Blog

On June 4, the R-SPEC Team will hold a speculative fiction writing workshop.

The theme will be to write the first draft of a microstory (<500 words) or a poem (any style), based upon a selected sentence or word prompt.

Attendees will work on their own to craft their pieces, then, if desired, share what they have created with the group.

Meeting Information

• Location: Our meeting will ONLINE ONLY on Zoom. (Please join us at least 10 minutes before the 7:00 p.m. start time tensure a good connection.)
• Time: Tuesday, June 4, 2024 from 6:30-8:45 p.m.
  • Open chat 6:30-7:00 p.m.
  • Meeting 7:00-9:00 p.m. (Depending on the attendance and audience vote, we will conduct either one or two writing and reading sessions.)
  • Close meeting: 9:00 p.m. (or sooner tbreak down the Community Room before the store closes)

Note: Due to the workshop theme of the meeting, it will not be recorded.

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA) short story finalists for the 59th Annual Nebula Awards® have been announced. The winner will be revealed at SFWA’s June 8, 2024, ceremony in Pasadena, CA.

For our May 7 meeting, we're going to discuss these nominations for Best Short Story, all of which are currently available online for free for your reading pleasure. Which story appealed to you the most? What didn't you like? Did a particular aspect in the writing stand out for you? And, of course, which story do you think will win on June 8th?

• Once Upon a Time at The Oakmont, P.A. Cornell (Fantasy, 10/23)
• Tantie Merle and the Farmhand 4200, R.S.A Garcia (Uncanny, 7-8/23)
• Window Boy, Thomas Ha (Clarkesworld, 8/23)
• The Sound of Children Screaming, Rachael K. Jones (Nightmare, 10/23)
• Better Living Through Algorithms, Naomi Kritzer (Clarkesworld, 5/23)
• Bad Doors, John Wiswell (Uncanny, 1-2/23)

Meeting Information

• Location: Our meeting will be in person at Barnes & Noble, Pittsford and virtually on Zoom. (Please join us at least 10 minutes before the 7:00 p.m. start time tensure a good connection.) [PLEASE NOTE CHANGED ZOOM LINK!]
• Time: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 from 6:30-8:45 p.m.
  • Open chat 6:30-7:00 p.m.
  • Meeting 7:00-8:45 p.m.
  • Close meeting: 8:45 p.m. (or sooner tbreak down the Community Room before the store closes)

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

On April 2, 2024, 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 April 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, April 2, 2024 from 6:30-8:45 p.m.

• Open chat: 6:30-7:00
• Share Your Story
• Close meeting: 8:45 (or sooner to break down the Community Room before the store closes)

Note: R-SPEC reading meetings are not recorded.

As Rochester will bear witness to a spectacular solar eclipse in April, we invite you to an “out-of-this-world” discussion onMarch 5of how celestial phenomena have spurred the creation of some of the finest F&SF stories—and how you can use these events as springboards in your own writing.

• Location:Our meeting will be in person at Barnes & Noble, Pittsfordand virtually 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, March 5, 2023 from 6:30-8:45 p.m.

  • Open chat 6:30-7:00 p.m.

  • Meeting 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.

R-SPEC holds its Annual Business Meeting during the first half-hour of our February meeting. We look back upon our accomplishments in 2023 and elect Board members for the coming year. The meeting is open to the public, but only paid R-SPEC members are eligible to be on the Board and to vote in the elections.

Winter. It’s the darkest time of the year, and a great time to curl up with a horror story. What story have you read or movie have you’ve watched that frightens you the most about the real chill that winter brings?

• Meeting Time: Tuesday, February 6, 2024 from 6:30-8:45 p.m.
• Open chat 6:30-7:00 p.m.
• 7:00-7:30 p.m.: Annual Business Meeting
  • Moderator: Ted Wenskus
  • Location: 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.)
    Note: This is the same as the regular meeting - plan to stay connected to participate!
• 7:30-8:45 p.m.: Winter Chillers
  • Roundtable Discussion
  • Location: In person at Barnes & Noble, Pittsford and on Zoom.
    (Please join us before the 7:00 p.m. start time to ensure a good connection.)
    Note: This is the same as the regular meeting - you don't need to disconnect & reconnect.
  • Close meeting: 8:45 (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.

On January 2, 2024, 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.

If time permits after the readings, we'll share with the group what we're currently reading.

• Moderator: Alan Vincent Michaels
• Location: Our January 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, January 2, 2023 from 6:30-8:45 p.m.
  • Open chat: 6:30-7:00
  • Share Your Story
  • Close meeting: 8:45 (or sooner to break down the Community Room before the store closes)

Note: R-SPEC reading meetings are not recorded.

You finish your story, and then you write “The End.”

What comes next?

If you’re satisfied with being a writer, then put your story away and write your next one. You’re good to go.

If you’re an aspiring author, however, there are many things to consider and to plan for so that you can become a published author.

On November 7, the R-SPEC Team invites you to a discussion about what to do if you’re new to speculative fiction, and if you want to learn more about marketing basics, getting published, understanding contracts, avoiding pitfalls and scams, and striving for your best writer’s life.

We hope you’ll join us and several special guests that’ll help us all better understand the business side of writing speculative fiction.

• Moderator: R-SPEC Team
• Location: 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 7, 2023 from 6:30-8:45 p.m.
  • Open chat 6:30-7:00 p.m.
  • Meeting 7:00-8:45 p.m.
  • Close meeting: 8:45 (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.

On October 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.

Writing a novel can be difficult for any writer. What if you had a "coach and guardrails" to help you start, create, and finish your novel? To help prepare you for the November NaNoWriMo challenge, we'll talk about their process, and how signing up for free at https://NaNoWriMo.org helps you to get organized, set milestones, track your writing progress, and commiserate with other writers.

If time permits after the readings, we'll share with the group what we're currently reading.

• Moderator: Alan Vincent Michaels
• Location: Our November 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, October 3, 2023 from 6:30-8:45 p.m.
  • Open chat: 6:30-7:00
  • Share Your Story & NaNoWriMo Prepping: 7:00-8:30
  • Close meeting: 8:45 (or sooner to break down the Community Room before the store closes)

Note: R-SPEC reading meetings are not recorded.

A fundamental rule of speculative fiction is to craft believable worlds that create a strong sense of place for your characters and your readers. Yet, if you solved all the aspects a world or worlds require, you may have written an encyclopedia. But, what about the story or novel you wanted to write?

On September 5, we invite you to share your worldbuilding ideas and join in a discussion with the R-SPEC Team about how much worldbuilding is considered enough.

• Moderator: R-SPEC Team
• Location: 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, September 5, 2023 from 6:30-8:45 p.m.
  • Open chat 6:30-7:00 p.m.
  • Meeting 7:00-8:45 p.m.
  • Close meeting: 8:45 (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.

What can be better on a hot August night than the time-honored tradition of sharing unsettling stories around the (virtual) campfire?

On August 1, join our Summer Story Campfire, where the R-SPEC team will recommend some of their favorite horror stories and novels. We’ll then delve into favorites from our attendees to see what horror fiction gives them night terrors.

Remember, bring an example or two of horror fiction to share. Tell us what won’t let you sleep at night, and what kept you turning the page to find out what happened next?

• Moderator: R-SPEC Team
• Location: 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, August 1, 2023 from 6:30-8:45 p.m.
  • Open chat 6:30-7:00 p.m.
  • Meeting 7:00-8:45 p.m.
  • Close meeting: 8:45 (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.