The Writers Rendezvous this month welcomed several new members, and ran into extra time because we had so much to talk about. I’m going to start this update with events and contests that have upcoming deadlines, and leave the more general information for part two of the post.
First, the Bridgeport History Center at the Bridgeport Library will be holding its monthly memoir writing workshop with Brian Hoover (online, of course) this Saturday, February 20, from 10:30-12:00 pm. The class includes writing exercises, an exploration of the nature of memoirs, and feedback on voice and perspective.  Register here.
Here are some contests with upcoming deadlines. Check the links for full details:
Novel Slices Novel Excerpt Contest Looking for novel excerpts of 4000-6000 words. Deadline: February 28. Entry Fee: $20 First Prize: $150 each for 5 winners.
Writer Advice’s Flash MEMOIR Contest Looking for creative nonfiction/memoir of up to 750 words. Deadline: March 2 Entry Fee: $5 or $14 if you’d like feedback on your work. First Prize: $150
The Orange County Library System in Florida is offering a number of free writing workshops, on topics as diverse as Worldbuilding in Sci-Fi and Fantasy Fiction (March 7) and the Basics of Writing Picture Books (March 9). For a complete list, click here. The list includes all their online events that concern books and reading, as well as writing, so scroll through to find them.
The Fairfield Library is running a contest covering writing, painting, or any other creative endeavor. It’s based on their 2021 One Book One Town choice, Punching the Air. In it, the main character Amal finds the freedom to express himself in his art and poetry, which brings him solace in unspeakably dark circumstances. If your entry is a written one, they’re looking for up to 750 words in PDF format, by March 12. Full details here.
Talking of the Fairfield Library, one of their writers’ critique groups is looking to add a member. The group is made up of experienced writers who are committed to writing for the long haul. They meet on Zoom on the first and third Friday of the month from 10-12.  If you are writing long-form fiction or memoir, and would be interested in joining them, please email janesherman@optonline.net with a writing sample of about 1500-2000 words and a small blurb about yourself and your writing goals.
The new micro fiction online journal, Scribes MICRO Fiction kindly published a micro-fiction story of mine in their February issue. You too can submit your pieces of fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction (between 90-110 words) for their next issue, due to be published March 15.
And speaking of very short fiction, member Lauren Busser has started a Twitter thread featuring a piece of flash fiction daily from various writers. Not only do they make interesting reading, but they can give you ideas for where to submit your own work.
The Mark Twain House & Museum in partnership with The Bushnell Performing Arts Center in Hartford, CT, has announced the Page to Stage Short Story Contest.  They are looking for short stories up to 3000 words inspired by the theme “In the Audience,” so your story should include the perspective of someone in the company of a number of people or spectators gathered for a known or unknown purpose. First Prize: $500, a staged reading on The Bushnell Stage. Second Prize: $250. Third Prize: $125. Deadline March 15. Contest rules and all the official guidelines via these links.
More contests:
Fiction Southeast Hemingway Short Fiction Prize Looking for short stories of up to 1500 words. Deadline: March 31. Entry Fee: $10 First Prize: $200
Grist Magazine Imagine 2200 Fiction Contest This is their first free-entry, climate-fiction short story contest and they’re looking for stories (3000-5000 words) that envision the next 180 years of climate progress.  Deadline: April 12. First Prize: $3,000.
With so much information, I’ll be sending Part two by Monday at the latest. In the meantime, I hope you decide to submit something somewhere. It’s the only way to get published, and getting published is so encouraging.
Keep writing!