August News and Events

Compiled by Debi Archibald

(Please visit the EVENTS tab on both the Writing from the Peak Blog and pikespeakwriters.com for more detailed information.)

August Write Brain is Tuesday, August 19 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. in the Carnegie Room of the Penrose Library (20 North Cascade Avenue). The topic this month is Query 101: Creating Eye-Catching Queries with presenter Brandy Vallance. Knowing how to craft a strong query letter may be the only thing that frees your manuscript from the slush pile.

Brandy Vallance is a graduate of Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild Apprenticeship, has had fifty articles published in various magazines and newspapers, and was on staff with a magazine focusing on the Victorian time period. She’s a member of the Christian Writers Guild, American Christian Fiction Writers, and Pikes Peak Writers, and has won several writing awards, including the 2013 Christian Writers Guild Operation First Novel Contest. In addition to attending many CBA and ABA writing conferences across the country, Brandy has taught a variety of workshops and been the main speaker at ladies retreats.


Open Critique is Wednesday, August 20 from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Cottonwood Center for the Arts (426 East Colorado Avenue). Get the first 8 pages of your manuscript critiqued. First 8 to RSVP to pikespeakopencritique@hotmail.com.  NOTE: Donnell Bell is the new facilitator for Open Critique beginning this month.

PPW Writer's Night at Ivywild is Monday, August 25 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Principal's Office at Ivywild (1604 South Cascade).

The Zebulon Contest:  This contest will open up in September with the winners being recognized at the 2015 Pikes Peak Writers Conference.  Watch the Events tabs on both the Blog and pikespeakwriters.com for upcoming details. 

Other Community Writing Events:

Visiting Writer Series

The Colorado College Visiting Writer Series season is starting up. The series is sponsored by the Colorado College English Department with the Support of the Maclean Visiting Writers Endowment. All Events Free and Open to the Public. For more information call (719) 389-6853 or check out the 2013/2014 Calendar:
http://www.coloradocollege.edu/academics/dept/english/visiting-writer-series/

Colorado Springs Book Group Round-Up   (Free Event)
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
LIBRARY 21C
1175 Chapel Hills Drive
(Chapel Hills and Jamboree)
6:00 p.m.: Refreshments and self-guided tour of Library 21C
7:00 pm.:  Panel discussion
Please enter by the east door facing Chapel Hills Drive and come to the Program Room.
Want to add a new voice to your next book group?  Connect with a nationally known author? Contact a Colorado author to attend your next book group?  This event can show you how, provide contacts and lists of willing authors who would love to share their writing experience and inspiration.

June News and Events

Pikes Peak Writers Events

On Saturday, June 7, from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Writing a Fiction Synopsis That Sells: An Interactive Workshop will take place at the Space Foundation, 4425 Arrowswest Drive, 80907. Pam McCutcheon, author of Writing the Fiction Synopsis, is the presenter. Pam will show you how to write a synopsis that will position your piece to rise above rejection and get in front of the right eyes. This is a hands-on workshop and space is limited to allow for one-on-one feedback. 

 Click here to register now!!

The June Write Brain takes place Tuesday, June 17, from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. This is an online only class so an RSVP is required to receive the link. This month's workshop is Parlay Your Writing: Your Career as a Story With Subplots presented by Karen Albright Lin. Karen explores learning to reinvent yourself by writing in new genres, writing-for-hire, freelance editing, even teaching on cruises. Send your RSVP to rsvp@pikespeakwriters.com.


June Open Critique is Wednesday, June 18, from 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. at the Cottonwood Center for the Arts, 427 East Colorado Ave., Colorado Springs, CO. The first eight to RSVP to pikespeakopencritique@hotmail.com can have the first eight pages of a manuscript critiqued.


PPW Writer's Night at Ivywild is Monday, June 23 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at The Principal's Office in the Ivywild School, 1604 South Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80905. This is a chance to have writerly discussions along with some fun and fraternization on the fourth Monday of each month. Discussion topics are driven by the participants. 

Further detail on all of these activities is posted on the EVENTS tab.


Other PPW Information (From the NCE Editor)

June marks the mid-point of the year so it's a good time to revisit some other PPW activities:

Quarterly Event Newsletter - We send out a single email once every three months to let you know of upcoming PPW events in the next quarter. We will not use this for any purpose other than this single email. Want the dates in advance so you plan what you'll attend? This is an easy way to do so! Sign up by sending an email to events@pikespeakwriters.com with the heading Quarterly Event Email.

Proposal Portal - Do you have a workshop you'd be interested in presenting for PPW? Whether it's for a Write Brain, Conference, or a Half-Day to Full-Day Workshop, we'd like to hear from you! Simply go to http://proposals.pikespeakwriters.com/ (or go to the "Events" tab on our website and select "Submit a Proposal.") This is open at any time, and your proposal will remain in our files for future use.

Request a Workshop - Have a workshop or speaker you'd like to see? We're interested! The best way for us to know what topics our members are interested in is to hear from you. To send this information in, go to http://www.pikespeakwriters.com/events/request-a-workshop/ (or go to "Events" tab on our website and select "Request a Workshop.") We're always looking for great new speakers, and your feedback is appreciated.


In the Community:

You can't be a great writer without being a great reader. The grand opening for the state-of-the-art Library 21c is June 21 from 9:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. at 1175 Chapel Hills Drive. The dedication ceremony is at 9:30 a.m. and all-day events include live performances in the 400-seat theater as well as appearances by the Lt. Governor, Joe Garcia, and other local celebrities.