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.

Diversity in Pikes Peak Writers

By Jennifer LaPointe

Pikes Peak Writers (a 501(c)(3) organization) is committed to helping writers grow and thrive through education, outreach, and community. In order to fulfill our mission, we have a variety of non-conference events, such as our monthly Write Brains, Open Critique, Writer’s Night, or the upcoming Write Your Heart Out free half-day.

At the Pikes Peak Writers Conference we strive to balance our programming to meet the needs of new writers and professional authors, to reflect traditional and new paths, and to energize you for the writing challenges to come.

Generally we receive great feedback on the programming we put together, but from time to time a lack of diversity is pointed out, whether at conference or for the various non-conference events. So dear members, I have to ask, would you like to see more diversity?

If your answer was yes, in what ways? For instance: 

Do you want to see more traditional publishing, small publishing, and/or independent publishing?

Do you want to see more craft, business, genre, and/or writer’s life specific topics? Are there specific topics you'd like to see that we haven't done recently? Topics you'd like to revisit, as it's been awhile? Topics you'd like a half- or full-day workshop on?

Do you want to see more of your genre, whatever that may be?

Do you want to see more men and/or women presenters? More feminine, masculine, and/or neutral topics?

Do you want to see more African-American, Asian-American, Hispanic, Middle Eastern, Native American, Pacific Islander, and/or multi-cultural presenters and/or topics?

If you answered yes to any of these or if I missed something tell us. If we don’t know it’s missing or that it’s out there we can’t acquire it.

If you know of someone who can speak knowledgeably about any of these topics and you would like to hear them at conference or an event like a Write Brain let us know at http://www.pikespeakwriters.com/events/request-a-workshop/

Or if you know someone personally who can speak knowledgeably about any of these topics and they would want to speak at conference or an event like a Write Brain tell them to submit a proposal at http://proposals.pikespeakwriters.com/


About the Author: Jennifer LaPointe, 2014 Conference Assistant Director for the Pikes Peak Writers Conference, is hard at work making sure the behind the scenes is going smoothly.  You can reach her at conferencead@pikespeakwriters.com or find more information about conference at www.pikespeakwriters.com/ppwc/.

Wanted: Workshop Proposals for PPW and PPWC 2014!

Have something you're busting to present as a conference workshop, Write Brain, or full- or half-day workshop? Not sure how to propose such a thing?

Well, now you can! Here's a message from MB Partlow, Programming Director for Pikes Peak Writers Conference 2014:

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We're proud to present our brand new web portal, through which we will accept proposals for Conference workshops and Write Brains, in addition to half-day and full-day workshops. All the info we need about you, your credentials, and your brilliant ideas, in one easy-to-access location.

Plus, you have the ability to go back in and check the status, provide additional information, and make changes or updates.

What are you waiting for? You know you want to!

*To be considered for the 2014 PPWC, please submit by September 30, 2013.
*We even have a couple of slots for half-day workshops for Add-on Thursday, but they're filling up fast!

For monthly Write Brains and longer workshops, you may submit your proposals at any time.

You can visit our website at www.pikespeakwriters.com or go directly to the Proposal Portal.
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MB Partlow
Programming Director, Pikes Peak Writers Conference

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In addition, if you aren't interested in presenting, but have attended a workshop or heard someone speak who you really enjoyed, you can suggest them. Or, if you have an idea for something you feel we haven't covered recently, even if you have no idea who might present it, feel free to suggest a general topic, as well! Go here to Request a Workshop.