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Announcing our next Writing Contest
December Contest: The Holidays From the Perspective of a Family Pet
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.
Judging Criteria
Announcing our upcoming
January Writers Forum
In-person monthly gathering. Come experience our new panel discussions and member-to-member knowledge sharing! Travel Writing: Could this be your next literary adventure or are we just tripping? With panelists Julia Ensley and Lorenzo Taylor. Moderator: Eduardo Santiago.
Travel blogs, online magazines, and social media platforms have created a booming demand for travel writing. Audiences are hungry for stories that go beyond the typical "tourist guide" format. They seek personal experiences, unique destinations, and in-depth cultural insights, which makes authentic travel writing appealing. Why not u?
Meeting begins at 11:00 a.m. and ends at noon. This event is free for all members.
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
Writing by the Number: Sixteen Proven Precepts to Follow when Writing a Novel David Putnam
About David Putnam
During his 31 year career in law enforcement, best-selling author David Putnam has worked in narcotics, violent crimes, criminal intelligence, hostage rescue, SWAT, and internal affairs, to name just a few.
He is the recipient of many awards and commendations for heroism. The Diabolical is the eleventh novel in the acclaimed and best-selling Bruno Johnson Crime Series.
Putnam lives in the Los Angeles area with his wife, Mary.
Description of talk:
"Writing By the Numbers," is a novel writing method which shows the author how to write to the structure of the story. Story is not story, character is story. Most authors write to the story first and structure second. "By the numbers," explains how you don't need an outline or even a plot before starting the novel. Instead you just follow the numbers.
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
Announcing our next Online Lab
The Economics of Freelancing Margaret Lucke
About Margaret Lucke
Margaret Lucke flings words around as a writer and editor in the San Francisco Bay Area. She writes tales of love, ghosts, and murder, sometimes all three in one book. She is the author of four novels—House of Desire, House of Whispers, Snow Angel, and A Relative Stranger (an Anthony Award finalist)—and is the editor of Fault Lines, a short story anthology from the Northern California chapter of Sisters in Crime. She is a former president of Mystery Writers of America NorCal.
Margaret has also published two how-to books on the craft of writing and more than 60 short stories, feature articles, and scripts for mystery weekends. For many years she has taught fiction writing classes for UC Berkeley Extension and other venues. Visit her at www.margaretlucke.com.
Description:
Location: Zoom Online Meeting
REGISTER
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
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: TBA
Registration is not required for this free event.
Members only. Feel free to bring a guest.
Event Contact: Eduardo Santiago santiagogo@aol.com
