Pikes Peak Writers July Events

Write Drunk, Edit Sober – July 12

Second Wednesday of every month
6:30 PM until approximately 9:00 PM
Bar K
124 E Costilla St.
Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Please join Deb Courtney for Write Drunk*, Edit Sober on the second Wednesday of every month. We start at 6:30 PM will run until approximately 9 PM. It is located in the lower level of Bar K in Downtown Colorado Springs.

The basic format is improv writing followed by discussion of critical techniques useful in unpacking improv responses in order to further develop them.

Bar K is located on Costilla, between Tejon and Nevada.

This event is no host, which means Pikes Peak Writers will not be providing the drinks. Alcohol/soft drinks are available for purchase. There is no food service; owners have graciously agreed to allow outside food/snacks. Please be courteous and leave no messes.

This event is only open to writers who are at least 21 years old.

Hope to see you there.

* Pikes Peak Writers does not endorse or approve of drinking to excess. Please, if you choose to drink alcoholic beverages, drink responsibly.

July Write Brain – Diversity in YA Literature - July 18

Who: Khadija Grant

When: July 18, 2017 – 6:15-8:15pm – Please note the new starting time.

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:  Writing a diverse character into a story can be tricky, especially if the writer is unfamiliar with the culture. However, there are a number of ways to become skilled at writing from another cultures point of view, painting vivid settings, and touching on issues young adults from all cultures must battle, even if you lack experience in the area.

This presentation will cover:

• Tips on how to write realistic and diverse characters, settings and storylines you many have not experienced.
• How to avoid stereotypes and addressing culture sensitive issues.
• My experience with writing diverse characters in Young Adult Fiction and some of the challenges I have overcome, including working with disadvantaged youth both online and offline and how I use it to write compelling stories.

About the Presenter:  Khadija Grant was born in Cleveland, Ohio and is the proud mother of three beautiful little girls. She has a passion for transforming social issues into raw, yet inspirational stories and enjoys giving back to the youth. Her first book, ‘The Influenced’ was featured and highly regarded by the community of Wattpad. Her second book, ‘You Can Start One Too’ was also featured this year at Grant Elementary’s 1,000 Night of Stars. She is a recent graduate of Leadership Pikes Peak and is an ambassador for El Pomar’s College and Readiness Success Program. Her mission is to inspire and empower the youth to become the best they can be, regardless of what they look like or where they come from. She is currently working on the sequel to ‘The Influenced’ as well as ‘The Day and Night Contest’ to inspire children to follow their passion.

FREE Writers’ Night – July 24

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.

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, Damon Smithwick, or call him on his cell phone at 719-464-5336.

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!

Pikes Peak Writers March Events

March Write Brain (March 15th) 

What:  DARE TO DREAM: 2016
Who:  Jason P. Henry and Susan Mitchell
When: Mar 15, 6:30-8:30 pm

DIFFERENT LOCATION Where: Colorado Springs Marriott, 5580 Tech Center Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80919

More Information: The 24th annual Pikes Peak Writers Conference is right around the corner, so why not start the party now? Whether you are new to conference, or just want to get the energy flowing early, this will be a Write Brain for you. Jason Henry (the 2016 Conference Director) and Susan Mitchell (the 2016 Programming Director) will turn the focus of this Write Brain to conference and give you valuable information to help improve your conference experience. What are Read & Critique appointments? What is a Query 1-on-1? Learn some of the conference lingo and get helpful tips to make the most of conference without burning out. Susan and Jason will also talk about this year’s faculty and programming. Who are the keynote speakers? What’s new? What workshops will there be? Photo shoots? Book signing? Recordings?

Then, after your conference questions are answered, you will get the chance to sit down with some of the Pikes Peak Writers veterans for a practice Query 1-on-1 appointment. Bring two copies of your one page query letter, and we’ll show you what to expect when you sit down with an agent or editor, and help you survive!

About the Presenters:

Ask Jason P. Henry what he’s thinking, but only at your own risk. He may be exploring his dark side as he writes Romance but, most likely, he’s lost in a world of serial killers, psychopaths, and other unsavory folks. After all, his happy place is plotting a murder, considering the next victim, or twisting seemingly innocent things into dark and demented ideas. Primarily a Suspense, Thriller and Horror writer with a dark, twisted sense of humor, Jason strives to make people squirm, cringe, and laugh. He loves to offer a smile, but is quick to leave you wondering what lies behind it. Jason P. Henry is best summed up by the great philosopher Eminem “I’m friends with the monsters beside of my bed, get along with the voices inside of my head.” Learn more about Jason at www.jasonphenry.com.

Susan Mitchell has a degree in English from Northern Arizona University. Her work has appeared in literary magazines including George and Mertie’s Place, Poetry Motel and Wordwrights. She writes and produces local television commercials, promotions and programs. She has written and produced projects for TLC, regional ABC, NBC and CBS affiliates. Susan is also completing work on a darkly humorous horror series and a bone chilling screenplay.
Facebook Event: Want to see who else is coming? Check here.

Writer’s Night

FREE Writer’s Night

Location: Kawa Coffee

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

Fourth Monday of every month (View Calendar of Events)

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!

Pikes Peak Writers December Events

December Write Brain

What:  Cooperative Storytelling and Improv Writing
Who:  Michael Haspil

When: Dec 15, 6:30-8:30 pm

NEW LOCATION 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: Come learn about improvisational writing exercises and some tools to generate writing prompts. Michael will also discuss cooperative storytelling techniques, such as round-robin stories and story games detailing how a writer might leverage the vast resources of role-playing games to aid in subject research and punch up their writing.

About the Presenter: Michael F. Haspil is a geeky engineer and nerdy artist. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, he had the opportunities to serve as an ICBM crew commander and as a launch director at Cape Canaveral. The art of storytelling called to him from a young age and he has plied his craft over many years and through diverse media. He has been writing original stories for as long as he can remember and has dabbled in many genres. However, Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror have whispered directly to his soul. When he isn’t writing, you can find him sharing stories with his role-playing group, cosplaying, computer gaming, or collecting and creating replica movie props. Lately, the bulk of his hobby time has been devoted to assembling and painting miniatures for his tabletop wargaming addiction. He is currently working on his third novel.Facebook Event: Want to see who else is coming? Check here.

Free Writers Night 

Location: Kawa Coffee

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

Fourth Monday of every month Dec, 28, 2015

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!

Please note that Michael Shepherd’s November Write Brain Session on Voice, which was cancelled on account of weather, will be January’s Write Brain Session.

What: Find Your Voice…Then Use It!
Who:  Michael Shepherd

When: Jan 19, 6:30-8:30 pm

NEW LOCATION 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: This topic is treated with near-reverence by those who seek the mythical ‘voice’, but a distinctive author’s voice is already within you. Find Your Voice…Then Use It will encourage writers to confidently allow their personality–their unique voice–to shine through in their writing. Writers often feel they must discover a distinctive pattern and tone to write in–usually on the heels of a best-seller’s style–but ‘voice’ can’t be contrived; it is an individual pattern of thinking, feeling, and expressing ourselves as writers. This workshop will explore the unique author’s voice in all of us.
About the Presenter: Michael Shepherd learned to write at an early age, and there are those who still say he hasn’t significantly advanced his craft in the intervening years.  He is a product of the State of Maine school system, where the official motto is: “If the minimum isn’t acceptable it wouldn’t be the minimum, now would it?” It’s on the state flag, you could look it up.

He survived a 29-year career in the military and, when they didn’t lock the back door after he retired, snuck back in and found a job as a government employee specializing in international relations. If that’s not enough to keep you up at night…
He has published two novels: Easy Street, about a private eye in the throes of a mid-life crisis, and Hell with a Gun, a Western. He is currently working on a Mexico-based novel about human trafficking, entitled Pieces of One.

November Write Brain

What: Find Your Voice…Then Use It!
Who:  Michael Shepherd
When: Nov 17, 6:30-8:30 pm

NEW LOCATION 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: This topic is treated with near-reverence by those who seek the mythical ‘voice’, but a distinctive author’s voice is already within you. Find Your Voice…Then Use It will encourage writers to confidently allow their personality–their unique voice–to shine through in their writing. Writers often feel they must discover a distinctive pattern and tone to write in–usually on the heels of a best-seller’s style–but ‘voice’ can’t be contrived; it is an individual pattern of thinking, feeling, and expressing ourselves as writers. This workshop will explore the unique author’s voice in all of us.


About the Presenter: Michael Shepherd learned to write at an early age, and there are those who still say he hasn’t significantly advanced his craft in the intervening years.  He is a product of the State of Maine school system, where the official motto is: “If the minimum isn’t acceptable it wouldn’t be the minimum, now would it?” It’s on the state flag, you could look it up.


He survived a 29-year career in the military and, when they didn’t lock the back door after he retired, snuck back in and found a job as a government employee specializing in international relations. If that’s not enough to keep you up at night…
He has published two novels: Easy Street, about a private eye in the throes of a mid-life crisis, and Hell with a Gun, a Western. He is currently working on a Mexico-based novel about human trafficking, entitled Pieces of One.

 November Writers Night (free)

November 22, 2015

Location: Kawa Coffee

Address: 2427 N Union Blvd, Colorado Springs, Colorado 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!

For more detailed information about Pikes Peak Writers events, check out http://www.pikespeakwriters.com/ 

August and Upcoming Events

Compiled by Donnell Ann Bell

 

Half Day Workshop:

What: Scrivener is Not Word (So why would you treat it like it is?)
When: August 15, 1-5 pm

Where: Ent Conference Room of the 21c Library, 1175 Chapel Hills Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80920
How much: $25

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.

In the first 30-45 minutes, learn how to navigate Scrivener’s Project Structure and setup new projects followed by a 15 minute Q&A. For the remainder of the class, we’ll delve deeper and look at how to setup custom templates, outline a novel quickly and easily, use the View Modes, Compile / Export your work for publishing, and most importantly, how Scrivener is not Word and treating it like it is will only end in tears and hours of lost time for you.

Patrick Hester is an author, blogger and two-time Hugo Award winner – in 2013 for Best Fanzine (Editor – SF Signal), and 2014 for Best Fancast. He lives in Colorado, writes science fiction and fantasy, and can usually be found hanging out on his Twitter feed. His Functional Nerds and SF Signal weekly podcasts have both been nominated for Parsec Awards, and the SF Signal podcast was nominated for a 2012, 2013, and 2014 Hugo Award. He is a Scrivener Guru, writing Quick Tips and teaching people how to be more productive writers using Scrivener. He writes for his website atfmb.com, for SF Signal, Kirkus Reviews and Functional Nerds. His books and stories can be purchased online.

Space is limited. Go to the website "EVENTS" tab for a PayPal link. 

To cancel, contact rsvp@pikespeakwriters.com with a cancellation request. A $5 administrative fee applies to refunds. No refunds for cancellations on August 14 or 15.

August Write Brain  

Co-sponsor: WritersWrite!

What: Joyful Productivity for Writers
Who: Hillary Rettig, author of The 7 Secrets of the Prolific
When: August 18, 6:30-8:30
Where: Carnegie room of Penrose Library, 20 N Cascade Ave, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903
More Information: Inspiration exists and is available to everyone at nearly any time. Underproductivity, procrastination, and blocks are solvable problems. The secret to achieving a state of near-perpetual inspiration (a.k.a., “flow”) is to switch from a scarcity to an abundance mindset, and also from a shame/blame mindset to one focused on problem-solving. In this workshop by Hillary Rettig, author of the best-selling The 7 Secrets of the Prolific, we’ll delve deep into the heart of underproductivity so you can see, once and for all, what forces are holding you back. Then we’ll discuss solutions—lots of them—that you can start using immediately to boost productivity and reduce stress. This workshop is for all writers—including creative, academic, student, and those who write on the job—plus all artists, activists, and anyone seeking to get more productive.

About the Presenters: Hillary Rettig is a writer, teacher, and coach whose mission is helping people achieve joyful productivity and values-based time management. Her latest book, The 7 Secrets of the Prolific: The Definitive Guide to Overcoming Procrastination, Perfectionism, and Writer’s Block (Infinite Art, 2011), is a bestseller in its Amazon categories, and has been translated into Spanish, Japanese, and (soon) Russian; and she is also author of The Lifelong Activist: How to Change the World Without Losing Your Way (Lantern Books, 2006). Hillary has taught writing productivity at leading venues including The Mark Twain House & Museum, Cape Cod Writers Center, Grub Street Writers, and online at Loft.org and SavvyAuthors.com. For more venues, and organizer and participant testimonials, click here: http://www.hillaryrettig.com/writing-and-arts-organizations/
Hillary was born in the Bronx, and has lived in Ithaca, New York, and Boston. She now lives in Kalamazoo, MI, with her partner, Kalamazoo College physics professor Jan Tobochnik, and their two rescued senior dogs, Billy and Pete. She is a vegan, a living kidney donor, and a former foster mother of four teenaged Sudanese refugees (“Lost Boys”), and, since moving to Michigan, an avid mushroom hunter.

To learn more about Hillary and her work visit www.hillaryrettig.com. Hillary welcomes your emails at hillary@hillaryrettig.com.

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

PPW Writer's Night at the Ritz  6:30 to 8:30 p.m. 

August 24, 2015 

Join fellow writers for PPW Night in The Elbo Room at The Ritz Grill 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.

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.

And a special heads up – COMING IN SEPTEMBER 

The Zebulon Contest will be open for entries September 15th, 2015, through 12:00 p.m. MST on November 2nd, 2014.

For more detailed information on any and all these events, check out the Pikes Peak Writers website: http://www.pikespeakwriters.com/

Click here for the free recording of our February 2014 Write Brain, Sex is Not a Four-Letter Word, with Lisa Renee Jones.

Click here for the free recording of our January 2014 Write Brain, Against the Clock, with Jax Bubis (aka Jaxine Daniels).

Click here for the free recording of our December 2013 Write Brain, A Q&A on Short Stories with Carrie Vaughn, as Interviewed by Shannon Lawrence.

Click here for the free recording of our November 2013 Write Brain, Finding Your Way Out of the Woods, Using Improv to Get Unstuck and Defeat the Brambles of Writer's Block, presented by Angel Smits.

Click here for the free recording of our October 2013 Bonus Write Brain (our regularly scheduled October Write Brain will not be recorded), NaNo What? Everything You Need to Know About NaNoWriMo, with speaker Chris Mandeville.

Click here for the free recording of our September 2013 Write Brain, Advanced Plotting, with speaker Chris Eboch. This recording is password protected, so you must email workshops@pikespeakwriters.com for the access information

Click here for the free recording of our August 2013 Write Brain, Writing a Winner: Tips & Tricks for Entering Writing Contests, with speakers Dawn Smit and MB Partlow.

Click here for the free recording of our July 2013 Write Brain, The Outer Limits of Inner Life: Bringing Characters to Life by Looking Within, with speaker David Corbett.

 Click here for the free recording of our June 2013 Write Brain, Facebook and Twitter for Authors, with speaker Jennifer Lovett.

Click here for the free recording of our May 2013 Write Brain, Manifestation of Yearning: The Flesh & Blood Factor of Good Storytelling, with speaker Page Lambert. Also available at pikespeakwriters.com and delvewriting.com
 
Free MP3 Recordings
To access MP3 recordings that have been offered as free online Write Brains, click here and choose from Common Craft Mistakes by Beginning Writers, presented by Stephen Coonts; The Writer's Toolbox: Dialogue and Characterization, presented by Giles Carwyn; Size Matters, presented by Carrie Vaughn; Wearing Many Hats, presented by Jodi Thomas; 52 Ways to Get Unstuck, presented by Chris Mandeville; or The Three Stories: Front, Back and Perspective, presented by Linda Rohrbough, Jodi Anderson (aka Jodi Dawson), and Laura Hayden.

May News & Events

Compiled by Shannon Lawrence


PPW Events
Note: More information can be found on each of the below events on our Events tab, above.

The May Write Brain will be Discovering the Power of Your Unique Voice, presented by Barbara Samuel. Voice is one of the most misunderstood aspects in all of writing--and possibly the most powerful. By working with hands-on, interactive exercises, Barbara Samuel will help you explore the many aspects that create a writer's unique fingerprint--and ways to fit that voice into the marketplace. Tuesday, May 20, 6:30-8:30 PM. Penrose Library, Carnegie Room.  

Sign-up is now open for the June 7th half-day workshop, Writing a Fiction Synopsis That Sells, presented by Pam McCutcheon. 1-5 PM, Space Foundation. Cost is $25. Every writer must know how to write a strong synopsis–a good one can get your piece in front of the right set of eyes; a bad one can get it rejected without a read-through. Pam McCutcheon, author of Writing the Fiction Synopsis, will  teach you how to break your synopsis down into manageable pieces by looking at the vital elements of a synopsis one-by-one. Classroom instruction, plus one-on-one feedback and hands on activities will make this an interactive workshop. You’ll leave with a rough structure for your synopsis that you can refine from there. Space is limited to allow for personal feedback. GO HERE TO REGISTER.

Open Critique is Wednesday, May 21, 6-8:30 PM, at Cottonwood Center for the Arts. Get the first 8 pages of your manuscript critiqued. RSVP required for those wanting a critique. 

Writer's Night is Monday, May 26, 6:30-8:30 PM, at Ivywild. Open forum. Come discuss whatever writerly topics you'd like. Food and drinks available for purchase at the venue. 

Other "Local" Events

Delve Writing is holding an online workshop entitled I Got a Send It! Now what? Chris Mandeville will be teaching this course. Price is $49, discounted to $35 for PPW members. 9:30 AM to noon, MT. It is online only and live. 

Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers monthly free programming will be Social Media & Marketing Domination: A Writer's Guide to Social Media, Branding & Guerrilla Marketing in the Digital Age, presented by Julie Kazimer. May 10, 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM. Check their page for three other classes being held this month. Their Colorado Gold Writing Contest is now open, with a deadline of June 1 and registration for their conference is now open.

Colorado Springs Fiction Writers has various meetings throughout at the month at different locations. Visitors are welcome. 

The Rocky Mountain Mystery Writers of America will host Q&A With David Keil, a Veteran Detective. Thursday, May 8. Doors open at 6:30 PM. $25 for non-members, dinner and program included in price.

Pikes Peak Pen Women will present Create Students Who Soar Higher Through Poetry, presented by Nancy Jurka, Virginia Franklin Campbell, and Diana Alishouse, May 17, 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM. Location will be given upon RSVP. $23 for non-members, lunch and program included in the cost. RSVP required.

Springs Writers will be presenting How to Power Edit Your Manuscript Mini-Bootcamp, with speaker Scoti Springfield Domeij, Saturday, May 10, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM PM, at Woodmen Valley Chapel. Cost is $15. They will also hold a free workshop Tuesday, May 27, entitled Memoir, Essay, and Personal Experience: How Real Life Stories Can Power Your Writing, by Liz Duckworth. Check website for more details.

Arapahoe Community College holds various writing events. Check their website for upcoming events.

If there is a local writer's group you'd like to see included in this listing, please feel free to let me know in the comments!

About the Author: Shannon Lawrence enjoys writing mainly urban fantasy and horror, examining the darker side of life. Her flash fiction piece, “The Family Ruins,” is included in the anthology Sunday Snaps: The Stories, andBeyond the Binding, an anthology including her piece, "Spes et Libertas," was just released in e-book only. While her main focus is fantasy and horror, she is working on a Young Adult fantasy novel and also enjoys photographing Colorado scenery, wildlife, and her children. She is also the NCE Director for Pikes Peak Writers, and the managing editor of Writing From the Peak. You can find her atwww.thewarriormuse.com and on Twitter as @thewarriormuse.

February News & Events

Compiled by Shannon Lawrence


PPW Events

Note: More information can be found on each of the below events on our Events tab, above.

Write Your Heart Out is a free half-day conference preview, tomorrow, Saturday, February 8, 1-5 PM, at the Colorado Springs Marriott. Our speakers are Cindi Madsen, Tom Adair, DeAnna Knippling, Aaron Ritchey, Todd Wallinger, and Becky Clark. RSVP is required (rsvp@pikespeakwriters.com).

The February Write Brain will be Sex is Not a Four-Letter Word: Tearing Down the Taboo Walls of Sexuality to Create More Interesting Primary and Secondary Characters in All Genres, presented by NYT and USA Today bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones. Tuesday, February 18, 6:30 to 8:30 PM. It will be held at Penrose Library, but in a different room than usual, the Adult/Children's meeting room. This event is free.

Open Critique is Wednesday, February 19, 6-8:30 PM, at Cottonwood Center for the Arts. Get the first 8 pages of your manuscript critiqued. RSVP required for those wanting a critique. 

Writer's Night is Monday, February 24, 6:30-8:30 PM, at Ivywild. Open forum. Come discuss whatever writerly topics you'd like. Food and drinks available for purchase at the venue. 

Other "Local" Events

Delve Writing is holding an online workshop entitled Say it Like a Pro: How to Talk About Your Book Articulately and Enticingly at PPWC or Anywhere. Chris Mandeville will be teaching this course. Price is $20 if you register before February 8. This is a 2-session camp, to be held Saturday, April 5 and Saturday, April 12, 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM MT. It is online only and live. While this is not a February event, the discounted price ends tomorrow, so we wanted to pass it along to you.

Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers has a lot going on! Their monthly free programming will be Write Your Life as Fiction, presented by Anne Randolph, February 22, 11-1 PM. They are holding an online class via Yahoo Groups entitled Editing & Revision for Fiction Writers, presented by Cindi Myers, February 3 through 23. They are taking submissions for their anthology through March. They are taking conference workshop proposals through March. 

Colorado Springs Fiction Writers has various meetings throughout at the month at different locations. Visitors are welcome. 

The Rocky Mountain Mystery Writers of America will host Deb Courtney, as she presents Publicity and Promotion. Thursday, February 13. Doors open at 6:30 PM. $25 for non-members, dinner and program included in price.

Pikes Peak Pen Women will host Jane Rigler, who will present Interpresence: The Process of Bringing Art and Writing Together, February 15, 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM, at Blue Sage Cafe. $23 for non-members, lunch and program included in the cost. RSVP required.

Pikes Peak Library District is holding A Novel Evening: TheGreat Gatsby at Briarhurst Manor, Friday, February 28, 6 PM, to benefit the Manitou Library. 3-course dinner, silent auction, dancing, period costumes welcome.

Springs Writers will be presenting The Flip-Side of a Writer, with speaker Susan Mathis, Tuesday, February 18, 6-8 PM, at Woodmen Valley Chapel.

If there is a local writer's group you'd like to see included in this listing, please feel free to let me know in the comments!

About the Author: Shannon Lawrence enjoys writing mainly urban fantasy and horror, examining the darker side of life. Her flash fiction piece, “The Family Ruins,” is included in the anthology Sunday Snaps: The Stories, and Beyond the Binding, an anthology including her piece, "Spes et Libertas," was just released in e-book only. While her main focus is fantasy and horror, she is working on a Young Adult fantasy novel and also enjoys photographing Colorado scenery, wildlife, and her children. She is also the NCE Director for Pikes Peak Writers, and the managing editor of Writing From the Peak. You can find her at www.thewarriormuse.com and on Twitter as @thewarriormuse.