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October 2025: Autumn Story Campfire

Submitted by melvin on Sun, 09/21/2025 - 19:14
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October 2025: Autumn Story Campfire. R-SPEC, Rochester Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror

Halloween is approaching quickly, but it’s never too early for a good horror story!

On October 7, join our Autumn Story Campfire, where the R-SPEC team will recommend some of their favorite horror stories and novels. We’ll then delve into attendee favorites to learn about 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?

Panel: R-SPEC Team

Location: Our October 7 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 7, 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.

September 2025: Genre Bending: Navigating Reader Expectations and Authorial Intent

Submitted by melvin on Thu, 08/28/2025 - 14:31
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September 2025: Genre Bending: Navigating Reader Expectations and Authorial Intent. R-SPEC, Rochester Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror

On Tuesday, September 2, the R-SPEC Team will lead a panel-style discussion that delves into how the myriad speculative fiction genres came to be and how the most-popular ones are influencing the world.

Then, more importantly, we’ll focus on how readers and authors alike can use these categories to find fantastical stories to bolster their favorite reads and literary styles, how to watch for biases and marketing realities, and how to find and even create new genres to fire up your imaginations.

Come to the meeting with your favorite speculative fiction genres in mind and join us in what will surely be an intriguing literary exploration.

Moderator: R-SPEC Team

Location: Our September 2 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, September 2, 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.

August 2025: Share Your Story

Submitted by melvin on Sat, 07/26/2025 - 13:56
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Share Your Story - R-SPEC Rochester Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror - Bring your poem, short story or other in-progress work and join us for our reading meeting

On August 5, 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, August 5, 2025 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.

July 2025: The 2025 Hugo Short

Submitted by melvin on Thu, 06/26/2025 - 20:44
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R-SPEC, Rochester Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror, July 2025: The 2025 Hugo Short Story Award Goes To

Coming up on Tuesday, July 1...you know, we had so much fun discussing all the short stories on this year’s ballot for the 2025 Nebula Awards that we’ve decided to reprise that idea by talking about this year’s short story nominations for the 2025 Hugo Awards!

This year’s winners will be announced at the 83rd World Science Fiction Convention to be held in Seattle, Washington from August 13-17. For our July meeting, we’ll discuss what we liked, what we didn’t care for, and hold our own (non-binding) voting for Best Hugo Short Story.

If you read the Nebula stories for our May meeting, you’re already ahead of the game as three of the stories are the same.

See full article for list of stories. Start reading today!

Moderator: R-SPEC Team

Location: Our July 1 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, July 1, 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.

June 2025: Tackling Writing Roadblocks

Submitted by melvin on Sat, 05/31/2025 - 18:01
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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.

May 2025: Story Club: The Nebula Short Story Award Goes to…

Submitted by melvin on Sun, 03/16/2025 - 19:54
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2025 Nebula Awards Short Story Finalists - R-SPEC Rochester Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror

On March 12, SFWA announced this year’s Nebula Awards Finalists as chosen by SFWA members.

On May 6, R-SPEC will hold our own (non-binding) voting for Best Nebula Short Story.

See full article for list of stories

Moderator: Alan Vincent Michaels

Location: Our May 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, May 6, 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)

April 2025: Share Your Story

Submitted by melvin on Sun, 03/16/2025 - 19:48
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Share Your Story - R-SPEC Rochester Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror - Bring your poem, short story or other in-progress work and join us for our reading meeting

On April 1, 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 1, 2025 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.

March 2025: Speculative Fiction - How Far Back Does It Go?

Submitted by melvin on Mon, 02/24/2025 - 21:18
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March 2025: Speculative Fiction - How Far Back Does It Go? R-SPEC, Rochester Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror. Includes graphic with the following topics arranged around 'Your Story': new to writing; marketing basics; getting published; new to writing; the writers life; contracts 101

On March 4, the R-SPEC Team will mind-travel, seeking the birth of speculative fiction.

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, written in 1818, is considered the first, modern science fiction novel. Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, Edgar Allan Poe, and others helped develop the genre over the next two centuries.

Yet, speculative fiction (and its subgenres) likely extends much further back in time. Ancient oral traditions, myths, and religious texts often have elements that read more like today’s fantasy and horror, especially when parsed with technology-oriented mindsets.

What do you think may be the starting point of speculative fiction, when stories left the day-to-day “what was/is” and became explorations of “what if?”

  • Meeting Time: Tuesday, March 4, 2024 from 6:30-8:45 p.m.
  • Location: Our 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.)
  • Open chat: 6:30-7:00 p.m.
  • Roundtable discussion: 7:00-8:45 (with a short break at 8:00)
  • 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.

February 2025: R-SPEC Annual Business Meeting + Who Owns the Future? [Redux]

Submitted by melvin on Thu, 01/23/2025 - 07:25
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February 2025: R-SPEC Annual Business Meeting + Who Owns the Future? [Redux] - R-SPEC, Rochester Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror. Includes graphic with the following topics arranged around 'Your Story': new to writing; marketing basics; getting published; new to writing; the writers life; contracts 101

R-SPEC holds its Annual Business Meeting during the first half-hour of our February meeting. We look back upon our accomplishments in 2024 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.

Who Owns the Future? [Redux] – Four years ago, we considered whether the future is a malleable, blank slate or if it is predetermined and unchangeable. Much has happened since then. In this second look, we examine some of the many forces shaping our collective future, and how you can use them to extrapolate insightful, plausible speculative fiction stories.

  • Meeting Time: Tuesday, February 4, 2024 from 6:30-8:45 p.m.
  • Location: Our 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.)
  • 6:30-7:00 p.m.: Open chat
  • 7:00-7:30 p.m.: Annual Business Meeting
    • Moderator: Ted Wenskus
    • Note: This is the same as the regular meeting - plan to stay connected to participate!
  • 7:30-8:45 p.m.: Who Owns the Future? [Redux]
    • Group Discussion
    • 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.

January 2025: Share Your Story

Submitted by melvin on Fri, 01/03/2025 - 18:33
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Share Your Story - R-SPEC Rochester Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror - Bring your poem, short story or other in-progress work and join us for our reading meeting

On January 7, 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 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, January 7, 2025 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.

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