The MockingOwl Roost - a literary pub

A sand colored background with paper crafts to the side, floral bits, and the MockingOwl Roost logo in deep cerulean. TEXT: The MockingOwl Roost - Submissions Now Open!Guidelines: Poetry only. Any topics. 50 words min or collection of short poetry together. February 16-28

The MockingOwl Roost is currently #openforsubmissions! Right now, we’re accepting ONLY #POETRY for consideration. February 16 – 28, 2026
We’re open to all themes and styles of poetry for the Blog & specifics for upcoming issues. Review guides & form for more information: tinyurl.com/4ah6nx44

Light blue background split, with a magazine cover as the focal image. The cover features a vivid, bold blue sky with perky white clouds, a blue-tinted mountainside, dry grass, and an old, paved road heading off toward a curve away from the mountains. TEXT: Standard Issue; Volume 6, Issue 1: Side Roads and Detours - MockingOwl Roost Contributors & Staff

What #detours have taken you down unexpected paths of life? Come read the joys, the sorrows, the coincidences, and the curiosities in our latest magazine issue of the #MockingOwlRoost -- Side Roads and Detours. Enjoy #shortstories, #poetry, #essays, #visualart now for free. tinyurl.com/3kz6dpkf

The 1000% Growth Blueprint: Early Access Architect’s Draft Current Build Status (Feb 4): STAGE 1, STEPS 1 & 2 (Archive Survey) ARE NOW LIVE.. Phase 1: The Foundation.You are stepping onto the site of a digital estate in progress.This is the exact architecture...

If you want to run away from the "hustle" like we did and return to your creative soul in writing and publishing, you can join the build and grab the early-access draft ($67 Founder Price) here. We’re closing the gap one page at a time: payhip.com/b/eHDhS

She calls the Living Voice SEO. It’s about building on passion instead of chasing keywords. And she’s doing this Blueprint build in public right now so other writers can stop the grind. Steps 1-2 are live today, with more coming by this evening.

Most "growth" advice reads like a corporate manual full of jargon that enslaves you to an algorithm. We hate that! And our EIC especially did after years of running the hamster wheel as a content writer. Her shift took us from grinding to a realistic infrastructure built on human connection.

We grew the #MockingOwlRoost to 1.8M impressions and 65k monthly visitors in under a year with a $0 budget, zero keyword research, and sporadic socials (I mean, just look at our history here!). Our founding EIC, Rita (ritamockpike.bsky.social), is revealing how we built our process. 🧵

A colorful, retro-inspired film review graphic with swirling pink, yellow, teal, and orange psychedelic patterns. At the top, large white bubble lettering reads “Quick Take.” Centered is the official poster for The Wrecking Crew (2026), showing two men standing on a road with explosions and helicopters behind them. On the right, a letter out of an envelope reads “Film Review” and “Rita Mock-Pike” in playful pink and yellow lettering, with an illustrated popcorn bucket below. TEXT: Quick Take, Film Review, Rita Mock-Pike

If you’re watching for #DaveBautista, #JasonMomoa, or the magnetic #RoimataFox, this one might be worth the ride. Here’s a quick take on #TheWreckingCrew2026—fun moments, uneven storytelling, and a cast that elevates it all. www.mockingowlroost.com/blog/the-wre...

Close up of a microphone ready to record. Implied plants in bright, bold green blur lend an intriguing but non-distracting background.

Excited to announce the #MockingOwlRoost is in #preproduction for 2 full #series #audiodramas! 1: an original IP set in a #fantasy world of #chaos, #comedy, and #sitcom tropes with a magically medieval twist. The 2nd is a fan-fic in the writing team's fave fandom. Look for trailers & teasers ahead!

Dark green background with holly leaves and berries. In upper left hand corner, an image of a envelope with a seal stamped in it, resting on a book. The image is partially cut off with a red triangle. TEXT: Holiday Dry Humor Fiction - The Brown Family 2025 Holiday Update - Marguerite Schneider

"Dear Friends, It’s hard to believe that the holiday season is here! I know that your holidays wouldn’t be complete without my Brown Family Annual Holiday Update..." Enjoy the #dryhumor of this not-so-socially-conscious family update from Muffy Brown. Happy holidays, darlings! tinyurl.com/mrxcnfrx

A red background with images of artworks hanging on the wall. The main focal piece is a zoom out of this image, with two people looking up the wall at the many paintings hanging there. TEXT: Special Issue. Volume 5, Special Issue 3: A Walk Through the Museum - Mockingowl Roost Contributors and Staff

Take A Walk Through the Museum and explore these #poems, #shortstories & #essays inspired by #museums, #history, and the #importantplaces of this world. www.mockingowlroost.com/blog/walk-th...

Octet First candle. Our first apartment. We download the blessings off the internet because we don’t remember the words. I run my finger along the Hebrew script […]

As I ready the house for the holidays... I wanted to share a Hanukkah piece published last year in @mockingowls.bsky.social. It is still one of my favs.

www.mockingowlroost.com/blog/candles...

One of mine, too! (--Rita EIC for the MockingOwl Roost)

A peaceful view from a sailboat anchored in Prony Bay, New Caledonia. The photo captures a small waterfall cascading down a rocky, tree-covered hillside into calm green waters. The yacht’s rigging and deck are visible in the foreground. Overlaid text reads: “Positivity Corner: Waterfall Bathing in Prony Bay, New Caledonia – Meredith Stephens.”

"From behind the camera, I took a chance & almost lost the GoPro, but found something better: the joy of jumping in..." 🌊📸 #WaterfallMoment #WorthIt #TryNewThings www.mockingowlroost.com/blog/waterfa...

A square image with a bright, joyful, and dog-focused aesthetic, designed for an article about YouTube channels. The background is a clean, bright white. The main feature is a close-up photograph of a happy golden retriever with a wide, open-mouthed grin, suggesting pure joy. A thin, dark brown paw print trail circles the text in the center. The overall mood is lighthearted and engaging. The MockingOwl Roost logo is positioned in the bottom left corner. Text: Most Entertaining YouTube Channels for Dog Lovers, Karrie Ann Wortner

#Dogs rule the internet — and these top #YouTube channels prove it. From mischief to mayhem, fetch some smiles with our favorite furry stars! www.mockingowlroost.com/blog/dogs-yo...

This square image has a futuristic and playful tone, with a background that fades from a deep, space-like purple to a softer lavender. A vertical white tablet in the center displays the official poster for the Disney-Pixar movie "Elio." The poster shows the main character, a young boy named Elio, in the center, running with a whimsical glowing orb by his side. They are surrounded by a variety of friendly, strange-looking alien creatures, all set against a cosmic backdrop. To the left of the tablet, the words "Elio: Adventure/Sci-Fi, a Review" and "Marquis Liburd" are written in a glowing white font, and in the bottom left, the MockingOwl Roost logo. TEXT: Elio: Adventure/Sci-Fi, a Review, Marquis Liburd, Disney Pixar, Elio

Pixar’s #Elio follows a young boy navigating #loss, #family, and the vast #universe. Heartfelt, visually stunning, and full of #cosmic #wonder, it reminds us we’re never truly #alone. Full review: www.mockingowlroost.com/blog/elio-re...

A square image with a dark, mysterious, and horror-themed digital art style. The scene is dominated by swirling purple and dark red smoke and shadows. The central object is a simple white box with its lid slightly ajar, from which a brilliant white light emanates. A pair of ghostly, skeletal hands are seen reaching out from under the lid. The side of the box shows the silhouetted hands of someone trapped inside, adding to the suspenseful and eerie mood. The MockingOwl Roost logo is in the lower left corner. Text: THE BOX AT THE TOP OF THE CLOSET, STEVE BOWMAN, PART 1, SPECULATIVE FICTION

When #silence starts to whisper, when #truth twists and turns inside the mind—what’s real anymore? Step into Eric’s unraveling world in The Box at the Top of the Closet, a haunting #horror trilogy. Read parts 1-3 here: www.mockingowlroost.com/blog/silence...

A square image with a magical, spooky, and traditional Halloween vibe, featuring vibrant purple and orange colors. The foreground shows a table draped in cobwebs, with a witch's broom lying across it, and a carved jack-o'-lantern in the lower left. The center of the table holds a black cauldron, surrounded by various props like a large toad figure, candles, pumpkins, skull, and potion bottles, creating a witchcraft scene. The background is a glowing purple, with the dark silhouette of a bare tree. The MockingOwl Roost logo is positioned above the cauldron. Text: Halloween with Mom, Penny Nolte, Halloween Flash Fiction

In #HalloweenWithMom, Penny Nolte captures the bittersweet joy of #memorycare life — where #love, #music, and #costumes stir moments of #connection that outshine #aging itself. Read here: www.mockingowlroost.com/blog/memory-...

A podcast review graphic featuring the title "Midnight Burger" in a retro diner sign style with stars in the background. The text reads: "A Fiction Podcast Review" and "The Podcast at the End of the Universe and One of Its Reviews" by Gretchen Wallett. An illustrated yellow owl holding a quill appears in the lower left corner, and an old-fashioned radio is in the lower right.

Fifteen years after swapping #podcasts for #audiobooks, I stumbled back into the format with #MidnightBurger a #sci-fi diner I didn’t know I needed. #PodcastRecommendation
Link: www.mockingowlroost.com/blog/midnigh...

A square image with a dramatic, mysterious, and maritime vibe, focused on a legendary ghost ship. The image features an old, multi-masted galleon-style ship with full sails, centered on a calm, deep purple and dusky pink ocean horizon. The sky is filled with swirling, low clouds in similar twilight colors. The overall mood is eerie, romantic, and fantastical. The MockingOwl Roost logo is positioned in the upper left corner. Text: Written by Sue Cook, Performed by Issac Stephens, Poetry Reading, The Flying Dutchman

When the #seas turn to #skies, the #ghostcrew of The Flying Dutchman sails again. Are they #pirates or #aliens? The truth drifts between the stars.
Read + Listen here: www.mockingowlroost.com/blog/dutchma...

A square image with a stark, serious, and impactful tone, presented in black and white. The central focus is a person's hand held up toward the viewer, palm open, in a gesture of stopping or refusal. A simple ring is visible on the ring finger. The background is blurred, showing the dark silhouette of a person. The overall mood is one of protection, caution, and resistance. The MockingOwl Roost logo is in the bottom right corner. Text: Domestic Violence is Real, Poetry Reading, Poem by Linette Rabsatt, Performed by Sue Cook

“Do you know how it feels?” #LinetteRabsatt’s Domestic Violence is Real—performed by #SueCook—calls us to #StopTheHate, #StopTheRape, and stand for #healing. You are not alone.
Read + listen: www.mockingowlroost.com/blog/stop-th...

Illustration of an adult opening a door to kids going trick-or-treating. The adult is dressed like Frankenstein’s monster. Kids are dressed up as a pirate, a ghost, a bunny, a mummy, and a pumpkin. TEXT: A Midwestern Halloween Night — Paula Frew — Halloween Poetry

The Midwest whispers goodnight beneath autumn’s glow, Superheroes, ghosts, and ghouls roam chilly streets. Candy traded and laughter rises. A #Midwestern #Halloween Night by Paula Frew #Midwest #AutumnNights #Poetry #TrickOrTreat
www.mockingowlroost.com/blog/ghouls-...

A square image with a dark, muted, and spooky art style, perfect for a Halloween theme. The image is dominated by deep brown and muted gold tones with the texture of a charcoal drawing on old paper. The central figure is a small child dressed in full metal armor with a brightly glowing orange flame painted on the chest plate. The helmet has two large, round ears, adding a whimsical touch to the knight almost as if it were mixed with mickey mouse. In the hazy background, ghostly silhouettes of a fairy/angel, a witch, and a ghost are faintly visible, giving the image a mysterious, childhood-dreamlike quality. The MockingOwl Roost logo is in the bottom right corner. Text: Liam's Costume, Halloween Nonfiction, Martha Ellen

What do you do when your #grandson asks to be a #VideoGameWarrior named #Guy you’ve never seen? Sew it by hand, of course. Read “Liam’s Costume”: www.mockingowlroost.com/blog/video-g...

A moody autumn forest scene. At the center is an aged stone grave marker, weathered and covered in moss, with a small human skull resting on top alongside scattered red and orange leaves. In the lower-right corner is the MockingOwl Roost owl logo in white. The background is dark and out of focus, with hints of golden foliage catching the light.

A raven begs “more!” and the dead rise for #Halloween's #dark delights. The thrill? We crave it every year. Evermore, Sir! is a #poetic plunge into frightmares and fun. Read the #poem at www.mockingowlroost.com/blog/evermor...

A square image with an abstract, painterly, and natural vibe, dominated by blurry earth tones. The background is a soft, motion-blurred mix of muted blues, greens, and browns. Centered on the image is the clear cover of a poetry collection featuring a photograph of a tree trunk and branches in a forest, covered in dried leaves and hints of snow or frost, suggesting a late autumn or early winter scene. The overall mood is contemplative and nature-focused. Text: Poetry Book Review, A Bountiful Silence & Other Poems, John Muro, Sue Cook

In Bountiful Silence, beauty blooms in quiet places, where grief meets #renewal and #hope. Discover this moving #poetry #bookreview on the #MockingOwlRoost www.mockingowlroost.com/blog/bountif...

A square image with a bold, dramatic, and fiery aesthetic, using a stark color palette of red, white, and black. The central focus is a pair of legs wearing bright red high-heel shoes, set against a simple white background that is partially covered by red banners. The entire lower half of the image is surrounded by an illustration of orange and yellow flames, giving the scene a dangerous and intense mood. The MockingOwl Roost logo is in the upper left corner. Text: Halloween Short Story Narration, Written by Rita Mock-Pike, Performed by Isaac Stephens, The Follies of Fashion

When #fashion meets #hellfire, even the fiercest #designers can’t escape their creations. The Follies of Fashion struts through #satire, #sin, and #stilettos. www.mockingowlroost.com/blog/fashion...

Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey. The book cover illustration shows a woman perched on the shoulders of a man in a yellow golf shirt and white cap, holding binoculars. The text reads: “Fangirl Down: A Rollercoaster of Love, Desire, and Golf. Book Review: Rom-Com. Nereesha Patel.” A pink owl with a quill appears at the bottom right. The background is pink and green.

What happens when golf’s bad boy hires his last remaining fangirl as his caddie? Fangirl Down Book Review by #NereeshaPatel #RomanceReads #BookTok www.mockingowlroost.com/blog/fangirl...

A red background with a USB condenser microphone positioned on the left side, resembling a professional studio mic used for podcasting or recording. On the right, in clean white text, it reads: "Skunk in the Garden Fiction By Liz Lydic." The overall design is minimal, with a bold, modern feel, evoking themes of voice, storytelling, and performance.

A children’s show spirals into sabotage. Someone calls the agent—pretending to be the producer. Is it enough to stop the audition? “Skunk in the Garden” by Liz Lydic. #VoiceActingDrama #TVConflict #DarkComedy www.mockingowlroost.com/blog/hollywo...

A square image with a gritty, atmospheric, and suspenseful vibe, characteristic of an urban thriller or horror. The scene is viewed through a dark, arched window or doorway, which frames the interior of an empty, dimly lit subway train car. The train's interior is dominated by yellow handrails and metallic surfaces, with one or two distant figures visible seated in the carriage. The contrast between the dark foreground and the hazy, yellowish interior light gives the image a sense of isolation and mystery. The MockingOwl Roost logo is in the lower right corner. Text: The Last Stop Halloween Fiction Justin Alcala

Just published! Dressed as the #DreadPirateRoberts, he boards a #Halloween night train—only to meet the mysterious Halloween Queen. Where does the ride end? www.mockingowlroost.com/blog/train-l...

Draw Attention to Book Via Article Directories One way to draw attention to your book is by writing an article related to it, then getting it published. Fortunately, you don’t have to play the freelancer game to get the article published as you…

#selfpub #amwriting #writingcommunity #writers #indiepublishing inventingrealityediting.com/2...

A colorful, cartoon-style digital illustration depicts a woman standing at an easel, brush poised mid-stroke as she paints on a white canvas. To her left, a painter’s palette holds thick, exaggerated blobs of vibrant acrylic colors (red, yellow, blue, green) rendered with bold, playful shading. Behind her, a rustic wooden table is scattered with open paint tubes and brushes, arranged loosely to feel casual and creative. The overall style is bright, whimsical, and flat-graphic, evoking the approachable look of modern vector art. The title text overlays the top in a rounded sans-serif font, clean and easy to read, reinforcing the inviting, beginner-friendly feel of the piece. TEXT: Best Acrylic Painting Classes on YouTube – Rita Mock-Pike – Roundup

Want to explore #AcrylicPainting without spending a ton? These #YouTube channels offer beginner-friendly techniques and fun scenes to try. Discover free art classes from Jennifer Funnell, Jay Lee, and more – www.mockingowlroost.com/blog/acrylic...