the Write Place

10/20/2026

Today is National Day on Writing! Tomorrow's story starts with what you write today. And if you've ever dreamed of writing a novel, November's upcoming writing challenges offer the perfect excuse to get started. Maybe you'll join Novel November, StoryADay, or simply set a goal of writing a little each day. After all, every finished book begins with a first draft.

Happy writing! ✍️

NaNoWriMo has ended, but your novel doesn’t have to. Discover the best alternatives to keep the November writing tradition alive.

10/15/2026

This week, WP Designer Michelle Stam joined a Central College panel discussion on AI in the workplace, sharing the small business perspective alongside representatives from larger organizations, healthcare, and student internships. The conversation focused on how AI is being used by businesses today and what students should understand as they prepare to enter the workforce. Thanks to Central for facilitating such a thoughtful conversation!

10/14/2026

Happy National Women’s Small Business Month to all the wonderful women we know who own, lead, and grow small businesses! We’re celebrating our WP ladies and the many talented women we connect and collaborate with.

10/08/2026

WP Designer Michelle Stam and the Dutch Greeters thoroughly enjoyed seeing the beautiful handmade items at PK Dezin & Friends when they stopped by for a ribbon cutting recently. Started by Patti Kloosterman when she no longer had room for all her crafting at home, the shop has expanded to include the work of several of her family members and friends. It’s the perfect spot to pick up a special gift for someone (or yourself!). Welcome to PACE, PK Dezin - Home.

10/06/2026

Looking for your next read? Not a bad list to start from!

Three-time National Book Award finalist Edwidge Danticat and debut novelist Morgan Thomas are up for the fiction prize. Nonfiction books cover the prison system and music, and q***r parenthood.

09/29/2026

South Central Iowa Solid Waste Agency was getting by with a few logo elements ... but now they’ve got the flexibility of a complete brand system!

Our refreshed take on their original logo improves its clarity, scalability, and visual impact without losing the character and recognition the agency has built over the years. We created a full family of logomarks so SCISWA has a variation for every occasion, from large-scale signage to small digital profiles.

We also established modernized brand typography and refined the color palette, drawing inspiration from Iowa's natural landscape. We capped the project off by building an easy-to-use brand guidelines booklet so SCISWA’s marketing leader, Debra Kearney, has the tools she needs to design with confidence. “Maybe I’m the only one, but I am really most excited by this brand guide!”

No, Debra. You’re not the only one. 😉 We also get pretty pumped when we get to support a client’s long-term success. Happy branding, SCISWA!

09/24/2026

When your workdays are encumbered with a plethora of punctuation marks, all just waiting to be put into their proper places … personalities start to emerge.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐝 ( . )
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐨-𝐍𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫
The Period is the ultimate closer. No fluff, no small talk, and absolutely no networking. It walks into a sentence, shuts the door, and turns off the lights. The Period is efficient, direct, and borderline terrifying.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 ( ! )
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫-𝐂𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐬𝐭
The Exclamation Point has had four espressos and just wants everyone to be happy! Often anxious, it carries a deep fear of being misunderstood! The Exclamation Point shows up to every sentence waving its arms, trying desperately to prove it isn’t overreacting!

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐚 ( , )
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐫
The Comma turns every sentence into a beautiful, scenic journey filled with parentheticals and mid-thought corrections. It just wants everyone to have all the context, all the time. Why let a sentence end when it could easily continue with another clause or better yet, a sixth item in a series?

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐧 ( ; )
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥
The Semicolon refuses to mingle with standard copy. It drinks expensive tea and looks down on the Period for being “basic.” A love for bridging two independent ideas and tightly formatted spreadsheets top the list of likes in the Semicolon’s singles ad.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤 ( ? )
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐨𝐬 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭
Curious, skeptical, and sometimes disruptive, the question mark shows up at the end of the day just to give you something to think about when you leave your desk. The rest of the punctuation team constantly finds itself rallying the alphabet to answer for the uncertainty left behind.

So ... which mark are you? 😊 ✏️

09/22/2026

Leadership Lakeville opened last week with some get-to-know-you activities for the group, updates on development projects around town, and presentations from city officials and staff. Next month will be the first leadership session. WP Owner Lexie Thomas’s favorite takeaway? There’s a Panera being built close to her home office—her fav location for working off-site.😉

09/17/2026

September is Save Your Photos Month! 📸 As a creative agency, we store photos in at least two locations, and we periodically review our files to make sure backups are up to date. Recently, we did discover a few images from a completed project still safely stored on an SD card. They've since been archived to be extra safe! 😊 It's a good reminder to back up your photos and check those memory cards (especially before erasing them!). Whether your photos are for work or from everyday life, taking a few minutes to save them can help ensure they're around for years to come. Have you backed up your photos lately?

09/16/2026

The Write Place has had a lot to celebrate lately! Over the summer, we had two book releases, and there are more books coming this fall. WP Owner Lexie Thomas has been selected for the Leadership Lakeville program, and Graphic Designer Sarah Tuttle had a photo on display at the Iowa State Fair. Check out our September newsletter for the full stories!

Discover what our book team has been up to … and get a sneak peek at what’s coming soon! Plus, a leadership program, a magazine project, and some Iowa State Fair fun.