Here’s the second part of my February update for writers. It includes more open mics, storytelling events, and three contests…
The Fairfield County Story Lab is hosting its first storytelling open mic event, True Stories Told, on Tuesday, March 10, from 7-9pm, and the theme is My First Day. Come and tell your story, or gather your friends and sit back, enjoy a beverage, and listen to others. Stories must be true and told orally. No notes or reading. Five minutes maximum. You do not need to be a professional storyteller, and if you’d like to tell a story, email info@FCStoryLab.com by Monday, March 2. $15. Full details here.
Vicinanza Studios and Gallery in Southbury, CT, is hosting an open mic for writing and music on the second Sunday of each month. The next one is on March 8, from 2-4. It promises to be a vibrant afternoon of rhythm and verse to welcome a cornerstone of the Connecticut poetry scene, Mark McGuire-Schwartz, the Poet Laureate of Guilford. Writers may simply turn up with something to read.
Check out this website that lists the open mics and evening events in either Fairfield, Litchfield, or New Haven Counties (all in Connecticut). Sign up for their newsletter to stay updated.
The Westport Library, Westport Center for Senior Activities, BookTrib, and Meryl Moss Media are teaming up to present the second Jackie Robinson Essay Contest. The contest asks seniors (60 and over) to compose a letter to Jackie Robinson, expressing how his life, achievements, and legacy have personally impacted you. Intergenerational teams (including writers aged 6-21) are encouraged. Submission deadline: March 15 – winners announced on Jackie Robinson Day (April 15). Prizes will be awarded to the top three entries. Full details here.
ProWritingAid, the editing software company, is running a contest, Novel Beginning, for unrepresented, unpublished fiction writers in any genre. Submit the first 5,000 words of your work in progress for a chance to win their $50,000 grand prize or one of the $5,000 shortlisted awards. If you’re unagented and have never been traditionally published, they’d love to read your work. They’re not looking for a finished book. They’re looking for a compelling voice, a strong sense of story, and an opening that makes them want to keep reading. Free. Details here. Deadline March 31
Welcome to the 2026 page 100 competition from British editor Louise Waters, open for submissions until 31 March. This competition has always proved to be intriguing, and a little bit different. The competition is for unpublished novels and novellas, written in English, in any genre, including children’s fiction. But please only enter if your story runs to 20,000 words or more. It’s open to any adult writer (aged 18 and older) from anywhere in the world, but your page 100 must be written in English. Please send it exactly as it falls on your page in your manuscript. The entry fee is £10. More details and submissions here
The Indie Author Project (IAP) is a publishing community that includes public libraries, authors, curators, and readers working together to connect library patrons with great indie-published books. IAP has helped hundreds of libraries engage their local creative community and assisted in getting over 25,000 indie ebooks into their local libraries. As a service to indie writers, it offers free expert sessions on writing-related topics with practical guidance from experienced voices in independent publishing. Here are a couple. The Importance of Research for Novels and Memoirs, March 26, is self-explanatory. A Beginner’s Guide to the Indie Author Project, May 21. Curious how the Indie Author Project (IAP) works, or how to get your ebook into libraries through IAP? In this introductory session, they’ll walk through the full IAP pathway, with lots of time for questions!
MEMBER SUCCESSES
Stephen Rubin’s debut novel, The Unraveling of Michael Geller is a psycholgicak family drama, now available for pre-order. It will be published on May 12.
Check my events page for upcoming events for writers and readers.
Happy writing!
