Join The Writers Grotto as our members host a monthly lecture series that dives into the Craft & Career of being a writer.

Register by September 17th to attend all four lectures for the reduced price of $99!

How to Persevere in Your Writing Career

Sunday, Sept. 17th, from 2 - 3pm│Samantha Schoech’s fiction writing career has brought her from the brink of being the next hot young thing to finally selling her first book to a small press at age 52. In this session, we will discuss how to keep writing fiction when the traditional publishing world is not being especially welcoming. We’ll talk about the major publishers and agents as well as university presses, contests, and small presses. You'll gain insight in how not to lose faith and how to separate yourself and stay sane in the subjective, fickle, often disappointing world of publishing.

How to Publish in Literary Journals 

Sunday, Oct. 8th, from 2 - 3pm│In this lecture, Kate Busatto will guide writers through the process of publishing their work in literary journals and magazines. Attendees will learn effective strategies to tailor their submissions to meet the unique preferences and themes of different journals, increasing their chances of acceptance. By the end of the lecture, participants will be equipped with practical tips and industry knowledge, empowering them to navigate the submission process with confidence and pursue their dreams of becoming published authors. 

Writers' Residencies: What they are, how to get in, and how to get the most out of one

Sunday, Nov. 12th, from 2 - 3pm│Writers' residencies can be a turning point for a project, or even a career. So how do you get into one? In this talk, Alex Park will discuss the concept of a residency and discuss how to find a few that are worth applying to, with examples. He'll explain how residency admissions tend to work, and what admissions committees are looking for. Finally, he'll discuss how to get the most out of the residency experience.

Alex is on the board of Mesa Refuge and currently serves on its admissions committee. In March 2023, Alex published an article in Electric Literature based on his experience reviewing applications. In August 2023, he'll be attending Blue Mountain Center in upstate New York. He's also been rejected from a few residencies (including Blue Mountain a few years ago), so will bring insight and experience on both sides of the admissions process.

Demystifying Writing Groups: Tips on Finding and Maintaining Your Writing Community *Hybrid*

Sunday, Dec. 10th, from 2 - 3pm│In this lecture, Audrey Ferber and Susan Ito will discuss their experiences with starting and running writing groups. You'll learn about the logistics of successful writing groups as well as the how to not to let feedback from others derail your writing goals.  You might even meet your next writing group at this event!