James River Writers

ONLINE WRITERS WEDNESDAY March 2023 - Socialize & Network
2023-03-08 08:00 - 17:30 UTC
Community is at the core of everything we do, and Writers Wednesday is the perfect place to strengthen that. Writers Wednesday brings together writers of every experience level and genre in a casual atmosphere to connect, laugh, and revel in a well-deserved break. While hosting this program online, we create rotating, intimate groups of 3-5 people in breakout rooms, to allow attendees to have manageable conversations with others. And, JRW staff is always on hand to answer any questions you may have about James River Writers, or writing in general. This is a great entry point for those that are new to the James River Writers community.
Date: March 8, 2023
Time: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Location: Online, in the comfort of your own home. Via the Zoom Platform
Cost: FREE!
Registration closes at midnight, March 7. Your link to join will be emailed to you the morning of the program.
James River Writers is supported in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

FEBRUARY 2023 ONLINE WRITING SHOW | Switching It Up: Writing in Multiple Genres
2023-02-28 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
Writers are often told to devote themselves to a single genre and audience to build a following and sales. But what if you contain multitudes? Can you be successful without pigeonholing yourself? Get some ideas and learn best practices from a panel of literary professionals who like to keep their options open.
Speakers: Remica Bingham-Risher, Lisa Hagan, Sarah Glenn Marsh
Moderator: Rebekah Pierce
Date: Tuesday, February 28, 2023
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Eastern Time
Location: ONLINE, via Zoom
Cost: $12 Members | $17 Non-members | $5 Students
Registration is required and closes at midnight on February 27
The Writing Show includes a social time from 6:00 pm – 6:30 pm. This portion of the evening is optional. If you choose to only attend the panel discussion, please sign in to Zoom by 6:25 pm to keep from interrupting the panel discussion once it begins at 6:30pm.
This program is supported in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

SPEAKERS

REMICA BINGHAM-RISHER, a native of Phoenix, Arizona, is a Cave Canem fellow and Affrilachian Poet. Her work has been published in The New York Times, The Writer’s Chronicle, Callaloo and Essence. She is the author of Conversion (Lotus, 2006), What We Ask of Flesh (Etruscan, 2013), Starlight & Error (Diode, 2017), and Soul Culture: Black Poets, Books and Questions That Grew Me Up (Beacon, 2022). She is the Director of Quality Enhancement Plan Initiatives at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA, where she resides with her husband and children.
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

LISA HAGAN has been a literary agent for over 20 years and has worked with a varied list of authors who have published a diverse array of books. Ms. Hagan continues to build her client list and looks for non-fiction book proposals and manuscripts that have a clear benefit for readers’ lives. Her focus is on the genres of health, spirituality, metaphysical studies, travel, and wisdom. She is especially interested in fresh takes on how to grow spiritually.
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

SARAH GLENN MARSH is the author of several young adult and middle grade novels including the Reign of the Fallen series. She is also the author of award-winning picture books including Ninita’s Big World: The True Story of a Deaf Pygmy Marmoset and Dragon Bones: The Fantastic Fossil Discoveries of Mary Anning. She lives with her husband, daughter, and menagerie of pets in Richmond, Virginia.
WEBSITE | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

MODERATOR

A veteran of the armed forces, educator, and prolific writer, REBEKAH PIERCE is a lover of mystery novels that feature protagonists fight their personal demons as they save the day. She is the author of two historic fiction novels, Murder on Second Street and The Secret Life of Lucy Bosman. In February 2019, Rebekah released, I Love Me More, her memoir on the freeing power of self-love. She bakes cupcakes and cookies too!
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM

FEBRUARY ONLINE NUTS & BOLTS LUNCHTIME SERIES: Using the Canva Platform to Promote Your Work
2023-02-09 11:00 - 2023-02-23 12:30 (America/New_York)
Thursdays 11:30 am – 12:30 pm Eastern | February 9, 16, 23
Writers often begrudge having to promote their work, thinking they need to have extensive training and expertise in areas of graphic design and marketing. Budget constraints are real and can keep you from hiring a professional, but there’s hope! Canva provides an easy-to-use, intuitive online platform with endless options for graphic design, social media and video content creation, and so much more!
JRW’s Director of Programs and Communications, Brynn Markham, will be your instructor for this three-part series that will help you gain confidence when using this FREE online tool to get the job done! Brynn has used Canva extensively in her communications roles with James River Writers, VPM NPR/PBS, and with numerous ad hoc projects for nonprofits in the Greater Richmond community. More about Brynn’s work experience HERE.
Each class in this series includes: a one-hour online workshop, access to the recording, and an action-items worksheet with additional links and resources.
Choose one, two, or all three (BEST BUY!) classes in the series.
Series details and registration HERE.
This series is supported [in part] by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

ONLINE WRITERS WEDNESDAY February 2023 | Special Feature: Newcomers Welcome
2023-02-08 17:30 - 19:30 UTC
Community is at the core of everything we do, and Writers Wednesday is the perfect place to strengthen that. Writers Wednesday brings together writers of every experience level and genre in a casual atmosphere to connect, laugh, and revel in a well-deserved break. While hosting this program online, we create rotating, intimate groups of 3-5 people in breakout rooms, to allow attendees to have manageable conversations with others. And, JRW staff is always on hand to answer any questions you may have about James River Writers, or writing in general. This is a great entry point for those that are new to the James River Writers community. Plan to join us! Drop in as your schedule permits, anytime between 5:30 – 7:30 pm, or stay the duration.
SPECIAL FEATURE: We are including a Newcomers Welcome at the top of the program, before we go into breakout rooms. We’ll use this time to get folks familiar with JRW programming, membership levels and benefits, and answer any questions you may have about our organization.
Date: February 8, 2023
Time: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Location: Online, in the comfort of your own home. Via the Zoom Platform
Cost: FREE!
Registration closes at midnight, February 7. Your link to join will be emailed to you the morning of the program.
This program is supported in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

JANUARY 31 IN-PERSON WRITING SHOW at the Visual Arts Center of Richmond | Putting in the Work: Taking Your Writing to the Next Level
2023-01-31 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Visual Arts Center, 1812 West Main Street, Richmond, VA, 23220, United States
JRW IS PLEASED TO HOST THIS WRITING SHOW IN-PERSON AT THE VISUAL ARTS CENTER OF RICHMOND
Authors in different stages of their writing lives will share the steps they’ve taken along the way and how they’ve moved past roadblocks and setbacks, both internal and external. This panel will help you define success for yourself and give you tips to keep you moving forward.
Speakers: Stacy Hawkins Adams, Catherine Baab-Muguira, SJ Sindu
Date: Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Eastern Time
Location: IN-PERSON! Visual Arts Center of Richmond | 1812 W. Main Street
Cost: $12 Members | $17 Non-members | $5 Students
Registration is required and closes at midnight on January 30, or when capacity is reached. We will not be taking walk-ins at the door.
Click HERE for COVID-19 Guidelines.
The Writing Show includes a social time from 6:00 pm – 6:30 pm. Snacks and soft drinks will be provided during this time. This portion of the evening is optional. If you choose to only attend the panel discussion, please arrive by 6:20 pm to allow time to find your seat before the program begins.
Free parking is available in a lot behind the Visual Arts Center. Follow the alleyway to the back of the building. You may then enter the building through the back entrance. Our program will be hosted on the second floor at the top of the stairs.
Register Now

This program is supported [in part] by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

SPEAKERS

STACY HAWKINS ADAMS
Stacy Hawkins Adams is an author and inspirational writer whose body of work infuses readers with confidence in their own stories. She has penned nine women’s fiction novels and two nonfiction books. Her novel Watercolored Pearls has been a featured title in college coursework​;​ Lead Me Home was ​a Target stores “​Recommended Read”​ and ​The Someday List was an Essence magazine bestseller. Stacy is at work on a new novel and regularly mentors aspiring authors through an online community she leads called Focused Writers.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

CATHERINE BAAB-MUGUIRA
Catherine Baab-Muguira is a writer and journalist who’s contributed to the Wall Street Journal, Lit Hub, Slate, CNBC and NBC News, among others. Her first book, Poe for Your Problems: Uncommon Advice from History’s Least Likely Self-Help Guru, was published by Hachette in 2021. In 2022, it was a finalist for the Library of Virginia’s People’s Choice Award, and it won the International Poe Festival’s Saturday “Visiter” Award. Catherine lives in Richmond with her family.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

SJ SINDU
SJ Sindu is a Tamil diaspora author of two literary novels (Marriage of a Thousand Lies, which won the Publishing Triangle Edmund White Award; and Blue-Skinned Gods, which was an Indie Next Pick and a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award), two hybrid chapbooks (I Once Met You But You Were Dead, and Dominant Genes), two forthcoming graphic novels (Shakti, and Tall Water), and one forthcoming collection of short stories (The Goth House Experiment). Sindu holds a PhD in English and Creative Writing from Florida State University and teaches at Virginia Commonwealth University and Vermont College of Fine Arts.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

MODERATOR

J.T. GLOVER has short fiction in Best New Horror, Pseudopod, and Nightscript, among other venues. He’s published nonfiction in Postscripts to Darkness, The Silent Garden, and Thinking Horror. By day he’s an academic librarian specializing in the humanities, and he lives in Central Virginia.
Website | Twitter

Register Now

ONLINE WRITERS WEDNESDAY January 2023 - 2023 Programs Preview
2023-01-11 17:30 - 19:30 UTC
Community is at the core of everything we do, and Writers Wednesday is the perfect place to strengthen that. Writers Wednesday brings together writers of every experience level and genre in a casual atmosphere to connect, laugh, and revel in a well-deserved break. While hosting this program online, we create rotating, intimate groups of 3-5 people in breakout rooms, to allow attendees to have manageable conversations with others. And, JRW staff is always on hand to answer any questions you may have about James River Writers, or writing in general. This is a great entry point for those that are new to the James River Writers community. This Writers Wednesday will start with a preview of the 2023 program offerings we have planned!
Date: January 11, 2023
Time: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Location: Online, in the comfort of your own home. Via the Zoom Platform
Cost: FREE!
SPECIAL FEATURE: 2023 Programs Preview
Registration closes at midnight, January 10. Your link to join will be emailed to you the morning of the program.
This program is supported in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

ONLINE WRITERS WEDNESDAY December 2022 - Socialize & Network
2022-12-14 17:30 - 19:30 UTC
Community is at the core of everything we do, and Writers Wednesday is the perfect place to strengthen that. Writers Wednesday brings together writers of every experience level and genre in a casual atmosphere to connect, laugh, and revel in a well-deserved break. While hosting this program online, we create rotating, intimate groups of 3-5 people in breakout rooms, to allow attendees to have manageable conversations with others. And, JRW staff is always on hand to answer any questions you may have about James River Writers, or writing in general. This is a great entry point for those that are new to the James River Writers community. Plan to join us for the last Writers Wednesday of 2022!
Date: December 14, 2022
Time: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Location: Online, in the comfort of your own home. Via the Zoom Platform
Cost: FREE!
Registration closes at midnight, December 13. Your link to join will be emailed to you the morning of the program.
James River Writers is supported in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

NOVEMBER 2022 ONLINE WRITING SHOW | Killing Your Darlings: Editing Ruthlessly...Or Not
2022-11-15 18:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York)
It’s common writing advice to ruthlessly cut any storyline, character, or sentence that doesn’t pull its weight, even if you love its beauty or wit. But how do you know when your writing is indulgent rather than propulsive? Can you go too far and sacrifice your voice? What if you really want to keep that beautiful phrase or witty piece of dialogue—is there any wiggle room? Our writing and editing experts will talk about when it’s necessary to lose your precious words and when you might be able to fix them.
Speakers: Soniah Kamal, Liz Long, and Zachary Steele
Moderator: Alethea McCollin
Date: Tuesday, November 15, 2022
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm Eastern Time
Location: ONLINE, via Zoom
Cost: $12 Members | $17 Non-members | $5 Students
Registration is required and closes at midnight on November 14
The Writing Show includes a social time from 6:00 pm – 6:45 pm. This portion of the evening is optional. If you choose to only attend the panel discussion, please sign in to Zoom by 6:40 pm to keep from interruping the panel discussion once it begins at 6:45pm.
This program is supported in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

SPEAKERS

SONIAH KAMAL is an award-winning novelist, essayist, and public speaker. Her recent novel, Unmarriageable, is a Financial Times Readers’ Best Book, a People’s magazine and NPR Code Switch pick, a “Book All Georgians Should Read” (according to the Georgia Center for the Book), and was shortlisted for the Townsend Prize for Fiction. Soniah’s TEDx talk is about second chances and ‘We are the Ink’, her U.S. Citizenship Oath Ceremony address, is about immigrants and the American Dream. Her work has been published in the New York Times, Guardian, Buzzfeed, Catapult, Normal School, Georgia Review and more.
WEBSITE | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

LIZ LONG is the editor of The Roanoker and bridebook magazines, as well as the Virginia Travel Guide. She is a USA Today bestselling indie author of over 20 fantasy and romance titles, a freelance fiction editor, and the director of the Roanoke Regional Writers Conference held annually at Hollins University. She is grateful to call Roanoke home, and can often be found walking the greenway with her dog and supporting local businesses (especially the restaurants!).
WEBSITE | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

Broadleaf Writers Association Founder & Executive Director ZACHARY STEELE is the author of four novels, including The Weight of Ashes and Perfectly Normal (July 2023). He has been featured in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Publisher’s Weekly, Writer’s Magazine, Shelf Awareness and City Lights with Lois Reitzes on NPR.
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

MODERATOR

ALETHEA MCCOLLIN is a playwright, producer, director, and shoe addict. She has produced her work locally and has presented them at various theatre festivals nationally. Her most recent production of The Stilettos Monologue – a show that celebrates women – ran for three nights September 30 – October 01, 2022. Alethea is a member of the Dramatist Guild, and Virginia Screenwriters Forum, and also serves on several local boards. Alethea loves working out, is a passionate gardener, and loves to bake, though she says, she still hasn’t mastered either pastime.
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK

ONLINE WRITERS WEDNESDAY November 2022 - Socialize & Network
2022-11-09 17:30 - 19:30 UTC
Community is at the core of everything we do, and Writers Wednesday is the perfect place to strengthen that. Writers Wednesday brings together writers of every experience level and genre in a casual atmosphere to connect, laugh, and revel in a well-deserved break. While hosting this program online, we create rotating, intimate groups of 3-5 people in breakout rooms, to allow attendees to have manageable conversations with others. And, JRW staff is always on hand to answer any questions you may have about James River Writers, or writing in general. This is a great entry point for those that are new to the James River Writers community. Plan to join us!
Date: November 9, 2022
Time: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Location: Online, in the comfort of your own home. Via the Zoom Platform
Cost: FREE!
Registration closes at midnight, November 8. Your link to join will be emailed to you the morning of the program.
James River Writers is supported in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

ONLINE WRITERS WEDNESDAY October 2022 featuring a Newcomers Welcome
2022-10-19 17:30 - 19:30 UTC
Community is at the core of everything we do, and Writers Wednesday is the perfect place to strengthen that. Writers Wednesday brings together writers of every experience level and genre in a casual atmosphere to connect, laugh, and revel in a well-deserved break. While hosting this program online, we create rotating, intimate groups of 3-5 people in breakout rooms, to allow attendees to have manageable conversations with others. And, JRW staff is always on hand to answer any questions you may have about James River Writers, or writing in general. This is a great entry point for those that are new to the James River Writers community. Plan to join us! Drop in as your schedule permits, anytime between 5:30 – 7:30 pm, or stay the duration.
SPECIAL FEATURE: In October, we are including a Newcomers Welcome at the top of the program, before we go into breakout rooms. (If you’re a JRW veteran, you’re welcome to head into breakout rooms right away, or join us closer to 6pm.) We’ll use this time to get folks familiar with JRW programming, membership levels and benefits, and answer any questions you may have about our organization you may have. If you attend the conference earlier in October, this is a great way to plug in with the fabulous writing community you meet there!
Date: October 19, 2022
Time: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Location: Online, in the comfort of your own home. Via the Zoom Platform
Cost: FREE!
Registration closes at midnight, October 18. Your link to join will be emailed to you the morning of the program.
James River Writers is supported in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

SEPTEMBER 2022 ONLINE WRITING SHOW | INDIE PUBLISHING MYTHS: Get the Truth About Self-Publishing
2022-09-20 18:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York)
Bypassing the traditional Big Five (Four?) publishing houses is easier and more profitable than ever, but what can you really expect if you go the self-publishing route? Is it true only certain genres are successful? Can you make it work on a shoestring, or is it more expensive than traditional publishing? Will your book be available in brick-and-mortar stores? Our experts will shed light on the aspects of self-publishing that have been puzzling you. (This Writing Show was originally scheduled in July, but had to be moved to September.)
Speakers: Hollee Freeman, David Kazzie, and Sharvette Mitchell
Date: Tuesday, September 20, 2022
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm Eastern Time
Location: ONLINE, via Zoom
Cost: $12 Members | $17 Non-members | $5 Students
Registration is required and closes at midnight on September 19.
(This Writing Show was originally scheduled in July, but had to be moved to September. If you already registered for the original date in July, and indicated you wanted your registration to be applied to the rescheduled September 20 date, you do not need to do anything further. You are already on our registration list!)
The Writing Show includes a social time from 6:00 pm – 6:45 pm. This portion of the evening is optional. If you choose to only attend the panel discussion, please sign in to Zoom by 6:40 pm to keep from interruption once the panel discussion begins at 6:45pm.
This program is supported in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

SPEAKERS

HOLLEE FREEMAN, Ph.D curates nature-based, educational programs for adults and students which leverage community, creativity and critical thinking. She is the author of eighteen children’s books and has had her academic work published in peer-reviewed books and journals. Hollee has also shared her work around creating space for learning as a TEDx speaker. Through her beekeeping, photography and nature-based experiences, Hollee brings people into a closer relationship with nature, each other and themselves.
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM

DAVID KAZZIE is the author of eight published novels and the creator of a series of viral animated films that were featured in national media. His books have appeared in the Amazon Top 100 charts in the United States and United Kingdom. He lives in Richmond.
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM

SHARVETTE MITCHELL helps high achieving service based women entrepreneurs position their expertise with a polished visual brand, increase visibility with speaking opportunities, build authority with a published book and convert more customers with elevated content marketing. She does this with her signature Platform Builder group coaching program. Sharvette is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing. For over 14 years she has hosted a weekly internet talk radio show – The Sharvette Mitchell Radio Show. She has been seen on CBS 6, The CW Network and featured in publications such as Huffington Post. She is the visionary author of four book collaborations: PROPEL – The Essential Handbook for Emerging Women in Business & Leadership; POUR – The Secret Effects of Serving and Giving in Business & Leadership; PURSUE – Chase Your Goals and Run After Your Passions in Business, Life and Leadership; and the upcoming PEARLS – Wisdom and Advice from Emerging Women Leaders.
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

MODERATOR
A veteran of the armed forces, educator, and prolific writer, REBEKAH PIERCE is a lover of mystery novels that feature protagonists fight their personal demons as they save the day. She is the author of two historic fiction novels, Murder on Second Street and The Secret Life of Lucy Bosman. In February 2019, Rebekah released, I Love Me More, her memoir on the freeing power of self-love. She bakes cupcakes and cookies too!
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

ONLINE WRITERS WEDNESDAY September 2022 - Socialize & Network
2022-09-14 17:30 - 19:30 UTC
Community is at the core of everything we do, and Writers Wednesday is the perfect place to strengthen that. Writers Wednesday brings together writers of every experience level and genre in a casual atmosphere to connect, laugh, and revel in a well-deserved break. While hosting this program online, we create rotating, intimate groups of 3-5 people in breakout rooms, to allow attendees to have manageable conversations with others. And, JRW staff is always on hand to answer any questions you may have about James River Writers, or writing in general. This is a great entry point for those that are new to the James River Writers community. Plan to join us!
This is the last Writers Wednesday before the 20th Annual James River Writers Conference. If you have any burning questions about the Conference, this is a great time to get them answered!
Date: September 14, 2022
Time: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Location: Online, in the comfort of your own home. Via the Zoom Platform
Cost: FREE!
Registration closes at midnight, September 13. Your link to join will be emailed to you the morning of the program.
James River Writers is supported in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

AUGUST 2022 ONLINE WRITING SHOW | Voice, Cadence, & Rhythm
2022-08-30 18:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York)
Writers are often urged to get their voice on the page, but what constitutes voice, and how do you capture something that is so hard to nail down? Our panel of experts will share how your language, sentence structure, and even punctuation can add up to an on-page whole that is recognizable to your readers, no matter what you’re writing.
Speakers: Elle Cosimano, Agent Cherise Fisher, and Amber McBride
Moderator: Phil Hilliker
Date: Tuesday, August 30, 2022
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm Eastern Time
Location: Online, in the comfort of your own home. Via the Zoom Platform
Cost: $12 Members | $17 Non-members | $5 Students

Registration closes at midnight August 29; your unique link to join the online Zoom program will be emailed to you the the morning of the Writing Show.
Register Now!

SPEAKERS

ELLE COSIMANO is a USA Today bestselling author, an International Thriller Award winner, a Bram Stoker Award finalist, and an Edgar Award nominee. Elle’s debut novel for adults, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, was a People magazine pick, was named one of New York Public Library’s Best Books of 2021, and has been optioned for TV by 20th Television Studios.
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

CHERISE FISHER began her career in publishing more than 25 years ago. Over the course of her career as an acquiring editor at Simon & Schuster and Editor in Chief of Plume (an imprint of Penguin Random House), she has edited and published several national bestselling and award winning authors. As an agent, she is interested in working with novelists who have multiple compulsively readable yarns in their head (both historical and contemporary), memoirists who showcase the diversity of human experience, and non-fiction writers who seek to provoke, inspire, and educate.
Website

AMBER MCBRIDE teaches English literature at the University of Virginia and has a BA in English and an MFA in Creative Writing from Emerson College. Me (Moth) is her debut novel which was a finalist for the Morris Award and the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. She is the winner of the Coretta Scott King/ John Steptoe Award, McBride lives in Charlottesville, VA.
Twitter | Instagram

MODERATOR

Phillip Hilliker is a creatively restless writer and illustrator with credits spanning many fields and genres. Formerly JRW’s membership coordinator, he is currently a script writer for a video production and marketing firm in central Virginia.
Website

Register Now!
James River Writers is partially supported by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts

ONLINE Master Class: GROWING YOUR AUDIENCE
2022-08-13 09:30 - 23:30 (America/New_York) | Online Class via Zoom, The Comfort of Your Home, VA, United States
How do you create buzz and excitement about your work? How do you get your content in front of new audiences and engage existing ones? This Master Class will help you map out a plan to: create media releases and a master list to send them to; find “sweet spots” for natural collaboration with like-minded organizations and individuals who are also looking to grow their audiences; think outside the box to reach your target readers. We’ll use a template and look at examples to help you find the unique aspects of your writing that allow you to build a story about your work to make connections that draw people in. This class is being taught by community engagement pro and JRW staff member, Brynn Markham, and is being offered at discounted rate!
Date: Saturday, August 13, 2022
Time: 9:30 am – 11:30 am Eastern
Where: In the comfort of your home, via the Zoom platform
$35 Members; $55 Non-members
This Master Class includes:
-The Powerpoint Presentation used during the class
-A 3-Point Action Plan to execute what you’ve learned over a 3-month period
This Master Class is available through April 30, 2023.
Registration closes at midnight, August 11. Master Class details, including the Zoom link to join, will be sent to registrants on Friday, August 12.
PRESENTER:
BRYNN MARKHAM is passionate about making connections to people and organizations in ways that strengthen communities and amplify the talents of its citizens. Prior to joining James River Writers as Director of Programs and Communications, she spearheaded nationally recognized and award-winning campaigns and events in her communications and outreach role at VPM PBS/NPR. The cornerstone of her community engagement work is partnership with nonprofits and arts & culture organizations, allowing for deeper and expanded connection to audiences and added value for all partners involved. Projects she is especially proud of include: PBS The Great American Read; Ken Burns’ The Vietnam War; Great Performances’ Hamilton’s America; PBS KIDS Summer Challenge; and the nation’s largest screening events for series premieres of Downton Abbey two years in a row.
Visit Brynn’s Website

James River Writers is supported in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

ONLINE WRITERS WEDNESDAY August 2022 - Socialize & Network
2022-08-10 17:30 - 19:30 UTC
Community is at the core of everything we do, and Writers Wednesday is the perfect place to strengthen that. Writers Wednesday brings together writers of every experience level and genre in a casual atmosphere to connect, laugh, and revel in a well-deserved break. While hosting this program online, we create rotating, intimate groups of 3-5 people in breakout rooms, to allow attendees to have manageable conversations with others. And, JRW staff is always on hand to answer any questions you may have about James River Writers, or writing in general. This is a great entry point for those that are new to the James River Writers community. Plan to join us!
SPECIAL FEATURE: At the top of the program, we will have a special guest that will be sharing about the upcoming program/contest “America’s Next Great Author!”
Date: August 10, 2022
Time: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Location: Online, in the comfort of your own home. Via the Zoom Platform
Cost: FREE!
Registration closes at midnight, August 9. Your link to join will be emailed to you the morning of the program.
James River Writers is supported in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

ONLINE WRITERS WEDNESDAY July 2022 - Socialize & Network
2022-07-13 17:30 - 19:30 UTC
Community is at the core of everything we do, and Writers Wednesday is the perfect place to strengthen that. Writers Wednesday brings together writers of every experience level and genre in a casual atmosphere to connect, laugh, and revel in a well-deserved break. While hosting this program online, we create rotating, intimate groups of 3-5 people in breakout rooms, to allow attendees to have manageable conversations with others. And, JRW staff is always on hand to answer any questions you may have about James River Writers, or writing in general. This is a great entry point for those that are new to the James River Writers community. Plan to join us!
SPECIAL FEATURE: At the top of the program, we will be providing a preview of the upcoming 20th Annual James River Writers Conference!
Date: Wednesday, July 13, 2022
Time: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Location: Online, in the comfort of your own home. Via the Zoom Platform
Cost: FREE!
Registration closes at midnight, July 12. Your link to join will be emailed to you the morning of the program.
James River Writers is supported in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

ONLINE Master Class: CONTENT IS KING! Author Websites & Newsletters
2022-07-09 09:30 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | Online Class via Zoom, The Comfort of Your Home, VA, United States
We often hear advice from the JRW stage that authors need websites and newsletters so that they can build and own their customer lists without being at the mercy of social media glitches or whims. But with thousands of ways to consume author content, how do you create work that stands out and draws your audience in? What can you share that is unique that no one else can? This Master Class will help you discover what you do better than anyone and how to best connect with your audience. (Please note, this class is about content. We won’t be discussing the mechanics of choosing, building, or maintaining websites or newsletters.)
Date: Saturday, July 9, 2022
Time: 9:30 am – 11:30 am Eastern
Where: In the comfort of your home, via the Zoom platform
Cost: $45 Members; $65 Non-members

Registration closes at midnight, July 7. Master Class details, including the Zoom link to join, will be sent to registrants on Friday, July 8.

Special Offer at Registration: Order Karen’s newest book, Brand the Author (Not the Book) at the special price of only $15, including shipping.

PRESENTER:
KAREN A. CHASE is an author, speaker, and brand designer. For nearly three decades Karen has worked as a professional designer creating brands for national and international organizations, non-profits, and authors. She published her first book in 2011, and Carrying Independence—historical fiction—in 2019. Her latest is a workbook for writers, called Brand the Author (Not the Book).
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

James River Writers is supported in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

JUNE 2022 ONLINE WRITING SHOW | Common Writing Mistakes
2022-06-28 18:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York)
Show don’t tell. Avoid adverbs. Get action on the page, but not too soon. Introduce your characters, but don’t dump exposition. This dynamic duo (and real life husband/wife team!) examines the most common writing mistakes we often hear about—whether they’re really important, and how to avoid the most critical ones. Come get the scoop from an editor and an agent on putting your best foot forward.
Speakers: Editor Molly Cusick and Agent John Cusick
Moderator: Rosa Castellano
Date: Tuesday, June 28, 2022
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm Eastern Time
Location: Online, in the comfort of your own home. Via the Zoom Platform
Cost: $12 Members | $17 Non-members | $5 Students
Registration closes at midnight June 27; your unique link to join the online Zoom program will be emailed to you the the morning of the Writing Show.
Register Now!

MODERATOR

ROSA CASTELLANO
Rosa Castellano is a writer and teacher whose work has been supported with a year-long fellowship from the Visual Arts Center of Richmond and by Tin House. She received an MFA in poetry from Virginia Commonwealth University and in 2021 was a finalist for Cave Canem’s Starshine and Clay Fellowship. Her work can be found or is forth coming at the South Hampton Review, Alternating Current Press and EcoTheo Review.

SPEAKERS

JOHN CUSICK
John Cusick is a literary agent and Senior Vice President at Folio Literary, representing award-winning and bestselling authors of middle-grade, young adult, and adult fiction. He is also the author of several books, including most recently Dimension Why: How to Save the Universe Without Really Trying (Harper Children’s).
Twitter

MOLLY CUSICK
Molly Cusick is Vice President of Acquisitions at International Literary Properties where she is pursuing new print, e-book, and subsidiary rights deals, as well as developing literary brands to increase global consumer awareness and drive sales. She has worked in the publishing industry for a decade, previously as an editor at US publisher Sourcebooks, a senior literary scout, and a literary agent and co-director of international rights at a leading US literary agency.
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James River Writers is partially supported by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts

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ONLINE WRITERS WEDNESDAY June 2022 - Socialize & Network
2022-06-08 08:00 - 17:00 UTC
Community is at the core of everything we do, and Writers Wednesday is the perfect place to strengthen that. Writers Wednesday brings together writers of every experience level and genre in a casual atmosphere to connect, laugh, and revel in a well-deserved break. While hosting this program online, we create rotating, intimate groups of 3-5 people in breakout rooms, to allow attendees to have manageable conversations with others. And, JRW staff is always on hand to answer any questions you may have about James River Writers, or writing in general. This is a great entry point for those that are new to the James River Writers community. Plan to join us!
Date: Wednesday, June 8, 2022
Time: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Location: Online, in the comfort of your own home. Via the Zoom Platform
Cost: FREE!
Registration closes at midnight, June 7. Your link to join will be emailed to you the morning of the program.
This program is supported [in part] by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

THE ROLE OF LOCAL JOURNALISM IN A HEALTHY DEMOCRACY: An Advocacy Panel Discussion
2022-05-24 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York)
As local news sources decline nationwide, a growing proportion of Americans are getting their news via social media and online platforms. Our panel will discuss the importance of a robust network of local journalism to maintain an informed population that contributes to a healthy democracy. Expert panelists include a Pulitzer Prize-winning local journalist, a professor of journalism that specializes in media bias and disinformation, and a communications specialist representing the Institute for Nonprofit News. Join us as they share their knowledge and expertise about the crucial role of local media in breaking stories that resonate with their communities, build trust in journalism as a whole, and connect national news stories at a local level that helps bring humanity and relevance to the headlines.
Panelists: Sharene Azimi, Dr. Mallory Perryman, Michael Paul Williams
Moderator: Roben Farzad

When: Tuesday, May 24 | 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm Eastern | Online via Zoom
Cost: $5 registration fee will be donated to the The Institute for Nonprofit News
Location: Online, in the comfort of your own home. Via the Zoom Platform
Registration closes at midnight, on May 23. The link to join will be emailed to you the the morning of the program.
Register Now

PANELISTS:

As communications director at Institute for Nonprofit News (INN), Sharene Azimi promotes the work of the INN network to funders, partners and other external audiences while bringing INN members’ news and resources from the field of public service journalism. She edits the weekly INNovation newsletter and oversees all of INN’s communications channels. Prior to joining INN in 2020, Sharene spent a decade as founder and principal of Mission Communications, providing organizational strategy, branding, communications planning, and marketing services to non-profits, universities, and foundations. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University.
Website | Blog | Twitter

Mallory Perryman (Ph.D., Wisconsin-Madison) is an assistant professor of broadcast journalism in the Robertson School of Media and Culture at Virginia Commonwealth University. Her research focuses on public trust in news with an emphasis on perceptions of media bias. She is the author of Mediated Democracy: Politics, the News, and Citizenship in the 21st Century, in addition to dozens of academic studies examining why Americans (dis)trust the press. A former TV news producer at KOMU-8 and Newsy, Perryman teaches broadcast journalism courses at VCU.
Twitter

Michael Paul Williams is a metro columnist whose opinion pieces appear on the Op-Ed page of the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Williams, a Richmond native, is a graduate of Virginia Union University and Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. He has won Virginia Press Association awards for column writing in 1992, 1994, 2007 and 2014. During 1999-2000, he was one of two dozen U.S. and international journalists awarded a Nieman Fellowship at Harvard University. And in 2021, he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary “for penetrating and historically insightful columns that guided Richmond, the former capital of the Confederacy, through the painful and complicated process of dismantling the city’s monuments to white supremacy.” He was the 2010 recipient of the George Mason Award for outstanding contributions to Virginia journalism, given by the Virginia Pro Chapter of the Society for Professional Journalists. This was the same year that readers of Richmond Magazine voted him as “best local columnist” — 16 years after he was their choice as the “Local Newspaper Columnist Who Makes You Want to Tear Up the Paper.” Williams is proud of both awards. He has also received a 2012 Humanitarian Award from the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities and the 2014 Will Rogers Humanitarian Award from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists — the latter for work that has positively affected readers’ lives and produced tangible benefits for the community.
Website | Twitter | Instagram

MODERATOR:

Roben Farzad hosts Full Disclosure on public radio. He regularly appears on MSNBC, NPR, and C-SPAN and is the author of Hotel Scarface: Where Cocaine Cowboys Partied and Plotted to Control Miami. He is a graduate of Princeton and the Harvard Business School.
Website | Twitter | Instagram

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About the Institute for Nonprofit News:
The Institute for Nonprofit News strengthens and supports more than 360 independent news organizations in a new kind of news network: nonprofit, nonpartisan and dedicated to public service. From local news to in-depth reporting on pressing global issues, INN’s members tell stories that otherwise would go untold – connecting communities, holding the powerful accountable and strengthening democracy. INN programs help these news organizations develop revenue and business models to support strong reporting, collaborate on editorial and business innovation, share services and advance the diverse leaders who are forging a new future for news.

ONLINE WRITERS WEDNESDAY May 2022 - Socialize & Network
2022-05-11 17:30 - 19:30 UTC
Community is at the core of everything we do, and Writers Wednesday is the perfect place to strengthen that. Writers Wednesday brings together writers of every experience level and genre in a casual atmosphere to connect, laugh, and revel in a well-deserved break. While hosting this program online, we create rotating, intimate groups of 3-5 people in breakout rooms, to allow attendees to have manageable conversations with others. And, JRW staff is always on hand to answer any questions you may have about James River Writers, or writing in general. This is a great entry point for those that are new to the James River Writers community. Plan to join us!
SPECIAL FEATURE: At the top of the program, Ryan Zee from PLOTTR will join us for 10-15 minutes to share about this online tool that helps writers craft better stories in less time. JRW members enjoy a 10% discount off the PLOTTR platform, one of many membership benefits!
Date: Wednesday, May 11, 2022
Time: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Location: Online, in the comfort of your own home. Via the Zoom Platform
Cost: FREE!
This program is supported [in part] by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

APRIL 2022 IN-PERSON WRITING SHOW | Buyer Beware: Deciphering the Costs of the Business of Writing
2022-04-26 18:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York)
JRW IS PLEASED TO HOST THIS WRITING SHOW IN-PERSON AT THE FIREHOUSE THEATRE IN RVA!
There are as many different services writers can pay for as there are ways of getting your writing in front of your audience. What’s worth the expenditure, and what are the red flags? If it’s worth it to pay for editing, graphic design, illustration, and formatting, how much is too much? If you pay for any part of your work’s publication, how soon (if ever) will you recoup those costs? Come talk nuts and bolts and nickels and dimes with our experts.
Speakers: Karen A. Chase, JC Kang, and Kristi Tuck Austin
Moderator: Dr. DaNika Neblett Robinson
Date: Tuesday, April 26, 2022
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm Eastern Time
Location: IN-PERSON! Firehouse Theatre | 1609 W Broad St, Richmond, VA 23220
Cost: $12 Members | $17 Non-members | $5 Students
Registration is required and closes at midnight on April 25, or when capacity is reached. We will not be taking walk-ins at the door.
Proof of COVID vaccination at time of registration is required for all in attendance. Masks are strongly encouraged when guests are not eating or drinking.
The Writing Show includes a social time, allowing for purchases of food and drink from 6:00 pm – 6:45 pm. This portion of the evening is optional. If you choose to only attend the panel discussion, please arrive by 6:30 pm to allow time to find your seat before the program begins.
Free street parking is available on either side of Broad Street between Lombardy and Allen, and along Lombardy between Grace and Broad. You may also park in the Lowe’s lot across the street from Firehouse. Please allow for enough time to find parking and then make your way to the theatre. Additional details HERE.
Register Now!

This program is supported [in part] by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

SPEAKERS

KAREN A. CHASE
Karen A. Chase is an author, speaker, and brand designer. For nearly three decades Karen has worked as a professional designer creating brands for national and international organizations, non-profits, and authors. She published her first book in 2011, and Carrying Independence—historical fiction—in 2019. Her latest is a workbook for writers called Brand the Author (Not the Book).
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

JC KANG
JC Kang’s unhealthy obsession with Fantasy and Sci-Fi began at an early age when his brother introduced him to The Chronicles of Narnia, Star Trek, and Star Wars. As an adult, he combines his geek roots with his professional experiences as a Chinese Medicine doctor, martial arts instructor, and technical writer to pen epic fantasy stories. His Legends of Tivara series has sold 85,000 copies.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

KRISTI TUCK AUSTIN
Kristi Tuck Austin waded through New York City sewers, ran from trains, and slid through a water pipe to the Harlem River while researching her novels. She’s celebrated Thanksgiving in the Paris catacombs, wading (again) and dining by candlelight. In her daily life, which is dry and aboveground, she’s founder of Tuck Austin Associates, which helps authors increase their books’ discoverability, build their platforms, and turn new readers into loyal fans.
Website | Twitter

MODERATOR
DR. DANIKA NEBLETT ROBINSON
DaNika Neblett Robinson is the author of The Metamorphic Journey, a novella that explores three teenage mothers’ quest to succeed. This fictional work is based on her experiences of becoming a teen mom, first-generation college student, and ultimately the recipient of multiple academic degrees, including master’s and doctoral degrees. The Metamorphic Journey is also the name of a movement that DaNika founded to foster individuals’ personal growth. Additionally, she is the founder of Wailing Women Ministries, a nonprofit organization that provides book scholarships to female high school seniors. DaNika is a higher education administrator and expert in transformational leadership who speaks widely about the benefits of diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, justice, and leadership in the workplace. She also coauthored an anthology, On Womanhood: Connecting and Thriving in Every Season, featuring personal essays penned by women ages 21 to 72.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Register Now!

WRITERS WEDNESDAY IN-PERSON April 2022
2022-04-13 17:30 - 19:30 UTC
James River Writers is excited to host this month’s Writers Wednesday IN-PERSON at Hardywood West Creek, in RVA. Community is at the core of everything we do, and Writers Wednesday is the perfect place to strengthen that. Writers Wednesday brings together writers of every experience level and genre in a casual atmosphere to connect, laugh, and revel in a well-deserved break. JRW staff will be in attendance to answer any questions you may have about James River Writers, or writing in general. This is a great entry point for those that are new to the James River Writers community. Plan to join us! We will be waiting for you outside, in the patio area, weather permitting. Otherwise, we will make our way inside. Ample parking is available on site. More about Hardywood West Creek HERE.
Date: Wednesday, April 13, 2022
Time: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Location: IN-PERSON at Hardywood West Creek | 820 Sanctuary Trail Dr
Richmond, VA 23238
Cost: FREE!
Registration is required. Masks are optional at this venue.
This program is supported [in part] by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

ONLINE Master Class | QueryPalooza!
2022-03-19 09:30 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Online Class via Zoom, The Comfort of Your Home, VA, United States

WRITERS WEDNESDAY March 2022 - Socialize & Network
2022-03-09 17:30 - 19:30 UTC
Community is at the core of everything we do, and Writers Wednesday is the perfect place to strengthen that. Writers Wednesday brings together writers of every experience level and genre in a casual atmosphere to connect, laugh, and revel in a well-deserved break. While hosting this program online, we create rotating, intimate groups of 3-5 people in breakout rooms, to allow attendees to have manageable conversations with others. And, JRW staff is always on hand to answer any questions you may have about James River Writers, or writing in general. This is a great entry point for those that are new to the James River Writers community. Plan to join us!
(Please note that the Newcomers Welcome component originally scheduled for March has been rescheduled to April.)
Date: Wednesday, March 9, 2022
Time: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Location: Online, in the comfort of your own home. Via the Zoom Platform
Cost: FREE!

This project was supported [in part] by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

FEBRUARY 2022 ONLINE WRITING SHOW - Using Fewer Words for Bigger Impact
2022-02-22 18:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York)
James River Writers is proud to collaborate with the Virginia Screenwriters Forum to bring you this special Writing Show. Economy of words is essential for screenplays, stage plays, and poetry, and it can enhance the readability of other fiction and non-fiction works as well. This conversation brings panelists together who regularly choose fewer words for deeper impact—including writers from the screenwriting, microfiction, and poetry communities—to answer your questions about getting the most bang for your writing buck.
Speakers: Brenda Peynado, Franklin jin Rho, Ran Walker
Moderator: Terry Menefee Gau
Date: Tuesday, February 22, 2022
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm Eastern Time
Location: Online, in the comfort of your own home. Via the Zoom Platform
Cost: $12 Members | $17 Non-members | $5 Students
This Writing Show is a special collaboration with

Registration closes at midnight on February 21; your unique link to join the online Zoom program will be emailed to you the the morning of the Writing Show.
REGISTER NOW

SPEAKERS

BRENDA PEYNADO
Brenda Peynado’s genre-bending short story collection, The Rock Eaters—featuring alien arrivals, angels falling from rooftops, virtual reality, and sorrows manifesting as tumorous stones—was listed as one of the New York Public Library’s ten best books of 2021 and NPR’s best books of 2021. Her stories have won an O. Henry Prize, a Pushcart Prize, Chicago Tribune‘s Nelson Algren Award, and inclusion in The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy. She teaches creative writing at the University of Houston.
Website brendapeynado.com | Twitter @brendapeynado

FRANKLIN JIN RHO
Currently a co-producer on an upcoming WB / Netflix series, Incarnate, Franklin was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. Present projects in development include Han, an international corporate tech thriller, and The Beautiful South, a series set in Appalachia developed through the Rideback / MRC TV Incubator. A graduate of William and Mary and the American Film Institute, Franklin’s writing credits include Pachinko, The Exorcist and Swamp Thing. For funsies, he mountain bikes, coaches Ultimate frisbee and soccer, and plays video games with his daughter.
Twitter @franklinrho

RAN WALKER
Ran Walker is the author of twenty-four books. He is the winner of the Indie Author Project’s 2019 Indie Author of the Year Award, the 2019 Black Caucus of the ALA Fiction Ebook Award, the 2018 Virginia Author Project Award for Adult Fiction, and the 2021 Blind Corner Afrofuturism Microfiction Award. He teaches creative writing at Hampton University and at Writer’s Digest University and lives with his wife and daughter in Virginia.
Website ranwalker.com | Twitter @ranwalker

MODERATOR
TERRY MENEFEE GAU
Terry Menefee Gau is an accomplished actor & writer, as well as a non-profit professional for the past twenty years. She has a varied theatre and film resume, spanning over twenty-five years as an actor, producer, writer, and director. Terry is a proud member of the Virginia Screenwriters Forum and has several award-winning scripts under her belt. She also works at VPM as an events manager in Community Engagement. Terry received her M.Div. and MACE from Union Presbyterian Seminary, focusing in Narrative and Film Theology, and she has a B.S. in Mathematics from James Madison University. She loves the dichotomy of art and logic, spirit and reason.
Twitter @TerryGau
REGISTER NOW

WRITERS WEDNESDAY February 2022 - Critique Partners Speed Dating (Special Edition!)
2022-02-09 17:30 - 19:30 UTC
YOU ASKED; WE’RE ANSWERING! One of the most frequently asked questions we get from writers is “How can I find a good critique partner?” While our best answer is always to plug into a writing community (like JRW!) and see who you feel most connected to and are able to develop a good relationship with, we do know that we all sometimes need prompting! To start the ball rolling, we are hosting JRWs first ever “CRITIQUE PARTNERS SPEED DATING” event during our February Writers Wednesday. We will split folks up into groups of two, using breakout rooms, where you’ll have the opportunity to talk with as many folks, one-on-one, as time allows. Every five minutes, we will change partners, giving you the opportunity to ask your own questions, or use prompts that we will provide that we hope will help you. Before breakout rooms begin, we’ll give you some pointers and explain what, exactly, a critique partner is, and what different roles they can play in your writing journey. As always, JRW staff will be on hand to answer any questions you may have about James River Writers, or writing in general. For those of you that want to come and enjoy the traditional socializing and networking of Writers Wednesday, you can stay with the JRW staff and chat, or we will create a separate breakout room for those of you that do not wish to participate in the critique partners speed dating. Plan to join us!
Date: Wednesday, February 9, 2022
Time: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Location: Online, in the comfort of your own home. Via the Zoom Platform
Cost: FREE!
Registration closes at midnight, February 8.
Link to join will be sent to registrants the morning of the program.

JANUARY 2022 ONLINE WRITING SHOW - Get Out of That Rut!
2022-01-25 18:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York)
How can you shake up your writing practices for 2022 and make the most of your available time and creativity? Whether it’s jumpstarting your ideas with smaller pieces, trying a new genre, getting an accountability partner, or bribing yourself with chocolate, tips from our experts will get you ready to tackle your writing projects.
Speakers: Rachel Douglas, Derek Kannemeyer, Noah Scalin
Moderator: Melissa Scott Sinclair
Date: Tuesday, January 25, 2022
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm Eastern Time
Location: Online, in the comfort of your own home. Via the Zoom Platform
Price: $12 Members | $17 Non-members | $5 Students
Registration closes at midnight on January 24; your unique link to join the online Zoom program will be emailed to you the the morning of the Writing Show.
Sign Up for the JRW enewsletter to be among the first to receive updates about our programming.

WRITERS WEDNESDAY January 2022 - Socialize & Network
2022-01-12 17:30 - 19:30 UTC
Celebrate the New Year with us, marking 20 years of James River Writers! We invite you to share your writing goals for the year, to help keep on track and inspired. Of course, this is completely optional. Community is at the core of everything we do, and Writers Wednesday is the perfect place to strengthen that. Writers Wednesday brings together writers of every experience level and genre in a casual atmosphere to connect, laugh, and revel in a well-deserved break. While hosting this program online, we create rotating, intimate groups of 3-5 people in breakout rooms, to allow attendees to have manageable conversations with others. And, JRW staff is always on hand to answer any questions you may have about James River Writers, or writing in general. This is a great entry point for those that are new to the James River Writers community. Plan to join us!
Date: Wednesday, January 12, 2022
Time: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Location: Online, in the comfort of your own home. Via the Zoom Platform
Cost: FREE!

2022 Best Self-Published Novel Contest
2022-01-10 05:00 - 2022-03-15 23:59 (America/New_York)
The Best Self-Published Novel Contest opens on January 10 and goes through March 15, 2022.
James River Writers and Richmond magazine recognize the writing talents and entrepreneurial skills of indie authors by continuing The Best Self-Published Novel Contest, which we started in 2014. One first-prize winner will receive $500 and a ticket to the 20th Annual James River Writers Conference (valued at $300). The winner is announced in the fall issue of Richmond magazine, at the conference in October, and through JRWs social media platforms and newsletters.
Let’s see what you’ve got!
