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.
FRESH START
NOW AVAILABLE
Lifelong Learning - University of Utah
Continuing Education Building
540 Arapeen Drive (Research Park)
Salt Lake City, Utah 84108
Creative Writing Bootcamp (LLWRC 842)
2 Saturdays
Sep. 5th & 12th, 2026
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Have you always wanted to write creatively but never had the chance to start? Or is your writer-self blocked and unable to finish anything? In Creative Writing Bootcamp, we'll launch into a series of generative exercises designed to give you plenty of material for your own stories. In between exercises, we'll share our work in an open and joyous environment, discuss craft, and explore how to incorporate writing into daily life. You'll leave class with a series of flash fictions ready to be polished or expanded in your writing practices.
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)
Sep. 15 - Oct. 20, 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.
Barnes & Noble - Sandy
Book Signing
Saturday September 19, 2026
1:00-4:00 p.m.
Barnes & Noble - Layton
1780 North Woodland Park Dr,
Layton, UT 84041
Rescheduled FRESH START Celebration!
RMFW Colorado Gold Writers Conference
Thursday-Sunday
October 1-4, 2026
Hyatt Regency Hotel Aurora/Denver
13200 East 14th Place
Aurora, CO 80011
I'm doing lots of things!
I'm teaching and particapting all over the place. Stay tuned
Southern Utah Book Festival (SUBfest)
October 5-10, 2026
Saturday September 10, 2026
Cedar City Library
303 North 100 East
Cedar City, UT 8472112:00 Noon – 12:45 PM
Panel: Writing Routines & Discipline: How Authors Finish ProjectsI'm moderating this panel. Other panelists are: Lucy Tayco Price, Taffy Lovell, and Cheree Alsop.
3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
Panel: How We Got Here: Author Origin Stories & the Long GameI'm moderating this panel. Other panelists are: Taffy Lovell, Jared Garrett, Becca Lee Gardner, Allison Hong Merrill, and Mary Beesley.
4:00 PM – 3:45 PM
Panel: MysteryI'll be joined by Caryn Larrinaga, Samantha Hastings, Janet Sumner Johnson, and Ally Condie
Infinite Weekend Writing Retreat
Wednesday to Saturday
October 14-18 2026
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. 17, 24, & 31, 2026
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. 27 - Dec. 8, 2026
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!
Utah Readers Fest
Saturday, November 14, 2026
11:00 – 4:00 PM
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.
Barnes & Noble - Sandy
Book Signing
December 12, 2026
1:00-4:00 p.m.
Barnes & Noble - Sandy
10433 S State St.
Sandy, UT 84070
Continuing FRESH START celebration. Just in time for Christmas!