Karen Zey
@zeykaren.bsky.social
CNF writer, part-time teacher, full-time student of life. Assistant CNF editor @porcupinelit.bsky.social
Reposted by Karen Zey
June 2, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Thanks for reposting @fiveminutelit.bsky.social
Somehow, decades later, this lovely desk ended up across the country in my sister’s basement.
Somehow, decades later, this lovely desk ended up across the country in my sister’s basement.
Tuck away my treasures inside the cabinet: a collection of smooth, shiny pebbles; a miniature orange-haired troll; four silver dollars. Line up my Nancy Drew books on the right-hand shelves. —"In Between" by @zeykaren.bsky.social, in case you missed it
https://www.fiveminutelit.com/in-between
https://www.fiveminutelit.com/in-between
May 6, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Thanks for reposting @fiveminutelit.bsky.social
Somehow, decades later, this lovely desk ended up across the country in my sister’s basement.
Somehow, decades later, this lovely desk ended up across the country in my sister’s basement.
Delighted to have this CNF micro in @fiveminutelit.bsky.social today.
www.fiveminutelit.com/comfort-wear
www.fiveminutelit.com/comfort-wear
Comfort Wear by Karen Zey — Five Minutes
Today I’m ready to purge my closet.
www.fiveminutelit.com
March 17, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Delighted to have this CNF micro in @fiveminutelit.bsky.social today.
www.fiveminutelit.com/comfort-wear
www.fiveminutelit.com/comfort-wear
Reposted by Karen Zey
Tonight, somewhere, a writer sits alone but isn't lonely. We're all feeding the same fire, tending the same light. Every story you write joins a constellation of voices, each of us holding up our own small truth until, together, we illuminate the whole dark sky.
February 19, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Tonight, somewhere, a writer sits alone but isn't lonely. We're all feeding the same fire, tending the same light. Every story you write joins a constellation of voices, each of us holding up our own small truth until, together, we illuminate the whole dark sky.
Reposted by Karen Zey
“When you are writing, you're trying to find out something which you don't know. The whole language of writing for me is finding out what you don't want to know, what you don't want to find out. But something forces you to anyway.”
-- James Baldwin
-- James Baldwin
February 7, 2025 at 2:05 PM
“When you are writing, you're trying to find out something which you don't know. The whole language of writing for me is finding out what you don't want to know, what you don't want to find out. But something forces you to anyway.”
-- James Baldwin
-- James Baldwin
Reposted by Karen Zey
January 25, 2025 at 7:53 PM
On some days, this sounds about right..
Writing tip: After you finish, go back & cut all the adverbs. Then all the adjectives. Then all the other words. Eat the paper. Now you're free.
January 10, 2025 at 5:06 AM
On some days, this sounds about right..
Reposted by Karen Zey
Another highlight from the American Writers Museum today. I have given up so many times, but always creep back.
December 28, 2024 at 2:53 AM
Another highlight from the American Writers Museum today. I have given up so many times, but always creep back.
It’s Christmas in 4 days, the cardinals are frolicking on snow-covered branches, and Santa may leave me some new books under the tree!
December 21, 2024 at 3:15 PM
It’s Christmas in 4 days, the cardinals are frolicking on snow-covered branches, and Santa may leave me some new books under the tree!
Reposted by Karen Zey
“In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.” ~ Albert Camus
Happy Solstice everyone!
Happy Solstice everyone!
December 21, 2024 at 11:23 AM
“In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.” ~ Albert Camus
Happy Solstice everyone!
Happy Solstice everyone!
An excellent holiday reminder…
True luxury is found in the simplest moments.
December 19, 2024 at 2:04 PM
An excellent holiday reminder…
Reposted by Karen Zey
This week's reading is an amazing poem by @tarnwilson.bsky.social
"Welcome, First Year High School Teacher"
www.porcupineliterary.com/post/welcome...
"Welcome, First Year High School Teacher"
www.porcupineliterary.com/post/welcome...
Welcome, First Year High School Teacher.
Tarn Wilson is the author of the memoir The Slow Farm, the memoir-in-essays In Praise of Inadequate Gifts, and more.
www.porcupineliterary.com
December 16, 2024 at 1:45 PM
This week's reading is an amazing poem by @tarnwilson.bsky.social
"Welcome, First Year High School Teacher"
www.porcupineliterary.com/post/welcome...
"Welcome, First Year High School Teacher"
www.porcupineliterary.com/post/welcome...
“I sprinkle in things/they want to learn/between where commas go…”
Wonderful poem about teaching by Elizabeth Burton up at @porcupinelit.bsky.social
www.porcupineliterary.com/post/what-we...
Wonderful poem about teaching by Elizabeth Burton up at @porcupinelit.bsky.social
www.porcupineliterary.com/post/what-we...
What We Learn in English 101
Elizabeth Burton lives, writes, and teaches writing in rural Western Kentucky.
www.porcupineliterary.com
December 15, 2024 at 5:06 PM
“I sprinkle in things/they want to learn/between where commas go…”
Wonderful poem about teaching by Elizabeth Burton up at @porcupinelit.bsky.social
www.porcupineliterary.com/post/what-we...
Wonderful poem about teaching by Elizabeth Burton up at @porcupinelit.bsky.social
www.porcupineliterary.com/post/what-we...
Welcome to our new EIC @porcupinelit.bsky.social
Look who has a new role! I will be the new EIC of Porcupine Literary. Huge thank you to @writesloud.bsky.social for her generosity and guidance and mostly her faith in me taking over the publication she founded and ran so well.
Some big announcements! First, our amazing founder and EIC @writesloud.bsky.social is stepping down to take on new and exciting things elsewhere.
Second, @readinstead.bsky.social will be stepping up to become our new EIC!
Finally, @mehpoeting.bsky.social will join the team as our new CNF editor!
Second, @readinstead.bsky.social will be stepping up to become our new EIC!
Finally, @mehpoeting.bsky.social will join the team as our new CNF editor!
December 10, 2024 at 6:21 PM
Welcome to our new EIC @porcupinelit.bsky.social
Thrilled to get an essay acceptance for a 9-month old submission. A happy giving of birth indeed!
December 3, 2024 at 7:08 PM
Thrilled to get an essay acceptance for a 9-month old submission. A happy giving of birth indeed!
I do love my community library, brimming with books, and which also local writer readings, book clubs and writing workshops too.
Public library energy is the best energy. Like here is all the knowledge we could find, it's been meticulously organized and vetted and it will cost you nothing today, welcome to the absolute pinnacle of human civic evolution, feel free to pull up any bean bag chair you like
November 30, 2024 at 9:19 PM
I do love my community library, brimming with books, and which also local writer readings, book clubs and writing workshops too.
The oldest of my Christmas decorations. Although we lost Mom 12 years ago, her ceramic tree and spirit still brighten our home.
November 30, 2024 at 7:37 PM
The oldest of my Christmas decorations. Although we lost Mom 12 years ago, her ceramic tree and spirit still brighten our home.
Reposted by Karen Zey
Making sure the literary community over here sees this news on Twitter from Pidgeonholes, a lit mag I have always admired & enjoyed. 🧡
November 30, 2024 at 3:17 AM
Making sure the literary community over here sees this news on Twitter from Pidgeonholes, a lit mag I have always admired & enjoyed. 🧡
Just reviewed some submission guidelines and realized I need to cut another 70 words from my personal essay draft. Hone and polish and kill a few darlings.
November 27, 2024 at 3:19 PM
Just reviewed some submission guidelines and realized I need to cut another 70 words from my personal essay draft. Hone and polish and kill a few darlings.
Love how writers are flocking to this great blue beyond. Hope there’s more engagement soon. Links to great CNF. Sharing of craft tips and submission angst . Reflections on the writing life.
November 27, 2024 at 3:17 PM
Love how writers are flocking to this great blue beyond. Hope there’s more engagement soon. Links to great CNF. Sharing of craft tips and submission angst . Reflections on the writing life.
This was such a powerful and brave piece of writing…
"I rehearse how to draw a clock face in my head at least once a week."
We nominated Jeff Wood's memoir "What Time Is It?" for a Pushcart Prize. Read this poignant piece about dementia in our archives: https://buff.ly/3WOeqao
We nominated Jeff Wood's memoir "What Time Is It?" for a Pushcart Prize. Read this poignant piece about dementia in our archives: https://buff.ly/3WOeqao
November 27, 2024 at 3:45 AM
This was such a powerful and brave piece of writing…
Flash CNF and micro memoir need power verbs too…
November 18, 2024 at 1:38 PM
Flash CNF and micro memoir need power verbs too…
Wrestling today with the last line in a micro-memoir. Compression means every word must do hard work.
November 15, 2024 at 3:52 PM
Wrestling today with the last line in a micro-memoir. Compression means every word must do hard work.
Reposted by Karen Zey
In this week's Short Reads, Dinty W. Moore (@dintywmoore.bsky.social) remembers the sounds of his childhood in just 183 words.
www.short-reads.org/there-was-a-...
#flashnonfiction #shortreads #minimemoir
www.short-reads.org/there-was-a-...
#flashnonfiction #shortreads #minimemoir
There Was a Time in My Life When I Knew
by Dinty W. Moore | The soundscape of a childhood.
www.short-reads.org
November 13, 2024 at 5:23 PM
In this week's Short Reads, Dinty W. Moore (@dintywmoore.bsky.social) remembers the sounds of his childhood in just 183 words.
www.short-reads.org/there-was-a-...
#flashnonfiction #shortreads #minimemoir
www.short-reads.org/there-was-a-...
#flashnonfiction #shortreads #minimemoir
So happy to see more and more writers and lit mags showing up here!
November 11, 2024 at 9:36 PM
So happy to see more and more writers and lit mags showing up here!