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/
Following winter's path.
January 4, 2026 at 9:41 PM
Following winter's path.
My less / more list for 2026:
starting / finishing
screen time / reading
isolating / making friends
wine / water
planning / writing
watching / doing
basement gym / outside
easy walks / challenging hikes
“no” / “yes”
starting / finishing
screen time / reading
isolating / making friends
wine / water
planning / writing
watching / doing
basement gym / outside
easy walks / challenging hikes
“no” / “yes”
January 1, 2026 at 2:39 PM
My less / more list for 2026:
starting / finishing
screen time / reading
isolating / making friends
wine / water
planning / writing
watching / doing
basement gym / outside
easy walks / challenging hikes
“no” / “yes”
starting / finishing
screen time / reading
isolating / making friends
wine / water
planning / writing
watching / doing
basement gym / outside
easy walks / challenging hikes
“no” / “yes”
Morning frost drawings.
December 8, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Morning frost drawings.
Saturday's bookspine poem:
Bad Juliet, the fortune teller
is nowhere for very long.
But ahead is the lion's den --
"our last resort," she whispers
and surges towards fortune's rocks,
leaving a dead wake.
Bad Juliet, the fortune teller
is nowhere for very long.
But ahead is the lion's den --
"our last resort," she whispers
and surges towards fortune's rocks,
leaving a dead wake.
December 6, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Saturday's bookspine poem:
Bad Juliet, the fortune teller
is nowhere for very long.
But ahead is the lion's den --
"our last resort," she whispers
and surges towards fortune's rocks,
leaving a dead wake.
Bad Juliet, the fortune teller
is nowhere for very long.
But ahead is the lion's den --
"our last resort," she whispers
and surges towards fortune's rocks,
leaving a dead wake.
"I learned to put away the work when the bad feelings arrive and take a break. To view it with new eyes. Make changes. Add or subtract words. Do it over again. Do this until the piece tells you somehow that it is done." ~ Onjana Yawnghwe, on revising
December 5, 2025 at 5:04 PM
"I learned to put away the work when the bad feelings arrive and take a break. To view it with new eyes. Make changes. Add or subtract words. Do it over again. Do this until the piece tells you somehow that it is done." ~ Onjana Yawnghwe, on revising
When I moved out west a few years ago, I struggled to find a creative community in my new town. If you're trying to connect with other writers IRL or online, here are some things you can try.
Issue #21: Pen pals [reflections]
How to connect with your people | Writing prompts in English and French | I left the house!
petitsecrits.substack.com
December 4, 2025 at 2:38 PM
When I moved out west a few years ago, I struggled to find a creative community in my new town. If you're trying to connect with other writers IRL or online, here are some things you can try.
Morning writing session essentials: inspiration, sustenance, clarity…and a fresh new notebook.
December 2, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Morning writing session essentials: inspiration, sustenance, clarity…and a fresh new notebook.
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...