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Rochester Speculative Literature Association

R-SPEC is a group of writers, readers and thinkers in the Rochester NY area, that exists to celebrate and create speculative literature. We hold public meetings once a month to discuss new ideas and critically examine the literature we care about. You can help by joining us at a meeting, or becoming a member.

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June 2025: Tackling Writing Roadblocks

June 2023: Tackling Writing Roadblocks. R-SPEC, Rochester Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror

Does the blank page feel intimidating? Do you struggle finding the best words to use or feel your prose and characters need more substance? Are there moments you can’t see what to write next? 

Fear not! You’re not alone. All writers, from those new to the craft to experienced, best-selling novelists, struggle with how to start, what to write, and how to push onward to the last sentence of a story or novel.

During our June roundtable discussion, we’ll talk about how to tackle your writing roadblocks and share ideas on how to achieve your writing goals.

Moderator: R-SPEC Team

Location: Our June 3 meeting will be in person at Barnes & Noble, Pittsford and on Zoom. (Please join us at least 10 minutes before the 7:00 p.m. start time to ensure a good connection.)

Meeting Time: Tuesday, June 3, 2025 from 6:30-8:45 p.m.

  • Open chat 6:30-7:00 p.m.
  • Discussion: 7:00-8:45 p.m.
  • Close meeting: 8:45 p.m. (or sooner to break down the Community Room before the store closes)

Note: R-SPEC presentations on topics of interest may be recorded, and a link to the recording posted on our website.

Calendar, News, Blog
  • May 2025: Story Club: The Nebula Short Story Award Goes to…
  • In Memoriam: Lynn Spitz
  • March 2025: Speculative Fiction - How Far Back Does It Go?
  • February 2025: R-SPEC Annual Business Meeting + Who Owns the Future? [Redux]
  • October 2024: NaNoWriMo (With Or) Without NaNoWriMo
read more recent posts...

Speculative Literature News

News from the Speculative Literature writing community, including items from Locus Magazine, SFWA, etc.

Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize Shortlist
(Locus News)
06/19/2025 - 12:20

The 2025 shortlist for the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize for Best Published Novel was announced June 4, 2025. Titles and authors...

Hal-Con
(Locus News)
06/19/2025 - 10:00

Science fiction, at its best, has always been about inclusiveness and acceptance of the “other,” a lens through which we can bet...

2025 Le Guin Prize for Fiction Shortlist
(Locus News)
06/18/2025 - 16:18

The Ursula K. Le Guin Literary Trust has announced the shortlist for the Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction, awarding a $25,000 cash...

2025 Sunburst Award Longlist
(Locus News)
06/18/2025 - 16:06

The longlist for the 2025 Sunburst Award for Excellence in Canadian Literature of the Fantastic was announced June 17, 2025:

    ...
Rodger Turner (1947-2025)
(Locus News)
06/18/2025 - 11:46

Conrunner, bookseller, and SF Site co-founder Rodger Turner, 77, died on June 16, 2025.

Turner was born October 7, 1947. He...

Why Crowdfund?
(SFWA.org)
Roxana Arama
06/17/2025 - 11:30

by Madeleine Holly-Rosing

...

2025 Future Worlds Prize
(Locus News)
06/17/2025 - 11:08

The Future Worlds Prize for Fantasy and Science Fiction Writers of Colour has announced its winner and runner-up:

  • WINNER...
Al Sarrantonio (1952-2025)
(Locus News)
06/16/2025 - 14:29

Author and editor Al Sarrantonio, 72, died January 27, 2025. He was best known for his horror and SF novels and anthologies.

...

2025 Robert E. Howard Award Winners
(Locus News)
06/16/2025 - 13:57

The REH Foundation has announced the winners of the 2025 Robert E. Howard Awards, honoring work that is “substantively devoted to...

2025 Mythopoeic Award Finalists
(Locus News)
06/16/2025 - 13:55

The Mythopoeic Society has announced the 2025 Mythopoeic Awards finalists. Winners will be announced during the Online MidSummer Seminar...

more
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R-Spec Press

  • 'From the Lockdown' 2021 Short-Story Contest
    • March 2021 Winner: "Pest Control", by Amy Aderman
    • April 2021 Winner: "Baby Grand", by Jack Feerick
    • May 2021 Winner: "Reading Glasses," by Sally Caves
  • Rochester Rewritten: Rochester in the Alternative
    • Buy through our online store
  • 2034: Writing Rochester's Futures
    • Buy through our online store
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