For some reason, there’s a rush of workshops and writerly events coming up – starting tomorrow, November 18. I’ve listed them first in this post, so you don’t miss any of them! If you’re in Connecticut, twelve Connecticut authors and I will be signing books at Hubcap in Wallingford tomorrow from 11-3. Do join us! There are more upcoming events where you can come and say hello on the events page.

It’s not too late to register! “The Perception Gap: Create Compelling and Twisty Plots Using Your Characters’ Views of the World” presented by Jane K. Cleland, best-selling author of cozy mysteries, starts this Saturday, November 18, at 1pm ET. Sign up here to join for free. Reserving your seat is free, but you must sign up to receive the access details! If you have trouble signing up, contact  jon@janecleland.com to ensure you get on the list.

Gotham Writers’ Literary/Commercial Fiction Conference is available on Zoom and in NYC this weekend, November 18-19, from 11-4pm ET. Unfortunately, the applications to their Pitching Roundtables are closed. But you can still join for the panels & presentations happening on Day 1. Here are some of them: Where Does Commercial Meet Literary Meet Genre? two authors and an agent discuss the boundaries between genres. What’s After The Book Deal? two authors and an agent discuss what happens after a book sale. Featured Author Interview with New York Times-bestselling author Ann Napolitano, and Publishing GPS: Navigating Pre-Query Research (Publisher’s Marketplace, Query Tracker, etc.) a walkthrough of the numerous agent and publishing databases. Day 1: Presentations. Register here. $95

You may have the greatest query letter ever, only to have your submission not quite hit the mark. Here’s a class given by Marcia Bradley, author of The Home for Wayward Girls which promises to help you out. Commit to two, 2-hour classes at 1pm ET on Tuesday, November 28, and Thursday, November 30. This is truly for serious writers in the process of writing books and seeking publication. Two days that can change your book’s future. Register HERE $350

The Westport Writers’ Workshop will be hosting a virtual 2023 Connecticut Literary Anthology reading on November 28 at 7:00 p.m. EST. Register here for more information and the link. Free.

Frightening First Line Contest is open for submissions thru November 30. Autumn is the season of rustling leaves, a chill in the air, and, of course, Halloween. In that spirit, Gotham Writers’ Workshop wants you to create the first line of a frightening story. But they want that first line to be so intriguing or chilling or scary that it makes their skin tingle and or nerves twitch (in 31 words or less). The winner will receive a free Gotham class of their choice. Deadline: November 30, 11:59 pm Eastern Time.

Writing and publishing guru Jane Friedman is presenting a webinar designed to answer the following publishing questions, Hybrid Publish or Self-Publish? On December 6, in partnership with Craft Talks, Jane covers everything you need to know about the self-publishing, hybrid publishing, and paid publishing services landscape, in plain English. Learn more & register here. $25

Writers Digest University runs regular webinars and classes online, covering a multitude of subjects. Among those coming up, on December 7, is a class led by mystery writer and teacher Jane Cleland, entitled Set the Stage Using Setting to Add Intrigue and Suspense. When you convert setting into atmosphere, you add intrigue and suspense. It’s a crucial element in storytelling in all genres, from world-building ihttps://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/pages/course-calendarn fantasy, horror, and cozy mysteries to capturing the essence of place in literary fiction, historical fiction, and memoir. Jane K. Cleland’s four setting strategies enable you to set the stage for your stories, whether that stage is a gritty city past its prime or a charming small town on the coast—or anything in between. Register here. $89

Each month the Gotham Writers Workshop invite you to post a story on Twitter using #GWstorieseverywhere for a chance to win a free class. Your stories (which can be true or made-up) will be inspired by what you see, know, or do, and they should relate in some way to their monthly “themes.” November: Wrong address, and December: Mythical.

The Connecticut Press Club Awards contest is now open for submissions. The contest is open to writers, authors, bloggers, copy editors, page designers, public affairs professionals, photographers, publishers, and others in the communications field. Writers of all ages are invited to enter. The professional contest includes categories for work appearing in college media and for college media advisors. All entries must be published in 2023. The early deadline to submit entries and avoid a one-time additional fee of $25 is January 17, 2024. The final deadline for books is January 31, and the final deadline for all other entries is February 7.

63 categories are available, so find the one(s) that fit your work, and submit!

• Writing (Categories 1 -17, including books and poetry)
• Editing (Categories 18-20)
• Photography (Categories 21-23)
• Graphics and Design (Categories 24-26)
• Radio and Television (Categories 27-32)
• Web and Social Media (Categories 33-41)
• Advertising (Categories 42-45)
• Communications Programs and Campaigns (Categories 46-50)
• Public Relations Materials (Categories 51-53)
• Information for the Media (Categories 54-56)
• Speeches (Category 57)
• Collegiate/Education (Categories 58-63)

More to come on Monday!