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Events
Announcing our next Writing Contest
February Contest: I Had Never Been to a Nudist Colony Before
About Write 500 words (maximum) on the prompt and submit for chance to win $50 or free registration to a Writing Lab or In-Person Workshop (winner's choice). Winning essay will be read at next Writers Forum, and may be posted to website if winner wishes.
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: thesilentword@aol.com.
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 for each entry. You may enter up to 3 times. Submit multiple entries separately. 4. Each entry is 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. You may not use the contest theme as your title 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 thesilentword@aol.com, no hard copies accepted. 13. The subject line of your email will read the title of your work (not the contest theme name) 14. Blind submission entries are judged by the PSWG Board.15. Winner will be announced at the next Writers Forum.16. If there is only one submission for the contest, a winner cannot be declared, but registrant will receive a refund.
Judging Criteria
Books, Bites & Banter
Book Club: Pen On Fire igniting the writer within
Join author Barbara DeMarco-Barrett for a lively discussion of her best selling book, Pen on Fire.
"Pen on Fire soars with inspiration and crackles with joy. It’s a blessing for anyone going crazy trying to find time to write.” —Carolyn See, author of Making a Literary Life.
Location: Eduardo Santiago's House 69225 Nilda Drive Cathedral City, CA 92234
The event is free, but registration is required to coordinate seating and refreshments.
Members only. Feel free to bring a guest.
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 santiagogo@aol.com
Announcing our upcoming
March Writers Forum
In-person monthly gathering. Come experience our new panel discussions and member-to-member knowledge sharing! Expect to leave with a better understanding of how subscription-based services for authors work, Substack in particular.
This panel explores Substack, a platform revolutionizing independent publishing by allowing creators to monetize newsletters directly. We will discuss how it works, its benefits for writers looking to build a loyal audience, and the challenges of managing a solo business. Whether you're a potential creator or curious reader, this session will help you understand why Substack is making waves in the digital media world. Panelists: Judith Brenner and Michelle Katz. Moderator: Eduardo Santiago.
The meeting begins at 11:00 a.m. and ends at noon. This event is free for all members.
Event Contact: Eduardo Santiagosantiagogo@aol.com
Announcing our next In-Person Workshop
Social Media for Creatives Lauren Murphy
About Lauren Murphy
Description of talk:
Set yourself up for success with social media! This talk will cover how to get started, tips to grow your audience, easy ways to create content, and how to use it to your advantage.
Takeaways:
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: Jayce Carter hfheyns@gmail.com
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!
Location:P.F. Chang’s 71800 CA-111 Ste C-104 Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
Registration is not required for this free event, but it would be nice 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 santiagogo@aol.com
Announcing our next Online Lab
Logistics of Self-Publishing Mark E. Anderson
About Mark E. Anderson
With 40+ years of design expertise, Mark is the ultimate book shepherd for aspiring self-published authors. Since founding AquaZebra in 2007, he's helped over 70 writers navigate the complex world of independent publishing, transforming manuscripts into professional books.
AquaZebra specializes in empowering self-publishing authors with comprehensive services:
A graduate of the Art Institute of Atlanta and past president of the Palm Springs Writers Guild, Mark understands the unique challenges and dreams of independent authors. Whether you're a first-time writer or a seasoned storyteller, AquaZebra provides expert guidance to bring your book to life on your terms.
Description:
Self-publishing involves a series of crucial steps for authors to bring their books to market independently. The process begins with thorough manuscript preparation, including editing and proofreading. Next comes book design, encompassing both cover creation and interior layout. Authors must obtain an ISBN, choose a publishing platform like Amazon KDP or IngramSpark, and prepare their files in the required formats. Pricing decisions and distribution channel selection follow. A comprehensive marketing strategy is essential for reaching readers. Authors also need to decide between print-on-demand or bulk printing options. Finally, ongoing tasks include tracking sales, managing royalties, and continually promoting the book. While challenging, self-publishing offers authors greater control and potentially higher royalties than traditional publishing routes.
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
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
Event Contact: Eduardo Santiago mailto: santiagogo@aol.com (323). 377-9730
TUESDAYS!
Location:Tommy Bahama's Resort at Miramonte Lobby Bar 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.
TUESDAYS! HOST: EDUARDO SANTIAGO
Location:P.F. Chang 71800 CA-111 Rancho Mirage, CA
Event Contact: Eduardo Santiago (323) 377-9730 (323) 377-9730 santiagogo@aol.com
Register to display and sell your book(s)
Book Festival of Local Authors
Rancho Mirage Library
About The Festival
40 published local authors will be at the Rancho Mirage Library's Community Room meeting with the public, selling and signing their books from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. In a corner of the Community Room there will be an intimate circle where visitors can hear authors read a page or two from their work. During those hours, in the Library's Cafe, there will be panel discussions with select authors on topics regarding Mystery/Thriller, Romance, Memoir and Fantasy. You must be a registered member of the Palm Springs Writers Guild to sell your books at this event.
REGISTER
To cancel your registration so someone else may register, 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.
Book Festival begins at 10:00 a.m. and ends at 4:00 p.m., April 26, 2025.
Event Contact: PSWG Vice President thesilentword@aol.com
