Maria Hypponen
@mhypponen.bsky.social
Writer, indexer, creativity mentor. 🇨🇦 I write short stories about confused hearts and the things that might have been. On Substack: https://petitsecrits.substack.com/
Morning reflections.
November 8, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Morning reflections.
In this issue of Petits écrits / Tiny writings, I'm sharing an obituary-themed prompt, and the piece I wrote in response as inspiration. (It's rough and not finished. I might keep going with it. Time will tell!)
Happy writing!
Happy writing!
Issue #20: In memoriam [writing lab]
A death notice prompt | Reminder call for ladder-story submissions
petitsecrits.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:31 PM
In this issue of Petits écrits / Tiny writings, I'm sharing an obituary-themed prompt, and the piece I wrote in response as inspiration. (It's rough and not finished. I might keep going with it. Time will tell!)
Happy writing!
Happy writing!
My latest issue of Petits écrits / Tiny Writings lays out eight ways a phobia can add depth and layers to your characters and your story.
petitsecrits.substack.com/p/issue-19-t...
petitsecrits.substack.com/p/issue-19-t...
Issue #19: The fear is real [reflections]
Digging into fears and phobias | Writing prompts in English and French
petitsecrits.substack.com
October 24, 2025 at 10:03 PM
My latest issue of Petits écrits / Tiny Writings lays out eight ways a phobia can add depth and layers to your characters and your story.
petitsecrits.substack.com/p/issue-19-t...
petitsecrits.substack.com/p/issue-19-t...
A whole world of story ideas is right on your doorstep — or even closer. In the latest writing lab issue of Petits écrits / Tiny writings, I challenge you to get hyperlocal with your writing.
Issue #18: Local locale [writing lab]
Prompts for finding stories close to home | Reminder: call for ladder-story submissions
petitsecrits.substack.com
October 17, 2025 at 6:42 PM
A whole world of story ideas is right on your doorstep — or even closer. In the latest writing lab issue of Petits écrits / Tiny writings, I challenge you to get hyperlocal with your writing.
I’ve let my morning productivity slide in the last year, and my writing practice has taken the hit. In my latest Petits écrits / Tiny writings post, I share how I’m taking steps to end my lollygagging ways.
Issue #17: Rise and shine [reflections]
On how I’m making the most of my morning writing energy | Writing prompts | Morning hair and coffee
petitsecrits.substack.com
October 12, 2025 at 7:13 PM
I’ve let my morning productivity slide in the last year, and my writing practice has taken the hit. In my latest Petits écrits / Tiny writings post, I share how I’m taking steps to end my lollygagging ways.
A new Writing Lab issue of Petits écrits / Tiny writings just dropped! Today’s exercise is a lot of fun. If you complete it, I invite you submit your “ladder stories” for a future special issue. ✨ Check out the post for all the details. Happy writing!
Issue #16: The micro-fiction ladder [writing lab]
Playing with word-count constraints | Call for submissions
petitsecrits.substack.com
September 25, 2025 at 7:51 PM
A new Writing Lab issue of Petits écrits / Tiny writings just dropped! Today’s exercise is a lot of fun. If you complete it, I invite you submit your “ladder stories” for a future special issue. ✨ Check out the post for all the details. Happy writing!
I tend to be pretty tame in my writing — this month, I’m going to let myself go wild. 🐯
Issue #15: Are you tame or wild in your writing? [reflections]
On when to be feral and when to get serious | Writing prompts in English and French | Quote of the week | One wild selfie
petitsecrits.substack.com
September 18, 2025 at 1:38 PM
I tend to be pretty tame in my writing — this month, I’m going to let myself go wild. 🐯
These little blooms make my writing desk more inviting.
September 16, 2025 at 1:49 PM
These little blooms make my writing desk more inviting.
Good Sunday morning, Bluesky folks 🌼
September 14, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Good Sunday morning, Bluesky folks 🌼
In the latest Petits écrits / Tiny writings, I share something I'm calling the “six things” exercise, inspired by writing instructor Lois J. Peterson.
petitsecrits.substack.com/p/issue-14-o...
petitsecrits.substack.com/p/issue-14-o...
Issue #14: Observing “six things” [writing lab]
Enrich your writing with real-life detail
petitsecrits.substack.com
September 11, 2025 at 7:08 PM
In the latest Petits écrits / Tiny writings, I share something I'm calling the “six things” exercise, inspired by writing instructor Lois J. Peterson.
petitsecrits.substack.com/p/issue-14-o...
petitsecrits.substack.com/p/issue-14-o...
September 11, 2025 at 4:14 PM
🍁Hey Canadian writers! 🍁 The 2026 CBC Short Story Prize is open, and the deadline is November 1.
Rules and regs here: www.cbc.ca/books/litera...
Rules and regs here: www.cbc.ca/books/litera...
September 10, 2025 at 3:18 PM
🍁Hey Canadian writers! 🍁 The 2026 CBC Short Story Prize is open, and the deadline is November 1.
Rules and regs here: www.cbc.ca/books/litera...
Rules and regs here: www.cbc.ca/books/litera...
“Act as if you’re a writer. Sit down and begin. Act as if you might just create something beautiful, and by beautiful I mean something authentic and universal. Don’t wait for anyone to tell you it’s okay.”
~ Dani Shapiro, in "Still Writing: The Perils and Pleasures of a Creative Life"
~ Dani Shapiro, in "Still Writing: The Perils and Pleasures of a Creative Life"
September 5, 2025 at 1:26 PM
“Act as if you’re a writer. Sit down and begin. Act as if you might just create something beautiful, and by beautiful I mean something authentic and universal. Don’t wait for anyone to tell you it’s okay.”
~ Dani Shapiro, in "Still Writing: The Perils and Pleasures of a Creative Life"
~ Dani Shapiro, in "Still Writing: The Perils and Pleasures of a Creative Life"
You think you have life all figured out, then they go and discontinue your favourite dental floss.
September 4, 2025 at 3:13 PM
You think you have life all figured out, then they go and discontinue your favourite dental floss.
Have you ever struggled with starting a piece of writing all over again? Trashing what you’ve written to start fresh is tough. But sometimes it makes space for the better story to come.
petitsecrits.substack.com/p/issue-13-a...
#writingcommunity #creativewriting
petitsecrits.substack.com/p/issue-13-a...
#writingcommunity #creativewriting
Issue #13: A season of change [reflections]
A new format for Petits écrits / Tiny writings | On sunk costs and starting over | Writing prompts
petitsecrits.substack.com
September 4, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Have you ever struggled with starting a piece of writing all over again? Trashing what you’ve written to start fresh is tough. But sometimes it makes space for the better story to come.
petitsecrits.substack.com/p/issue-13-a...
#writingcommunity #creativewriting
petitsecrits.substack.com/p/issue-13-a...
#writingcommunity #creativewriting
A good morning begins with coffee and reading.
August 26, 2025 at 11:58 AM
A good morning begins with coffee and reading.
Reposted by Maria Hypponen
“When Dorothy Parker Got Fired from Vanity Fair”, @jonnysemicolon on Dorothy Parker — born #onthisday in 1893 — and the beginnings of the legendary Algonquin Round Table: https://publicdomainreview.org/essay/when-dorothy-parker-got-fired-from-vanity-fair
August 22, 2025 at 11:46 AM
“When Dorothy Parker Got Fired from Vanity Fair”, @jonnysemicolon on Dorothy Parker — born #onthisday in 1893 — and the beginnings of the legendary Algonquin Round Table: https://publicdomainreview.org/essay/when-dorothy-parker-got-fired-from-vanity-fair
All it takes is a single, vivid image or concept to ignite my creativity. The story builds itself around that spark. Is that how it starts for other writers?
petitsecrits.substack.com/p/issue-12-s...
petitsecrits.substack.com/p/issue-12-s...
Issue #12: Sparks and colours
On what ignites your creativity, the impact of colour on your brain, and some writing prompts
petitsecrits.substack.com
August 22, 2025 at 1:11 PM
All it takes is a single, vivid image or concept to ignite my creativity. The story builds itself around that spark. Is that how it starts for other writers?
petitsecrits.substack.com/p/issue-12-s...
petitsecrits.substack.com/p/issue-12-s...
A cat finds a suitcase (a love story)
August 20, 2025 at 1:21 PM
A cat finds a suitcase (a love story)
In Issue #11 of Petits écrits / Tiny writings: On shutting down intrusive thoughts, how to make writing more fun, and six writing prompts. Read it here: petitsecrits.substack.com/p/issue-11-t...
Issue #11: There’s no wrong way
On shutting down intrusive thoughts, how to make writing more fun, and six writing prompts
petitsecrits.substack.com
August 19, 2025 at 12:58 PM
In Issue #11 of Petits écrits / Tiny writings: On shutting down intrusive thoughts, how to make writing more fun, and six writing prompts. Read it here: petitsecrits.substack.com/p/issue-11-t...
“The best writing is like jumping out of a plane. I know that the parachute will open, though nothing in life is 100 per cent certain. I just have to get out there, count to three, and pull the rip cord.” ~ Margaret Springer, on courage and writing
August 19, 2025 at 12:54 PM
“The best writing is like jumping out of a plane. I know that the parachute will open, though nothing in life is 100 per cent certain. I just have to get out there, count to three, and pull the rip cord.” ~ Margaret Springer, on courage and writing
This piece is by my friend and fellow Restless Writer, Andrea Montgomery. ⚘️
My family silently bumps along the road toward an African village we’ve never heard of. Neither had Dean. —"Zairian Road" by Andrea Montgomery
https://www.fiveminutelit.com/zairian-road
https://www.fiveminutelit.com/zairian-road
August 4, 2025 at 1:02 PM
This piece is by my friend and fellow Restless Writer, Andrea Montgomery. ⚘️
Read, puzzle, read, puzzle, read, puzzle, ad infinitum.
Oh, and write sometimes too.
Oh, and write sometimes too.
August 4, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Read, puzzle, read, puzzle, read, puzzle, ad infinitum.
Oh, and write sometimes too.
Oh, and write sometimes too.
A micro-fiction, book-spine inspired:
...
I can't sleep. Is it the demon of unrest? Or just the 206 bones, buried in my secret garden?
...
#microfiction #bookspinefiction #bookspinepoetry
...
I can't sleep. Is it the demon of unrest? Or just the 206 bones, buried in my secret garden?
...
#microfiction #bookspinefiction #bookspinepoetry
July 24, 2025 at 2:27 PM
A micro-fiction, book-spine inspired:
...
I can't sleep. Is it the demon of unrest? Or just the 206 bones, buried in my secret garden?
...
#microfiction #bookspinefiction #bookspinepoetry
...
I can't sleep. Is it the demon of unrest? Or just the 206 bones, buried in my secret garden?
...
#microfiction #bookspinefiction #bookspinepoetry
I just found my copy of A.S. Byatt's "Medusa's Ankles: Selected Stories" hiding under a Ken Follett doorstopper in my tbr pile. 😱 I had forgotten all about it. Shameful!
If you say that maybe I buy too many books if I lose track of them so easily, you and I are no longer friends.
If you say that maybe I buy too many books if I lose track of them so easily, you and I are no longer friends.
July 23, 2025 at 6:59 PM
I just found my copy of A.S. Byatt's "Medusa's Ankles: Selected Stories" hiding under a Ken Follett doorstopper in my tbr pile. 😱 I had forgotten all about it. Shameful!
If you say that maybe I buy too many books if I lose track of them so easily, you and I are no longer friends.
If you say that maybe I buy too many books if I lose track of them so easily, you and I are no longer friends.