Kathy Tsoukalas
@kathtsoukalas.bsky.social
Sign up for my free guide: 14 Days of Pen to Heart Writing - https://pentoheart.substack.com | 20+ Years a Professional Writer
My latest issue of Pen to Heart is out:
How to Find Clarity When You feel Scattered - https://open.substack.com/pub/pentoheart/p/how-to-find-clarity-when-you-feel
How to Find Clarity When You feel Scattered - https://open.substack.com/pub/pentoheart/p/how-to-find-clarity-when-you-feel
November 16, 2025 at 12:45 AM
My latest issue of Pen to Heart is out:
How to Find Clarity When You feel Scattered - https://open.substack.com/pub/pentoheart/p/how-to-find-clarity-when-you-feel
How to Find Clarity When You feel Scattered - https://open.substack.com/pub/pentoheart/p/how-to-find-clarity-when-you-feel
I have been a bit quieter here lately,
but it's because I've needed to take a step back.
I have some things that I am working on...
Can't wait to show you!
but it's because I've needed to take a step back.
I have some things that I am working on...
Can't wait to show you!
November 14, 2025 at 5:15 PM
I have been a bit quieter here lately,
but it's because I've needed to take a step back.
I have some things that I am working on...
Can't wait to show you!
but it's because I've needed to take a step back.
I have some things that I am working on...
Can't wait to show you!
Focus on what’s in your control.
What isn't in your control:
✔️ Outcome
✔️ People's Reactions
✔️ Timing
Your power is in your actions, your energy, your follow-through.
Let everything else fall where it will.
That’s how peace, and progress, meet.
What isn't in your control:
✔️ Outcome
✔️ People's Reactions
✔️ Timing
Your power is in your actions, your energy, your follow-through.
Let everything else fall where it will.
That’s how peace, and progress, meet.
November 13, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Focus on what’s in your control.
What isn't in your control:
✔️ Outcome
✔️ People's Reactions
✔️ Timing
Your power is in your actions, your energy, your follow-through.
Let everything else fall where it will.
That’s how peace, and progress, meet.
What isn't in your control:
✔️ Outcome
✔️ People's Reactions
✔️ Timing
Your power is in your actions, your energy, your follow-through.
Let everything else fall where it will.
That’s how peace, and progress, meet.
Look back through your old journal entries.
The answers are already there.
You’ll see what you kept repeating.
What you outgrew.
What you were really asking for.
Reflection brings clarity faster than force.
Sometimes the path forward is written in your past.
The answers are already there.
You’ll see what you kept repeating.
What you outgrew.
What you were really asking for.
Reflection brings clarity faster than force.
Sometimes the path forward is written in your past.
November 12, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Look back through your old journal entries.
The answers are already there.
You’ll see what you kept repeating.
What you outgrew.
What you were really asking for.
Reflection brings clarity faster than force.
Sometimes the path forward is written in your past.
The answers are already there.
You’ll see what you kept repeating.
What you outgrew.
What you were really asking for.
Reflection brings clarity faster than force.
Sometimes the path forward is written in your past.
Well said:
“Don’t be ‘a writer.’ Be writing.”
— William Faulkner
“Don’t be ‘a writer.’ Be writing.”
— William Faulkner
November 11, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Well said:
“Don’t be ‘a writer.’ Be writing.”
— William Faulkner
“Don’t be ‘a writer.’ Be writing.”
— William Faulkner
I am thinking about how I can close out the year.
My current practice:
Check in with goals before the year ends.
With clarity and curiosity.
Ask:
✔️ What actually moved your life forward?
✔️ What drained your energy?
✔️ What felt like you?
This is about alignment, and deciding what to refine.
My current practice:
Check in with goals before the year ends.
With clarity and curiosity.
Ask:
✔️ What actually moved your life forward?
✔️ What drained your energy?
✔️ What felt like you?
This is about alignment, and deciding what to refine.
November 11, 2025 at 5:00 PM
I am thinking about how I can close out the year.
My current practice:
Check in with goals before the year ends.
With clarity and curiosity.
Ask:
✔️ What actually moved your life forward?
✔️ What drained your energy?
✔️ What felt like you?
This is about alignment, and deciding what to refine.
My current practice:
Check in with goals before the year ends.
With clarity and curiosity.
Ask:
✔️ What actually moved your life forward?
✔️ What drained your energy?
✔️ What felt like you?
This is about alignment, and deciding what to refine.
Want to improve your writing?
Replace adverbs with stronger verbs.
Try this:
Instead of "run quickly" .. sprint.
Instead of "talk loudly" ... shout.
Instead of "look carefully" ... study.
Strong verbs add force!
That’s how good writing hits hard.
Replace adverbs with stronger verbs.
Try this:
Instead of "run quickly" .. sprint.
Instead of "talk loudly" ... shout.
Instead of "look carefully" ... study.
Strong verbs add force!
That’s how good writing hits hard.
November 10, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Want to improve your writing?
Replace adverbs with stronger verbs.
Try this:
Instead of "run quickly" .. sprint.
Instead of "talk loudly" ... shout.
Instead of "look carefully" ... study.
Strong verbs add force!
That’s how good writing hits hard.
Replace adverbs with stronger verbs.
Try this:
Instead of "run quickly" .. sprint.
Instead of "talk loudly" ... shout.
Instead of "look carefully" ... study.
Strong verbs add force!
That’s how good writing hits hard.
I don't know who I have revenge against.
Perhaps it's myself:
“The best revenge is massive success.”
— Frank Sinatra
Perhaps it's myself:
“The best revenge is massive success.”
— Frank Sinatra
November 7, 2025 at 5:15 PM
I don't know who I have revenge against.
Perhaps it's myself:
“The best revenge is massive success.”
— Frank Sinatra
Perhaps it's myself:
“The best revenge is massive success.”
— Frank Sinatra
Start with just 5 minutes.
That’s all it takes to begin rewriting your inner story.
The habit of journaling matters more than the length.
Because consistency builds clarity.
and clarity changes everything.
That’s all it takes to begin rewriting your inner story.
The habit of journaling matters more than the length.
Because consistency builds clarity.
and clarity changes everything.
November 6, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Start with just 5 minutes.
That’s all it takes to begin rewriting your inner story.
The habit of journaling matters more than the length.
Because consistency builds clarity.
and clarity changes everything.
That’s all it takes to begin rewriting your inner story.
The habit of journaling matters more than the length.
Because consistency builds clarity.
and clarity changes everything.
I’m probably feeling burned out.
The kind of tired that sleep can’t touch.
So here’s what I’ll do:
Free-write every morning before anything else.
No editing, no goals, no plans, just words spilling out.
Burnout burns clarity.
Writing brings it back.
The kind of tired that sleep can’t touch.
So here’s what I’ll do:
Free-write every morning before anything else.
No editing, no goals, no plans, just words spilling out.
Burnout burns clarity.
Writing brings it back.
November 5, 2025 at 9:30 PM
I’m probably feeling burned out.
The kind of tired that sleep can’t touch.
So here’s what I’ll do:
Free-write every morning before anything else.
No editing, no goals, no plans, just words spilling out.
Burnout burns clarity.
Writing brings it back.
The kind of tired that sleep can’t touch.
So here’s what I’ll do:
Free-write every morning before anything else.
No editing, no goals, no plans, just words spilling out.
Burnout burns clarity.
Writing brings it back.
Learn how to outsource.
You can’t scale if you’re doing everything yourself.
Free your time for strategy, creativity, and income-producing work.
Delegate the rest.
Growth requires letting go of control and focusing where your value is highest.
That’s how you grow faster.
You can’t scale if you’re doing everything yourself.
Free your time for strategy, creativity, and income-producing work.
Delegate the rest.
Growth requires letting go of control and focusing where your value is highest.
That’s how you grow faster.
November 2, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Learn how to outsource.
You can’t scale if you’re doing everything yourself.
Free your time for strategy, creativity, and income-producing work.
Delegate the rest.
Growth requires letting go of control and focusing where your value is highest.
That’s how you grow faster.
You can’t scale if you’re doing everything yourself.
Free your time for strategy, creativity, and income-producing work.
Delegate the rest.
Growth requires letting go of control and focusing where your value is highest.
That’s how you grow faster.
Reflect on your creative identity.
Who are you becoming when you create?
You don’t need all the answers.
You just need a starting point.
Every project, every experiment, every risk ...
shapes the next version of you.
Start where you are and keep building
Who are you becoming when you create?
You don’t need all the answers.
You just need a starting point.
Every project, every experiment, every risk ...
shapes the next version of you.
Start where you are and keep building
November 1, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Reflect on your creative identity.
Who are you becoming when you create?
You don’t need all the answers.
You just need a starting point.
Every project, every experiment, every risk ...
shapes the next version of you.
Start where you are and keep building
Who are you becoming when you create?
You don’t need all the answers.
You just need a starting point.
Every project, every experiment, every risk ...
shapes the next version of you.
Start where you are and keep building
Read one poem a day.
Not for meaning.
For rhythm.
For texture.
For how it rearranges your brain before you start creating.
It sharpens perception.
It expands language.
It trains you to see differently.
Do it daily and watch your ideas move faster.
Not for meaning.
For rhythm.
For texture.
For how it rearranges your brain before you start creating.
It sharpens perception.
It expands language.
It trains you to see differently.
Do it daily and watch your ideas move faster.
November 1, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Read one poem a day.
Not for meaning.
For rhythm.
For texture.
For how it rearranges your brain before you start creating.
It sharpens perception.
It expands language.
It trains you to see differently.
Do it daily and watch your ideas move faster.
Not for meaning.
For rhythm.
For texture.
For how it rearranges your brain before you start creating.
It sharpens perception.
It expands language.
It trains you to see differently.
Do it daily and watch your ideas move faster.
I told ChatGPT to generate an image for me with a bunch of Halloween cliches.
Yes, I like it!
Yes, I like it!
October 31, 2025 at 6:00 PM
I told ChatGPT to generate an image for me with a bunch of Halloween cliches.
Yes, I like it!
Yes, I like it!
I've gone through a busy stretch.
My focus:
1. Slow my mornings - ease into my day gently.
2. Simplify my surroundings - clear surface clutter.
3. Reground my body - take a walk in nature, do some pilates.
This is my gentle way of getting back into my routines.
My focus:
1. Slow my mornings - ease into my day gently.
2. Simplify my surroundings - clear surface clutter.
3. Reground my body - take a walk in nature, do some pilates.
This is my gentle way of getting back into my routines.
October 31, 2025 at 12:30 PM
I've gone through a busy stretch.
My focus:
1. Slow my mornings - ease into my day gently.
2. Simplify my surroundings - clear surface clutter.
3. Reground my body - take a walk in nature, do some pilates.
This is my gentle way of getting back into my routines.
My focus:
1. Slow my mornings - ease into my day gently.
2. Simplify my surroundings - clear surface clutter.
3. Reground my body - take a walk in nature, do some pilates.
This is my gentle way of getting back into my routines.
Mix unrelated ideas together.
Try this when you need to do something different
It always works for me.
Take one concept from one world and fuse it with another.
That’s how innovation happens.
That’s how new voices emerge.
Creativity lives in the overlap.
Try this when you need to do something different
It always works for me.
Take one concept from one world and fuse it with another.
That’s how innovation happens.
That’s how new voices emerge.
Creativity lives in the overlap.
October 31, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Mix unrelated ideas together.
Try this when you need to do something different
It always works for me.
Take one concept from one world and fuse it with another.
That’s how innovation happens.
That’s how new voices emerge.
Creativity lives in the overlap.
Try this when you need to do something different
It always works for me.
Take one concept from one world and fuse it with another.
That’s how innovation happens.
That’s how new voices emerge.
Creativity lives in the overlap.
How is this the first time I have seen this quote:
“Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product.”
— Eleanor Roosevelt
It's brilliant.
“Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product.”
— Eleanor Roosevelt
It's brilliant.
October 30, 2025 at 6:00 PM
How is this the first time I have seen this quote:
“Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product.”
— Eleanor Roosevelt
It's brilliant.
“Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product.”
— Eleanor Roosevelt
It's brilliant.
Need a boost? Try this:
End each week by writing down three things you’re proud of.
Big or small, it doesn’t matter.
You’re training your mind to see progress.
You’re reminding yourself you’re growing.
You’re building confidence from evidence.
Pride is proof you’re moving forward.
End each week by writing down three things you’re proud of.
Big or small, it doesn’t matter.
You’re training your mind to see progress.
You’re reminding yourself you’re growing.
You’re building confidence from evidence.
Pride is proof you’re moving forward.
October 30, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Need a boost? Try this:
End each week by writing down three things you’re proud of.
Big or small, it doesn’t matter.
You’re training your mind to see progress.
You’re reminding yourself you’re growing.
You’re building confidence from evidence.
Pride is proof you’re moving forward.
End each week by writing down three things you’re proud of.
Big or small, it doesn’t matter.
You’re training your mind to see progress.
You’re reminding yourself you’re growing.
You’re building confidence from evidence.
Pride is proof you’re moving forward.
When everything feels out of control,
gratitude steadies the ground beneath you.
One thankful thought slows the spin.
One deep breath reminds you what’s still good.
Gratitude anchors you through chaos.
gratitude steadies the ground beneath you.
One thankful thought slows the spin.
One deep breath reminds you what’s still good.
Gratitude anchors you through chaos.
October 29, 2025 at 12:30 PM
When everything feels out of control,
gratitude steadies the ground beneath you.
One thankful thought slows the spin.
One deep breath reminds you what’s still good.
Gratitude anchors you through chaos.
gratitude steadies the ground beneath you.
One thankful thought slows the spin.
One deep breath reminds you what’s still good.
Gratitude anchors you through chaos.
The hardest thing about writing is the first word.
The blank page stares back.
Your brain stalls.
Perfection whispers, wait.
Don’t.
Get the first word down - it can be anything!
Momentum is magic.
Once you start, it gets easier.
The blank page stares back.
Your brain stalls.
Perfection whispers, wait.
Don’t.
Get the first word down - it can be anything!
Momentum is magic.
Once you start, it gets easier.
October 29, 2025 at 12:30 AM
The hardest thing about writing is the first word.
The blank page stares back.
Your brain stalls.
Perfection whispers, wait.
Don’t.
Get the first word down - it can be anything!
Momentum is magic.
Once you start, it gets easier.
The blank page stares back.
Your brain stalls.
Perfection whispers, wait.
Don’t.
Get the first word down - it can be anything!
Momentum is magic.
Once you start, it gets easier.
Breathe in, breathe out.
Sometimes writing feels like breathing to me.
Sage words from a master:
“Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.”
— William Wordsworth
Sometimes writing feels like breathing to me.
Sage words from a master:
“Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.”
— William Wordsworth
October 28, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Breathe in, breathe out.
Sometimes writing feels like breathing to me.
Sage words from a master:
“Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.”
— William Wordsworth
Sometimes writing feels like breathing to me.
Sage words from a master:
“Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.”
— William Wordsworth
The art of telling stories isn’t about words.
It’s about truth.
You’re describing events and translating emotion into language!
It's beautiful. It's art.
A good story doesn’t inform.
It transforms.
That’s why we remember the ones that made us feel.
It’s about truth.
You’re describing events and translating emotion into language!
It's beautiful. It's art.
A good story doesn’t inform.
It transforms.
That’s why we remember the ones that made us feel.
October 28, 2025 at 12:30 PM
The art of telling stories isn’t about words.
It’s about truth.
You’re describing events and translating emotion into language!
It's beautiful. It's art.
A good story doesn’t inform.
It transforms.
That’s why we remember the ones that made us feel.
It’s about truth.
You’re describing events and translating emotion into language!
It's beautiful. It's art.
A good story doesn’t inform.
It transforms.
That’s why we remember the ones that made us feel.
Make something small every day.
A sentence.
A sketch.
A photo.
A spark of an idea.
Tiny acts of creation compound.
They build rhythm, confidence, and proof.
You don’t need to make something big.
You just need to keep making
A sentence.
A sketch.
A photo.
A spark of an idea.
Tiny acts of creation compound.
They build rhythm, confidence, and proof.
You don’t need to make something big.
You just need to keep making
October 28, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Make something small every day.
A sentence.
A sketch.
A photo.
A spark of an idea.
Tiny acts of creation compound.
They build rhythm, confidence, and proof.
You don’t need to make something big.
You just need to keep making
A sentence.
A sketch.
A photo.
A spark of an idea.
Tiny acts of creation compound.
They build rhythm, confidence, and proof.
You don’t need to make something big.
You just need to keep making
Cut every unnecessary word.
Every extra syllable dulls the blade.
Every filler weakens the force.
Tight writing hits.
Loose writing drifts.
Trim until it bleeds clarity.
Then stop.
This has changed my writing for the better!
Every extra syllable dulls the blade.
Every filler weakens the force.
Tight writing hits.
Loose writing drifts.
Trim until it bleeds clarity.
Then stop.
This has changed my writing for the better!
October 27, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Cut every unnecessary word.
Every extra syllable dulls the blade.
Every filler weakens the force.
Tight writing hits.
Loose writing drifts.
Trim until it bleeds clarity.
Then stop.
This has changed my writing for the better!
Every extra syllable dulls the blade.
Every filler weakens the force.
Tight writing hits.
Loose writing drifts.
Trim until it bleeds clarity.
Then stop.
This has changed my writing for the better!
Energy first, strategy second.
Because when your energy is off, no strategy works.
And when your energy is aligned, even simple moves hit hard.
Strategy builds structure.
Energy builds magnetism.
Start with how you feel, then decide what to do.
Alignment before action.
Because when your energy is off, no strategy works.
And when your energy is aligned, even simple moves hit hard.
Strategy builds structure.
Energy builds magnetism.
Start with how you feel, then decide what to do.
Alignment before action.
October 27, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Energy first, strategy second.
Because when your energy is off, no strategy works.
And when your energy is aligned, even simple moves hit hard.
Strategy builds structure.
Energy builds magnetism.
Start with how you feel, then decide what to do.
Alignment before action.
Because when your energy is off, no strategy works.
And when your energy is aligned, even simple moves hit hard.
Strategy builds structure.
Energy builds magnetism.
Start with how you feel, then decide what to do.
Alignment before action.