It’s late, very late. Which is not unexpected. I’m a long-standing member of the midnight writers club. At the edge of my desk, a candle burns warming the air with a glimmer of golden light. I can hear its small crackles and smell its calming cinnamon scent. Out my window and beyond into the dark night, small wintery snowflakes swirl. And I am sitting at my favorite writing desk, thinking of the new year. I am so excited for what 2026 holds. May light and happiness abound for us all!

From My Notebook is a new addition to Roving with Rionna. I am forever writing snippets of stories and pieces of prose, so I thought I’d share them with you. Sometimes they evolve and become a new short story, poem, or novel, but mostly they are a bit of creativity yearning to be written. Feel free to use them as story starters for your next piece or simply enjoy.

The winter moon shone gray and muted over the town of Hollow Creek. Candles flickered in windows, the solitary lights of the night. Silence and cold settled around the edges of the community, tucking it in beneath a layer of snow. 

At the end of the first block was her little cottage. It huddled warm beneath a mighty fir tree with wide, strong branches, protecting her home from the winds of the North. Inside, she should have been resting quietly, reading a book, practicing her spells, enjoying the firelight, but she couldn’t sleep. She hadn’t been able to for the last week. She knew well enough to heed the internal warnings she was feeling. Something sinister was happening. She tried to look, but actually seeing the future was not her gift. 

The uneasiness kept growing stronger with each passing hour. Not being able to take it any longer, she threw her warmest cloak about her shoulders and stepped off her porch and into the longest, darkest night of the year. Just as her boot made its first imprint into the feathery, soft, new-fallen snow, a piercing scream echoed through the streets.

Her breath caught in her throat, and she raced toward the fading sound.   

If you know someone who is just starting out, someone who is new to writing or anyone who may enjoy Roving with Rionna, please feel free to share! Here’s the link.

As I look to the beginning of this year, I have many plans. I bet you do too! I thought I would try something new this year by focusing on the season of writing, a sort of Writer’s Seasonal Wheel. I’m going to try to apply the following process to my writing life:

I like this idea because I find myself continually inundated with amazing ideas, and thinking I can accomplish all of them, and like an octopus, I try without the success I had hoped for. I have found, though, that if I focus on one through to completion, then I can pick up the second much faster than if I try to do both at once. Does this happen to you too?

I was invited by a good friend of mine to try a new social platform this week called Xcrol. I immediately liked it. It seems to bring together much of what we all want without the items we don’t. It is a private social app that lets us decide what we share and who gets to see it. We sort people into simple friendship levels, so close friends see more and everyone else sees less. We can write one short daily note, and our feed stays chronological—and best of all no algorithms! Also, there are no ads and there never will be. This is great news! What a breath of fresh air!

If you’re interested in exploring this new community platform Xcrol (pronounced scroll), you are invited! Here’s the link to its FAQ Page: Getting Started with Xcrol. If you decide to join, look me up so we can be friends! https://xcrol.com/@rionnamorgan

This month’s discussion: What are your thoughts on the ending of Stranger Things? As a storyteller, I have many thoughts. As an audience member, I don’t like open-ended resolutions. Which leads to the many thoughts I have as a storyteller.

If you want to chat with me about this month’s topic or other writerly topics, drop me a note: Roving with Rionna-Contact Link.

I hope you have a great January! Happy New Year! May your days be filled with light and laughter!

Do you want some Rionna Morgan Merch?! Here is this month’s fan favorite from Story.!