The Writers’ Studio has three things on the calendar that you definitely won’t want to miss. There’s a low-key night to talk comps with local booksellers, a spooky short-story contest with real cash on the line, and a signature conference for genre fiction writers that’s filling fast!

Comps Night

Saturday, Sept. 19, 6:30 – 8:30 PM: Sit down with local booksellers and talk through comparable titles for your manuscript, or just walk away with your next great read. It’s a relaxed, low-pressure way to get expert input on where your work fits on the shelf.

The Dark & Stormy Short-Story Contest

Submit your entry by Sept. 30 →

This year’s theme is “Haunted Objects,” and the prize is $200 cash plus more. Entry is free, so if you’ve got a haunted-object story rattling around, now’s the time to finish it. Then join us in person to hear the results at It Was a Dark & Stormy Night, a spooky story reading on Saturday, Oct. 24, 7 – 9 PM.

Story Island Writers’ Conference

Friday – Sunday, Nov. 13-15: Aspiring genre fiction writers can level up their craft, demystify publishing, and build community over three days with fellow writers. Registration is already more than half full, so if this has been on your someday list, today’s a good day to make it real.

In the Community

Bainbridge Island Book Festival

Friday – Saturday, Sept. 25-26: Now in its third year, the Bainbridge Island Book Festival brings 24 authors to town for two days of panels, readings, and conversation. The headline event pairs keynote author Edwidge Danticat, a MacArthur fellow and New York Times bestselling novelist, with Seattle Times arts critic Moira Macdonald for a conversation about her new novel. Saturday’s full slate of author events is free and open to the public at three venues within a couple of blocks of downtown Winslow; Friday’s keynote gala requires a ticket. Learn more and get tickets at bainbridgeislandbookfestival.org.

Classes We Think You’ll Love

Community Class: Write the Letter You Won’t Send

Monday, Sept. 21, 6:30 – 8 PM: Write a raw, no-holds-barred letter to a person, a place, or a version of yourself, and use it to unlock material you didn’t know was there. This community class is about catharsis on the page, not perfection. All you need is something you’ve been meaning to say.

Conversation With Purpose: Making Dialogue Count

Saturday, Sept. 12, 10 AM – 12 PM: Learn to write dialogue that reveals character and moves your story forward, rather than just filling space on the page. You’ll look at what makes conversation ring true, and what to cut. Great for fiction and memoir writers alike.

Community Roundtable: Indie Publishing

Tuesday, Sept. 15, 6:30 – 8 PM: Hear firsthand from writers who’ve gone the indie route about what worked, what didn’t, and what they wish they’d known sooner. It’s an open, informal conversation, so bring your questions about self-publishing, hybrid deals, or building an audience. No publishing experience required.

Writing Fundamentals: Book Marketing 101

Wednesday, Sept. 23, 3:30 – 5:30 PM: Get a practical rundown of what it actually takes to market a book today, from building an author platform to planning a launch. This class is built for writers who’d rather spend their time writing than guessing at marketing. Come with a project in mind, finished or not.

Read Like a Writer: Writers’ Studio Book Club

Thursday, Oct. 1, 6:30 – 8 PM: Read like a writer, not just a reader, and pick apart what makes a book work from the inside. Each meeting looks at craft choices in the group’s current read, from structure to voice. New members are always welcome, no matter where you are in the book.

Quick Picks

Writers’ Studio Critique Group
Wednesday, Sept. 2, 6:30 – 8:30 PM (meets monthly)

Community Class: Reading Poetry to Enrich Your Own Writing
Tuesday, Sept. 15, 4 – 5 PM

Weekly Free Write-Ins
Write Now Tuesdays and Thursdays on Zoom, plus Night Writers: Online Sprint Group. All free, ongoing, and open to drop in. See the catalog for upcoming dates.

Community Journaling Meetup
Thursdays, 10 – 11:30 AM, free and open to drop in.

Writers’ Studio Orientation
Tuesday, Oct. 13, 6 – 6:30 PM (meets monthly)

Questions or suggestions for the studio? Contact writers.lead@bainbridgebarn.org