Writers Rendezvous October update Part 2

The Scary Story Challenge is a creative writing competition open to writers worldwide. When the competition begins on October 31, writers are placed in groups where they will be judged against other writers within their same group. Each group will receive three prompts: a scare, a character, and an action. The writers then have 48 hours to craft a scary story no longer than 400 words. The judges select the top 10 writers from each group in the 1st Round who will advance to the next round of the competition. In the 2nd Round (January 9-11, 2026), writers will receive new scare, character, and action assignments and again have 48 hours to craft original scary stories no longer than 400 words. Judges select the top five writers in each group from the 2nd Round to advance to the Final Round of the competition, (February 27 – March 1, 2026), where writers will receive their final assignment of the competition. Feedback from the judges is provided for every submission, and there are over $10,000 in cash prizes for the winners. Sound like fun? Register here.

If you’re interested in writing screenplays or theatre plays, there are two different programs of short plays for you to see here in Connecticut.

The first is on Saturday, November 1, at 7:30pm and Sunday, November 2, at 2pm, at the Powerhouse Theatre in New Canaan. Now in its 42nd year, the Theatre Artists Workshop is offering the Fall Festival of New Works, a benefit production featuring nine original short plays that showcase the array of artistry and imagination of its members. Tickets are available here. $25-30

If those dates don’t work for you, you might want to attend the 10-Minute Play Festival, happening at MoCACT/Museum of Contemporary Art in Westport, Connecticut, on Sunday, November 19 at 2pm and 7:30pm. Nine winners of the A Chronicles’ awards will see their 10-minute plays performed. (These plays are different from those in the paragraph above.) The theme is the diversity of experiences surrounding reproductive rights – whether triumphant, tragic, or comic. Buy your tickets here $25-35.

On November 2, at 2pm, the Fairfield County Writers Studio is hosting a book launch party for thriller-writer Tessa Wegert’s thrilling new page-turner, In the Bones. Reading, thriller/mystery Q&A with Tessa, and signed books for sale. All welcome. Email them at info@fcwritersstudio.com if you’re coming

Establish (or Improve) Your Email Newsletter with Jane Friedman in an online workshop scheduled for November 13, from 1–2:30 p.m. ET. Hosted by Writer’s Digest: This 90-minute class will cover best practices of email newsletters, how to avoid the common mistakes, and the pros and cons of using Substack. Register at Writer’s Digest ($89)

The Book Bash Festival takes place at the University of Bridgeport Wheeler Recreational Center on November 15, from 10-4pm on the main campus of the University. They are planning to host one hundred authors for this event, which I believe will make it the largest book festival in Connecticut.

And on November 21, I’ll be in conversation with memoirist and thriller writer, Sharon Dukett, about her novel, The Shutdown List. We’ll be at Bank Square Books in Mystic, CT, so come say hello!

The Northeast Coast is an online literary journal dedicated to the poetry and spirit of the northeastern coastal United States. Founded and edited by poet Katherine E. Schneider, this journal seeks to publish poetry of writers residing in or inspired by this region. The submission deadline for the next edition is October 30. Submission guidelines here.

Emily Harstone of Authors Publish just fully updated the 2025 Guide to Manuscript Publishers — and you can download a free copy here. The book includes detailed reviews of 300 traditional publishers that accept submissions directly from writers. If you want to get published, this book is for you.
BookCon is officially returning to the Javits Center in New York City on April 18-19, 2026, but tickets are available now. It’s a full-on celebration of storytelling, built for readers, by readers. Activities include intimate author chats, lively book swaps that feel like treasure hunts, book signings, book clubs, workshops, and crafting zones. Book tickets here. One day, $60. Weekend $100

If you’re looking for a writers’ group in Connecticut that you can join, this list might prove useful. I should note that some of the Meetup listings are no longer in existence, including mine, but there are some great groups at libraries, and the Poets’ Salon, run by member Alison McBain. Take a look.