iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ruth Rostrup. Author. @ruthrostrup.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

Hope you can't relate. P.S Waiting to publish a poetry collection about Work while facing unemployment and your own burnout is a whole type of weird fuckery. #Poetry #Capitalism #Work #Burnout #Parenting

Poem part 1 of 3
And this is not what I planned
being stuck on the shore

of just what we need
my feet glued in wet sand

forced to stand and then watch as my children are stranded

with sad, leftover meals
and leftover me

as I watch “precious moments”
get washed out to sea

and I try to cling on
but you know how it goes

hold all of time’s sand
and into wind it just flows

as inevitably
as the bulge in my heart

when the kids still look up
with that trust and that hope

asking me to build castles
and other joys in the sand

but I’m caught in the nature
of slippery tasks at my hand

keeping us all above water
while losing grip on the land

this is not what I planned
this is not what I planned

051

Ruth Rostrup. Author. @ruthrostrup.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

Still feeling the heat of those micrawaved minutes, six and a half years later. 📕 from the book Mor(e) than Motherhood - www.amazon.co.uk/more-than-mo... #Motherhood #Womanhood #Poetry

Poem written in light cream text on a dark burgundy colour:
"I lived under the cheap glow
of the microwave clock

that still singes the edges of my eyes
all these years later.

For evert time someone told me
to 'enjoy every precious moment'
I would lose myself in weeks"

Poem by Ruth Rostrup from the book More than Motherhood.

031

Ruth Rostrup. Author. @ruthrostrup.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

YOU DON'T HATE MONDAYS. Join me and start planting seeds in the margins 🌱 This piece is from 'Mor(e) than Work' - Coming Soon. Dedicated to the creative dreamers sat in corporate meetings. There's more of us than you realise 🌊. #Poetry #Work #ArtistLife #Capitalism #WriterCommunity #Creativity

Poem part one of three: When the meeting becomes cloaked
in shadow,
blabber spill
the dreamers seize a glance.

We lay leaves of ink
in the edges of notebooks.
Nurtured, tendered chance.

Dot tiny weightless seeds in all the blustery business plans.

We whisper pencil secrets  — ideas
 we grow in the narrowest of margins

between the lines

in the most unassuming empty spaces we can find.

Room by room.
Square by square.

We curate visionary worlds
on stolen paper

breaths of air.
- Poem by Ruth Rostrup, from her upcoming collection called ' Mor(e) than Work'

161

Ruth Rostrup. Author. @ruthrostrup.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

[From the drafts] Sure, the universe is vast and beautiful - But seeing the glint in your friend's eyes as she talks about something that brings her joy? Nothing compares. #Poetry #Burnout #Friendship

Poem: "I'd trade every star / in the godly night sky / to save my friend's hope / keep the glimmer / in her eyes." by Ruth Rostrup (me).

031

Ruth Rostrup. Author. @ruthrostrup.bsky.social · 15/06/2025

Soz brb. Writing y'all a poetry collection about living (and creating) in late stage capitalism/tech feudalism/whatever the fuck this is. Will make a home for it here on Bluesky when it's ready 💙 #indieauthor #booksky #stillhere

060

Ruth Rostrup. Author. @ruthrostrup.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

A love letter from one overwhelmed creative to another (you). I started it weeks ago, weaving it slowly through the cracks and chaos of this messy season of my life. And maybe that’s what makes it matter even more. #Writer #WritingCommunity #Artist #Creative #Capitalism #Motherhood

open.substack.com

The Sacred Everyday Creative Life (For the ones carrying it all)

For the overwhelmed, burned out creative soul who’s in a life season of survival mode.

040

Ruth Rostrup. Author. @ruthrostrup.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

Postpartum night terrors. From "Mor(e) than motherhood" www.amazon.co.uk/more-than-mo... #Poetry #MoreThanMotherhood #Mom #Postpartum #MentalHealth #BookSky

A poem is displayed in soft white text on a deep maroon background. It reads:

“She holds up oceans in her sleep
wakes in sweat,
drowned in heat.

Saved the world
but at what cost?

We’ll never know.

Under heavy nights,
steeped in terror
she is lost.”

In the lower right corner, it says:
Ruth Rostrup
Mor(e) than motherhood
(psst. It’s really about womanhood)

060

Ruth Rostrup. Author. @ruthrostrup.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

I leave her in the company of others. #poem from #MoreThanMotherhood (psst. it's really about womanhood).

A poem appears in soft white text on a deep maroon background. It reads:

“I leave my body in the company of others
and slip away
into a blanket of quiet.

The banter and laughter of friends
that once woke my soul

becomes the muffled buzzing of a TV left on
in the background of a kids sleepover;
you drift off to the plot of a film that fades away.

Did time freeze or flutter by?
Was it in my safety or solace
or overwhelm
that my eyes glazed over.

You ask
‘Hey, are you ok?’
‘Yeh, I’m just tired.’
a voice replies, that sounds like mine.”

In the lower right corner, it says:
Ruth Rostrup
Mor(e) than motherhood
(psst. It’s really about womanhood)

050

Ruth Rostrup. Author. @ruthrostrup.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

I wrote a raw and heartfelt letter to a fellow creative mother, @leahplotz.bsky.social. It’s now out in the world on Substack. For you. Just in case you need to hear it too. 💌 leahplotz.substack.com/p/cold-coffe... #writer #motherhood #poet #writingcommunity

021

Ruth Rostrup. Author. @ruthrostrup.bsky.social · 23/03/2025

Writing to remember who I am. Before the feeling, before the forgetting. #womanhood #motherhood

A poem on a dark maroon background, written in white serif font. The poem reads:

"I write myself out over and over again
just to convince myself of
or remember
who I am.

The person before the feeling came.

But every day it spills out onto my pages
until none of my sentences make any sense.

And I try to find the words to describe myself
in skills
and tasks
and time spent
on actions that are supposed to speak louder than
words."

In the bottom right corner, it says:

"Ruth Rostrup
Mor(e) than motherhood
(psst. It's really about womanhood)"

040

Ruth Rostrup. Author. @ruthrostrup.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

Thanks for taking the time to comment Francesca 💜

010

Ruth Rostrup. Author. @ruthrostrup.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

First things first. Over 200 people have have signed up to disrupt their inbox with #poetry and words of #inspiration. ✨ Fuck. yes. This postcard is dedicated to #women, #friendship, and soul sisters. With poetry from @leahplotz.bsky.social and @nikitagill.bsky.social 💌

open.substack.com

💌 Poetry Postcard #4 (2mins)

Dedicated to women.

030

Ruth Rostrup. Author. @ruthrostrup.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

Bluesky fam ❤️ I've been MIA in life stuff. - New job, prepping for citizenship language exam, potential neurospicy diagnosis, sick kids, healthy kids with all the energy, tending to my 2nd book baby - But I'll be back and sharing Mor(e). IYKYK. Prepare to be showered with #poetry. #mom #writing

060

Ruth Rostrup. Author. @ruthrostrup.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

Shoutout to my husband for liking all of my posts on here. My one-man engagement farm. My dedicated like bot. My algorithmic emotional support system. 🫡

120

Ruth Rostrup. Author. @ruthrostrup.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

She's here 😭 I wrote 'Mor(e) than Motherhood' when I was in the depths of postpartum depression. I'm so proud of her. And me. 🤍 Shoutout to @mldesigns.bsky.social for the beautiful new cover. #BookCover #BookSky #IndieBooks #Poetry #Motherhood #Writer #Author #HappyDance

In the centre of the image, my book proudly stands! The cover is a bold maroon. In large, white capital letters in the top centre is the title "More" with the 'e' in parenthesis. The sub text, in the same but smaller text says "than motherhood." Underneath is a line drawing of a woman's hands coming down from the title, the fingers hand softly. Her index finger is being held by a baby's hand. Their touch is soft but reassuring. The lines are a crisp cream with some soft shading to add a 3D feeling. My name is in small white text at the bottom centre, "Ruth Rostrup". Twisting around all the elements is a subtle, dark red, twirly vine. Adorned with small leaves and twirling little offshoots. It starts in the top left and spirals to the bottom right, twirling around the hands. A secret for any alt text readers: this vine will continue onwards across the cover of the next book in the series. // Above the book image is large text that reads "New cover. Same brutality and beauty". // On each side of the book are 5 star reviews. Underneath the book it reads "A unique reading experience from both sides of labour, postpartum, and depression."

153

Ruth Rostrup. Author. @ruthrostrup.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

You guys. My book 'Mor(e) than motherhood' is getting a new cover soon and it's BEAUTIFUL and ARRGGHH I JUST CAN'T WAIT TO SHOW YOU! #BookSky #WritingCommunity #FuckYeh

050

Ruth Rostrup. Author. @ruthrostrup.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

Transforms the rest of my day. Now, if I can only become one of those 5am people... 🫠

110

Ruth Rostrup. Author. @ruthrostrup.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

Baby has stayed asleep for a glorious 45mins. Wrote a full poem from scratch and even had sips of tea. 😭 Oh, my heart.

POV photo looking down at Ruth's notebook on the dining table. One page is full of unreadable scribbles and arrows. There's a partially drunk cup of tea in a mug with a skull on.

040

Ruth Rostrup. Author. @ruthrostrup.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

Loaf cat and baby are settling down for a nap. Let's see what #writing we can get done. #Author #poet #mom #writer

Norwegian forest cat loafs on a sofa with half closed eyes. In the background a baby is sprawled out in a cushion nest on the sofa, sleeping. The vibe is scandi home with a vine of greenery going up the back wall.

240

Ruth Rostrup. Author. @ruthrostrup.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

Take a break from your usual scroll. A poetry postcard just landed on your digital doorstep 💌 🎁 Featuring @kymburlee.bsky.social ruthrostrup.substack.com/p/poetry-pos... #Poem #MentalHealth #Trauma #Healing #WritingCommunity #Writers

ruthrostrup.substack.com

💌 Poetry Postcard #3 (2mins)

Don't forget yourself today.

040

Ruth Rostrup. Author. @ruthrostrup.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

Me trying to make small-talk at the office coffee machine.

010

Ruth Rostrup. Author. @ruthrostrup.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

Seeing your own book pop up in this trend ❤️❤️❤️❤️ Ahhhh the feels. #booksky #poetry #Motherhood #writersky

070

Ruth Rostrup. Author. @ruthrostrup.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

Yay! I'll let you know when it's sent out ❤️

010

Ruth Rostrup. Author. @ruthrostrup.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

💫Love this Kimberly. I send out poetry postcards on my substack, and I'd love to feature this poem (linking to any of your stuff) with your permission ❤️

110

Ruth Rostrup. Author. @ruthrostrup.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

Yyeesss. And I love seeing other creatives celebrate their wins.

010

Ruth Rostrup. Author. @ruthrostrup.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

Yesterday, I wrote a #poem for my 2nd (yes, 2nd) book. Today, I'm discussing cover redesigns with a skilled book cover artist. #Writing this as a reminder to myself that I'm making the dream happen. Even if it doesn't always feel like it amongst the overwhelm of every-day #work and #parenting life.

150

Ruth Rostrup. Author. @ruthrostrup.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

🇳🇴 Oslo, Norway = Prismatic pages! Indie book store, immigrant owned, cosiest vibe, supports so many different voices, 2nd hand and new books. The owner is also the nicest ❤️ prismaticpages.no

prismaticpages.no

Home

020

Ruth Rostrup. Author. @ruthrostrup.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

Half an hour. Got my "Fuck yes!" writing revelation moment just before husband came to take me away. Bliss.

Exact same image as original post except this time the notebook has a bunch more scribbles, words crossed out, arrows and a little doodle of the moon. The coffee cup is nearly empty.

010

Ruth Rostrup. Author. @ruthrostrup.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

Kids are with the inlaws. Popped out with husband to quickly run errands, and I snuck into a cafe to write. Let's see what a few precious minutes can bring ❤️ #writer #mom #momlife #poet #writercommunity #motherhood #poetry #author

Birds eye view of a little coffee shop table. To the left, an open (red leather) notebook with some black scribbles of writing. To the write a full frothy coffee.

140

Ruth Rostrup. Author. @ruthrostrup.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

Some people: "People who don't wanna work just wanna sit around and be lazy all day." Me: *Gestures vigorously at your reply here* SEE!

110

Ruth Rostrup. Author. @ruthrostrup.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

Sanity check 👋 If you were given enough money to not have to work to sustain a comfortable life, what would you do with your time?

100

Ruth Rostrup. Author. @ruthrostrup.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

The punchline is that I end up not really doing either. Wweeeeeeee!

000

Ruth Rostrup. Author. @ruthrostrup.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

"I sit for a moment, in suspension between the pull to pick up my love & the grief of leaving this one behind. This is what I came to write about. But we never have time. A deep sigh. A deep smile. — #Motherhood as a #creative." ruthrostrup.substack.com/p/between-ba... #writer #mom #artist #poet

ruthrostrup.substack.com

Between Baby and the Blank Page: A Creative Mother’s Life (4min read)

My 7 month old, Kaja, is napping next to me.

140