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Announcing our next Contest
Winter Writing Contest: Coachella Valley
About Submit a maximum 2,500 word short story, non-fiction essay, play or poem specific to or loosely inspired by the environs and/or denizens of the Coachella Valley. Compete for recognition or pay extra to receive edits and written feedback from a professional editor! There may be a winner in each above listed genre.
PLEASE SEE THE RULES AND JUDGING CRITERIA BELOW.
We look forward to reading your entries!
Entry Submission Rules
Be sure to comply with all requirements. As with most professional writing submissions, there is no leeway on the rules. Questions? Please contact: kvhoffman@att.net.
1. Must be a member of Palm Springs Writers Guild with current, active status. 2. Entries accepted between the opening date and submission deadline posted above. 3. Please enter contest by registering online with a $40 entry fee for each entry; you can enter up to 3 times. Submit multiple entries separately. 4. Each entry is 2,500 word maximum 5. Must be submitted as a MS Word document 6. One inch margins, double-spaced 7. 12-point Times Roman or Times New Roman 8. Indented paragraphs 9. Title must be included in the document header. 10. Pagination must be included in the document footer. 11. Do not include your name anywhere on the submitted document, only in the body of your e-mail. 12. Please submit your entry as an email attachment and send it to kvhoffman@att.net, no hard copies accepted. 13. The subject line of your email will read PSWG Winter 2026 Contest submission. 14. Blind submission entries are critiqued by a professional editor. 15. For an additional $35.00 entries will be returned with edits and feedback on your story and presentation. 16. There are no refunds for this event.
Winners Will Receive
1. $45.00 and a digital laurel.
2. Announcement in Tuesday Tidings, PSWG Social Media and May Writers Forum.
Judging Criteria
Camaraderie, Creativity & Cocktails
Free Write and Mingle
Join fellow members to write and socialize! We will have writing prompts to spark our imagination, then transition to happy hour! Registration is not required for this free event, and please feel free to bring a guest!
Location:849 Restaurant and Lounge 849 N Palm Canyon Dr Palm Springs, CA 92262
Registration is not required for this free event, but it would be nice if you did.
Members only. Feel free to bring a guest.
Free Write begins at 3:30 p.m. Mingle begins at 5:00 p.m. and ends at 7:00 p.m. (see below) Attend either or both.
We may take photos and/or videos at any of our events for promotional purposes.
Ready to become a member of the Palm Springs Writers Guild? Please click here.
Event Contact: Eduardo Santiago (323) 377-9730 santiagogo@aol.com
Announcing our upcoming
APRIL Writers Panel
In-person monthly gathering. Come experience our new panel discussions and member-to-member knowledge sharing!
A MATTER OF STYLE: Making Your Writing Spectacular
Description: Your STYLE matters, whether you are dressing to impress or polishing your manuscript for submission to agents and publishers. This panel explores the tried-and-true guidelines that make your writing consistently great and today’s hot issues, such as diversity, language, and pronoun use. Join editors Howard Goldberg and Charlotte Hunter-Copper as they dish on Chicago style (not pizza), the Oxford comma (not a shoe), and prose that turns the Literary into the Literati.
Panelists: Howard Goldberg and Charlotte Hunter-Copper PhD. Moderator: Eduardo Santiago
The meeting begins at 11:00 a.m. and ends at noon.
This event is free for all members. Registration not necessary.
We may take photos and/or videos at any of our events for promotional purposes. Ready to become a member of the Palm Springs Writers Guild? Please click here.
Event Contact: Eduardo Santiagosantiagogo@aol.com
Announcing our next In-Person Workshop
DISCOVERING THE HIDDEN YOU
David Rocklin
Author of the novels The Luminist and Foreword award-winning The Night Language, and The Electric Love Song of Fleischl Berger. He is also the author of The Write Formula: 12 Weeks from Concept to Completion, a comprehensive craft book offering guidance, inspiration, and practical advice on all aspects of fiction writing, including the generation and expansion of ideas, character and plot structure, setting and POV choices, outlining and revision strategy, and navigating criticism and rejection. David has led workshops, spoken on panels, and been interviewed in numerous publications.
Presentation Overview:
Writers looking to find their voice, start something new, or deepen their current work will explore generative exercises, engage in a craft talk on making their narratives vivid, and examine how context lies at the heart of story, character, and setting – whether in fiction or memoir.
Takeaways:
REGISTER
To receive a full refund minus a $25 cancellation processing fee, attendees must cancel their registration 5 days before the event. No refunds will be given after that time. To cancel your registration, go to palmspringswritersguild.org and click on the blue icon at the top right of any page. Enter user name and password and click "LOG IN". On the next screen click "My event registrations". Select event and cancel registration.
Meeting begins at 12:30 p.m. and ends at 2:30 p.m.
Event Contact: Dak Kopec
Email: DakKopec@mac.com
TUESDAYS! HOST: Eduardo Santiago
Location:Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort 45000 Indian Wells Lane Indian Wells, CA 92210 (442) 305-4500
Registration is not required for this free event, but we'd appreciate it if you did.
Free Write begins at 3:30 p.m. Mingle begins at 5:00 p.m. and ends at 7:00 p.m. Attend either or both.
Event Contact: Eduardo Santiago (323) 377-9730 (323) 377-9730 santiagogo@aol.com
Announcing our next Online Lab
Why Most First Pages Fail and How to Fix Yours
Jayce Carter is a romance author who writes emotionally intense stories filled with morally questionable characters, sharp tension, and relationships that probably wouldn't survive a background check. Her work focuses on voice, character depth, and the kind of storytelling that keeps readers up far past their bedtime. As a workshop instructor, Jayce Carter blends practical craft advice with humor and clear, actionable strategies--helping writers understand not just what works, but why it works. Her goals is simple: help writers create stories readers can't put down (and maybe ruin a few sleep schedules along the way).
Description: Most readers and editors decide within a page whether to keep reading. Learn the five mistakes that kill first pages--and how to write an opening that hooks immediately.
Five Key Points to Take Away
Location: Zoom Online Meeting
Unable to attend, no problem, all paid registrants will receive a video replay.
You will receive an invitation to the Zoom online meeting after you have registered and payment is complete.
Event Contact: Ariella Moon authorariellamoon@gmail.com
Location:Oceana Restaurant 70065 CA-111 (across from Enzo's) Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 (442) 305-4500
MAY Writers Panel
HOW TO WRITE A MEMOIR: Without Losing Your Mind
Description:
Writing a memoir means returning to the moments we might rather forget—and finding meaning in them. But how do you revisit the past without getting lost in it? In this candid and insightful panel, we’ll explore how to navigate difficult memories, protect your emotional well-being, and write with honesty, clarity, and courage.
Panelists: Joe McCormac, author of Things We Cannot Change, and Heidi Eagleton, author of Embracing Your Rollercoaster. Moderator Eduardo Santiago.
LIVING THE STORY
By: Andy Harmon
ANDY HARMON is an American theatre director, writer, and creativity coach. He has worked extensively in Europe and the US, helping to develop professionals in both business and the arts. His book, Change Journey: Voices of the Creative Quest, about the drama of the creative process, is available on Amazon.
Great stories are ultimately about how conflict leads to change. Great characters are those who try to change things and end up changed themselves: win, lose, or draw. We love stories because, on the deepest level, they reflect this truth. Living changes us. Stories do more than entertain. They prepare us. Inspire us. Affirm and enlighten us for the changes we face in our own lives.
JUNE Writers Panel
BETRAYED BY AI: Cons, Clones and Crooks
If that email about your book from an agent, producer, or editor sounds too good to be true, it probably is. In the age of AI, cons are getting slicker, faster, and far more convincing. From too-good-to-be-true film deals to emails that mimic your voice (or your agent’s), today’s nogoodniks are armed with technology that can flatter you, fool you, and fleece you.
In this straight-talking panel, we’ll expose the most common scams targeting writers, how AI is supercharging the grift, and the red flags you need to spot before your big “break” breaks you.
Panelists: Kristina Hoffman, screenwriter, and Carlotta Rinke (novelist). Moderator: Eduardo Santiago.
CROSS-PLATFORMS: STORYTELLING IN PRACTICE
By: Sudi Rick Karatas
The author of several books, including Rainbow Relatives: Real World Stories & Advice on How to Talk to Kids About LGBTQ Families & Friends, How Catering Sucked the Life Right Out of Me, and Fork Social Media and The Algorithm It Rode in On (Jailbird Stories)
He is also the writer and producer of the film currently on Amazon Prime: Walk a Mile in My Pradas, A ghost writer for the memoir book "Changing the Stars" by Cody Renegar, and a songwriter with the award-winning Videos All I Want for Christmas Is You and Gone, and Singing Under the Influence (S.U.I.)
In this dynamic workshop, Sudi Rick Karatas will discuss cross-platform storytelling and creative longevity, guiding participants through how ideas evolve and survive across books, screenplays, music, and visual media. Drawing on his experience as an author, screenwriter, producer, and songwriter, he would unpack the practical realities of adaptation, collaboration, pitching, and the often messy process of getting creative work into the public sphere, while emphasizing how to maintain a consistent voice across wildly different formats.
The Palm Springs Writers’ Guild invites you to Retreat to the Heat
Whether you're a seasoned writer or just starting your journey, our annual retreat is designed to help you unlock your full potential in the serene desert oasis of Palm Springs, California. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Sonoran Desert, our retreat offers the perfect balance of instruction, inspiration, and relaxation.
Escape the crowds and immerse yourself in the tranquil beauty of Palm Springs during the summer – the ideal time to recharge and focus on your craft. Over three enriching mornings, you'll gain invaluable insights from acclaimed writers, learning tools and techniques to help you achieve your writing goals. In the afternoons, put these strategies to work in your own writing as you receive personalized guidance and support.
Evenings are for connecting with fellow writers, whether over a delicious meal at one of Palm Springs' many renowned restaurants just steps away, or by unwinding at the pool under the vast desert sky. Let the warm breeze and star-filled nights spark your creativity, or simply relax and recharge.
Come for the writing. Stay for the inspiration.
The $1100 Retreat to the Heat registration fee includes a luxurious three-night stay at the stylish Hotel Zoso in the vibrant heart of downtown Palm Springs, daily breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks to keep you energized throughout your stay, all expert workshops, feedback, and presentations, and more.
Immerse yourself in inspiring workshops led by three acclaimed PSWG fiction authors and gain invaluable insights from a farewell keynote by husbands NY Times best-selling author Steven Rowley and Emmy Award-winning journalist and novelist Byron Lane. Learn the essential do’s and don’ts to help you navigate your writing journey with confidence.
