SDWG members, submit a free listing on our bulletin board for a reading, workshop, or service you’re offering
REQUESTS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Perk for SDWG Members! Straw Dog Writers Guild is now an affiliate of Bookshop.org. If you are a current SDWG member and you have published a book, we can include your book on our members list on our Bookshop.org profile. Important instructions for inclusion: To be included, first, check to see if your book is available at: https://bookshop.org/ THEN, if it is, send your name and book title to admin@strawdogwriters.org. This platform will give greater exposure to your book. “Bookshop.org is an online book marketplace launched in January 2020. Its stated mission is “to financially support local, independent bookstores.” Bookshop, Inc., a privately held company, has been certified as a B Corporation.” NOTE: Some books may not be available on this site.
Missed an online SDWG event? Check out our YouTube channel for workshop and event recordings.
MEET UPS
Forbes Library Writing Room Wednesdays at 9:00am-12:30pm
This is a free, structured, facilitated drop in community writing group. We check in at 9:30, then write together for two hours, followed by the opportunity to read what you wrote (5 minutes). Follow the link for ZOOM meeting
Valley Society Black Writing Group
Valley Society, a SDWG committee, is open to new writers for our AWA writing group. We meet Sundays from 2-5 virtually. Visit valleysociety.org/about/writing-group/ to sign up.
Zooming Poetry Workshop
Monthly poetry workshop on the 4th Monday of the month from 4-5pm. “We send each other a poem or two before the workshop, and we give constructive, positive feedback during the workshop.” Interested poets please email Phyllis at phystgeorge@gmail.com
BOOK LAUNCHES/CONCERTS/READINGS/OPPORTUNITIES
Submission Opportunity
We are currently accepting submissions for the 2026 awards. Here are the key details: Enter at: www.shortstoryawards.com; Submissions accepted: Short stories or poems in English (5,000 words or fewer); Categories: 30+; Deadline: Thursday, February 26, 2026; Prizes for winners: Cash awards, gold medals, digital promotional stickers, social media exposure, publication in the Anthology of Winners, and a complimentary copy of the anthology
Calling Nonfiction Authors!
Calling nonfiction writers for an in-person writing group hosted in Northampton. Join like minded writers of nonfiction for support and writing. Contact Peter at pwp04 at icloud dot com for more information.
Nine Syllables Press’ third annual chapbook contest June 1-August 31, 2025
Submissions are open June 1-August 31, 2025, using our Submittable. There is a $10 submission fee. Trans and nonbinary poets of all genders, and cis women poets can submit their chapbook to the Nine Syllables Press chapbook contest. Trans/LGBTQIA+ poets and BIPOC poets are especially encourage to submit their work. The winner will be awarded $500 and author’s copies. The chapbook will be published within a year. Winners will be announced by February 2026.
In Search of Lizzie Borden – 9/3 at Forbes Library, 9/4 at Longmeadow Adult Center, and 9/5 at LAVA in Greenfield. All sessions at 6 pm.
Join author Dennis Binette for a fascinating look beyond the Borden murders and trial to examine Lizzie’s life in the context of her home and society. Parallel
Lives: A Social History of Lizzie A. Borden and Her Fall River by Michael Martins and Dennis A. Binette was hailed as “riveting” by Kirkus Reviews and listed as a Best Book of 2012. The authors had unprecedented access to newly discovered, previously unpublished materials. Students of history will enjoy this perspective on an infamous piece of our Massachusetts past.
Poetry in Motion – September 13th 9:30 am
Poets and poetry enthusiasts of all ages, let the Hoosic River Watershed be your inspiration for poetic expression! Join the Hoosic River Watershed Association (HooRWA) on Saturday, September 13 at 9:30am at Natural Bridge State Park parking area outside the gate.. We will walk up from the Hudson Brook – North Branch confluence and find poetic inspiration along the way. Writing prompts will be given in case you need or want them. And there will be time given to share your poems, phrases, or whatever the Rivers drew out of you. This program will last 1 hour.
This workshop is free and open to the public and is made possible by a grant from the Cultural Council of Northern Berkshire, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency. Limited to 16 participants. Please register HERE.
Your facilitator: Arianna Alexsandra Collins, Executive Director of the Hoosic River Watershed Association, is also a naturalist educator and poet with over 30 years teaching outdoor immersion experiences and community engagement. She has been facilitating quarterly Poetry Shares at her local library in Ashfield for the past several years.
Book Readings in New York City
Cheryl Fish’s book, CRATER AND TOWER is now available for purchase for $16.95 from Shanti Arts. She will be reading at the following locations in NYC September and October: THURSDAY, SEPT. 11, AT 6 P.M., VILLAGE STORY SALON at NYPL HUDSON SQUARE BRANCH, 66 LEROY STREET. WITH BLAIR FELL AND ROSANNE LIMONCELLI; WED. SEPT 24, KGB BAR GROUP READING 7-9 P.M. Hosted by literary agent Natalie Kimber; SUNDAY, SEPT. 28, WORDSHED READING SERIES 6:30 PM AT VON BAR, 3 BLEECKER STREET AT BOWERY, WITH EILEEN M. KENNEDY AND SUSAN MICHELE CORONEL; TUESDAY, OCT 7 FEATURED READER, ART IN THE BASIN AT MON AMOUR COFFEE AND WINE, 234 W. 238TH STREET, BRONX, NY with open reading
Week long Retreat Offer
Week long writing retreat offer: Annabelle is looking for individuals or couples (romantic or otherwise) to stay at her cozy, rustic farmhouse (with excellent WiFi) in Vermont free of charge for a minimum of one week (or longer if you choose) between late August and the end of October. She’d love to have writers and artists both as guests, and perhaps eventually as co-founders of an artists’ retreat she hopes to build there. Guests are asked to honor the vegan kitchen and provide some light help in the household or garden for a few hours/week.
More information: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XST0mJ296J7hORbmkQ0ZExJIPWsUc-0U/view?usp=sharing
CONTACT: info@thelavacenter.org or 413-376-8118
Writing Workshops and Writing Groups
Dreaming on the Page Writing Circle with Tzivia Gover, Author and Certified Dreamwork Professional
First Tuesday of each month, 11 am-2 pm US Eastern Time, on Zoom.
Combining dreams and writing helps to increase self-awareness, reinvigorate your creativity, and supercharge your writing. Each workshop includes information and inspiration for combining dreams and the imagination, plus writing prompts and time to write and share your work.
$55 with accessible pay-what-you-can options for those with low/limited incomes. Learn more and register at: thirdhousemoon.com/event/dreaming-on-the-page-writing-circle/
Miss T’s No Bull Writing Workshops
Miss T here and I’m developing a series of two-hour $10 workshops on various writing topics. Cool, right? The first will be backstory. I call it “Don’t Put the Backstory in the Front.” Future topics include dialogue, show don’t tell, an editing cheat sheet, personal essay, cutting down on adverbs, using power verbs, etc. And, of course, I am open to your suggestions. For the workshop, I’d like you to bring a doubled-space page 12 pt font – about 250 words. It would be best if you could bring in the beginning of your story, or somewhere where you think you may be having an issue with backstory.
To indicate your interest in this or future $10 workshops, click on the link DON’T PUT THE BACKSTORY IN THE FRONT!
Pioneer Valley Writers Workshop
At PVWW, there’s definitely no better time to dive deeply into creative work and goals! They always have A LOT going on, from a full lineup of virtual workshops (one-day and multi-week) to regular readings, panels, and gatherings! And monthly Community Writing (and Community Reading events) – free and open to all – continues. Applications for PVWW’s 10-Month Manuscript Program (in all genres) open each year in the fall as well. Browse their current workshop schedule HERE!
And visit them online at www.PioneerValleyWriters.org!
Writers in Progress
Writers in Progress, the Valley’s Literary Arts Studio, is excited to re-open our gorgeous physical space this September, launching our Fall Session with a huge variety of weekly, half day and one-day generative and craft workshops. We will also continue to offer many workshops online. Some of our many offerings this fall include: Morning Jumpstarts, with Dori Ostermiller, Writing From Life with Emily Lackey, the Craft of Memoir with Cathy Luna, the Blueprint Your Book Series, with Susanne Dunlap, Fiction Essentials with Jacqueline Sheehan, Poetry Workshop with Sarah Browning, Word for Writers, Tarot for Writers, and many more. We also host a monthly community writing workshop, the first Sunday of each month, open to all. Founded in 1992 by author Dori Ostermiller, WIP has been supporting writers and creating community for three decades and has ‘midwifed’ dozens of published books. Our workshops are limited to 8 participants and emphasize writing time, community and craft development, nurturing voice, giving and receiving constructive, encouraging feedback. We believe that the writing process calls for both rigor and playfulness, both craft and inspiration. We also offer our legendary year-long manuscript intensive for writers working on book-length manuscripts, a six month revision intensive, as well as one-on-one coaching, editing and consulting. Our published alums include Ellen Meeropol, Steve Bernstein, JoAnne Jones, Dusty Miller, Ruth Lehrer, Dinah Mack, Kris Holloway, David Lovelace and many, many more. We host a seasonal Live Literature reading series in our studio and online. Check out our amazing lineup of fall workshops and events at www.writersinprogress.com. Hope to see you soon!
SERVICES
Manuscript Consultations and Editing Services with Jan Freeman
With 40 years of editorial experience, I am available to review works of prose and poetry, including full-length manuscripts, chapbooks, and selected collections. Through multiple readings, I evaluate literal and emotional narratives and a manuscript’s organization, texture, shape, tension, and emotional flow. I am author of 3 books of poetry and co-editor of Sisters: An Anthology; from 1995–2018, I directed Paris Press (now an imprint of Wesleyan University Press), which published critically acclaimed books by Emily Dickinson, NBCC award winning Ruth Stone, Virginia Woolf, and many others. Jan Freeman, janfreemanpoetry@gmail.com
Mentoring and Editing Services with
Michael Favala Goldman
I know how difficult it is to be objective about one’s own writing. Having skilled readers and mentors helped me gain the skills to publish16 books of prose translations, poetry translations and original poetry. I have been leading poetry critique groups since 2018. I give direct, compassionate feedback, to help clarify and magnify the author’s voice. I am happy to look at a few short pieces or an entire manuscript. hammerandhorn@gmail.com.
Dreaming on the Page Writing Consultations with Tzivia Gover
This one-on-one consultation is appropriate for writers at all stages of the journey, from journalers to published authors and anyone in between.
More of a coaching session than a critique, our time together will be spent setting goals and intentions for your writing in general, or specific projects. Sessions may include:
* Reviewing your goals, habits, and rituals as a writer, and exploring ways to tap into dreams, imagination, and the subconscious to support and sustain your creativity.
* Identifying the big dream for your project and setting intentions and next steps to help you get there.
* Implementing Dreaming on the Page techniques, tips, and prompts as appropriate.
* Receiving guidance on up to 500 words of your writing or a project summary submitted in advance of the session.
Mentoring Services with Lesléa Newman
Lesléa Newman has created 75 books for readers of all ages and mentored hundreds of writers including Newbery Award-winner Kwame Alexander (The Crossover), novelist, Leah Henderson (One Shadow on the Wall) and poet Floyd Cheung (Jazz at Manzanar). If you are working on a manuscript, I’d love to take a peek and see how I can help you make your book the best it can be. Whether you write for kids, teens or adults, whether you write poetry or prose, whether you write fiction or non-fiction, you name it, I can critique it. I will mark up your manuscript in purple ink, write you a long, editorial letter, read one revision, and if appropriate, offer publishing suggestions.
Consultation w/ Gail Thomas
I am available for individual consultation on your poetry submissions, manuscripts and residency applications. With more than 40 years of publishing and teaching experience, I offer feedback that not only focuses on your writing goals, but also strengthens your craft. If you are assembling a chapbook or full-length manuscript, I will work with you to organize and present your best work for publication. Gail Thomas, gailthomaspoet@gmail.com
Straw Dog Writers Guild YouTube Channel
Having your events and other writing notes on this Bulletin Board is one of the many benefits of SDWG membership.
- We ask that events be in or within driving distance of the Western MA area.
- Text of up to 100 words
- Link to website or email where further information is available.
- Please send at least six weeks before the event to be placed in our newsletter.
Click here to Submit to the Bulletin Board