Pikes Peak Writers April Events

Open Critique – April 5

6:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Cottonwood Center for the Arts
427 East Colorado Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO 80903

This FREE program provides a critique experience for a small number of PPW members who seek feedback on manuscript pages and who want to learn how to have positive critique group experiences.

PPW’s Open Critique program is facilitated by Donnell Bell with the occasional experienced guest critique partner. During Open Critique, Donnell and the guest critique partner will provide comments, criticism and suggestions on participants’ manuscript pages, as well as model positive behaviors, techniques and procedures for critiquing.

It is our hope that participants will not only receive valuable feedback on their writing, but will also learn how to create great critique groups of their own, or learn how to improve existing critique groups.

Each month Open Critique will accommodate up to eight participants with a maximum of eight manuscript pages (double spaced, one side) per person. Bring at least 8 copies. To request a slot to participate, email your request to critique@pikespeakwriters.com. Slots are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, and are only considered for the month in which they are received. Participants will receive confirmation and instructions via email. You must be a PPW member to participate. You can join our membership here.

PPW reserves the right to give priority to new participants over those who have attended multiple times.

Write Brain – April 18

***Conference Special – How to Talk about Your Novel***

Location: 5580 Tech Center Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80919 
6:30 to 8:30

What:  How to Talk about your Novel

Who: M.B. Partlow and Pam McCutcheon

When: April 18, 2017 — 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Where: Marriott, Salon F

Conference Special: For the first section, M.B. Partlow, Pikes Peak Writers Vice President and Programming Director will speak about any number of Conference topics, helping you get the most out of your conference experience and the Thursday Prequel. Come with questions and learn how PPWC is THE place for you to be April 27 – 30th. And with this being the Silver Jubilee Conference, you definitely don’t want to miss out!

After the break, Pam McCutcheon will share her expertise with how to talk about your novel, preparing you for talking to the Agents and Editors during PPWC and for the rest of your writing career.

How to Talk About Your Novel: You know your novel inside and out, so why do you get tongue-tied when someone asks what it’s about—or worse yet, babble on for ten minutes? If you’ve ever wondered how in the world to sum up four hundred pages of prose in a few short sentences, this session is for you. Come learn how to craft a snappy description of your book that will draw in readers, making them eager to know more about the novel you’ve written.

About the Speaker: Pam McCutcheon is the author of romance novels and how-to books for writers under her own name, and the Demon Underground YA urban fantasy series under the name Parker Blue. Pam’s latest releases are updated e-book versions of her popular Writing the Fiction Synopsis and The Writer’s Brainstorming Kit (with Michael Waite) as well as self-published e-book versions of her romance backlist and fantasy short stories. Pam/Parker now works full-time as a writer, editor, speaker, and as the “Parker” half of Parker Hayden Media, an assisted self-publishing business. She can be found on the ’net at pammc.com or parkerblue.net.

Writer’s Night – April 24

Time: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Location: Kawa Coffee, 2427 N. Union Blvd. Colorado Springs, CO 80909

Writers’ Night is two full hours of discussion, laughter, and fun with other location members of Pikes Peak Writers. 

The direction of the meeting is decided by the participants and can include discussions about query letters, obtaining and working with an agent, writing conferences, or other specific points of craft. If nothing else, we talk about books!

If you have any questions, or if there is a specific topic you’d like to get on the agenda, spend an email to the host, Damon Smithwick, e-mail to the host, Damon Smithwick or call him on his cell phone at (719) 464-5336.

Meeting are scheduled to start at 6:30 and run until about 8:30. These are drop-in meetings, so feel free to attend all or just part of them.

See you soon!

PIKES PEAK WRITERS CONFERENCE APRIL 27 PREQUEL – APRIL 28 – 30 CONFERENCE

ARE YOU READY FOR THE SILVER JUBILEE?

2017 marks our 25th annual conference, so we’re inviting any and all fiction writers to join us for our Silver Jubilee celebration.

The dates: April 28-30, 2017. The prequel: April 27, 2017.

Regular registration is available from November 15, 2016 through March 25, 2017 for $415.

Late registration is available from March 26, 2017 through April 23, 2017 for $475.

The earlier you register, the better your chance of getting your first choice for Read & Critique and/or Query appointments.

Https://www.pikespeakwriters.com/ppwc/

For these and upcoming events check out www.pikespeakwriters.com 

Pikes Peak Writers September Events

Open Critique – Sep. 7

Currently Open Critique is full for the September session. To join us next month, contact  critique@pikespeakwriters.com. To learn more about Open Critique

http://www.pikespeakwriters.com/events/open-critique/

Write Brain – Sep. 13

What:  Querying an Agent and The Zebulon
Who:  Joel Quevillon
When: September 13, 6:30-8:30 pm
Where: Venue@21c (upper floor, to the right if coming in the upper entrance) of Library 21c, 1175 Chapel Hills Dr. Colorado Springs, CO 80920

More Information: Manuscript done, but not sure about the next step? Come learn how to prep your work for submission to an agent. Do’s and don’ts so you won’t get a rejection before they even look at your novel. We’ll touch on Query Letters, Synopses, and First Pages.
What’s The Zebulon got to do with it? The Zebulon is PPW’s Fiction Writing Contest, which simulates the real process of acquiring an agent.

About the Presenter:  Joel Quevillon’s first Pikes Peak Writers Conference was in 2008, and he volunteered for the 2013, 2014, and 2015 conferences. He is on the Zebulon committee and has judged the contest numerous times. Joel writes speculative fiction, which gives him the opportunity to touch several genres. He got serious about writing after a dinner conversation with two authors in 2007 and has been at the keyboard ever since. Hiking 14ers, fly fishing and college football are the major distracters to his writing. Joel has spent most of the last 20 years in some form of journalism or communications position. Joel has degrees in journalism and management from the University of Arkansas. (Woo Pig Sooie!) He lives on the other side of Pikes Peak.

Facebook Event: Want to see who else is coming? Check here.

The Zebulon Writing Contest opens for business -- September 15, 2016

http://contest.pikespeakwriters.com/

Free Writers Night - Sep. 26

Location: Kawa Coffee

Address: 2427 N Union Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80909

Fourth Monday of every month

6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Join fellow writers for PPW Night  on the fourth Monday of every month.

PPW Writers’ Night is two full hours of discussion, laughter, and fun with other local members of Pikes Peak Writers.

Kawa Coffee stays open for our gathering when they would normally be closed. We understand if you can’t afford a coffee or a snack, but please don’t bring outside food and drink into the coffee shop. Thank you for your understanding.

The direction of the meeting is decided by the participants and can include discussions about query letters, obtaining and working with an agent, writing conferences, or other specific points of the craft.  If nothing else, we talk about books!

If you have any questions, or if there is a specific topic you’d like to get on the agenda, send an e-mail to the host, Deb Courtney, or call her on her cell phone at 719-337-9049.

Meetings are scheduled to start at 6:30 and run until 8:30. These are drop-in meetings, so feel free to attend all or just part of them.

See you soon!

Pikes Peak Writers July Events

Welcome to July!

PREVIEW:  2017 PIKES PEAK WRITERS CONFERENCE  

INTERESTED IN PROPOSING A WORKSHOP?

Pikes Peak Writers 25th Conference!

Keynotes: Kevin Hearne, Tess Gerritsen, Donald Maass

To be considered as a presenter for PPWC 2017 propose a workshop by September 15, 2016: http://www.pikespeakwriters.com/events/proposing-a-workshop/


July Open Critique

6:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Cottonwood Center for the Arts
427 East Colorado Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO 80903

This FREE program provides a critique experience for a small number of writers who seek feedback on manuscript pages and who want to learn how to have positive critique group experiences.

PPW’s Open Critique program is facilitated by Donnell Bell with the occasional experienced guest critique partner. During Open Critique, Donnell and the guest critique partner will provide comments, criticism and suggestions on participants’ manuscript pages, as well as model positive behaviors, techniques and procedures for critiquing.

It is our hope that participants will not only receive valuable feedback on their writing, but will also learn how to create great critique groups of their own, or learn how to improve existing critique groups.

Each month Open Critique will accommodate up to eight participants with a maximum of eight manuscript pages (double spaced, one side) per person. Bring at least 8 copies. To request a slot to participate, email your request to critique@pikespeakwriters.com. Slots are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, and are only considered for the month in which they are received. Participants will receive confirmation and instructions via email.

PPW reserves the right to give priority to new participants over those who have attended multiple times.

July Write Brain

What:  How to Write Authentic African-American Characters
Who:  Jason Evans
When: July 19, 6:30-8:30 pm
Where: Venue@21c (upper floor, to the right if coming in the upper entrance) of Library 21c, 1175 Chapel Hills Dr. Colorado Springs, CO 80920

More Information: Diversity is a buzz word in the writing industry today. Yet in order for diverse characters to be authentic, writers must do their research and ask the hard questions. It is the intent of this workshop to help writers start that process by introducing them to African-American culture and history. We will also explore how literature and cinema have done in creating authentic African-American Characters.

About the Presenter:  Jason Evans wanted to be a writer his entire life. He just didn’t know it. He has been an educator in public & private schools for twelve years. He has earned Double bachelors from UC Santa Barbara, a teaching credentials from Cal-State Los Angeles, and an MA from UC Denver. He has two short stories published and is the editor-in-chief for Man-gazine. He lives in Denver with the Fetching Mrs. Evans and his three dogs and one haughty cat.

Facebook Event: Want to see who else is coming? Check here.

July Writer’s Night

FREE Writer’s Night

Location: Kawa Coffee

Address: 2427 N Union Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80909

Fourth Monday of every month

6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Join fellow writers for PPW Night on the fourth Monday of every month.

PPW Night is two full hours of discussion, laughter, and fun with other local members of Pikes Peak Writers.

The direction of the meeting is decided by the participants and can include discussions about query letters, obtaining and working with an agent, writing conferences, or other specific points of the craft.  If nothing else, we talk about books!

If you have any questions, or if there is a specific topic you’d like to get on the agenda, send an e-mail to the host, Deb Courtney, or call her on her cell phone at 719-337-9049.

Meetings are scheduled to start at 6:30 and run until about 8:30. These are drop-in meetings, so feel free to attend all or just part of them.

See you soon!

The Right Critique Group

By: Natalia Brothers

At his workshop in Midlothian, Virginia, Donald Maass mentioned the PPWC as one of the top ten conferences in the nation. I jotted down “Pikes Peak Writers Conference” and immediately decided to relocate to the foothills of the great mountain. (Kidding. My husband and I saw The Broadmoor Hotel on the Travel channel and were smitten with the mountain views.) I joined Pikes Peak Writers as soon as we moved to Colorado. My genre is Dark Fantasy, but as a newbie I thought I was writing Paranormal Romance. So I also became a member of a local chapter of Romance Writers of America.

The group offered an open critique, and I remember my panic at our first meeting, when I listened to other participants and thought, I don’t have a slightest clue how to evaluate someone else’s writing. “I probably shouldn’t be here,” I said.

“Yes, you should be here,” the hostess said. “That’s how you’re going to learn.”

She was right. Ten minutes later, I made my first suggestion.

How do you decide which group is right for you?

Every person sees your work and critiques it differently. For example, I will comment on the pace of your story, the conflict and stakes in every scene. I’ll tell you whether your main character solicited my empathy. Someone else might evaluate the dialogue, your tags and beats, or make suggestions about your characters’ emotions. Another critic’s forte might be grammar and typos.

After years of being a member of various groups, I knew exactly what I was looking for in my critique partners. Some of the groups were too large. In others, not every participant brought his or her work for critiquing, in which case a person who didn’t write could offer only a general opinion. I needed deeper insight. That’s why I teamed up with several local authors who write regularly with the goal to get published. We occasionally meet in person, but all critiquing is done online to ensure an in-depth evaluation of our manuscripts.

The main difference between a critique group and an open critique is that the members of your group know your project and know you. My critique partner has seen every chapter of my manuscript countless times. After I finished my first novel, I wanted to hear feedback from people who had never read my work. Pikes Peak Writers offers terrific Open Critiques, and I’ve attended several of them. The benefit is enormous. I received great advice on two of my projects. I also honed my critiquing skills by listening to experienced guest critiquers.

There’s another way to get an objective evaluation of your work. For me, the ultimate critique has always been a writing contest. It’s nerve-racking when a stranger reviews your manuscript, but that person is impartial. How can you tell whether you should trust the judges’ suggestions? Sure, I’ve huffed through my share of comments. Someone wrote to me, “If it was so chilly that the characters could see their breaths, there would be no mosquitoes!” 

Oh yeah? You don’t know Russian mosquitoes. On a bright late-September morning, I opened the door to the unheated banya, a Russian sauna, hoping the structure would warm up faster with some air circulation. The frost still whitened the grass and fallen foliage, but the first sun rays broke over the birch grove. There was a mosquito just inside the changing room. It sensed my presence. The determined insect tried to find me but kept bumping into the walls. Flying nevertheless. In freezing temperatures. But that was one comment from one contest judge. It didn’t deter me from entering more contests.

I’m a firm believer in soliciting as much feedback as possible. The more people who get to see your work, the broader range of suggestions you’ll receive. Some comments might point out the same issues (definitely a reason for revisions), but the advantage is in getting an unexpected opinion and often surprising advice. I found a critique group that was about helping me and not changing my vision of the story, my idea how the plot should unfold, the pace, the voice. My critique partners helped me every step of the way.

Then, boom—I knew the manuscript was ready.

About the author:  Born in Moscow, Natalia grew up with the romance and magic of Russian fairy tales. She never imagined that one day she’d be swept off her feet by an American Marine. An engineer-physicist-chemist, Natalia realized that the powder metallurgy might not be her true calling when on a moonless summer night she was spooked by cries of a loon in a fog-wrapped meadow. What if, a writer’s unrelenting muse, took hold of her. Two of her passions define her being. Natalia is an orchid expert and she writes dark fantasy.

July 2015 Pikes Peak Writers News and Events

Compiled by Debi Archibald 

2015 is officially half over and I'll bet some of you have overly exuberant friends who are starting to count the days until Christmas. If your List of Goals is stuck somewhere back in March, don't just scan through these events and then move on. Put them on your calendar (in ink!) and take advantage of all the talent PPW has to offer. (You can always find the most current and detailed information on the "Events" tab on the PPW website.)

As always, when the first Wednesday lands on the first couple of days in the month, Open Critique has come and gone before this post appears. But there is still time to RSVP to pikespeakopencritique@hotmail.com to have 8 pages of your manuscript read and critiqued with August guest critiquer Jax Hunter:

Open Critique 

Wednesday, August 5, 2015 6:00 to 8:30 PM

Cottonwood Center for the Arts, 427 East Colorado Ave., Colorado Springs, CO


July Write Brain
Tuesday, July 21, 2015   6:30-8:30 p.m. 

Carnegie room of Penrose Library, 20 N Cascade Ave, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903

July's topic is The Top 10 Storytelling Devices Movies Can Teach Novelists with presenter Trai Cartwright. It’s no secret that Hollywood has cracked the story structure code, or that they’ve refined some of the most elegant and efficient character-building tools in the storytelling business. What you may not know is that all of these tricks can be (and often are) utilized to conquer fiction writing, too. This workshop presents the Top Ten Master Movie Storytelling Devices via clips from a number of great modern films and shows you how to capitalize on them for your own writing! Taught by a Hollywood pro who routinely poaches from great films to better her fiction writing. (This is the class Trai didn’t quite finish at the conference this year–those of you who were in the room, here’s a special invitation to join us for the rest of the story!)

Facebook Event: Want to see who else is coming? Check here.


PPW Writer's Night at the Ritz
Monday, July 27, 2015 6:30-8:30 p.m.
 Elbo Room at the Ritz, 15 South Tejon, Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Join fellow writers on the 4th Monday of each month for writerly discussion, laughter, and socializing. The direction of the discussion is decided by the participants.

And as an advance heads up, don't miss a half-day workshop coming up in August. This information will repeat next month but you can register now.

August 15, 2015     1-5 pm

ENT Conference Room of the 21c Library, 1175 Chapel Hills Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80920

Scrivener is Not Word

So, why would you treat it like it is?

Scrivener is a robust writing project software, but a lot of people still treat it like a simple word processor. In this workshop, you’ll learn how Scrivener is different and the tools and tips to revolutionize your writing process.
Cost is $25 – to sign up go to www.pikespeakwriters.com/events/other-events/writing-workshops/

The Pikes Peak Library District has some excellent events coming up including a new 21st Century Writers Group and a workshop on using Word:

Word for Writers - 2013 Edition
When: Thursday, July 30, 2015 - 6:15 PM - 7:45 PM
Where: Library21c -1175 Chapel Hills Drive at Petritz Learning Lab

Head over to the website for more information on these and other writerly events:

http://ppld.org/writers-corner-events

Update on the change in editorship: Donnell Bell will be taking over as your new Managing Editor for Writing from the Peak in August.

Wishing you all a safe and festive 4th of July weekend!

PPW June News & Events

Compiled by Debi Archibald 

We are fast closing in on the halfway mark for 2015. Are you taking advantage of all the programming and events Pikes Peak Writers has to offer to keep you on track for your writing goals this year? Here's what's coming up in June.

Open Critique

Because Open Critique falls on the first Wednesday of each month, it's frequently come and gone by the time News & Events hits the blog. So make sure to put July's O.C. on your calendar:

Wednesday, July 1, 2015 6:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Meet up at the Cottonwood Center for the Arts, 427 East Colorado Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO. 

Get the first 8 pages of your manuscript critiqued by a guest critiquer (J. T. Evans in July) as well as the other participants. Donnell Bell will schedule the first 8 that RSVP to pikespeakopencritique@hotmail.com.

June Write Brain 

Tuesday, June 16, 2015 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Meet at the Carnegie room of Penrose Library, 20 N Cascade Ave, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903. Donnell Bell, Ron Cree, Shannon Lawrence, Chris Mandeville and Damon Smithwick will present a Critique Group Panel guiding us on the way to create independent, long-term and useful critique experiences. The panel wants you to bring your questions.

Facebook Event: Want to see who else is coming? Check here.


PPW Writer's Night at the Ritz

Monday, June 22, 2015 6:30-8:30 p.m.Meet up with your fellow writers at the Elbo Room at the Ritz, 15 South Tejon, Colorado Springs, Colorado. On the agenda: Writerly discussions, laughter, socializing.

You can always find more detail on these and all Pikes Peak Writers events on the blog "Events" tab or on the main Events tab on the PPW website. 

Other News
Donnell Bell will assume editorship of Writing from the Peak sometime next month. Watch the blog for further details and her first post as editor.

Resources
Check out this handy website loaded with resources and events for Colorado writers.
http://www.writebynight.net/colorado/

Look to the Pikes Peak Library District for writing-related groups and events during the summer:

http://ppld.org/writers-corner-events

May News and Events from Pikes Peak Writers

Compiled by Debi Archibald 

Don't lose the momentum you gathered at Conference; stay plugged in with the ongoing PPW monthly events. Keep your writing and your writerly relationships engaged with the following options:

PPW EVENTS

Wednesday, May 6, 2015 6:00 to 8:30 PM
Open Critique at Cottonwood Center for the Arts, 427 East Colorado Ave., Colorado Springs, CO. This month's guest critiquer is Robert Spiller. If you want the first 8 pages of your manuscript critiqued,  RSVP to pikespeakopencritique@hotmail.com.



Tuesday, May 19, 2015 6:30 to 8:30 PM
May Write Brain at the Penrose Library, Carnegie Room, 20 North Cascade Avenue, Colorado Springs (parking on street and in parking lot at meters is free after 6:00 PM). 

Pam McCutcheon will present Writing the Fiction Synopsis. After you've agonized over several hundred pages to make your prose absolutely perfect, how could you possibly distill that down to a measly ten or twenty pages? Or, worse yet, one or two? By the time you've written the book, everything seems important, and it's difficult to know what to put in and what to leave out. To help with that problem, Pam came up with a method that she details in her book, Writing the Fiction Synopsis, A Step by Step Approach. She’ll share her process to help you put together a selling synopsis and write a back cover blurb.


Monday, May 25, 2015 6:30-8:30 PM
Writer's Night at the Elbo Room at the Ritz, 15 South Tejon, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
 Join fellow writers on the 4th Monday of each month for writerly discussion, laughter, and socializing. The direction of the discussion is decided by the participants.

WRITING CONTEST 

(NOTE: This is not a PPW endorsed contest but is presented for informational purposes only.)

The Colorado Independent Publishers Association announces its 21st annual CIPA EVVY book competition is open for submissions. The CIPA EVVYs are one of the longest-running book awards on the Indie publishing scene, and it’s become an international competition with entrants from as far away as Russia and Dubai.  

CIPA EVVYs are open to books published from 2012 onwards. The deadline for submissions is May 30, 2015. The awards banquet is August 22, 2015.

Visit http://www.cipacatalog.com/pages/CIPA-EVVY-Awards. There are 42 regular categories and 8 technical categories to choose from. Join in one of the best book competition in the Rocky Mountains!

COLORADO COLLEGE VISITING WRITERS SERIES 

Thursday, May 7th, 7:00 pm
Gates Common Room, Palmer Hall

Visiting assistant professor Bryan Hurt at Colorado College and prose magician whose work has appeared in Tin House, TriQuarterly, and the Kenyon Review, editor of the acclaimed collection, “The Loudest Voice” reading from his fiction and discussing his approach to his craft.

PPW April News and Events

By Debi Archibald 

April is Conference month but don't think that is all PPW has to offer. Make the most of your conference experience by taking advantage of the other events. Some are tied in with Conference and all offer the opportunity to talk to your fellow writers.

April Open Critique was on April 1 this month but mark your calendar for next month:

May 6, 2015 (Wednesday)

6:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Cottonwood Center for the Arts, 427 East Colorado Ave., Colorado Springs, CO  

Get the first 8 pages of your manuscript critiqued. First 8 to RSVP to pikespeakopencritique@hotmail.com.

Guest critiquer TBA.


2015 Mountain of Authors

April 4, 2015 (Saturday)
12:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Location: Library 21c, 1175 Chapel Hills Dr., Colorado Springs, Colorado.

This free event is an annual community program that provides an opportunity for the public and local authors to meet and listen to notable Colorado authors, and for aspiring writers to learn more about the craft of writing. No registration is required.
http://more.ppld.org:8080/mountainofauthors/schedule.html


April Write Brain
April 14, 2015 (Tuesday)  NOTE: This is the second Tuesday. 

6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The Marriott Hotel, Colorado Springs, Colorado       NOTE the location change.

Conference Prep 101: How to Talk About Your Writing to ANYONE!
Presenters:  MB Partlow and Jason Henry



2015 PPW Conference

 Friday, April 24 through Sunday, April 26, 2015 (With a Thursday Prequel)

 Colorado Springs Marriott, 5580 Tech Center Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80919. 

 Phone: (719) 260-1800.
http://www.pikespeakwriters.com/ppwc/



PPW Writer's Night at the Ritz
April 27, 2015 (Monday)
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Elbo Room at the Ritz, 15 South Tejon, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Join fellow writers on the 4th Monday of each month for writerly discussion, laughter, and socializing. The direction of the discussion is decided by the participants.

PPW March News and Events

Compiled by Debi Archibald

47 days and counting until PPWC15. Are you registered? In this case, all things do NOT come to he who waits. Pricing goes up March 15th so do your budget a favor and get registered before then.

Between now and then, PPW has several events and workshops to whet your appetite for Conference. If you always make it to Write Brain but haven't yet ventured out to Open Critique or Writer's Night, this is a good time to shake things up a little.

March 17, 2015 6:-30 to 8:30 p.m. (Tuesday)
March Write Brain at the Carnegie Room, Penrose Library, 20 North Cascade Avenue, Colorado Springs. Come see Stuart Horwitz present The Book Architecture Method: Reaching the Finish Line. This method can help you transform a messy manuscript into a polished book whether you are a meticulous plotter or a free-spirited pantser. Clients using this method have seen their fiction and non-fiction books hit the best-seller list.  

March 23, 2015 6:30-8:30 p.m (Monday)

PPW Writer's Night in the Elbo Room at the Ritz, 15 South Tejon, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Hang out with your fellow authors enjoying writerly discussion, laughter and socializing. Participants set the direction of this event. 

April 1, 2015 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. (Wednesday)
Open Critique at the Cottonwood Center for the Arts, 427 East Colorado Ave., Colorado Springs, Colorado. Guest critiquer is Karin Human. If you would like the first 8 pages of your manuscript critiqued, RSVP to pikespeakopencritique@hotmail.com.

Be sure to watch April News and Events for a one-time-only change in time and venue for Write Brain, which will focus on the dos and don'ts of PPWC. 

February PPW News and Events

Compiled by Debi Archibald

Welcome to February, Writers.

Valentine's Day looms and depending on your current relationship status, that may stir up butterflies, anticipation, dread or out and out depression. But Pikes Peak Writers has an event perfect for writers who find themselves anywhere in the romance spectrum.

Saturday, February 14
Write Your Heart Out
1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
The Marriott Hotel: 5580 Tech Center Drive, Colorado Springs

This is a FREE event. Becky Clark will be emceeing the event and featured speakers will be Julie (J.A.) Kazimer, Fleur (F.T.) Bradley, Mike Befeler, Jennie Marts, Kevin Ikenberry and Cara Lopez Lee. Stay tuned to the PPW Facebook page for a little surprise the organizers are working on.

Space is limited so you must RSVP to rsvp@pikespeakwriters.com in order to attend.


Tuesday, February 17
February Write Brain
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Penrose Library: Carnegie Room, 20 North Cascade Avenue, Colorado Springs

Debbie Maxwell presents this workshop. Scrivener software is an increasingly popular tool for writers, yet there's a steep learning curve. Many writers own the program, but don't maximize the use of the best features. Others shy away from having to learn 'another thing.' This workshop will familiarize you with Scrivener, and get you writing on your manuscript the same day. Learn to navigate the software, import your manuscript and very last scrap of research, plus how to take advantage of Scrivener's most helpful features. Bring your computer with Scrivener already downloaded (you can download it and try it free for 30 days).


Monday, February 23
Writer's Night at the Ritz
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
The Ritz: Elbo Room, 15 South Tejon, Colorado Springs

Join fellow writers on the 4th Monday of each month for writerly discussion, laughter, and socializing. The direction of the discussion is decided by the participants.


Wednesday, March 4
Open Critique
6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Cottonwood Center for the Arts: 427 E. Colorado Avenue, Colorado Springs

February Open Critique has come and gone but mark your calendar for next month and check the Events Tab for details.

Other News

Shannon Lawrence has been a familiar face at Pikes Peak Writers events. She is now moving into the position of Treasurer and Jennifer LaPointe will assume the role of Non-Conference Events Director. Welcome to your new role, Jennifer!

Writing Events in the Community

Colorado College Visiting Writer Series

Tuesday, February 10th, 7:00 pm
Gates Common Room, Palmer Hall
Nate Marshall: An important new voice emerging from Chicago’s Southside, the author of “Blood Percussion,” co-editor of “The BreakBeat Poets: New American Poetry in the Age of Hip Hop,” and the star of the award-winning poetry documentary “Louder Than A Bomb.”

Thursday, February 19th, 7:00 pm
Gates Common Room, Palmer Hall
Jim Moore: Beloved CC faculty member and poet, the author of six collections of poetry, including “Invisible Strings,” “Lightning at Dinner,” “The Long Experience of Love,” and “The Free-dom of History” reading from his latest book, “Underground: New and Selected Poems.”

Coming Up

In April: Mountain of Authors and PPWC15: Choose Your Writing Adventure. Watch for details next month and as always, check the EVENTS tab for complete detail on any of the PPW events.