News

This Tuesday, April 3, we're going to once again open the floor for people to read from their own works in progress (hopefully including some from ScriptFrenzy). Come prepared to read aloud the first 2 print pages (about 500 words) or 5-10 script pages of something you're working on, and then receive brief, constructive feedback. Come at 7pm to sign up — we'll get through at least the first 7 people. Reading will start promptly at 7:30. We'll break in the middle to vote on our 2012 R-SPEC Board of Directors.

In Tuesday's meeting, we'll try to do several things. First, we'll spend a few minutes talking about the upcoming elections. The R-SPEC board elections, that is. I anticipate having a deeper discussion of this next meeting, but this will be a warmup, and a way to catch up on business. Next, I'd like to go around the circle reading some particular piece of work -- preferably a very short example, just a few lines or a paragraph -- that you find has influenced you, either for good or ill. Be prepared to describe what it's given you, or what it's inspired you to do. I'll share a passage from Neuromancer that jumped out at me when I picked up the book a few months ago, and possibly something additional. Finally, in the third half of the show, we'll talk about scripts -- stage, screen -- in honor of Script Frenzy, which is coming in April. (Script Frenzy is a month-long challenge from the same people who bring you National Novel-Writing Month [NaNoWriMo], except here the challenge is to produce a 100 page script -- screenplay, teleplay, stage play, radio play, what have you -- in the month of April.) 

This coming Tuesday, February 7 will be a "Thieves' Night" ("what can we steal from [William Gibson / Catherine Moore / insert name here...") discussion of two powerful stories: "The Winter Market" by William Gibson, and "No Woman Born" by Catherine Moore. Craig deLancey & Eric Scoles will facilitate.

Both stories are concerned with the essential questions of what it means to be human, explored through the conceits of mind-uploading (Gibson) and total-body-prosthesis (Moore).

"The Winter Market" is anthologized in Burning Chrome, which collects most of Gibson's short work and readily available at most decent bookstores and libraries and in many used book stores. (I recommend checking Rick's Recycled on Monroe.) You may also be able to find copy online.

"No Woman Born" is widely anthologized, but probably most readily available in print as part of The Best of C. L. Moore. Again, you may also find it online. 

This Tuesday, January 3, we're going to once again open the floor for people to read from their own work. Come prepared to read aloud the first 2 pages or about 500 words of something you're working on, and then receive brief, constructive feedback. Come at 7pm to sign up — we'll get through at least the first 7 people. Reading will start promptly at 7:30.

Join us on Tuesday, November 1 as University of Rochester Professor (and machinima artist) Sarah Higley (better known in some circles as 'Sally Caves', creator of ST:TNG's 'Reg Barkley') talks about Machinima: Films recorded using virtual performers, shot in virtual settings constructed in spaces such as Second Life or World of Warcraft. Sarah will provide examples from her own work and that of other machinima artists, as well as providing examples that don't work quite so well. We'll meet starting at about 7:00pm in the Community Room at the Pittsford Barnes & Noble (3349 Monroe Avenue, Pittsford NY). Sarah will begin her talk at about 7:30pm.

This Tuesday, October 4, we're going to once again open the floor for people to read from their own work. Come prepared to read aloud the first 2 pages or about 300 words of something you're working on, and then receive brief, constructive feedback. Come at 7pm to sign up — we'll get through at least the first 7 people. Reading will start promptly at 7:30.

Pat Rapp will discuss Augmented Reality, the real-time enhancement of our real world with digital information. Pat is a co-founder and Director of the Center for Virtual Worlds Education and Research and Webmaster for the Fairport Public Library. Fire up your favorite augmented reality game and join us in the Community Room at the Pittsford Barnes & Noble at 7pm on Tuesday, September 6.

Electronic publishing editor Natisha LaPierre will discuss epublishing including receiving and reviewing manuscripts virtually, differences in the submission process between epublishers and traditional houses, what to look for in an epublisher, the pros and cons of epublishing, royalties for authors and editors, what these markets look like (what’s selling and what’s not), book signings, e-promotion, how the internet has helped authors reach out to readers across the world, and projections by professionals in traditional trade houses and author organizations regarding the future of epublishing.

For our July meeting (July 5), we're going to do something we haven't done before and open the floor for people to read from their own work. Come prepared to read aloud the first 2 pages or about 300 words of something you're working on. Come at 7pm to sign up (the first 7 people to show up with work will go on the list to read). Reading will start promptly at 7:30.