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.

R-SPEC Home Page

November 2026: Share Your Story

The shoulders & head of a young, space-suited person, with their eyes closed, floating in space & receiving the words in a book though a wire attached to their helmet. The words Share Your Story float in space between them & the book.

On November 3, you're invited to share your story, poem, or any writing roadblocks you're facing. Bring a piece with fewer than 1,000 words, if you can, but no more than 2,000 words, if you can't break the scene. This helps give everyone sufficient reading and feedback time.

Moderator: Alan Vincent Michaels

Location: Our August 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, November 3, 2026 from 6:30-8:45 p.m.

  • Open chat: 6:30-7:00 p.m.
  • Share Your Story: 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 reading meetings are not recorded.

Calendar, News, Blog
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Speculative Literature News

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

M. John Harrison Wins 2026 Booker Prize
(Locus News)
11/09/2026 - 18:35

The End of Everything by M. John Harrison (Serpent's Tail; Riverhead US) is the winner of the 2026 Booker Prize. The...
Weird Horror to Close
(Locus News)
11/09/2026 - 12:28

Undertow Publications has announced on social media that Weird Horror Magazine will cease publishing issues. Issue 13 (Fall '26...
Clarion West 2027 Novel Writing Workshop
(Locus News)
11/04/2026 - 11:38

Clarion West's nine-month online Novel Writing Workshop is open for applications for its 2027 year. Premee Mohamed will be the...
Applications for Gulliver Travel Grant Open
(Locus News)
11/02/2026 - 16:40

TheSpeculative Literature Foundation is now accepting proposals for the Gulliver Travel Research Grant. The deadline is November 30,...
2026 Prix Utopiales Winners
(Locus News)
11/02/2026 - 15:10

Winnersof the 2026 Prix Utopiales and Prix Utopiales Jeunesse, honoring the best SF published in France, were announced at Les Utopiales...
Matt Howarth (1954–2026)
(Locus News)
10/29/2026 - 11:48

SF comics writer and artist Matt Howarth, 72, died October 5, 2026 of complications following a triple bypass.

Howarth was born...
2026 Anthony Awards Winners
(Locus News)
10/28/2026 - 15:56

Boucherconhasannounced the winners of the 2026 Anthony Awards, honoring the best in crime fiction. Winners, along with their fellow...
New Imprint: Wildlit
(Locus News)
10/28/2026 - 15:25

Harper Collins UK has announced a New Adult imprint, Wildlit. The imprint will publish unabashedly bold, commercial and page-turning...
2026 Protopian Prize Winners
(Locus News)
10/27/2026 - 13:06

The Protopian Prize has announced the results of the inaugural year of its fiction contest for protopian original short fiction. The...
Willis Wins Sir Arthur Clarke Imagination in Service to Society Award
(Locus News)
10/26/2026 - 11:30

The Arthur C. Clarke Foundation has announced the winners for the 2026 Arthur C. Clarke Awards (not to be confused with the literary...
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