Three Dollar Squirrel is a zine by writers for writers on the act, art, and process of writing.
HOW IT WORKS
1) Each month in 2026 has its own prompt listed below with the exception of January for the 2025 Compendium release.
2) Click the question link to submit your reply via Google Forms.
3) Each issue's deadline starting in February is on the 20th of the month before. (i.e. January 20th for February's issue.)
Renmeleon will compile the replies into a half sheet zine. Both printed and EPUB copies will be made available through our shop for $5 each with, you guessed it, $3 going to International Book Project based here in Lexington, KY.
2) Click the question link to submit your reply via Google Forms.
3) Each issue's deadline starting in February is on the 20th of the month before. (i.e. January 20th for February's issue.)
Renmeleon will compile the replies into a half sheet zine. Both printed and EPUB copies will be made available through our shop for $5 each with, you guessed it, $3 going to International Book Project based here in Lexington, KY.
Writers are encouraged to work ahead. Each issue will publish on the 1st of each month.
THE PROMPTS
JANUARY
You will be able to purchase the 2025 Compendium soon through our shop. $3 goes to the International Book Project in Lexington, KY.
You will be able to purchase the 2025 Compendium soon through our shop. $3 goes to the International Book Project in Lexington, KY.
FEBRUARY [ link ] Where would you like to see yourself as a writer by the end of this year and what is your plan to get there?
MARCH [ link ] What is one bit of advice that changed your perspective on writing that you would give another writer?
APRIL [ link ] Have you had any experience as a writer with critique groups and what advice would you give for choosing one and participating?
MAY [ link ] What is the worst mistake you've ever made as a writer and how did you fix it going forward?
JUNE [ link ] What is your favorite topic to research and why? Bonus: Share one fact that you learned.
JULY [ link ] Each season can have its challenges; how does your writing schedule differ throughout the year?
AUGUST [ link ] If you could design a gift basket for your writer self, what would be in it? (ie a bouquet of sharpened pencils)
SEPTEMBER [ link ] What is the best writing course or instructional book you've read on writing?
OCTOBER [ link ] What are some ways to add a spooky vibe to your story WITHOUT it being horror?
The collection for 2025 is available in our shop.
Our writers, alphabetically, include:
Iris Applewood, Aisling Black, DJ Bowers, David Cousins, Dwan L. Hearn, Jayce Maxwell, LaDonna Lawton, J. Noble, RockPaperFox (debut comic), Jen Selinsky, Ana Maria Selvaggio, Val Michael Selvaggio, Draya Smith, Nicole Ford Thomas, Erin Thursby, and Sako Tumi.
Iris Applewood, Aisling Black, DJ Bowers, David Cousins, Dwan L. Hearn, Jayce Maxwell, LaDonna Lawton, J. Noble, RockPaperFox (debut comic), Jen Selinsky, Ana Maria Selvaggio, Val Michael Selvaggio, Draya Smith, Nicole Ford Thomas, Erin Thursby, and Sako Tumi.
June 2025
July 2025
August 2025
Sept 2025
October 2025
November 2025
December 2025
READ PAST ISSUES
Our reboot for 2025 was Volume 4, issues 1 through 7. Please note that the older issues below include links (and authors) that are no longer viable. All content copyright protected by the individual creatives.
Volume 1, issue 1 | Walls (2010)
Volume 1, issue 2 | Schedule (2010)
Volume 2, issue 1 | Reflection (2011)
Volume 2 Issue 2 | Influences
Volume 3, Issue 1 | Rituals (2019)
Volume 3, Issue 2 | Time Capsule
Volume 1, issue 2 | Schedule (2010)
Volume 2, issue 1 | Reflection (2011)
Volume 2 Issue 2 | Influences
Volume 3, Issue 1 | Rituals (2019)
Volume 3, Issue 2 | Time Capsule
DISCLAIMER: The opinions express in this zine belong to the individual authors and are not the opinions of the publisher unless stated as such. Reproduction and/or distribution of this zine in part or in full is prohibited without the written permission of the publisher and will result in legal action, bad karma, and unexplained instances of rabid squirrel visitation.
WHY A SQUIRREL?
This zine was initially started in 2014 as an outlet for Renmeleon's writers' group, Word Whimsy, that ran for 8 years. A stuffed squirrel, Diggory, became our first official mascot. (below) While Diggory is still around, his cohort, a gray squirrel named Grigio, has become the face.
The project was eventually dropped due to a life shift. A decade later, Three Dollar Squirrel is being reborn as a resource for new and veteran writers alike with the goal of building a community of writers that support and encourage one another. #liftasyouclimb
The project was eventually dropped due to a life shift. A decade later, Three Dollar Squirrel is being reborn as a resource for new and veteran writers alike with the goal of building a community of writers that support and encourage one another. #liftasyouclimb
