Scribble House July Newsletter
Feedback July 27th, Publishing 101 workshop July 25th, plus Confluence, a Book Crawl, new publishers, and more literary happenings!
Hello, Scribble Friends!
We’re officially halfway through 2026 and in the heart of summer, which is always a busy time for literary happenings in Pittsburgh. One is the return of the Great Pittsburgh Book Crawl, which will kick off on July 18th. Scribble House will be helping ring in the Book Crawl at the grand opening of The Book Deli, a new book store in the Allentown neighborhood. More deets on the flyer:
Then on Thursday, July 23rd, we’ll have our next Publishers and Booksellers Meet-Up Group from 7-9pm at Trace. The following Saturday, July 25th, from 1-2:30pm, we’ll be leading another iteration of the Literary Publishing 101: How to get creative work published workshop at Carnegie Library in Oakland:
…and on Monday, July 27th at 7pm we’ll have our next Feedback Open Mic at Nico’s in Bloomfield:
July is also time for the annual Confluence Sci-Fi Fantasy Conference, which will happen this year from July 24th-26th at the Sheraton Pittsburgh. The guest of honor this year is Nebula and World Fantasy award winning writer Andy Duncan, and you can check out the full schedule of agent pitch sessions, workshops, and panels on the website.
There’s plenty more lit stuff happening this month, too, including iterations of the Hemingway’s Summer Poetry and Oddmonth Poetry reading series and a few write-ins from Writers in Pittsburgh’s Camp Crustacean. You can see details on those and other stuff going on in the Craft & Community Section.
And for folks looking for places to submit, there are a couple of new publishing projects seeking submissions in July, including the experimental WordArt Lit Mag and a cozy fantasy call from Villainess Press. The annual Drue Heinz Literature Prize also just opened for submissions, and has slightly different rules this year that could make more folks eligible. You can see info on those and other calls in the Western PA Publishers with Open Calls section. Navigation links:
Craft & Community – Upcoming events around Western PA, including:
Western PA Publishers with Open Calls – Currently:
Writing Prompt: Love it or hate it
Pittsburgh loves its fireworks. Not just on the 4th of July--for Pirates games and New Year’s and pretty much any excuse it can find, the city is all about pretty sky explosions. And for some people, that’s great. I definitely have very fond memories of watching fireworks as a kid, and other times I’ve been enchanted by a booming bright display, but not everybody is as into them. My cat Alia’s certainly not a fan. The first one that goes off she takes off to some hidden corner of the house that we still haven’t identified, emerging only once she’s sure things have quieted down. For people who are sensitive to noise, or folks who have to work early morning shifts regardless of what the city has to celebrate, those fireworks displays aren’t fun so much as annoying and anxiety-inducing.
I’m not bringing this up to yuck anybody’s yum, but to make the point that the exact same event can take on a very different meaning, and lead to very different emotional reactions, depending on the life circumstances and preferences of the individual experiencing it. That can be a useful thing for writers to keep in mind. It gives you another way to give your characters unique identities, for one thing. And you can generate some nice tension and conflict if you put characters together who feel different ways about whatever it is they’re doing.
This month’s prompt is going to play with that idea. The first step for fiction writers is to think of an activity and choose two characters who feel completely opposite ways about doing it--maybe a homebody whose friend is dragging them out to the club, or someone who hates the cold getting roped into a Colorado vacation with their family of avid skiers. For nonfiction writers, think of a time you’ve been in this situation yourself with a friend or relative, from either side (the one who’s excited or the one hating every minute). Once you’ve got that in mind:
Write a scene from the perspective of the character who’s enjoying the activity. What specifically do they love about doing this thing? Does it bring up good memories from their childhood? Or maybe they’re very competitive and they like that the activity lets them show off something they’re good at.
Now, write the same scene but from the perspective of the character who is having a terrible time. Think about those same kinds of things, like what they especially hate about this activity and why they feel the way they do.
Compare the two versions. Which one do you think is the most interesting? If they both have energy, considering how you could interweave the two perspectives and tell the story from both sides. Also think about other ways to push the tension between the two characters. What’s the most dramatic way this situation could play out? How would that impact the relationship between these characters?
Craft & Community
Upcoming registration deadlines & proposal calls:
Registration is open for the Southwest Pennsylvania Writers Conference
Conference is September 19, 12-4pm
Where: South Fayette Municipal Center (100 Township Drive)
Costs $45 if you register by July 31st ($50 if you register in August)
Featured presenters include Matt Ussia, Janette Schafer, Ira Abdullah
For zine makers and publishers, registration for the Pittsburgh Zine Fair will open on July 18th and stay open through August 15th.
Zine fair is October 18th, 11am-5pm
Where: Kingsley Association (6435 Frankstown Avenue)
Free for attendees, cost to vend is $20-$40
The Scribble House Lit Fest is also open for registration in all categories, including:
Publisher table - For small presses, literary journals, and other Western PA based publishers
Independent author table - For writers based in or from Western PA who self-publish or publish books with independent presses
Vendor table - For businesses that sell books and book-ish things
Reader sign-up - To participate in one of the readings at the festival
Volunteer sign-up - If you want to help out at this year’s lit fest
The Lit Fest will be November 21st, 12-6pm at Velum Fermentation in the South Side.
In-person workshops, book fests, open mics, etc.:
Anyone who’s looking for a regular group to write with, there are a couple that happen every week:
Mondays, 7:30-9pm: Write Pittsburgh Open Studio (virtual)
Fridays, 10am: Shut Up & Write! (Happenstance Café, 3822 Penn Avenue)
Pittsburgh Poetry Collective’s Open Mic and slam schedule for July:
July 6th, 6-8pm: Poetry & Pints (Burghers in Lawrenceville)
July 7th, 7-10pm: Open Mic with featured reader James Hamilton (Poetry Lounge)
July 14th, 7-10pm: Steel City Slam & Open Mic (Poetry Lounge)
July 21st, 7-10pm: Open Mic (Poetry Lounge)
July 28th, 7-10pm: Open Mic hosted by Malik Long (Poetry Lounge)
Pittsburgh Poetry Collective also has two workshops for their Liner Notes event:
July 7th, 6-7pm at Poetry Lounge
July 8th, 8-9pm on Zoom
July 7th, 7-8:30pm: Story Slam!
Where: Alphabet City (40 W. North Avenue)
Hosted by Story Club PGH
The theme for this month’s iteration of the recurring series is “Breaking Point.” Check the website for info on how to sign up for an open mic slot or join a judging team. There’s also a livestream available for folks who want to watch from afar.
July 11th, 11am: Spooky Low-Tech Write-In and Walk in the Park
Where: Allegheny Cemetery
Part of Writers in Pittsburgh’s Camp Crustacean
At this event, writers will come together with their notebooks to create together in the cemetery. There are more write-in events later in the month, too.
July 11th, 6-8pm: Poetry Open Mic
Where: Classic Elements (Johnstown, PA)
Hosted by Poeming Through the Dark
This monthly Indiana County open mic series is in Johnstown this month. No future dates have been announced on the website yet but if the usually pattern holds it’ll hop back to Indiana, PA in August.
July 12th, 2pm: Haunted Write-In at the Dead Mall
Where: Pittsburgh Mills Mall
Part of Writers in Pittsburgh’s Camp Crustacean
The second write-in of Camp Crustacean, attendees at this one will meet in the mall food court.
July 13th, 7pm: Open Mic Night
Where: Emma Lazrus Art + Music (1808 Brownsville Road)
Hosted by Pittsburgh Poetry Exchange
Sign-ups open at 7 and the reading starts at 7:30. Open to all creators, including poetry, prose, music, and whatever else one can do on a stage in roughly 5 minutes.
July 14th, 7-8pm: Read the Room Open Mic
Where: White Whale Bookstore (4754 Liberty Avenue)
At this open mic series, you can read anything except your own work. Come prepared with up to 8 minutes of anything with words (or just come to listen).
July 16th, 6pm: Liner Notes Showcase – The Beths, “Expert in a Dying Field”
Where: 1301 Berry Street
Hosted by Pittsburgh Poetry Collective
At this unique literary event, participants write a new piece inspired by assigned tracks from the 2022 album “Expert in a Dying Field”
July 18th, 10am-12pm: Foraging Prose & Poetry
Where: Pittsburgh Botanic Garden (Oakdale, PA)
Hosted by Write Pittsburgh
Led by Sarah S. Velázquez
Participants will take a mindful walk through the botanic gardens and use the natural setting as inspiration for writing prompts.
July 18th, 1pm: Hartwood Acres Write-In
Where: Hartwood Acres (200 Hartwood Acres)
Part of Writers in Pittsburgh’s Camp Crustacean
Another chance for some low-tech writing time with a group of fellow writers.
July 18th, 1-2pm: Romance for Every Body: Accessibility and Representation in Romance
Where: Carnegie Library – Hazelwood (5006 Second Avenue)
Led by Lainey Davis
This workshop will focus on how romance writers can create more authentic disabled or neurodivergent characters.
July 18th-26th: The Great Pittsburgh Book Crawl
Where: Bookstores across Pittsburgh (full map here)
During this week, you can pick up a passport from any participating bookstore then collect stamps to win prizes. If you collect 15 stamps from across the 30 stores taking part, then you can be entered into the grand prize raffle!
July 22nd, 6:30pm: Grammar Review
Where: Northland Library (300 Cumberland Road)
Part of Writers in Pittsburgh’s Camp Crustacean
A quick brush-up for writers on the rules of effective punctuation.
July 25th, 11am: Beach Episode Low-Tech Write In
Where: Raccoon Creek Park Beach (Hanover Township, PA)
Part of Writers in Pittsburgh’s Camp Crustacean
The last write-in of the July Camp Crustacean, this one is also the furthest afield, and is a chance to write lake-side.
July 26th, 1-2:30pm: Zine Hangout
Where: Carnegie Library – Oakland (4400 Forbes Avenue)
This workshop gives zine makers time to create together and swap stories and advice, with some tools and how-to resources for folks to use while they’re there.
July 26th, 4-5:30pm: Loose Leaf Writers Group
Where: Bantha Tea (5002 Penn Avenue)
Hosted by Write Pittsburgh
This free monthly writing group happens on the last Sunday of every month and is a chance to get some writing done in the company of other creative folks. There’s no cost but they do prefer you register in advance (just so they know how many folks are coming).
July 29th, 6-8pm: SPLASHH
Where: White Whale Bookstore (4754 Liberty Avenue)
The name of this event stands for “Silently partaking in literature and sips happy hour.” The idea is just what it sounds like: you bring a book and read together with other folks, sipping on discounted drinks from the café.
July 31st, 7-9:30pm: meTamorphosis Queen Open Mic, Dance & Mingle Party
Where: White Whale Bookstore (4754 Liberty Avenue)
Up to 10 LGBTQ+ readers can sign up to share up to 5 minutes of work at this open mic iteration of the ongoing reading series. If you want to read, sign-ups start at 6:30 so it’s smart to get there a bit early. The open mic will also feature a performance by drag artist Sue Flay and be followed by a dance party DJ’ed by DJ TIZA.
August 2nd, 2-4pm: Pittsburgh Writers’ Studio
Where: Squirrel Hill Library (5801 Forbes Avenue)
This is a write-together gathering where you’ll find prompts and questions to help spark ideas. It’s also a recurring series that happens the first Sunday of every month if you’re looking for a regular writing crew.
August 2nd, 6-8pm: The Poetry Atelier
Where: The Space Upstairs (214 N. Lexington Street)
Suggested donation $5-$10
This monthly workshop is open to all poets. You can bring physical copies of your work to share or upload it to their Google Doc (or just come to read and share thoughts on other folks’ work).
August 4th, 7-8:30pm: Story Club PGH Story Slam
Where: Alphabet City (40 W. North Avenue)
The theme for August’s recurring nonfiction storytelling series is “No Turning Back.” Open mic storytellers can sign up to share a six-minute story on this theme, and folks are also welcome to come just to hang out and listen
In-person book launches, talks, & readings
July 9th, 7pm: Reading – Freedom: Essays by Zinzi Clemmons
Where: White Whale Bookstore (4754 Liberty Avenue)
Livestream also available
In conversation with Bekezela Mguni
Genre: Personal essays/memoir
July 11th, 12-3pm: Book Launch – Fifteen Men on a Dead Man’s Chest by Vincent Baverso
Where: All About Books with TLC (Canonsburg, PA)
Genre: Pirate fantasy/sci-fi
July 12th, 10am-8pm: Odyssey-Mera: Odyssey Day in Pittsburgh
Where: Hop Farm Brewing Company (5636 Berlin Way)
Communal reading of Homer’s Odyssey
July 12th, 3-4pm: Book Launch – Decoding the Devil by Sarah Valentine
Where: Alphabet City (40 W. North Avenue)
Livestream also available
Presented by PGHwrites
Genre: Nonfiction (history)
July 14th, 7-8pm: Reading – Aging Out by Lucy Schiller
Where: Alphabet City (40 W. North Avenue)
Livestream also available
In conversation with Jason England
Genre: Nonfiction (aging)
July 14th, 7pm: Hemingway’s Summer Poetry Series
Where: Hop Farm Brewing Company (5636 Berlin Way)
Readers: Brian Broome, Erin Garstka, Margaret Kasper Reed, Adriana Ramirez, Ed Steck
Genre: Poetry
July 16th, 7-8pm: Reading – Fearless, Sleepless, Deathless by Maria Pinto
Where: White Whale Bookstore (4754 Liberty Avenue)
Livestream also available
In conversation with Almah LaVon
Genre: Nonfiction (naturalism)
July 17th, 7-8pm: Reading – Change the Subject by Claire Hopple
Where: White Whale Bookstore (4754 Liberty Avenue)
Livestream also available
In conversation with Jake Maynard
Genre: Satirical fiction
July 18th, 7pm: Pittsburgh Poetry Exchange reading
Where: Bantha Tea Bar (5002 Penn Avenue)
Readers: Veronica Corpuz, Gerard Furey, Timons Esaias
Genre: Poetry
July 22nd, 7pm: A Night of Poetry with Kevin Finn and Friends
Where: Bantha Tea Bar (5002 Penn Avenue)
Readers: Kevin Finn, Don Wentworth, Sean Enright, Dan Koshute
Genre: Poetry
July 25th, 7pm: Oddmonth Poetry Reading Series
Where: Bantha Tea Bar (5002 Penn Avenue)
Readers not yet announced but will likely be on their Facebook page closer to the event
Genre: Poetry
July 27th, 7-8:30pm: Reading – Death of the Soccer God by Dimitry Elias
Where: Alphabet City (40 W. North Avenue)
Livestream also available
In conversation with Anderson Tepper
Genre: World literature (historical fiction)
July 28th, 7-8pm: Reading – Daughter of the Mountains by Fatimah Asghar
Where: Alphabet City (40 W. North Avenue)
Livestream also available
Part of the Artist in Exile program
Genre: Poetry
July 28th, 7pm: Hemingway’s Summer Poetry Series
Where: Hop Farm Brewing Company (5636 Berlin Way)
Readers not yet announced, check the series Facebook page (linked above) a couple weeks before the event to see the featured readers
Genre: Poetry
July 28th, 7pm: An evening with Ed Simon
Where: Riverstone Books (5841 Forbes Avenue)
In conversation with Frank Lehner
Genre: Nonfiction (history/politics)
July 30th, 7pm: People’s Song SocieTea
Where: Bantha Tea Bar (5002 Penn Avenue)
Performers: Brad Yoder, David Wang, Cash K Allen, V.v.itch, Medina Jackson
Salon of music, words, and art
August 4th, 7-8pm: Book Launch – Immortal Game by Allison Saft
Where: White Whale Bookstore (4754 Liberty Avenue)
Livestream also available
In conversation with Rachael Lippincott
Costs $25 (comes with a copy of the book)
Genre: Sapphic fantasy
Online events & classes
There are a few Craft Talks webinars in the next month:
July 8th, 3-4:30pm: Shake It Loose! Unexpected Prompts and Nudges to Spark “The Muse” ($30)
July 23rd, 3-4:30pm: The Art of the Cinematic Close-Up: Crafting Details that Immerse Readers in Your Story ($20)
July 29th, 3-4:30pm: Nature Writing Reimagined: Cultivating Observation & Connection in Every Genre ($20)
There’s also a 3-week workshop starting July 23rd: Words That Matter: Writing for Advocacy and Change
3 Thursdays, 5-8pm
Costs $320
July 12th, 3-6pm: Where Memory Meets Maybe: Writing Speculative Flash Nonfiction
Hosted by Poet Camp
Instructor: Hannah Grieco
Costs $25-$50 (sliding scale)
July 25th, 6-11pm: Summer Campfire Cozy Writing Retreat
Hosted by Poet Camp
Costs $50-$100 (sliding scale)
A generative workshop with pre-writes and prompts to write to. Attendees are welcome to come and go as they please.
August 4th-25th: Marketing for Fun and Profit
Hosted by PennWriters
Instructor: James Rada
Costs $75 ($55 for members)
Western PA Publishers with Open Calls
Short prose & individual poems
Villainess Press will be open for a cozy fantasy anthology from July 21st-August 6th.
New publisher of speculative fiction featuring female or nonbinary protagonists
Send them fiction 1,500-4,500 words
Pays .02/word
Also open to reprints (.01/word payment)
After Happy Hour is open for fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and art through August 31st.
Independent online and print journal based in Pittsburgh that publishes all genres
Send them:
Short stories of any length
Creative nonfiction up to 6,000 words
Up to 3 poems
Up to 5 works of art
Suites (sets of 3-5 linked poems, flash prose, or hybrid work)
Pays $15-$50
Ligonier Valley Writers Flash Fiction Contest is open through August 31st.
Theme: What’s behind the door?
Winner gets $50
Also $25 2nd, $15 3rd
Top 6 stories will be published on the Ligonier Valley Writers website
WordArt Lit Mag is accepting experimental prose, poetry, and mixed media work through August 31st.
Current theme: revival
New online and print journal run by Pittsburgh-based author Adam Dove
Hollow Oak Press is accepting flash fiction for their Acorns feature
Publisher of speculative fiction based in Northwestern PA
Send them stories 1,000-1,500 words
Pays $5 per piece
Kestrel is open year-round for fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and art.
Based at Fairmont State University in West Virginia (so not technically “Western PA” but still highly regional)
Send them:
Fiction and creative nonfiction up to 5,000 words
Up to 5 poems
Costs $3
Lake Effect is open year-round for submissions of stories, poems, and essays.
Published by Penn State Behrend (Erie, PA)
Tongue is open for translations of fiction and creative nonfiction.
New journal based in Pittsburgh
Send them translated stories, essays, and novel excerpts of 1,000-3,000 words
Translation must be previously unpublished in English
Translators paid $50-$200
Publishes each story as a standalone with the original alongside the translation
Uppagus is open all year for their online issues
Send them:
Flash fiction (up to 750 words)
Poems (1-4)
Visual art (1-6 pieces)
You can check out their archives to see the kind of stuff they publish.
yawp Magazine is open for fiction, poetry, and art.
Published by Poetry Lounge in Millvale
YNST Magazine is open for fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and art.
For writers and artists with a connection to the Appalachian region
Pays (rate not specified)
Also publishes fashion writing and designs
Book-length manuscripts
The University of Pittsburgh Press Drue Heinz Literature Prize is open through July 31st.
Send them short fiction collections of 150-300 pages
Open to all writers who have published a book-length work or at least 3 short stories or novellas
Costs $25
Winner gets $25,000 and publication
Black Lawrence Press’ St. Lawrence Book Award is open through August 31st.
Send them:
Poetry manuscripts 45-95 pages
Prose manuscripts 120-280 pages
Costs $30
Winner gets $1,000, publication, and 10 copies
Etruscan Press is open to general submissions through August 31st.
Publishes novels, short story collections, poetry collections, and creative nonfiction
Minimum manuscript length of 50 pages
Costs $20
Sunbury Press is open to submissions year-round.
Publishes novels and book-length non-fiction
Based in Mechanicsburg, PA (so not quite “Western PA” but close enough for horseshoes and newsletters)
Those who write about regional and local topics may also want to check out their Catamount Press imprint, which is focused on literature related to Northern Appalachia
Lots of good stuff here! Thanks for sharing!