Healing and connection through the creative process
Everything good comes from the garden within
I’m Pennie Nichols—writer, writing guide, and retreat host. I help writers connect with their creative voice through nurturing spaces and supportive communities.
Like me, you’re a creative person.
Your creativity is shaped by your lived experience.
You keep your hands and mind busy—making soap, practicing energy work, knitting, writing, playing the violin, gardening, cooking, finding your way through countless forms of self-expression.
There’s something in you that wants to be made visible. A story, a song, a shape, a way of seeing—something that wants to move from inside you into the world.
And sometimes, it doesn’t.
It’s easy to point to the demands of work, family, or the pace of daily life. More often, though, the hesitation comes from within—from uncertainty, self-doubt, or the quiet fear of being seen.
You sense there’s something valuable inside you, something worth shaping and sharing. You want to make work that feels honest, nourishing, and alive.
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. I know this terrain well.
Programming
Whether you’re seeking guidance, inspiration, or community, these are some of the ways we can meet on the page.
InkWell WordShop
Lower the bucket. Draw from the deep well.
Monthly, themed generative writing meetups, with light refreshments.
Donation based ($20 suggested, any bill gets you in).
Dates announced monthly.
Words to Brew On
Community, held in a cup and on the page.
Weekly, in-person generative writing hour at locally-owned coffee shops.
No fee.
Dates announced weekly.
Draft & Craft
We stay with the work. Let it become what it’s meant to be.
In-Person and Virtual Generative Writing and MS Review Series (six to eight sessions).
Dates and fees TBA
Second Cup
We’ll write in supportive silence. Let the page hold what it can.
Virtual Supportive Writing Space
No Fee
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Welcome to my world
Imagine we’re meeting on my back porch for a glass of lemonade, or possibly wine. I’m in Louisiana, so expect heat, thick moist air, and an overworked ceiling fan.
I’ve always had a lot going on and, as a result, you’ll find traces of all it in corners and on shelves, from the kitchen to the garden and everywhere in between. Yet I move easily between projects, because making things and using words is how I understand the world.
In the past, I struggled with focus: how to make time for what matters, what to give my attention to, how my creative process works. Over time, I’ve learned to trust that process and to let it move the way it needs to.
I share many of my creations freely here. Wander. Linger where something catches your eye.
I hope you find something that brings you closer to yourself. And maybe nudges you toward connection and creation.
Your creativity matters.
There’s a lot here! Where do I begin?
Here is an annotated mini-TOC to help you get started.
About – My story, about the site, and my personal influences
My Creations – Collection of essays, stories, poems, recipes, and multimedia projects organized into these categories:
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- Essays: a wide range of topics but primarily focused on themes of family, relationships, creativity, and loss.
- Alzheimer’s Essays: my mom’s experience with Alzheimer’s and my own processing of her decline and passing
- Stories and Poems
- Recipes: food recipes and also DIY lotions and potions
- Garden Glass Words: multimedia photo poems
Contact – A huge part of my efforts here are about connection. So please reach out! I’d love to hear your thoughts, feedback, questions, and ideas