Wordcraft – Winter is the new spring for literature

So many literary events coming up, especially in North Texas, I can’t wait for the new year to start announcing them. Here’s a list of upcoming contests, conferences, and readings, in order of urgency. I’ll post more later in the year, once spring really arrives. . .

image:wikimedia commons

December 16-18, 2016: Here’s one for us bloggers! From DL Hammons, the guy who brought you the WRiTE CLUB writing challenge, it’s Déjà vu Blogfest. Sign up at his site. Then during the weekend of December 16-18, re-post your favorite blog offering from earlier in the year, or one that you believe failed to receive the exposure it deserved. No fee, no writing required!

December 31, 2016: The final “Dear Lucky Agent” contests of 2016 from Writer’s Digest blogger Chuck Sambuchino focus on memoirs and historical fiction. All they cost are two mentions in any form of social media. See the sites for rules and sample wording for your social media mentions, using this TinyURL for historical fiction and this for memoirs.

January 1-June 1, 2017: Moonlight Mesa Associates’ Cowboy Up contest is back, with this year’s entries including both fiction and nonfiction. Fee: $25. Cash prizes. See site for details.

January 10, 2017: Authors LIVE! Presents a conversation with four great Texas writers, H.W. Brands, Stephen Harrington, S.C. Gwynne, and Lawrence Wright, at 7 p.m. in Wesley Hall of Highland ParkUnited Methodist Church, 3300 Mockingbird Lane, in Dallas. Free. No registration required. Some books will be available for sale and signing afterward. Sponsored by Friends of the Highland Park Library, Friends of the SMU Library, and Highland Park United Methodist Church.

January 12, 2017: The Writer’s League of Texas opens its 2017 season of Texas Writes – programs for rural libraries, in Edna, Texas. I’ll mention some later in my home region of East Texas, but see the site for complete schedule and details.

artist: van Gogh

January 14, 2017: Dallas Museum of Art opens its 26^th season of Arts & Letters Live with the appearance of Zadie Smith, discussing her new novel, Swing Time. In the DMA’s Horchow Auditorium, 7:30 p.m. $40 for the public, $37 for DMA members, students and educators. All tickets include a hardback copy of the book.

January 15, 2017: Closing date for the Writer’s League of Texas manuscript contest. Submit your first 10 pages plus synopsis for chances to have your work professionally critiqued and meet with a literary agent of your genre. Cost: $55 for WLT members, $65 for nonmembers. See the site  for details.

February 4, 2017: Writers’ League of Texas presents “Texas Writes” program at Mt. Enterprise Library, 201 NW 2^nd St., Mt. Enterprise, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Pre-register at 903-822-3532.

February 10-12, 2017: ConDFW, a literary science fiction and fantasy convention, at Radisson Fossil Creek hotel, 2540 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth. Adult 3-day memberships $40 through January 31. Single day and children’s memberships also available. This year’s author guest of honor: Rachel Caine (Morganville Vampires).

February 16, 2017: Writers’ League of Texas presents “Texas Writes” program at Lillie Russell Memorial Library, 200 E. Hubbard St., Lindale, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Pre-register at 903-822-1900.

February 23, 2017: Highland Park Literary Festival, with guest author Jamie Ford (Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet). Book signing 5-6:15 p.m., Highland Park High School, 4220 Emerson; keynote address by Ford at 7 p.m. in the HPHS Palmer Auditorium. Free and open to the public.

February 28, 2017: Deadline for Writers’ League of Texas Book Awards Contest for books published in 2016. Fee: $40 per title for WLT members, $60 for nonmembers. See the site for details.