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Events
Announcing our next Writing Contest
April Contest: Spring Cleaning
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: 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 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 kvhoffman@att.net, 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
Announcing our upcoming
April 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 what makes dialogue snap, crackle, and...
Dialogue is not just people talking to each other! Far from it, dialogue does a lot of heavy lifting in novels, memoirs, and screenplays. This panel explores dialogue's true power: not just talk, but electric revelation. We'll dissect how it ignites character, fuels plot, and whispers the unspoken. Learn to craft dialogue that cuts, seduces, and betrays, leaving readers breathless. Discover how to make voices resonate like thunder and silences scream volumes. Panelists: Dak Kopec and Ruthie Marlenee. Moderator: Eduardo Santiago.
The 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 with AI: How to Harness the Benefits and Avoid the Pitfalls Ariella Moon
About Ariella Moon
Award-winning author Ariella Moon draws upon her experiences as a shaman to create magical Young Adult fiction. She won the Aspen Gold Readers’ Choice Award for Best Romantic Short Story for “Covert Hearts,” which appears in Second Chances: A Romance Writers of America Collection. Discover her medieval Two Realms fantasy series and her contemporary Teen Wytche Saga novels at online book retailers and at www.ariellamoon.com.
In addition to teaching writing labs, Ariella Moon leads seminars on healing, women’s spirituality, and Defense Against the Dark Arts at local and international women's conferences. She lives a nearly normal life doting on her extraordinary daughter, two shamelessly spoiled dogs, and a media-shy dragon.
Description of talk:
In this up-to-the-minute, in-person version of her 2024 lab, “What Every Writer Should Know About AI,” Ariella Moon presents the latest tools, options, and legal restrictions in the rapidly developing field of artificial intelligence.
This presentation will aid writers in making informed decisions regarding using AI to enhance their creativity and productivity.
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
TUESDAYS! HOST: EDUARDO SANTIAGO
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:P.F. Chang 71800 CA-111 Rancho Mirage, CA
Registration is not required for this free event, but we'd appreciate it 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. Attend either or both.
Event Contact: Eduardo Santiago (323) 377-9730 (323) 377-9730 santiagogo@aol.com
Announcing our next Online Lab
Unleashing the Poet Within: The Distillation Process
About Susan Detlefsen
Susan Detlefsen, PhD is a retired French language and literature professor, who taught at St. Olaf College, and Portland State University. Since retiring, she began writing memoirs, short stories, and free verse poetry. Her poems from 2010 to 2024 have been born largely from her memoirs.
The topic of her master’s thesis from UCLA was the surrealist poetry of Robert Desnos. Her PhD dissertation was built from a series of live interview in Paris with writer and poet Alain Bosquet. Much of her theory on poetry and poetics is the result of her dissertation research.
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Description:
How is poetry different from other writing?
Susan will go over briefly some of the characteristics and qualities, advantages and disadvantages of formal poetry vs. free verse.
This course will examine of a variety of different poems and poetic styles and schools.
We will look at poets through the ages and what they share about how the poetic process, and what inspires them to write poems.
The primary objective of this course is to inspire writers and other participants to explore the creative process of poetry writing. Susan will offer suggestions for opening up space to unleash poems that might be already lying dormant within.
Susan will present several ideas and exercises to help unleash the poet within.
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
Register to display and sell your book(s)
PSWG Book Festival
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: President, Kristina Hoffman kvhoffman@att.net
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.
Event Contact: Eduardo Santiago (323) 377-9730 santiagogo@aol.com
Location:Tommy Bahama's Resort at Miramonte Lobby Bar 45000 Indian Wells Lane Indian Wells, CA 92210 (442) 305-4500
A Step-By-Step to Launching Your Book Ariella Moon, Author YA
It can be difficult to think of your recently finished book as a product and yourself as a marketer. But indie, hybrid, and many traditionally published authors must make that shift in order to have a successful book launch. Whether your goals are to garner enviable sales and multiple reviews, attract new readers, or all of the aforementioned and more, you need to plan a book launch. In this presentation, Ariella Moon will guide authors through pre-launch, launch, and post-launch marketing and promotion.
The Palm Springs Writers’ Guild invites you to Retreat to the Heat
Whether you're a seasoned writer or just starting your journey, our first 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 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.
Registration for Retreat to the Heat includes a luxurious three-night stay at the stylish Hotel Zoso in the vibrant heart of downtown Palm Springs. Enjoy daily breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks to keep you energized throughout your stay.
Immerse yourself in inspiring workshops led by three acclaimed PSWG authors and gain invaluable insights from a farewell keynote by a seasoned publishing house editor. Learn the latest industry trends, along with essential do’s and don’ts to help you navigate your writing journey with confidence. And, you'll have the opportunity to pitch your work to an agent!
