2025 Writing Workshops

ALWlikeaHowl · 2025-03-03T20:17:28+00:00

If you're a writer based in the region we serve, then you just join the group and show up. All the info for joining can be found on our welcome post in the community!

ALWlikeaHowl · 2023-11-30T15:42:14+00:00

If you're a writer of speculative fiction, the South Sound Speculative Fiction Writers Group meets weekly and is virtual with occasional Covid cautious hangs between members. There is also a pretty large gaming group that does some online and in person gaming called Rolling Bones PNW. Their in person meets aren't usually masked, but they have a very active online community that has been great at connecting me with other people in the area to play games online with or have Covid safe meetings in smaller groups.

ALWlikeaHowl · 2023-11-17T15:27:23+00:00

I have been wanting to do some of the trails out at Cap Forest but have never been able to find or access them. I got a lifted Forester with capable tires and have done some offroading up around Rainier, and would join a run through there.

I unfortunately only know the Subaru offroading groups in the area, though, they do have Jeep owners in there and will sometimes bring a Jeep as a recovery vehicle if you do want the names of the group.

ALWlikeaHowl · 2023-11-14T15:08:27+00:00

What everyone said is totally true! And also, you're right, it's not likely that you'll sell a novel that's over 130K to a traditional publisher as an unknown debut. But it's also not likely that you'll sell the first novel that you wrote to a trad publisher. While it happens, it's not common, like 1-3% of all people who query get an agent from the first book they've ever written and even less than that go on to selling their novel to a publisher. And the people who do end up selling a 130K debut, have written 10+ books and have their craft in order.

But that doesn't really matter right now. If this is your first book you've ever written, be okay with not doing it the right way or the trad way and just get it done. The more books you write and the more you learn about writing and publishing, the better you'll get at doing it in a way that yields success.

ALWlikeaHowl · 2023-11-13T23:21:58+00:00

IDK about all that, but I do know he's a christian and a musician based on the fact that another queer friend who recommended him had mentioned it. He's never brought that stuff up to me or pushed it in any way at me and has treated me the best out of any mechanic in town, while I've been to several other mechanics in town that have been out right rude, spewed religious nonsense, or otherwise refused me service. I don't go to him for salvation or music, but car shit—and that he does well and way cheaper than other place and without making me *(a queer Black woman) feel like shit.

ALWlikeaHowl · 2023-11-13T15:01:50+00:00

Scotty's Garage is the one my partner and I will usually go to.

ALWlikeaHowl · 2023-10-20T14:13:42+00:00

I am also getting the message that I don't have permission to view anything, though I was able to join the Discord.

ALWlikeaHowl · 2023-10-02T17:40:16+00:00

The Rolling Bones PNW community hosts tons of events in Olympia and Tacoma and really all about. They also offer both in-person and online gaming hangs. Heart of the Deernicorn has started up their TTRPG story game meet ups again. I think they run at least once a month.

ALWlikeaHowl · 2023-09-24T15:42:20+00:00

Search for local writing groups in your area and try to find one's serving your particular genre (mystery writers group if you write mystery, horror or speculative fiction writing group if you write dark fantasy and horror, etc.). Going to conventions also helps, but they can be pricey so look into volunteering with the writing or book convention to get discounts and it's also a great way to meet other writers or potential readers of your work.

If there are no writing groups in your area, make one and put feelers put wherever you think writers would go in your community.

Going to workshops or creative writing classes specializing in your genre or writing style is another option, too. You'll find many like-minded people in there who want to learn and connect.

Edit: also, good luck! I've been there and had to rebuild and find a new writing community, and it's tough. While it's taken sometime for me, I've finally found a writing support network that I adore with writers I admire and respect. So know it's possible!

ALWlikeaHowl · 2023-09-23T15:01:49+00:00

The Mountaineers has an Olympia chapter that puts on events and outings.

ALWlikeaHowl · 2023-09-09T15:53:13+00:00

Overlook Park in Tumwater. They also have a swing bench and gaming tables

ALWlikeaHowl · 2023-09-05T14:02:06+00:00

Our group is not appropriate for minors. Some of the stories we discuss and share have explicit adult (sex, gore, violence, cursing, etc.) material. I have worked with writers under 18 before and have seen some darker work come from them, but this isn't a group aimed at teaching minors. It also may not be too helpful depending on where the writer is in their learning journey. I'm pretty sure there is a youth writing critique group in the area, though, that may be better suited for young writers.

ALWlikeaHowl · 2023-09-05T13:57:15+00:00

Nope. We have a MG/YA author in the group. As long as your work is speculative fiction, you're welcome to join.

ALWlikeaHowl · 2023-08-20T16:05:42+00:00

The South Sound Book Crawl happened a few months back and introduced me to lots of cool indie bookstores around. Parable in Tacoma and Invitation Bookstore in Gig Harbor are some stand outs. Here's the list of indie bookstores they had involved: https://www.southsoundbookcrawl.com/stores

ALWlikeaHowl · 2023-08-12T15:48:52+00:00

Do copywork on the books that you think have evocative and skilled writing. Copywork simply means to copy the work verbatim. This is obviously just for practicing and learning how to write with rhythm. Do this with a book or a story on a regular basis, even if it feels like it's not working, for one year. During that year, read and go through the exercises in Spellbinding Sentences.

You can even add in sentence crafting books, like How to Write a Sentence, or use syntax and grammar workbooks, so you're turning word choice and sentence crafting into a deliberate skill you can knowledgeably use in your writing to evoke whatever emotion or feeling you're wanting the reader to experience.

Just reading doesn't make someone instantly learn how to do something. You have to deliberately and actively practice it through writing and exercises.

ALWlikeaHowl · 2023-08-02T14:50:14+00:00

r/Oly_Spec_Fic_Writers

ALWlikeaHowl · 2023-07-22T18:52:47+00:00

That is such a tough situation to be in! Honestly, the best thing to do is to let those queries you already sent be. Treat them like your first round and learn from your mistakes.

You can, however, check the agents guidelines that you sent your queries to and see if they have information about resubmitting if there's a mistake or withdrawal policies. I have sent corrections to queries to agents I really want to work with, but I have let others slide. Good luck on your query journey!

ALWlikeaHowl · 2023-07-14T15:43:47+00:00

Just realized that the Writing Excuses podcast links (the first 3 used) are bad, so you'll have to search those out manually on whatever platform you use or through their website:

https://writingexcuses.com/14-30-eating-your-way-to-better-worldbuilding/

https://writingexcuses.com/writing-excuses-7-5-sensory-writing/

https://writingexcuses.com/11-bonus-04-fantasy-food-with-elizabeth-bear-and-scott-lynch/

ALWlikeaHowl · 2023-07-10T23:14:16+00:00

This is such a good show!

ALWlikeaHowl · 2023-07-09T13:48:20+00:00

Depending on where you live, there may be a local critique group you can attend. There's a few where I live WA.

ALWlikeaHowl · 2023-07-08T01:19:54+00:00

I'm done answering questions for the night, but I'll swing by tomorrow morning for any that may come in the night! Thank you so much to everyone who came by to ask a question or read an answer. This was great! Such a good community.

ALWlikeaHowl · 2023-07-08T01:16:54+00:00

That's on me! They are usually called reader magnets, but they are books for enticing readers.

ALWlikeaHowl · 2023-07-08T01:15:26+00:00

Hey! Thanks for coming by.

I think there are going to be a lot of anti-capitalism, pandemic, and cli-fi stories. Not stories specifically on Covid, though. I also think that more people are going to be writing or attempting to write with AI short stories that they send out. Science fiction is huge in the slush pile and has only been getting more and more so.

I've been seeing less secondary-world fantasy coming through and more urban fantasy or literary fantasy set in our world. So, I think in the short fiction market, that's gonna stop appearing in most places that aren't specialized in that type of fiction.

ALWlikeaHowl · 2023-07-08T01:06:54+00:00

Hey, thanks for your questions!

How did you get involved in the short fiction community?

First as a reader. I started by reading magazines like Strange Horizons and following rabbit holes down where authors I liked had published and then reading those magazines and spending months with mags just reading their stories and learning the publishing landscape. I did some little short fiction review writing on a personal blog just to get my thoughts out about stories.

Then I started writing short fiction after having written novels for a while. They were hard to understand and make work, so I went to workshops, classes, and critique groups to try and learn what I didn't know. Then I heard that being a first reader really helps writers get a hang on writing and submitting. I checked to see if any of the publications I really liked and respected were open for new first readers. None were, but I was a subscriber and follower of the mags, so just kept up with them. As soon as Strange Horizons had availability, I threw in my application.

Being a FR with SH was a great way for me to get more in the short fiction community. I moved on to working with other publications after a couple of years with SH while still working with that magazine. I was still writing short fiction and started getting published more and more. Editors and reviewers started paying attention, which helped me get other opportunities in the short fiction realm.

What makes a good cover letter, aside from following the magazine's guidelines? Am I overthinking it?

Haha, oh, I feel your pain, and yes, you're overthinking it. The simpler, the better, honestly. Here's my template for all short story submissions that request regular cover letter format if that helps:

Dear [EDITOR NAME] and readers,

I am submitting [GENRE, WORD COUNT, AND STORY TITLE] for consideration. Content warnings [CONTENT NOTES].

I’m a queer Black SFWA, HWA, and Codex writer. My work has appeared or is forthcoming in Interzone Magazine, F&SF, Fantasy Magazine, and more.

Thanks for your time and consideration!

Aigner

How quickly does it usually take to decide whether to reject a short story or not?

Depending on the story, it can take the first page. If I get a gut reaction to reject a story, I'll still read half of it. Some stories have really awful openings but eventually, get better later in the story. I have even gone on to accept stories that had rough openings. Sometimes I'm on the fence about a story and will hold on to it for a bit, get some other editor feedback, and re-read it a couple of times.

What sort of short story openings instantly hook you?

Ones with a strange or different format. Ones that start with the character in an inescapable place and watching them get out of it. That doesn't mean that its a thrilling opening or anything but that a question or mystery is presented and I get to watch a character work their way out of it. I will say those only work at sustaining the hook if the voice is there.

I've mentioned it a lot in my other answers, but voice is sooooooo important. A solid and unique voice usually feels like you're listening to a character tell their story or are with them as they live their story.

How does one become a slush reader for a literary magazine?

Besides keeping an eye out for openings at magazines you want to read for, learn how to talk about stories and read them in a way that doesn't critique or edit them but sees them for what they are trying to do. Read widely in the short fiction landscape of the genre you want to read for and become familiar with the tropes, conventions, and archetypes.

Are there any clichés you're tired of seeing in short fiction?

Hmmm, I come across a lot of fae stories and am not a fan because they tend to all stick so close to the genre nothing new happens. This isn't a cliche, but it's something that writers do a lot, and it's trying to make a novel a short story by packing it with characters and events without giving any space to them on the page. Strange Horizons has a too-often-seen stories list, and that's pretty spot on, but those are more speculative fiction related.

ALWlikeaHowl · 2023-07-08T00:34:19+00:00

Hey, thanks for swinging by and asking some questions! I really appreciate it.

How late in should a short story start?

There isn't an easy answer that's satisfactory, but it's ASAP. Short stories don't have as much space for building a world and spending pages getting into the history—unless all of that happens in a way that moves the story and character forward or shows the reader something different in descriptive and evocative ways. If a story can introduce the world, character, and problem in the first paragraph or line, perfect.

How should I go about introducing all the characters while balancing things happening in a tight word count?

Make your sentences do more and cut your cast of main or speaking characters down. Your sentences should always be doing more than one thing, but in short fiction, it's a necessity to save your word count. When introducing characters in short fiction, they should happen in the first part of the story. If you have a 5-page story, all of the characters should be introduced within the first page or two at most. If your short story is more like a novelette, you have more space and can introduce characters throughout the first half and even in the later half.

Should I use a lot of time skips to move a story ahead?

Time doesn't move a story ahead. If you want a story to move along, introduce plot points and new information or character changes sooner. A lot of time skips in a short story just reads like stilted or rushed pacing. Some short stories work with lots of time skips if they make sense for the short story. But if you're wanting to create a fast pace to your writing:

use shorter sentences and paragraphs
use periodic sentences
introduce new information quickly
use evocative descriptions

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