• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Heartspoken

Heartspoken words will never fail you

  • Home
  • Start here
    • About Elizabeth
    • Resources
  • Blog
    • Faith (Connect with God)
    • Connection (Connect with others)
    • Self-Knowledge (Connect with Self)
    • Nature (Connect with the natural world)
    • Note and Letter Writing
    • Books and Reading
    • Writer Resources
  • Need a Ghostwriter or Editor?
    • Writing & Editing Services
    • My Portfolio
    • Testimonials
  • Reading room
    • Heartspoken book
    • What I’m Reading
    • The Heartspoken Bookshop
  • Contact

Connection (Connect with others)

After The Casseroles Are Gone

By Elizabeth Cottrell

After the Casseroles are gone: widow and casserole dishes

Most of us are pretty good about sending sympathy notes or taking casseroles to a friend we know who has recently experienced the loss of a loved one. An online friend is coming up on the two-year anniversary of her son’s death, and it is a stark reminder that the pain of loss doesn’t ever […]

Share
Tweet
Share
Pin
More
Email

Does a Personal Note Have to be Handwritten?

By Elizabeth Cottrell

Does it have to be handwritten? Pen and paper

There are many times when etiquette and custom and sentimentality call for a handwritten note whenever possible. There is something so much more personal—more intimate—more special about going to the trouble to write something by hand, especially thank you notes and sympathy notes. The receivers of handwritten notes say they love just holding them, re-reading […]

Share
Tweet
Share
Pin
More
Email

Wearin’ o’ the Green to Honor St. Paddy

By Elizabeth Cottrell

From the Heartspoken Archives This was first posted in 2012, but since many of you are new, I thought you’d enjoy some of these special literary celebrations of the St. Patrick’s Day. And if you’re inclined to cook something green in addition to wearing something green, you might enjoy our family’s Green Rice recipe — […]

Share
Tweet
Share
Pin
More
Email

Note Writing Can Heal The Sender Too

By Elizabeth Cottrell

ink, pen, and stationery

  Once asked what action he would recommend if a person were to feel a nervous breakdown coming on, famed American psychiatrist Karl Menninger (1893-1990) replied: “Lock up your house, go across the railroad tracks, and find someone in need and do something for him.” One more reason to write personal notes! Over time, I’ve […]

Share
Tweet
Share
Pin
More
Email

Tragedy Requires A Soft Touch

By Elizabeth Cottrell

Tragedy requires a soft touch title image

NOTE from Elizabeth: So many of my note-writing friends have expressed a lack of confidence when writing sympathy notes, especially when the death involves a child, suicide, or other challenging circumstances. I am enormously grateful to Patricia Alcamo Choruzy, who bravely shared her perspective on the death of her son from an overdose in this […]

Share
Tweet
Share
Pin
More
Email

January 23 is National Handwriting Day — Celebrate!

By Elizabeth Cottrell

National handwriting day - pen and John Hancock signature

It’s okay if you need an excuse… Writing notes and letters makes me happy, so I rarely need encouragement to do it, but I find this is the exception rather than the rule. Some of you are intimidated because you think you don’t know what to say. Some find it difficult and therefore don’t like […]

Share
Tweet
Share
Pin
More
Email

Book Review: The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride

By Elizabeth Cottrell

Heartspoken Book Review: The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride

The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBrideby Joe Siple Published 2018, 233 pages5 stars out of 5 What’s not to love about a book that left me with a heart about to burst and adoring the characters so much I wish I could meet them in person. It’s amazing to finish a book feeling as […]

Share
Tweet
Share
Pin
More
Email

Remember The Mothers and Families

By Elizabeth Cottrell

Pearl Harbor commemorative postage stamp

On December 7 each year, even those of us who were not yet born on that day in 1941 remember it was the day Japanese planes attacked Pearl Harbor killing more than 2300 Americans and triggering this country’s entry into World War II. We’ve watched the awful films of devastation. We’re still  moved by President […]

Share
Tweet
Share
Pin
More
Email
  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to page 3
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 35
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Get the monthly Compass Points newsletter plus our "Connection Magic" Guide!

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Elizabeth Cottrell, aka RiverwoodWriter

Elizabeth Cottrell headshot

I am a freelance writer, ghostwriter, and blogger called to encourage readers to strengthen the bonds of faith, family, and friends and to cultivate the joy and impact of personal, handwritten notes and letters. More Info.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Connect with me!

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Looking for something?

What do you want to explore?

Beautiful Notecards from Meriah Kruse Designs

Become a Hope*Writer

I am a Virginia Blogger!

Virginia Bloggers logo

Heartspoken Outreach

Hands holding heart with page title

Write for Heartspoken

Guest posting guidelines title graphic

We love mail!

Heartspoken
P.O. Box 81
Maurertown, VA 22644  USA

Legal Pages

  • Heartspoken’s Privacy Policy
  • Heartspoken’s Affiliate Disclaimer
  • Heartspoken’s Privacy Policy
  • Heartspoken’s Affiliate Disclaimer

© 2022 • RiverwoodWriter, LLC and Heartspoken • P.O. Box 81 • Maurertown, VA 22644 • 540-436-3969