We had another wonderful Rendezvous on Wednesday, with a number of questions raised, and hopefully answered, about critique groups, self-publishing, and more. And I was able to tell people about several upcoming writing events that are worth a writer’s time – some free and some relatively inexpensive. Check them out below.
Have you been wanting to publish a chapbook? Poets Monica Ong & Shanna Melton will walk you through the process of building a manuscript for chapbook contests in a special virtual Writer’s Group workshop happening this Saturday, November 20, from 2-4pm EST. You’ll learn about useful tools for organizing your poems, strategies for building dynamic manuscripts, as well as resources and listings for chapbook contests, and more. Register here. $20 All tickets are priced on a sliding scale. Proceeds go to support paying independent artists, growth and development of programming, and community work.
Gotham Writers is offering a series of free interactive Zoom talks called Inside Writing on Wednesday afternoons from 1-2pm EST, where the host and guests (writers, agents, editors) discuss the inside scoop on publishing and writing. Questions from the audience are welcome. The host is Josh Sippie, organizer of the Gotham Writers Conference. The guests vary from week to week, and each episode focuses on a particular genre or aspect of writing. The next one is scheduled for Wednesday, November 24, with Eric Smith, the Young Adult author of such books as Don’t Read The Comments, The Geek’s Guide To Dating, and the forthcoming You Can Go Your Own Way. He is also a literary agent at PS Literary. Check this link for more dates.
The Tuesday after Thanksgiving, November 30, at 6pm EST, Byrd’s Books in Bethel, CT, is offering spots for a virtual live event with Amor Towles, the New York Times-bestselling author of The Lincoln Highway, as well as A Gentleman in Moscow and Rules of Civility. He’ll be talking with Gail Vinett, Lead Content Manager at Ingram Content Group, Amor will discuss his latest novel, the playful and propulsive story of 10 fateful days and one winding journey through 1950s America. If you register now, they’ll enter you to win a signed copy of The Lincoln Highway. (They have more, that you can buy at the store.) This event will promote Write America, and buying through independent bookstores, and is free and open to the public.
The Pequot Library, which hosts my weekly Monday morning write-ins, are famous for their summer book sale, but their Black Friday/Saturday Book Sale is also worth a visit. Taking place on November 26-27, from 9-5pm, they offer thousands of books and media items (CDs, DVDs, etc) in great condition and at great prices. They also sell books online, if you can’t make it to the event.
Alessandra Torre, New York Times best-selling novelist and founder of Inkers Con, a virtual writers conference for novelists, is offering recordings of the 2020 version for half price until November 30. You can watch 29 author classes on-demand at a special one-time price of $123 (Use coupon code Half at checkout). Your access is for three years, which will give you plenty of time to enjoy all of the classes. These 29 videos from the 2020 Con have subjects like: writing better books quicker and with less effort, smarter marketing, lower advertising expenses with better results, and more. Check out the class line-up and see whether it’s for you.
Six Word Memoirs has been around a long time, running regular contests and 
producing anthologies of exactly what their name implies. With Thanksgiving looming, they’re looking for six-word memoirs about what makes your family unique. Check their website for samples, and submit your memoir on the contest page for a chance to win a Six-Word Memoir book of your choice.
And if you’d like a daily photo prompt, Agatha Chocolats, author of the Chandler’s Chocolate Box mysteries, provides one each day on her Twitter account. Just reading the stories people come up with is an education. Her most recent book, Thirteen Bitter Sweets, is available on Amazon.
More to come on Monday. In the meantime, keep writing!
