iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Some birthday ramblings from an elder millennial... ;) kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/44

kathrynholmes.substack.com

Some musings on circling ‘round the sun

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

It's time for my monthly Roundup of things I've loved lately! What were your favorite reads/watches/listens in September? kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/the-roundu...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

The Roundup: September 2026

A few of the things I’ve enjoyed recently

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Thinking this week about how giving yourself creative constraints can help your writing. kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/writing-in...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

Writing inside the sandbox

Giving yourself creative constraints can set your imagination free.

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Does back-to-school season make you feel like starting something new yourself? kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/that-back-...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

That back-to-school feeling

Does September make you want to start something new?

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

It’s time for my roundup of the things I enjoyed most in August! Featuring a magical middle-grade adventure and a murder mystery, some Greek mythology, and a quick tribute to the inimitable Dolly Parton: kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/the-roundu...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

The Roundup: August 2026

Here’s what I enjoyed most this month!

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

When you're writing speculative fiction, how do you decide how much to explain to the reader? kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/how-the-ma...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

How the magic happens

When you’re writing speculative fiction, how do you decide how much to explain?

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

How do you stay connected to your creativity? Is there a creative hobby you’ve always wanted to try (or to get back to, after a long hiatus)? What’s holding you back? This week, I’m thinking about the importance of exercising our creative muscles. kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/creativity...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

Creativity is a muscle

Use it or lose it?

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Do you take purposeful breaks in between book drafts? What do you aim to accomplish in the interim? kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/breathing-...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

Breathing room

Some weeks aren't about writing at all.

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Things I loved in July: romance novels, space epics, and…Disney-fied tween pop music? Here’s my Roundup! kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/the-roundu...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

The Roundup: July 2026

Here's what I've loved lately!

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Some books practically title themselves. Others...don't. Guess which one I'm wrestling with right now! kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/titles-are...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

Titles are hard

This week's creative challenge: name my new book!

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

I’m currently teaching creative writing to kids and teens, which has me thinking about storytelling fundamentals. What’s your favorite type of “Big Moment” (i.e. turning point) in a story? kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/writing-th...

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Here’s what I enjoyed most in June. What were your faves this month? kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/the-roundu...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

The Roundup: June 2026

A few things I've enjoyed lately!

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

This week, my most under-the-radar published novel turns ten! kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/how-it-fee...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

How It Feels to...Turn Ten

My most under-the-radar book came out in June 2016!

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

This week on my Substack, I’m sharing how I use school visits to empower kids to create! kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/meeting-to...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

Meeting tomorrow's storytellers

School visits help me empower kids to create.

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

It's time for my monthly roundup of things I've enjoyed lately! What were your favorites in the month of May? kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/the-roundu...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

The Roundup: May 2026

Here's what I've loved lately!

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

This week, I’m meditating on my various “drawer books”—the manuscripts that likely won’t ever reach bookshelves. Most authors have at least a couple—and many authors have a lot! Chime in with your favorite piece of your own writing that didn’t make it? kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/the-books-...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

The books that weren't

Not every idea—or even full manuscript—gets to become a book.

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

Sometimes it’s hard to celebrate little successes as they’re happening. What are you happy with or proud of right now? kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/when-progr...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

When progress seems invisible

Do you celebrate successes in the moment?

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Have you ever tried to rework an old creative project into a totally new format? (Note that, despite the teaser art, I am *not* the author of the amazing Narwhal and Jelly books…) kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/same-story...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

Same story, different shape

Some thoughts on pouring a square plot into a round vessel...

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

I’ve been exhausted and burned out lately, and I know I’m probably not alone there. So today, I’m thinking about what it means to take a step back and do less. Are you in the same boat? kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/do-less

kathrynholmes.substack.com

Do less.

How do you know when it's time to take a step back?

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

It's time for my monthly roundup of things I've enjoyed lately! kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/the-roundu...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

The Roundup: April 2026

A few things I've enjoyed this month!

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

When was the last time you experienced genuine magic? (Was it in a book?) kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/making-magic

kathrynholmes.substack.com

Making magic

And believing in it

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

It's once again time for my monthly roundup of stuff I've enjoyed lately! What were your favorites in March? kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/the-roundu...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

The Roundup: March 2026

A few things I've enjoyed lately

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

How do you build a creative routine that works for you—and are you able to adapt when the routine goes out the window? kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/craving-ro...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

Craving routine

And trying to stay creative when the schedule has gone haywire

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

Talking craft over on my Substack today: how can you develop your story's supporting characters? kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/are-your-s...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

Are your side-characters...sketchy?

Some thoughts on fleshing out the supporting characters in a story.

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

A question from a sixth-grader at a school visit this week got me thinking about the importance of building an author community: kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/the-case-f...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

The Case for Community

Publishing books is a lot easier if you're not trying to get through it alone.

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

It's time for my monthly roundup of stuff I've enjoyed lately—and in honor of my daughter's school Read-a-thon, I made February's post entirely bookish! kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/the-roundu...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

The Roundup: February 2026

February is Read-a-thon month at my daughter’s school!

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

How do you get your ideas in order before you begin to create? When I talk to kids, I compare this process to gathering and organizing your ingredients before you start to cook. Read more on my Substack: kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/gather-you...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

Gather your ingredients

Are you having a hard time getting your story cooking?

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

It's Friday the 13th! Maybe, for good luck, we should reminisce about THE THIRTEENTH CIRCLE? 😉 Also, I'd like to give away a few paperback copies to school libraries/classrooms in grades 4-8, so click through and spread the word! kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/happy-frid...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

Happy Friday the 13th!

And happy (belated) 2nd anniversary to The Thirteenth Circle!

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

Do you have a hard time starting something completely new from scratch? How do you get past the difficult, uncertain part to find your groove? kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/starting-s...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

Starting something new is hard

A dispatch from the first-drafting trenches

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

Sharing my monthly roundup of things I’ve enjoyed lately—which today, happens to be all books! Plus, please donate to the Publishing for Minnesota fundraiser, which is live until 11:45pm tonight (1/30)! kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/the-roundu...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

The Roundup: January 2026

Here's what I've been enjoying this month!

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

As you read, do you consider what the author is doing to make you feel or respond a certain way? Especially if you’re a writer, I highly recommend occasionally slowing down to figure out what’s making a story tick! Here are some things you might notice: kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/how-did-th...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

How did the author do that??

As you read, you can think about what's working for you, and why.

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

I had eye surgery last week, the latest in a series of procedures that started in 2023. So this week, I’m meditating on “seeing clearly”—both literally and as it relates to my creative work: kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/i-can-see-...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

I can see clearly now (sort of)

On eye surgery—and seeing your work through fresh eyes

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

Do you set an intention by picking a Word of the Year? Here’s what I chose for 2026. (And yes, I’m choosing to keep the hilarious crop on the preview photo, because “screeching cat” also feels incredibly relevant for the state of the world right now…): kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/happy-new-...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

Happy New Year! My word for 2026 is...

Hint: we're getting literal *and* metaphorical.

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

It's time to share my top ten reads of 2025! What were your favorite books you read this year? kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/here-are-m...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

Here are my top ten reads of 2025!

What books did you love most this year?

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

I like to set a word of the year as my intention each January. Today, I’m taking a look at how well I did, focusing on this year’s word: kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/reflection...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

Reflections on refilling the well

Let's check in on my Word of the Year for 2025.

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

It's gift-giving season! Here's a roundup of all of my published books, in case a young reader in your life might enjoy them: kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/its-gift-g...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

It's gift-giving season!

A.k.a. the time of year I remind you that I've published a bunch of books...

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 28/11/2025

If you’re buying books this Black Friday, I’ve got a few recommendations for you in this month’s Substack Roundup! kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/the-roundu...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

The Roundup: November 2025

A few things I've enjoyed lately!

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

This week on my Substack, I'm talking about writing (and feeling) big feelings: kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/big-feelings

kathrynholmes.substack.com

Big feelings

How can you make the reader feel what your characters are feeling?

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

The creative process is not linear, and that's okay: kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/just-keep-...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

Just keep swimming

Progress is not always linear.

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

I'm officially in the momentum phase of revision! kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/all-i-wann...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

All I wanna do (is write my book)

Sing it like Sheryl Crow.

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

It's time for my monthly Roundup of things I've enjoyed lately, over on Substack! Somehow, I managed to spend spooky season reading nothing but romance novels... ;) kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/the…

kathrynholmes.substack.com

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

This week on my Substack, I'm thinking about that beautiful creative space before the "nos" start rolling in... kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/the-time-b...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

The time before "No"

A.k.a. that blissful period when a manuscript is nothing but possibility

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

Book revisions are messy and mysterious. This week, a seemingly surface-level block led me to uncover a much deeper character issue. Has this happened to you? kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/the-root-o...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

The root of the revision

Sometimes, you have to follow the feedback trail all the way to the source.

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

I’m in revision-mode this fall, so this week my post is all about getting organized to tackle revision notes! How do you set yourself up for revision success? kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/lets-talk-...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

Let's talk about revision

You've gotten notes on your manuscript. What happens next?

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

It's time for my roundup of things I loved in September! Featuring books by @lancerubinparty.bsky.social and @neddalewersbooks.bsky.social—and a call for cozy fall/Halloween recs: kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/the-roundu...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

The Roundup: September 2025

Here's what I enjoyed most last month!

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

How do you measure success when it comes to your creative pursuits? kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/celebratin...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

Celebrating 100

Milestones, and how we measure success.

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

When you read, do you pay attention to what’s working for you, and why? kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/reading-li...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

Reading like a writer

When you read, do you pay attention to what's working for you, and why?

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

It's been a bit, but here's my latest roundup of things I've loved lately—featuring books by @laurenmagaziner.bsky.social, @jandynelson.bsky.social, and more! kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/the-roundu...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

The Roundup: August 2025

A few things I loved as summer wound down.

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Kathryn Holmes @kathrynholmes.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

New on my Substack: the books, movies, and treats I loved most in July: kathrynholmes.substack.com/p/the-roundu...

kathrynholmes.substack.com

The Roundup: July 2025

A few things I've enjoyed lately...

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