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Traveling Pen Series of Writers Workshops for 2022
Our 2.5 hour workshops cost $10 for middle and high school students, $20 for current HRW members and $30 for nonmembers. Scholarships always available for those people with a true financial need.
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Creative Writing in a Nutshell: Everything You Need to Know to Get Started as a Writer
Presented by Frank Milligan
March 19 @ 9:30 am - 12:00 pm EDT
This class will give those new to creative writing or considering beginning creative writing, a brief overview of getting started and establishing a solid foundation whether focused on writing short stories, novels, memoirs, or other creative nonfiction. It ranges from thinking like a writer to basic writing techniques of plot, characterization, scene, setting, dialogue, point of view, pace, and so on, as well as how to edit the work and get it published commercially or by self-publishing. Those who’ve been writing for a while will find the class a useful review of the basics all storytellers need to know to be successful.
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Presenter Bio
Frank Milligan, holds a bachelor’s in psychology, a master’s in business and public administration, and a Master of Arts in Writing from the Johns Hopkins University. A retired federal agent, law enforcement senior executive, and a former counterintelligence agent, he teaches creative writing at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute of the College of William and Mary, and has taught at Northern Virginia Community College, the Lorton Workhouse Arts Center, and various other venues and writers’ conferences. His traditionally published book, Time to Write: Discovering the Writer Within After 50, 2007, Quill Driver Books, won a National Mature Media silver award. His short fiction and nonfiction have won local, state, and regional awards. He is a past president of the Chesapeake Bay Writers, and a member of the International Thriller Writers.
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Planning Ahead: Working with Outlines
Presented by Holly Day
April 16 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm EDT
Have you ever sat down to write a story and realized you have no idea how or where to start? In this workshop, we’ll go over some of the ways writers get their creative engines revved up and moving, using basic outlines as the bones of our stories, exercises in basic character formation and development to creating vivid scenes and scenarios for your characters to live and participate in. By the time this class is over, you’ll know how to make yourself start writing, and how to keep writing until your piece is done. We’ll also go over some ways to create your own outlines, and how having an outline to start with can keep you from having writer’s block in those few precious moments you have to sit and write.
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Presenter Bio
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Holly Day has worked as a freelance writer for over 30 years, with over 7,000 published articles, poems, and short stories and 40 books and chapbooks, including the nonfiction books Music Theory for Dummies, Music Composition for Dummies, and History Lover’s Guide to Minneapolis, and the poetry books, A Book of Beasts, The Tooth is the Largest Organ in the Human Body, and Bound in Ice (Shanti Arts Publishing). Her writing has been nominated for a National Magazine Award, a 49th Parallel Prize, an Isaac Asimov Award, multiple Pushcart awards, and a Rhysling Award, and she has received two Midwest Writer’s Grants, a Plainsongs Award, the Sam Ragan Prize for Poetry, and the Dwarf Star Award from the Science Fiction Poetry Association. She has taught at The Loft literary center in Minneapolis since 2000 and Hugo House writing center in Seattle for the past year.
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The Lost Art of Copiousness: Using Words Well To Give Your Writing An Edge
Presented by Dr. Jeremy Larson
May 21 @ 9:30 am - 12:00 pm EDT
It has not yet been determined if this workshop will be in-person at TCC or if it will be zoomed. Check back for more details as they emerge.
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How much do you have to say? Plenty? A great deal? Copious amounts? Loads? Heaps? Oodles? A boatload? Having much to say is a good start, but having facility with saying it is another matter. In this workshop, we will investigate the lost art of superfluity, not only with plot material but also with words themselves. Workshop activities may include synonym battles, thesaurus spelunking, and discussions about reading habits, commonplace books, memory-building techniques.
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Presenter Bio
Jeremy Larson studied creative writing and English at Bob Jones University, later earning his Ph.D. in English from Baylor University. He has taught English for more than a decade at various secondary schools, colleges, and universities – including Charleston Southern University, Baylor University, and Regent University. His favorite literary work is John Milton’s Paradise Lost, and he enjoys the young adult fantasy of N. D. Wilson.
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Our 2.5 hour workshops cost $10 for middle and high school students, $20 for current HRW members and $30 for nonmembers.
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Next Zoom Social hour, AKA the Quarantini, is Friday, March 4, 4:30 - 5:30 PM.
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If you would like the zoom link, please email Rita.
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DO YOU KNOW that. . .
- Elizabethan scribe Peter Bales reportedly produced a complete, handwritten copy of the Bible so small it could fit inside a walnut shell.
- Friedrich von Schiller kept rotten apples in his desk, claiming he needed the scent of their decay to help him write.
- The word ‘mogigraphia’ means ‘writer’s cramp’.
- The word ‘colygraphia’ means ‘writer’s block’.
- Agatha Christie suffered from dysgraphia which meant she could not write legibly; as a result, she dictated all of her novels.
- When Dr. Seuss was stuck writing his books, he would go to a secret closet filled with hundreds of hats and wear them till the words came.
- Truman Capote would often write while lying on his back, with a glass of sherry in one hand and a pencil in the other.
- Ernest Hemingway and Truman Capote both sharpened pencils to help them think while they were writing.
- In the 1891 UK census, 6,000 respondents identified themselves as writers, editors, or journalists; by 1901, the figure had risen to 11,000.
- The first published novel that was ‘written’ on a word-processor was Len Deighton’s 1968 novel Bomber.
- The first philosopher to ‘write’ on a typewriter was Friedrich Nietzsche.
- Alfred Hitchcock once rang Georges Simenon only to learn the prolific author was writing a novel. ‘Let him finish,’ he said; ‘I’ll hang on.’
- ‘Scrabblement’ is a rare 17th-century word referring to ‘writing of a rambling character like that of a madman’.
- ‘Typomania’ denotes a mania for writing for publication.
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Calling all HRW Members
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Invite a friend, neighbor, or favorite writer
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to join Hampton Roads Writers!
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Remember, Members receive substantial Discounts on
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and the Annual Conference!
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From now through May 31, 2022, any current member who brings in a NEW member
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will receive a free TPS workshop of their choice
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Once your new member pays their dues and is included in the membership, you will receive an email with directions on claiming your free TPS class.
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Welcome new member!
Teresa Inge
Kathleen Decker
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Author Spotlight
Michal Mahgerefteh
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Michal Mahgerefteh, a poet and artist from Israel, has lived in Virginia since 1986 when she relocated to the United States with her husband. They met in Israel when he visited her neighborhood for a wedding celebration. During his six-week stay there, he won her heart. 37 years later, they now have two grown children.
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She is the author of five poetry chapbooks: In My Bustan; What's Left Behind; Sipping Memories: A Poetic Journal to Morocco; Field of Harps; and FishMoon (2022). She is an active member of The Poetry Society of Virginia, has served as a student contest judge, co-chair student contest, annual book award chair, and as webmaster.
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Michal’s art inspiration draws heavily from her multi-cultural background of Iranian, Jewish, and Persian, as well as her travels to Europe, Israel, Spain, and Morocco. She believes passionately in showcasing this diversity within her writing and art. It is the cultural differences that she strives to bring to life in her poetry.
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She writes and paints not just for herself, but to share with others her passion for life, and mostly as her creative outlet. She enjoys reading her poetry aloud and misses the opportunities to connect with people during in-person Open Mic sessions like those that commonly occurred before the pandemic. Ms. Mahgerefteh is currently working on several books that she hopes to have available on her website.
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In her free time, Michal enjoyed hiking in Virginia, long bike rides on the Elizabeth River Trail, world travel, and cooking for her family.
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Join The Muse Writers Center for an amazing slate of online creative writing classes, workshops, and seminars that begin in February and run through May. Featuring introductory classes as well as advanced workshops in Poetry, Fiction, Memoir & Creative Nonfiction, Screenwriting, Comics/Graphic Novels, Songwriting, as well as many great classes for Young Writers and Teens... plus they have a great series of all-new craft, creativity, research, and professional development seminars. Tuition help is always available to those who need it. Learn more at https://the-muse.org/classes-at-a-glance/
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The Suffolk Mytery Author's Festival is VIRTUAL and FREE again this year. HRW's Allie Marie, one of the featured authors, will be on a panel at 2:00 to discuss: Once Upon a Time: Mining the Past for Great Historical Fiction. https://www.suffolkmysteryauthorsfestival.com/
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Kudos
to the following HRW Members:
- is launching a new interview series on her YouTube channel and is seeking interest from published (traditional and independent) authors, illustrators, and industry professionals in Coastal Virginia, Hampton Roads, and the greater Tidewater area to feature. Toi has a detailed interest sign-up form that provides more information and gets you started on your interview process. Learn more about Toi.
- Her collection of poems titled The Widow’s Lovers will be published later this year by Kelsay Books.
The E-version of her latest novel, BARLEY & LACE, will soon be released. You can pre-order a copy from Amazon. This is book one of her True Spirits Trilogy.
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- The Virginia Poetry Society and the Colonial Piecemakers Quilt Guild of Williamsburg included Sandy's poem, "Amen Roses," Terry's poem "Baking Day," Pamela's poem "Frosty Forest Soldiers," Miko's poem "Have You Ever . . .," and Kathleen's "Birches" in their recent ekphrastic exhibit at the 33rd annual Mancuso Mid-Atlantic Quilt Show in February. Quilted Poems is the name of the exhibit and of the book published, with the many poems and color photos of the quilts.
CONGRATULATIONS to all of you!!
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If you haven't already done so, check out our website and register so you can access all things HRW
It's easy & it's FREE
- Click on the log-in/register link at the upper right side of the page
- Enter your user name like this FIRST.LAST
- Then enter your email address
- Make up a password that you can remember (or, if you're like me, write it down and put it in a place you hope you can remember)
- Confirm your password by typing it in again
- Check the box that says: Send these credentials via email
- Click the Register button.
Registering on the website is NOT the same as joining HRW as a member. Registering is free. Becoming a member costs a small, tax-deductible yearly fee that helps us cover some of our operating expenses.
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If you do decide to join HRW you will receive discounts when you sign up for a TPS workshop or for the conference. You'll also have access to your own Public Member Profile as part of the Member Directory. More details are available on the HELP page.
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As a reminder to all HRW members, please add/update your picture and writer bio to your personal member page.
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CALLS FOR SUBMISSION*
NO DEADLINES
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The Anarchist Poetry Project. Genre: Poem Length: 3 poems up to 5 pages total. "The theme of the book is Building Better Worlds. We’re interested in what those better Anarchist worlds and systems look like. Poems that somehow relate to that theme within the context of anarchism will have a better chance of being accepted. In particular, we love speculative literature (scifi, fantasy, hopepunk and other -punk subgenres, magical realism, etc). But even if your poem doesn’t fall into such genres, we still want you to submit it as long as you identify as an anarchist, and your poems are in some way about or related to anarchism and building better worlds." Payment: $30 per poem + contributor copy. Deadline: Open until filled.
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The Bureau Dispatch. Genre: For 2022, we're in the market for 15 to 20 short stories between 500 to 1,500 words. We want your best work. We want fiction that is compelling and beautifully-crafted; narratives that leave the reader breathless and changed. The kind of story that, when all is said and done, elicits a resounding "sh*t, yeah!" We are open to all narratives, but are currently partial to ones that explore the theme of DISPATCH. Payment: $50.
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Ahoy Comics. Genre: Short fiction and social commentary. "We seek smart, weird, funny articles or stories, which run between 500 and 1,500 words." Payment. $200.
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MARCH DEADLINES
Havok. Genre: Flash fiction on Theme of SYMBIOTES & PARASITES. Payment: $10 via PayPal for each story published in an Anthology. Deadline: March 6, 2022.
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Cossmass Infinities. Restrictions: Open to Black, Asian, Latin, LGBTQ+ and other under-represented authors. Genre: Science fiction and fantasy short stories. Payment: $0.08/word for original fiction. Deadline: March 7, 2022.
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Mascara Literary Review. Genre: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction on theme Resilience. Payment: $200. Deadline: March 11, 2022.
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Chicken Soup for the Soul: Dogs. Genre: True stories and poems. "We want your true funny stories, your heartwarming stories, and your mindboggling stories about all the simply amazing things that your dog does. What have you learned from your dog? How does your dog improve your life? What crazy things does your dog do? Has your dog ever done anything heroic? How does your dog warm your heart and make you smile? We want to hear all about the absurd antics, funny habits and insightful behavior of your dog. Stories can be serious or humorous." Payment: $200. Deadline: March 15, 2022.
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Chicken Soup for the Soul: Cats. Genre: True stories and poems. "We want your true funny stories, your heartwarming stories, and your mindboggling stories about all the simply amazing things that your cat does. What have you learned from your cat? How does your cat improve your life? What crazy things does your cat do? Has your cat ever done anything heroic? How does your cat warm your heart and make you smile? We want to hear all about the absurd antics, funny habits and insightful behavior of your cat." Payment: $200. Deadline: March 15, 2022.
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Chicken Soup for the Soul: Messages from heaven. Genre: True stories and poems. "We want to hear from you if you have experienced communication from the other side or received a sign or signal from a loved one who has passed. Has someone who has died come to you in a dream? Given you counsel or comfort? Have you gone beyond, but returned to life with new knowledge, insight, or awareness? Have you intuitively known the moment someone died?" Payment: $200. Deadline: March 15, 2022.
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Chicken Soup for the Soul: Miracles. Genre: True stories and poems. "We want your true stories, both religious and non-religious, that will awe us with examples of amazing events. Inspirational stories to remind us that each day stunning miracles do happen and that a miracle can happen at any. time." Payment: $200. Deadline: March 15, 2022.
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Penumbric. Genre: Speculative fiction, poetry, art, animation, and music. Payment: $10. Deadline: March 15, 2022.
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Human Monsters Anthology. Genre: Horror. Word Limit: 2000-4000 words, no exceptions. Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: March 15, 2022.
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Black Ocean. Genre: Full-length poetry manuscripts. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: March 18, 2022.
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Faces. Genre: Nonfiction, activities for children 9 - 14. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: March 21, 2022. Queries only. See themes.
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Metaphysical Times. Genre: Pagan and metaphysical topics, including spirituality, religion, divination, witchcraft, and more. Payment: $0.05 USD per word up to 1200 words after editing. Deadline: March 30, 2022.
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Chicken Soup for the Soul: Preteens. Genre: True stories and poems. "We’re looking for your uplifting true stories and poems about how you used the power of gratitude to change your own life while you navigated the preteen and teenage years. You’ll help readers through your examples and your personal tips on how to use thankfulness and appreciation." Payment: $200. Deadline: March 30, 2022.
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Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teenagers. Genre: True stories and poems. "We’re looking for your uplifting true stories and poems about how you used the power of gratitude to change your own life while you navigated the preteen and teenage years. You’ll help readers through your examples and your personal tips on how to use thankfulness and appreciation." Payment: $200. Deadline: March 30, 2022.
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Crow Toes Quarterly. Genre: Playfully dark fiction, poetry and art for children. See themes. Payment: $20 - $50. Deadline: March 31, 2022.
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parABnormal. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry on the paranormal. "For us, this includes ghosts, spectres, haunts, various whisperers, and so forth. It also includes shapeshifters and creatures from various folklores." Payment: $25.00 for original stories, $7.00 for reprints.$6.00 for each poem. $20.00 for original articles, $6.00 for reprints. $7.00 for reviews and interviews. Deadline: March 31, 2022.
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The Fiddlehead. Restrictions: Canadian writers only. Genre: Fiction, including excerpts from novels, creative nonfiction, art, and poetry. Payment: $60 CAD per published page. Deadline: March 31, 2022.
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Kansas City Voices. Genre: "There is no type of work we are looking for." Payment: "Small" Deadline: March 31, 2022.
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Southword. Genre: Fiction. Payment: €250 per short story. Deadline: March 31, 2022.
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The Hudson Review. Genre: Fiction, poetry, essays, book reviews; criticism of literature, art, theatre, dance, film, and music; and articles on contemporary cultural developments. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: March 31, 2022. (Nonfiction only)
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Iron Faerie: Mirror, Mirror. Genre: Fairytale retellings with a twist. The twist being a mirror must feature. Payment: 50%/50% split with Iron Faerie and authors. Deadline: March 31, 2022.
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Triangulation: Energy. Genre: Fantasy, science fiction, weird fiction, and speculative horror on the theme Energy, sustainable energy. Payment: 3 cents/word. Deadline: March 31, 2022.
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Haven Speculative. Restrictions: Open to authors of color, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and other underrepresented groups. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry. Payment: 1 cent/word for fiction and $5 - $10 for poetry. Deadline: March 31, 2022.
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Brink. Genre: Hybrid, cross-genre fiction, nonfiction poetry. Payment: $25 Poem; $50 Work (less than 1500 words); $50 Art (1-3 Images); $100 Art (4+ Images); $100 Work (more than 1501 words). Deadline: March 31, 2022.
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Welkin. Genre: Magical realist, fabulist, fairy tale, fantasy, gothic, metafictional, slipstream, fantastic, weird, surrealist, and experimental genres. Payment: 1cent/word. Deadline: March 31st, 2022.
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Mythic. Genre: Science fiction, fantasy short stories. Length: 2,000-5,000 words. Payment: 1 cent/word for original fiction, $25 for reprints. Deadline: March 31, 2022.
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Chestnut Review. Genre: Poetry, flash fiction, short fiction, creative nonfiction, essays, visual media (art/photography). Payment: $120. Deadline: March 31st, 2022. Submit early in the month to avoid submission fee.
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Dragon Soul Press: Valor. Genre: "All stories featuring East Asian warriors are welcome." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: March 31st, 2022.
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Dragon Soul Press: Chance on Love. Genre: "Everyone deserves a chance at love. Whether it lasts forever or ends up being temporary, these characters will fight for the chance at happily ever after." Word Count – 5,000-15,000. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: March 31st, 2022.
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The Woodward Review. Genre: Poetry, prose, art, and digital media from anyone, anywhere. Each issue will also include a Detroit Folio, featuring work from those with roots in the city. Payment: $25. Deadline: March 31st, 2022.
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2022 Annus Horribilis. Genre: stories of up to 2022 words (horror/dark/speculative fiction) on any topic, in any style. your story should be set in 2022. Payment: £6.66. Deadline: March 31st, 2022.
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APRIL DEADLINES
Muse Magazine. Genre: Nonfiction articles for children on theme. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: April ? See themes. Queries only.
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West Branch. Genre: Poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and translation. Payment: $50 per submission of poetry, and $.05/word for prose with a maximum payment of $100. Deadline: April 1, 2022.
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Gordon Square Review. Genre: Poetry, short stories, personal essays, and hybrid prose works. Payment: $25 per prose piece and $10 per poem. Deadline: April 1, 2022.
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Cemetery Gates: My Dark Library. Genre: Horror novellas 25,000-40,000 words. "In My Dark Library you will find psychological, folk, quiet, supernatural, paranormal, body, found-footage, coming-of-age, spiritual, demonic, occult, cosmic, slasher horror. I’m not currently interested in extreme, science-fiction, bizarro, erotic, apocalyptic, creature/cryptid, zombie, eco, comedy horror." Payment: $1000 advance and royalties. Deadline: April 1, 2022.
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Lost Boys Press: Great Wars anthology. Genre: Fiction. "Write a story about a historical war of any culture and any era and change one aspect of it to see how the war might change and explore from there!" Length: 9K words max. Payment: $50. Deadline: April 1, 2022.
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Modern Magic. Genre: Stories about magic in today’s world. Not stories of witches and warlocks surrounded by vampires and werewolves that hide in the shadows, but of real, everyday people, in our real, everyday world. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 1, 2022.
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Splatter Ink Publishing: Cryptid Carnage. Genre: Horror. "We want your stories of Cryptids attacking people that either are innocently targeted, seemingly in the wrong place at the wrong time, or a story with people who are much deserving of their blood-soaked fate." Length: Up to 10,000 words. Payment: $25. Deadline: April 1, 2022.
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Gordon Square Review. Genre: Poetry, short stories, personal essays, and hybrid prose works. Payment: $25 per prose piece and $10 per poem. Deadline: April 1, 2022.
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The Other Stories (Podcast). Genre: Horror on themes. Payment: 15 GBT. Deadline: April 1, 2022. See themes.
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Salamander. Genre: Poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: April 1, 2022.
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Moonflowers and Nightshade. Genre: Sapphic horror short fiction. "Moonflowers and Nightshade will include a diverse group of stories, including but not limited to stories involving genderqueer, non-binary, BIPOC, genderfluid, lesbian, trans, bisexual, and pansexual characters." Payment: 4 cents/word. Deadline: April 1, 2022.
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Bluestem. Genre: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction. Payment: $20/poem and $75/prose piece. (Rates not posted on site, please inquire) Deadline: April 1, 2022.
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Luna Novella for Speculative Diversity. Restrictions: Under-represented writers only, all levels welcome (unpublished, published, solo or agented). Genre: Speculative fiction novellas, 20,000 - 40,000 words. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: April 1 - 2, 2022.
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Havok. Genre: Flash fiction on Theme of MACRO & MICRO. Payment: $10 via PayPal for each story published in an Anthology. Deadline: April 3, 2022.
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Cossmass Infinities. Genre: Science fiction and fantasy short stories. Payment: $0.08/word for original fiction. Deadline: April 7, 2022.
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* Please let us know if you receive publication success via any of these calls.
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Thanks for reading. See you soon!
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