Notes from the Inkpot
Writing, teaching, creating - one ink-stained idea at a time.
The Shoe Lesson: A Simple, Powerful Creative Writing Activity
What if one ordinary object could unlock a thousand extraordinary stories? The Shoe Lesson is one of my favourite creative writing activities - a simple, unexpected way to spark imagination, build character depth, and turn even the most reluctant writers into storytellers. Here's how a single shoe can transform your classroom or writing group.
The Kindling Collection: A Writing Box of Ritual, Firelight, and Uneasy Traditions
If you’ve ever wanted to stumble across a forgotten box of secrets, piece together a decades-old mystery, or uncover what a village has tried to forget, this is the one.
The Kindling Collection invites you into the village of Ashwick, where the Longlight Festival burns brighter than reason. What starts with weathered letters and faded photos slowly begins to feel… real. You’ll find cinnamon-scented fragments, unsettling children’s drawings, volunteer lists, and sealed envelopes that beg not to be opened.
Step into something old, strange, and quietly horrifying, and let the story pull you under.
Inside the Victoriana Collection: A Writing Box of Mystery, History, and Creative Intrigue
The Victoriana Collection isn’t a set of writing prompts. It’s a mystery told through forgotten photographs, torn letters, and eerie clues from another time. If you’re the kind of writer who finds inspiration in texture, mood, and fragments, this box was made for you. Gothic, atmospheric, and open-ended - this is where your next story begins.
Imposter Syndrome Is Lying to You: How to Own Your Voice in Teaching and Creativity
We don’t talk about it often, but imposter syndrome is everywhere in teaching - even among the most experienced educators. It doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you care. And that’s a powerful place to start. In this post, I’m sharing my own experience with doubt, growth, and why your voice matters more than you think.
Creative Writing Prompts Reimagined: A Story in a Box
Creative writing prompts don’t have to be flat. These immersive, tactile storytelling boxes are designed for writers who crave atmosphere, mystery, and a spark of the unexpected — whether you’re writing alone, in a group, or just starting to explore your voice.
From Burnout to Breakthrough: The Story Behind Ink & Insights
After years of pouring everything into my teaching career, I hit a wall - physically, emotionally, and creatively. This post shares how stepping away helped me rediscover my passion, build a business from scratch, and create the space I desperately needed to fall back in love with education. If you’ve ever felt like you’re running on empty, this one’s for you.