Events.
Here's what I'm up to. Let's hook up.
Standing Monkey Meetings
My writing group is called The Infinite Monkeys and they're a great bunch of typewriter smashing Hamlet aspiring authors who don't take themselves too seriously. A rare thing these days, I'd say. It is a chapter of the League of Utah Writers, a venerable organizaiton I used to lead.
Our stated meetings:We meet in person, thanks to the kind support of the Cultural Arts Society of West Jordan. We meet in a cool little cubby of a space here:
7879 South 1530 West #600
West Jordan, Utah 84088
Meetings generally open at 6:30 pm for some chat time, with things kicking off at 7:00 pm and ending at 9:00 pm.
Second Thursday of the month: General business
We'll have a class for the first hour and then critique groups for the last half. Bring 5 copies of 5 pages and get some feedback.
Fourth Thursday of the month: Write In
This is an informal gathering where we get togther and hopefully write something. It's often full of chatting groups. some critiquing, and general networking. Good times.
Our meetings are all open to the public and all are welcome. Come out and meet the gang! Chances are, though no guarantee, I'll be there distrupting what everyone else is trying to do.
THE GAIA CHIME
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Released:
March 11, 2025
Hunter High School FBLA
Tuesday November 18, 2022
2:30-4:00 p.m.
Hunter Hight School
4200 South 5600 West
Salt Lake City, Utah 84120
My annual panel visit to talk to future business leaders about running your own business. I've done that. am doing it. So why not me?
Lifelong Learning - University of Utah
Continuing Education Building
540 Arapeen Drive (Research Park)
Salt Lake City, Utah 84108
Creative Writing 1 (LLWRC 780)
Tuesday Nights (6 sessions)
Jan. 13 - Feb. 17, 2026
6:30-9:00 p.m.
Creative Writing (LLWRC 780): How do we tell stories? What do we include in writing, and what remains unsaid? Build your voice as we focus on a group of specific techniques for shaping and informing your creative skills, including character, plot, point of view, description, dialogue, and setting. In class, we will read short selections of writing to see what techniques we can beg, borrow, and steal from them. We will experiment with in-class writing exercises and read and discuss each other's work. Writing can be inventive, illogical, chaotic, unexpected, strange, and wonderful. In this class, we will practice seeing the world in new ways and then recreating that experience on the page.
Write On Winter Conference 2026
Saturday
January 31, 2026
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Center of Arts at Kayenta
881 N Coyote Gulch Cir
Ivins, UT 84738
2:00 p.m. — Playhouse
The Muddled Middle (don't call it writer's block)
It’s the hardest part. You know the beginning, it flowed like water, you know the end, it’ll be breathtaking, now you just have to write the connecting bit, the eighty percent between the two. No problem, but your Muse is on vacation, another project beckons and there’s little enthusiasm for the next chapter. Could this be writer’s block? This is the muddled middle. Class will explore this terrible phenomenon and offer concrete tools to overcome it and return the writer to the rails.
LTUE
Wednesday-Saturday
February 11-14, 2026
Provo Utah Marriott Hotel
101 W 100 N
Provo, UT 84601
Thursday February 12, 2026
7:00 p.m. — Canyon
The Super-Power of Writing Sprints: Smash Writer’s Block Like a Hero
Pressure, stress, and deadlines—ugly words, but rocket fuel for the creative. The class is lead through several VERY short writing prompts, which break barriers of worry and over-analysis. We will share some of these with each other to show how well the process works. It's a fantastic class to build confidence and teach a new writing tool for struggling writers.
Friday February 13, 2026
7:00 p.m. — Zion
Mass Signing Event
More authors than you can shake a bookmark at will assemble to meet readers and justify their poor life choices. I'll be among them.
Saturday February 14, 2026
5:00 p.m. — Oak
A Study in Mystery
Uncover the truth of this wonderfully modern, strangely formulaic, but eternally popular genre—mystery. We will trace its origins and motives, expose it impact on English literature, and see how it forever changed the modern world. We will scrutinize the techniques, tropes, types, and methods employed in the dastardly deeds, so that we, with clear deduction, can join the rogue gallery of conundrum connoisseurs and weave whodunnits with the best of them.
Lifelong Learning - University of Utah
Continuing Education Building
540 Arapeen Drive (Research Park)
Salt Lake City, Utah 84108
Literary Querying (LLWRC 844)
Saturdays (3 Sessions)
Feb. 21 – Feb. 28, 2026
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Literary Querying (LLWRC 844): So you've written a book. Now what? Approaching the publishing world can be a lonely and daunting task. This class will give you a jump start by providing the knowledge and skill required to navigate the world of agents and publishers. It is recommended (but not necessary) that you bring a finished piece of work you are trying to place. This is a workshop heavy class, where we'll polish your pages and develop a plan to give you the best chance in the great publishing hunt.
Lifelong Learning - University of Utah
Continuing Education Building
540 Arapeen Drive (Research Park)
Salt Lake City, Utah 84108
Creative Writing 2 (LLWRC 825)
Tuesday Nights (6 sessions)
Mar. 3 - Apr. 2, 2026
6:30-9:00 p.m.
Creative Writing 2 (LLWRC 825): Taught in a workshop format, this course will get your creative juices flowing as we expand on topics covered in Creative Writing: voice, tone, point of view and use of tense along with journeying into literary elements such as metaphor and simile, symbolism, structure, and others. This class is a fun way to build and develop the skills in an encouraging and supportive environment. Come prepared to read, write, and talk.
YOU DO NOT NEED TO HAVE TAKEN CREATIVE WRITING TO JOIN THIS CLASS
Lifelong Learning - University of Utah
Continuing Education Building
540 Arapeen Drive (Research Park)
Salt Lake City, Utah 84108
Zen Lessons for Writers (LLWRC 873)
Three Saturdays
Mar. 14 - 28, 2026
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Zen Lessons For Writers (LLWRC 873): Join a published author as he shares his discoveries in Eastern philosophy and their applications to the life of a writer. We will focus on overcoming writer's block, the nature of the Muse, and the nature of the work. This is a class about wellness and art, philosophy and creation, work, success, and existence. Sessions include directed mindfulness meditations, lectures on basic Buddhist concepts, and explorations of how these can be successfully applied to the author's journey. You will experience creative writing, discussions, homework, and camaraderie.
Salt Lake Community Creative Writing Workshop Visit
Salt Lake Community College
Mr. Rex Holiday class
4600 S Redwood Rd
Salt Lake City, UT 84123
Monday, April 6, 2026
2:30-3:50 p.m.
Q & A Session
I think I'm facing a casual long-form question and answer period. I expect the subjects to go wide and be very interesting..
Pikes Peak Writers Conference
Friday-Sunday
April 17-19, 2026
Colorado Springs Doubletree Hotel
1775 East Cheyenne Mountain Blvd.
Colorado Springs, CO, 80906.
Thursday April 17, 2026
7:30-8:30 a.m. — Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge
Morning Meditation and Writer Wellbeing
Join author Johnny Worthen for discoveries in eastern philosophy with their application to the life of an author with its many disappointments. Sessions include directed mindfulness meditation and lecture on concepts that directly speak to the writer’s journey. Classes build upon previous one, but all are welcome to each and all. There’s much to gain. Day one: Basics – the Four Noble Truths and the Eight Fold Noble path Day two: Block – The Five Hindrances and the power of RAIN Day three: Third Person Limited – Non-Identity and the muse Each class meets in the morning before regular programming Though classes are meant as a three day seminar, attendees can come to any of them without prior or later attendance and still get useful information.
2:00-3:00 p.m. — El Paso
The Gooey Guts of Horror
A class about the most visceral genre–HORROR. We'll discuss its evolutionary origins, compare it to its sister genre, then explore it, categorize it and wrestle with it to explore techniques to effectively use horror in our own writing.
Friday April 18, 2026
7:30-8:30 a.m. — Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge
Morning Meditation and Writer Wellbeing
Join author Johnny Worthen for discoveries in eastern philosophy with their application to the life of an author with its many disappointments. Sessions include directed mindfulness meditation and lecture on concepts that directly speak to the writer’s journey. Classes build upon previous one, but all are welcome to each and all. There’s much to gain. Day one: Basics – the Four Noble Truths and the Eight Fold Noble path Day two: Block – The Five Hindrances and the power of RAIN Day three: Third Person Limited – Non-Identity and the muse Each class meets in the morning before regular programming Though classes are meant as a three day seminar, attendees can come to any of them without prior or later attendance and still get useful information.
9:45-12:00 noon — Palmer
The Super Power of Writing Sprints: Smash Writers Block!
(2 hours)For those of us who overthink our writing process, writing sprints can help us break through our writer’s block, self-doubt, and paralyzing perfectionism. In this improv-writing workshop, we’ll use writing sprints (timed writing exercises) to glide right past writer’s block, dive deeply into characters, and more. Bring pen & paper or your laptop, and be prepared to let your mind surprise you with fresh, uninhibited writing.
4:45-5:45p.m. — Douglas
Deeper Reading for Deeper Writing
Consciously or unconsciously meaning is hidden beneath signs and facades in literature, layered in word choice and focus. Through shared reading, discussion and meaning and themes, we will learn to consciously see what our subconscious feels within a text, those elements that unite and undercut, but always elevate craft into art. Once you understand deconstruction, your reading and your writing will never be the same.
Thursday April 19, 2026
8:00-9:00 a.m. — Pikes Peak/Royal Gorge
Morning Meditation and Writer Wellbeing
Join author Johnny Worthen for discoveries in eastern philosophy with their application to the life of an author with its many disappointments. Sessions include directed mindfulness meditation and lecture on concepts that directly speak to the writer’s journey. Classes build upon previous one, but all are welcome to each and all. There’s much to gain. Day one: Basics – the Four Noble Truths and the Eight Fold Noble path Day two: Block – The Five Hindrances and the power of RAIN Day three: Third Person Limited – Non-Identity and the muse Each class meets in the morning before regular programming Though classes are meant as a three day seminar, attendees can come to any of them without prior or later attendance and still get useful information.
Magna Library Writing Conference
Saturday, April 25, 2026
Magna Library
2675 South 8950 West
Magna, UT 84044
Basic Story Structure
Let me introduce you to three acts, Freytag, Crisis and Climax. Here is the bare bones form stories traditionally take, and understanding this basic flow it key to writing accessible and satisfying fiction.
Scandi-Fest
Friday & Saturday
May 22-23, 2026
Ephraim, Utah