-in-progress. It sucked.
But it reminded me that creativity is about curiosity, not control. It’s all about embracing play: how curiosity keeps the work alive, some techniques for sparking creativity, and how to find joy in the process of discovery.
But it reminded me that creativity is about curiosity, not control. It’s all about embracing play: how curiosity keeps the work alive, some techniques for sparking creativity, and how to find joy in the process of discovery.
November 3, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Last week I lost ten days of work on my novel-in-progress. It sucked.
But it reminded me that creativity is about curiosity, not control. It’s all about embracing play: how curiosity keeps the work alive, some techniques for sparking creativity, and how to find joy in the process of discovery.
But it reminded me that creativity is about curiosity, not control. It’s all about embracing play: how curiosity keeps the work alive, some techniques for sparking creativity, and how to find joy in the process of discovery.
Friendly reminder: back up your writing! Just lost ten days of progress on my work-in-progress because of a rookie move.
October 30, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Friendly reminder: back up your writing! Just lost ten days of progress on my work-in-progress because of a rookie move.
If you are a writer, artist, or maker, you know that every day is a little different—some days ideas flow and are some days not. But what if you could create a routine to get them flowing more regularly?
This week on Substack I’m exploring how to structure and schedule your days and weeks.
This week on Substack I’m exploring how to structure and schedule your days and weeks.
October 28, 2025 at 4:56 PM
If you are a writer, artist, or maker, you know that every day is a little different—some days ideas flow and are some days not. But what if you could create a routine to get them flowing more regularly?
This week on Substack I’m exploring how to structure and schedule your days and weeks.
This week on Substack I’m exploring how to structure and schedule your days and weeks.
So pleased to see Rivers, Ridges, and Valleys: Essays on Rural Pennsylvania — the anthology that includes my essay “Fractures” — has been longlisted for the Writers Conference of Northern Appalachia’s Book of the Year. Grateful to be part of this collection!
October 22, 2025 at 10:04 PM
So pleased to see Rivers, Ridges, and Valleys: Essays on Rural Pennsylvania — the anthology that includes my essay “Fractures” — has been longlisted for the Writers Conference of Northern Appalachia’s Book of the Year. Grateful to be part of this collection!
The creative life isn’t just about making art — it’s about managing everything underneath it.
I’m starting a series about Living the Creative Life on Substack about how to organize a life devoted to writing and the arts.
If you’re a writer, artist, or maker trying to find your rhythm, join me!
I’m starting a series about Living the Creative Life on Substack about how to organize a life devoted to writing and the arts.
If you’re a writer, artist, or maker trying to find your rhythm, join me!
Goal-Setting for the Creative Life
How I Learned to Plan My Way Into Creativity
open.substack.com
October 21, 2025 at 12:07 PM
The creative life isn’t just about making art — it’s about managing everything underneath it.
I’m starting a series about Living the Creative Life on Substack about how to organize a life devoted to writing and the arts.
If you’re a writer, artist, or maker trying to find your rhythm, join me!
I’m starting a series about Living the Creative Life on Substack about how to organize a life devoted to writing and the arts.
If you’re a writer, artist, or maker trying to find your rhythm, join me!
Kicking off spooky season with this poetry collection! Loving the eerie, enchanted world Mary Simmons creates. Folklore, myth, and womanhood seem to blur into something wild and otherworldly. ✨🌒
October 16, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Kicking off spooky season with this poetry collection! Loving the eerie, enchanted world Mary Simmons creates. Folklore, myth, and womanhood seem to blur into something wild and otherworldly. ✨🌒
Cozying up to fall
October 14, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Cozying up to fall
A moment of magic on the trail! 💛🍂
October 3, 2025 at 12:05 PM
A moment of magic on the trail! 💛🍂
So glad to be spending time with Level Watch by Mary Ardery, by June Road Press, a woman-owned boutique press publishing some gorgeous books.
In this chapbook, she weaves recovery and nature, threads that resonate deeply with my own writing interests, together with such clarity and depth.
In this chapbook, she weaves recovery and nature, threads that resonate deeply with my own writing interests, together with such clarity and depth.
September 25, 2025 at 10:13 AM
So glad to be spending time with Level Watch by Mary Ardery, by June Road Press, a woman-owned boutique press publishing some gorgeous books.
In this chapbook, she weaves recovery and nature, threads that resonate deeply with my own writing interests, together with such clarity and depth.
In this chapbook, she weaves recovery and nature, threads that resonate deeply with my own writing interests, together with such clarity and depth.
I’ve been talking about how to write about the places we live (and imagine) lately, and just posted the first post in a new Substack series on the craft of writing place as a lived experience.
Stay tuned if you are a writer or are interested in the intersections of mindfulness and creativity.
Stay tuned if you are a writer or are interested in the intersections of mindfulness and creativity.
September 15, 2025 at 7:15 PM
I’ve been talking about how to write about the places we live (and imagine) lately, and just posted the first post in a new Substack series on the craft of writing place as a lived experience.
Stay tuned if you are a writer or are interested in the intersections of mindfulness and creativity.
Stay tuned if you are a writer or are interested in the intersections of mindfulness and creativity.
A lot of my college students don’t read for fun but they CAN enjoy reading, and that is fun to see.
We think reading’s fun, actually!
No one’s reading for fun, apparently. Here’s a reading list to fix that.
Researchers recently found that “reading for fun in the US has fallen by 40%,” which sucks. The study shows “a sustained, steady decline” over about twenty years, which I agree with the scientists …
buff.ly
September 11, 2025 at 10:30 AM
A lot of my college students don’t read for fun but they CAN enjoy reading, and that is fun to see.
Reposted by Aurora Bonner
Linda-Marie Barrett thinks that you (yes, you!) need to join a book club.
Why Everyone—Yes, Everyone—Should Join a Book Club
“Books are something social—a writer speaking to a reader—so I think making the reading of a book the center of a social event, the meeting of a book club, is a brilliant idea.” –Yann Martel * Our …
buff.ly
September 10, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Linda-Marie Barrett thinks that you (yes, you!) need to join a book club.
Reposted by Aurora Bonner
Reviews are so important to indie authors and small presses. Have you read one of ours? We'd appreciate your honest review on Amazon or Goodreads. More details: https://www.booksbyhippocampus.com/reviews
Review our Creative Nonfiction — Books by Hippocampus Magazine
Support indie authors by leaving an honest review.
www.booksbyhippocampus.com
September 7, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Reviews are so important to indie authors and small presses. Have you read one of ours? We'd appreciate your honest review on Amazon or Goodreads. More details: https://www.booksbyhippocampus.com/reviews
Have you ever left a writing retreat or writing event buzzing with ideas—only to watch that excitement fade once you got home? I’ve been there (am literally there right now!).
Read how to keep your momentum here: open.substack.com/pub/abonner/...
Read how to keep your momentum here: open.substack.com/pub/abonner/...
How to Keep Your Post-Event Writing Spark Alive
Practical steps to carry inspiration from workshops and retreats into your daily writing life.
open.substack.com
August 31, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Have you ever left a writing retreat or writing event buzzing with ideas—only to watch that excitement fade once you got home? I’ve been there (am literally there right now!).
Read how to keep your momentum here: open.substack.com/pub/abonner/...
Read how to keep your momentum here: open.substack.com/pub/abonner/...
Reposted by Aurora Bonner
"The best writing comes not when you want to say something but when you want to find something." ~ Andre Dubus III
August 26, 2025 at 11:54 AM
"The best writing comes not when you want to say something but when you want to find something." ~ Andre Dubus III
Came home to a pub acceptance on a piece I had almost given up on. Note to self: don’t quit on yourself before you even take the chance.
August 24, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Came home to a pub acceptance on a piece I had almost given up on. Note to self: don’t quit on yourself before you even take the chance.
Reposted by Aurora Bonner
"The art of writing is the art of discovering what you believe." ~ Gustave Flaubert
August 22, 2025 at 11:27 AM
"The art of writing is the art of discovering what you believe." ~ Gustave Flaubert
Left with a list of awesome reads thanks to the editor panel at #Hippocamp2025
Elisa Gabbert “30 Ideas About Writing Nonfiction”
Vivian Gormick “The Situation & the Story: The Art of Personal Narrative”
Phillip Lopate “Reflection and Retrospection”
Joseph Hurka “On the Invisible Palm of God”
Elisa Gabbert “30 Ideas About Writing Nonfiction”
Vivian Gormick “The Situation & the Story: The Art of Personal Narrative”
Phillip Lopate “Reflection and Retrospection”
Joseph Hurka “On the Invisible Palm of God”
August 18, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Left with a list of awesome reads thanks to the editor panel at #Hippocamp2025
Elisa Gabbert “30 Ideas About Writing Nonfiction”
Vivian Gormick “The Situation & the Story: The Art of Personal Narrative”
Phillip Lopate “Reflection and Retrospection”
Joseph Hurka “On the Invisible Palm of God”
Elisa Gabbert “30 Ideas About Writing Nonfiction”
Vivian Gormick “The Situation & the Story: The Art of Personal Narrative”
Phillip Lopate “Reflection and Retrospection”
Joseph Hurka “On the Invisible Palm of God”
So much fun getting to talk about using place to evoke emotion, reveal identity, and anchor us in our CNF writing at #Hippocamp2025
August 17, 2025 at 7:33 PM
So much fun getting to talk about using place to evoke emotion, reveal identity, and anchor us in our CNF writing at #Hippocamp2025
Reposted by Aurora Bonner
"When we tie setting to emotion, it becomes part of the story's emotional terrain." — @aurorabonner.bsky.social at @hippocampusmag.bsky.social online today!
Her first tip for effective sense of place in a story?
"Really anchor into the body."
Not what you expected, eh?
#WritingCommunity
Her first tip for effective sense of place in a story?
"Really anchor into the body."
Not what you expected, eh?
#WritingCommunity
August 16, 2025 at 10:08 PM
"When we tie setting to emotion, it becomes part of the story's emotional terrain." — @aurorabonner.bsky.social at @hippocampusmag.bsky.social online today!
Her first tip for effective sense of place in a story?
"Really anchor into the body."
Not what you expected, eh?
#WritingCommunity
Her first tip for effective sense of place in a story?
"Really anchor into the body."
Not what you expected, eh?
#WritingCommunity
Justin Ancheta’s session on “How to Give Sensitive and Effective Feedback” should be required for anyone going into workshop! #hippocamp2025 @hippocampusmag.bsky.social
August 16, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Justin Ancheta’s session on “How to Give Sensitive and Effective Feedback” should be required for anyone going into workshop! #hippocamp2025 @hippocampusmag.bsky.social
Wow! What a way to kick-off #hippocamp2025 Some really great insight into really important craft topics. #cnf @hippocampusmag.bsky.social
August 16, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Wow! What a way to kick-off #hippocamp2025 Some really great insight into really important craft topics. #cnf @hippocampusmag.bsky.social
Reposted by Aurora Bonner
Loving my morning with @hippocampusmag.bsky.social filling my house with fresh bread smell while @aurorabonner.bsky.social gives rad tips on writing place in CNF.
August 16, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Loving my morning with @hippocampusmag.bsky.social filling my house with fresh bread smell while @aurorabonner.bsky.social gives rad tips on writing place in CNF.