We had a great meeting yesterday, with contributions from everyone who attended. People are getting things done in the writing sphere. Maybe not quite as much as they’d like to, but making progress all the same. Kudos to them all for persevering when there’s so much else to think about.
On Thursday evening, November 19, at 7pm, the Ferguson Library and the Mystery Writers of America/New York Chapter are presenting How’d You Do It?, a conversation between best-selling authors Walter Moseley, (Easy Rawlins mystery series and others), and S.A. Cosby (Blacktop Wasteland), moderated by Chris Knopf.  They’ll be talking about how they’ve turned their passion for writing into successful careers. The program is free but you need to register in order to get the Zoom link.
Dreaming of being somewhere different? The Kauai Writers Conference, all-but-unattainable in years past because it’s held in the Hawaiian Islands, is online this year, which is great news for writers. It’s taking place over several months from November 22 to June 2021. Not all the writers are booked so far in advance, but the first sessions are impressive. A great roster of speakers includes Richard Russo, Meg Wolitzer, Scott Turow, and more in every genre. And it’s very affordable: $49 per month, which works out at roughly $12:50 per session. Details and registration here.
This month is National Novel Writing Month, and many of my readers are working on a 50,000-word novel which they hope to have drafted by November 30. One of the ways people make this easier on themselves is to use the writing software, Scrivener. While you may not want to learn something new while you’re trying to get it done, you may find the software a great tool in organizing the words you’ve got, once December 1 rolls around.
 Gwen Hernandez, author (Blind Trust) and Scrivener expert has written a useful article about using Scrivener for NaNoWriMo. And she’s offering a 1-hour Scrivener training session (value $125), in the Romancing the Runoff auction to support voting rights organizations for the Senate runoff race in Georgia. There are lots of other great offerings for readers and writers, like page critiques, signed books and more. Check out the full list. Bidding runs November 18-24.
The Fairfield County Writers Studio has virtual fall writing classes beginning now. Among them are The Art and Craft of Novel Writing, taught by Stephanie Lehmann (Astor Place Vintage). Tuesdays for seven weeks. Limit 6 students. Register Here. Finish in a Flash will be taught by Nina Kiriki Hoffman, (The Silent Strength of Stones) award-winning sci-fi and fantasy novelist. Sunday evenings for five weeks starting November 29. Register here. Carol Dannhauser continues her Creative Writing Craft Class on Thursdays, beginning December 3 for seven weeks. Register here. And if you’re writing for children, join Victoria Sherrow, author of over 150 books for children and teens, for her workshop. It’s designed for intermediate to advanced writers who have learned the basics and want to sharpen their skills and polish their work. Thursdays, from December 3 for seven weeks. Register here
The Mark Twain House and Museum is hosting best-selling British author of historical fiction Philippa Gregory, in conversation with Sophfronia Scott (Unforgivable Love) on December 4 at 7pm. This is one of only five U.S. appearances Gregory is making in support of her new novel Dark Tides. Register here.
The Westport Library, as part of its programming for writers, is hosting a panel on writing in the romance genre: Modern Romance: Feminism, Power and Happily Ever Afters. Member Libby Waterford will be featured, along with Kilby Blades and Denise Williams. The discussion will take place on Monday, December 14 at 7:00pm. They’ll be discussing the craft of writing romance and its relationship to feminism, power, and gender. As modern romance novelists, these writers’ work challenges the traditional stereotypes and empowers their heroines in new ways. Register here.
The 2020 Creative Nonfiction Award is open for submissions of unpublished creative nonfiction (up to 6,000 words). Guest judge Joy Castro will select three winning pieces—each of the three writers will be awarded $1,000 and publication. Submissions through December 31.
Part 2 of this update will follow on Monday, and in the meantime, keep writing!