Colorado, Wyoming (Rocky Mountain) Regional events

Nonfiction Connect: Nonfiction Classifications, How Might They Help Your Project?

When: Thursday, August 27, 6:30-8:00pm (please note new date)* Where: Zoom We are happy to announce the official re-boot of our RMC Nonfiction Connect! We’ll begin by examining Melissa Stewart’s nonfiction categories: browsable, active, traditional, expository, and narrative. We’ll follow with an open-ended discussion, beginning with the question: once a writer understands the different types and is able to classify their current project, how might this be helpful for the project’s success? RSVP here: https://scbwi.zoom.us/meeting/register/eK1UEJuJTCubqJeePwreug#/registration. Contact the NF Connect Team, Christy Macdonald or Amy Law here: [email protected]. *Meeting moved from Tuesday to Thursday

Western Slope Connect (with guests from the Self-Publishing Connect Group)

When: Saturday, August 29, 10:00am-12noon Where: On Zoom (link will be sent to those who RSVP) Are you wondering if self-publishing could be right for one (or all) of your manuscripts? Do you have questions you wish you could ask someone who’s done it? Some members of the Self-Publishing Connect group have volunteered to come to our Western Slope Connect, share what they “wish they knew then that they know now” and answer questions. After the conversation, if there’s time, we will do a few critiques. If you are interested, please send up to 650 words of your manuscript to [email protected]. Please RSVP if you plan to attend so that your name will be on the list to get the Zoom link a few days prior.

Colorado Springs Connect & Critique: Author Newsletters

When: Sunday, Sept 13, 1:30-4:30pm Where: Fire Station 19 (on Research, between Lexington and Chapel Hills) Debut creator (who is newly agented--congrats!) Maria Kim shares the what, why, and how of author newsletters.  Remaining Time: Critiques. If interested, bring 8-10 copies of your work in progress (up to 5 pages or 1500 words) to share.

WY Connect: Craft Talk

When: Wednesday, September 16, 5:30-6:30pm Where: Zoom Join us as we resume our community after every one hopefully had a fun summer off. We'll talk about the craft book we selected last spring, WRITING PICTURE BOOKS, by Ann Whitford Paul, and discussing plans for upcoming meetings. Any extra time, we can do critiques. For questions and the Zoom link, contact Karen Lee Boardman, [email protected].

Boulder Connect: Archive Deep Dive - Historical Research Skills to Enrich Your Writing

When: Saturday, September 19, 10:00am-12noon Where: Carnegie Library for Local History, 1125 Pine Street, Boulder, CO Learn about the Carnegie Library for Local History archival collections and how to use them for your historical research. General information about conducting historical research in archives, as well as highlights from the Carnegie Library’s collections, will be discussed. Such source material is excellent for filling in details about life at different times in history. Social time will follow at local coffee spots. Space for 20 participants. Email [email protected] with questions. Please RSVP here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScP5HvnQ8-5XdMmIBwYzGdTdNonmTl5VKKKZbza5Ql7NuK5gA/viewform.

NoCo Connect: Wassup, Pitches?

When: Monday, September 21, 5:45-7:45pm Where: Council Tree Library/Large Meeting Room, 4616 S. Shields Street Fort Collins, CO (Council Tree Library is located in Front Range Village Shopping center, on the second floor. The branch is accessible both by stairs and elevator.) Does writing pitches and query letters make you wanna tear your hair out? We all struggle! Join us as we briefly discuss and analyze existing pitches from current books, then we’ll look at pitches for our own work and explore how to improve them: for query letters, flap copy, and other promotional purposes - even as a guide to focus on your own story! *This is the last in-person NoCO Connect this year!

Novel Connect: Be Prepared—What to Say When Your Mind Goes Blank During Your Conference Critique

When: Saturday, September 26, 10:30am-12:00Noon Where: Broomfield Library, Eisenhower Room Join us for a roundtable discussion of how to best prepare for our upcoming RMC Letters & Lines critiques. Bring any questions you may have, insights from past critique successes and misses, and old conference critiques if you have them to share. Register in advance here. Contact Tiffany Painter or Kelly Kandra Hughes at [email protected].

Letters & Lines 2026

Book Birthday Bash 2026

The Book Birthday Bash is an event at the 2026 Letters & Lines Conference: Saturday, October 7 (5:30-6:45pm) at the Green Center at Colorado School of Mines. We will celebrate new releases of RMC PAL and self-published members from the previous year. Dessert will be served. IF YOU ARE REGISTERED FOR THE CONFERENCE, YOU DO NOT NEED TO PURCHASE A TICKET HERE; THE BOOK BIRTHDAY BASH IS INCLUDED IN YOUR REGISTRATION. However, if you are a PAL or self-published RMC member with a new book out in the year since the last conference and you are NOT attending Letters & Lines, you WILL need to purchase a ticket here to attend the Book Birthday Bash.

Colorado Springs Connect & Critique: Conference Takeaways

When: Sunday, Oct 18, 1:30-4:30pm Where: Fire Station 19 (on Research, between Lexington and Chapel Hills) It's our post-conference wrap-up session. Come ready to share your big take-aways from this year's Letters & Lines conference. Remaining Time: Critiques. If interested, bring 8-10 copies of your work in progress (up to 5 pages or 1500 words) to share.

Nonfiction Connect: Middle Grade Nonfiction

When: Tuesday, October 20, 6:30-8:00pm Where: Zoom We’ll begin with a brief overview of recently published MG nonfiction and how to categorize it (hint: natural disasters feature prominently!). Come ready to share the MG titles that you have heard of. We’ll then discuss and brainstorm about how you might find your next MG NF project. RSVP here: https://scbwi.zoom.us/meeting/register/vDkX3vKdQ5-0dwNiOM5knw#/registration Contact the NF Connect Team, Christy Macdonald or Amy Law here: [email protected].

Metro Denver Connect: Plot Doctoring with author/Illustrator Anna-Maria Crum

When: Saturday, November 7, 2:00-3:00pm Where: Zoom No hook in your inciting incident? Saggy middle? Climax a dud? Come to this Plot Doctoring session with award-winning author/illustrator Anna-Maria Crum and see how to fix your story problems. Participants will learn what every plot needs and how to diagnose problems. We'll go over the three act structure and scene sequel, and why they are essential to creating an exciting, cohesive, and fulfilling story. Register here to receive an emailed zoom link: https://scbwi.zoom.us/meeting/register/kZOPCDYZTa6WBViGiBDg6w#/registration Be sure to save the email (though we'll try and resend it a couple days beforehand as well).  Questions: Contact Stacey Simmons or Jenny Crooks-Johnson at [email protected].