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
Order Now
Released:
March 11, 2025
Apex Talk-Story Doctor
Saturday June 14, 2025
8:00-9:00 a.m.
Virtual Zoom Meeting
Presenting: The Faceted Story
I'll present to this fine Colorado group my class on the faceted story, one of my most popular and enderaring subjects. I'm not sure how civilians can join, but I bet there's a way.
Quills Conference
August 7-10, 2025
Salt Lake City Marriott University Park
480 Wakara Way
Salt Lake City, UT 84108
Friday, August 8, 2025
8:00 - 9:00 a.m. – Fort Douglas
Morning Meditation and Writer Wellbeing
Join author Johnny 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.
Day One: Basics - the Four Noble Truths and the Eight Fold Noble path
11:45 - 12:05 p.m. – Summit
Book Signing
I'll have a desk in the networking reception event. Drop by..
12:30 - 1:45 p.m. – Willow (4th Floor)
Pitch Practice
Want to perfect your pitch? Come to Pitch Practice and have seasoned veterans listen to your pitch and help you hone it for the real deal.
3:15 - 4:15 p.m. – Fort Douglas
Pre-Writing Checklist
Got a book idea? Eager to start, but worried you might sink before you're half way there? What you need is a pre-writing checklist to verify you’re ready, that your is hold is full, your ship intact, and your destination sure. We will laden you with sharpened harpoons for the literary leviathans that await.
Saturday, August 9, 2025
8:00 - 9:00 a.m. – Room Fort Douglas
Morning Meditation and Writer Wellbeing
Join author Johnny 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.
Day Two: Block - The Five Hindrances and the power of RAIN
10:30 - 11:30 a.m. – Willow (4th Floor)
Pitch Practice
Want to perfect your pitch? Come to Pitch Practice and have seasoned veterans listen to your pitch and help you hone it for the real deal.
Sunday, August 10, 2025
8:00 - 9:00 – Fort Douglas
Morning Meditation and Writer Wellbeing
Join author Johnny 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.
Day Three: Third Person Limited - Non-Identity and the muse
Blue Quill Chapter Presentation
Wednesday August 20, 2025
7:00 – 8:00 PM MST
Online Zoom Meeting Link
=== All Welcome!===
Click on link when it's time and say, "Hi."
Presenting: A Study in Mystery
The good people at Blue Quill Chapter have asked me to come visit and talk about mysteries. They've opened the class to everyone besides, so come on in if you're interest. Bring cookies.
Salt City Scribes Chapter Presentation
Tuesday August 26, 2025
6:30 – 7:30 PM MST
Salt Lake City Public Library
210 East 400 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Presenting: Elmore Leonard's Ten Rules of Writing
There are no rules. Here are ten. A deep dive and discussion into the great Elmore Leonard's famous Ten Rules of Writing.
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)
Aug. 26 - Oct. 7, 2025
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.
Southern Utah Book Festival (SUBfest)
September 15 – 20, 2025
Saturday September 20, 2025
10:00 AM – 4:00 PMCedar City Library
303 North 100 East
Cedar City, UT 847212:00-2:45 p.m
Presenting: Mystery Presentation and PanelI'm holding up the mystery genre at this very ambitious event. Short presentation and Q&A to follow.
FanX
September 25-27, 2025
Salt Salt Palace Convention Center
90 S West Temple
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Utah Readers Fest
Saturday, October 11, 2025
9:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Viridian Event Center
8030 South 1925 West
West Jordan, UT 84088
An event sponsored by the Literary Arts Society of West Jordan to unite readers with writers.
Lifelong Learning - University of Utah
Continuing Education Building
540 Arapeen Drive (Research Park)
Salt Lake City, Utah 84108
Horror Writing Bootcamp
(LLWRC 862)
Saturdays (3 sessions)
Oct. 18, 25 & Nov. 1, 2025
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Horror is more than a genre, it’s a physical sensation, the place where the unknown lurks, where nothing can be assumed, and anything can happen. Explore the nuances of creating levels of fear, and effective techniques that allow your writing to create a desired reaction – fear! dread! disgust! - from your readers. This intensive two week course of lecture presentation and workshop will give you an opportunity to write and present your work for critique and discussion (which isn’t as scary as it sounds!)
Lifelong Learning - University of Utah
Continuing Education Building
540 Arapeen Drive (Research Park)
Salt Lake City, Utah 84108
A Study in Mystery (LLWRC 837)
Tuesday Nights (7 sessions)
Oct. 21 - Dec. 2, 2025
6:30-9:00 p.m.
Look behind the curtain of the formulaic, but eternally popular genre: the Mystery Story. Learn about the constructions, tropes, types and methods that make the modern whodunit. Designed for both writers and fans of the mystery genre, class will include assignments and activities on plot, character web, record keeping, suspense, tension and conflict. Refine your work as you're asked the questions: Did you hide the clue well enough? Does the audience care about the victim? Is the suspense tight enough? By the end of the course, if the crime is writing a mystery story, the "Whodunit" will be you!