Scribble House June Newsletter
37 local lit events, 15 open calls, and a travel-based writing prompt
Hello, Scribble Friends!
We had a fantastic time last Saturday at this year’s PGH Book Fest (and hello to the new friends who stopped by our table!). We have a wonderful literary community here in the city but sometimes it can feel like it’s a bit hidden, so getting to see that many readers and writers come out in force is always a treat.
The Scribble House crew is taking part in two other book-ish happenings in the next month. On Saturday, June 13th from 2-6pm, we’ll be tabling with our friends at Last-Picked Books at the Garden Party Book Fair in Greensburg.
Then, at the end of the month, we’ll be headed back to Greensburg from June 25th-28th for the In Your Write Mind workshop at Seton Hill University. I’ll dip out of the “royal we” for a sec to say this is my third year going to this workshop and it’s been getting bigger and better every time, so I’m very excited to see that trend hopefully continue this year! I’ll be giving two talks at this year’s conference:
Lessons from the Slush Pile: A Lit Mag Editor’s Advice to Improve Your Acceptance Rate
From Creating Names to Conlangs: The Art of Using Made-Up Words in Fiction
…I’m also organizing the critique sessions this year, so if you’re looking for some fresh eyes on your fiction, you can sign up to jump in on those! And there’s tons of other cool stuff going on, including a recently announced addition of a Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Workshop led by SHU’s forensics department, which I’m personally quite stoked to check out. You can register or see more details by clicking the link above or the flyer below:
There are tons of other events happening around Western PA in the coming month, too. Right here in Pittsburgh, downtown is hosting both the 3 Rivers Comicon and StokerCon this weekend (StokerCon actually started today, but you can get day passes if you missed jumping in on the whole thing). Bantha Tea is also running the Books Beyond Bars Book Drive this weekend to collect books to send to incarcerated folks, so anyone whose bookshelves overfloweth can hit that up to clear out some space for a good cause. Pittsburgh-based publishers are in a bit of a submission lull at the moment, but there is a call open for The Seven Kitchens Press Keystone Chapbook Series for any poets with small manuscripts seeking a home, and the Bridge Literary Arts Journal extended their deadline until June 15th.
Here are navigation links for folks who want to check out some of the other events and open calls in the area:
Craft & Community – Upcoming events around Western PA, including:
Western PA Publishers with Open Calls – Currently:
Writing Prompt: Road trip
Traveling is one of my favorite ways to come up with new story ideas. And you don’t need to go far to get inspiration from experiencing new places. Even exploring a new attraction right in your town can spark your creativity, and quick jaunts to nearby places can do the same thing. Since summer is when a lot of folks get their travel on, I thought a prompt in that area might be useful! Here are the steps:
1) Pick a spot that’s within “day trip” range of where you currently live. This can be a place you’ve visited before, a spot you’ve been intrigued by but haven’t visited yet, or even a random place that you pick out on a map.
2) Pick two characters who are planning to travel to this place. This can be you and a companion, characters from a work in progress, or new people (or other forms of life) you come up with for this prompt. Along with the characters, brainstorm some other details like:
Why are they going to that place? Is there a particular attraction they want to see? Are they visiting a friend? Or maybe they’re traveling for work, like a sales team expanding into new territory or a private investigator following a lead?
When are they traveling? What season is it? What day of the week? What time of day?
3) Put that location into Google Maps and get directions from your town to the destination. Check out the suggested route. What kind of terrain does it go through? Are there any noteworthy points of interest along the way? Does the road pass through mostly rural or urban/suburban areas, or a mix of both?
4) Your characters are en-route to their destination when their trip is interrupted. This can be an intentional interruption--maybe they pull over to check out some roadside attraction, or need to fill up their tank at a gas station--or an unexpected interruption, like if they’re pulled over or blow a tire. Figure out why they stop and where they are along their route when they do.
5) Last step: time to write! Start on the moment the vehicle stops, and foreground the characters’ emotions. Are they frustrated about the delay? Impatient to get back on the road? Excited to check out the attraction they stopped for? You can also adapt this prompt for nonfiction by focusing on a time when you took an actual road trip to a nearby destination, or integrate the ideas into a poem, if that’s your preferred genre.
Craft & Community
Upcoming registration deadlines & proposal calls:
There are a few lit events happening in the summer or fall that are currently open for registration:
There are a few summer sessions of the Iron Writing Circle feedback and accountability group that still have spots open:
South Hills – Every Tuesday 6-8pm, starts June 9th ($46)
South Hills – Every Thursday 6-8pm, starts June 11th ($46)
McMurray – Every other Tuesday 2-4pm, starts June 16th ($75)
July registration will also open soon if none of the June dates fit your schedule.
Registration is open for the Confluence Conference:
Conference dates July 24th-26th
Where: Sheraton Pittsburgh Airport Hotel (1160 Thorn Run Road Extension)
Costs $70 for the weekend (day passes available)
The longest-running sci-fi/fantasy convention in the region, Confluence has panels, performances, workshops, agent pitches, and a dealer’s room, all focused on the speculative genres.
In-person workshops, book fests, open mics, etc.:
Anyone who’s looking for a regular group to write with, there are a few that happen every week:
Mondays, 7:30-9pm: Write Pittsburgh Open Studio (virtual)
Fridays, 10am: Shut Up & Write! (Happenstance Café, 3822 Penn Avenue)
June 4th, 6-7:45pm: Come Write In
Where: Northland Public Library, room 148-2 (300 Cumberland Road)
This free group for writing together, this one on the first Thursday of each month. There’s contact information at the link to reach out to if you plan to join. The next one is on July 2nd if you’re planning ahead or miss the one in June.
June 4th-7th: StokerCon 2026
Where: The Westin Pittsburgh (1000 Penn Ave)
Costs $300 for the whole event ($200 for day passes)
The annual convention of the Horror Writers of America, this four-day conference is packed with panels, readings, and other happenings, along with a dealer’s room that features some pretty top-notch presses (Lanternfish Press and Creature Publishing are both among my faves).
June 5th, 6-8pm: Poetry Open Mic
Where: Indiana Theater (Indiana, PA)
Hosted by Poeming Through the Dark
A monthly open mic series in Indiana County. This month’s event is in Indiana with next month’s in Johnstown.
June 5th-7th: Books Beyond Bars Book Drive
Where: Bantha Tea Bar (5002 Penn Avenue)
This book drive is collecting gently used paperbacks to pass along to incarcerated readers. The most requested genres are new fantasy and sci-fi, and books in Spanish are also encouraged.
June 6th-7th: 3 Rivers Comicon
Where: David Lawrence Convention Center
Costs $30 for the weekend ($17-$20 single-day passes)
Across the street from StokerCon, the 3 Rivers Comicon is a yearly tradition featuring a slew of comic vendors, artists, and cosplayers.
June 7th, 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.
June 7th, 4-8pm: WiP Picnic and Book Swap
Where: North Park – Emsworth Shelter (Wexford, PA)
Hosted by Writers in Pittsburgh
This potluck-style picnic is a chance to meet other writers and swap books to refresh your reading list.
June 7th, 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).
June 8th, 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.
Pittsburgh Poetry Collective’s Open Mic and slam schedule for June:
June 9th, 7-10pm: Steel City Slam & Open Mic (Poetry Lounge)
June 16th, 7-10pm: Open Mic hosted by Tara Carr (Poetry Lounge)
June 23rd, 7-10pm: Open Mic hosted by Payge Gray (Poetry Lounge)
June 30th, 7-10pm: Open Mic hosted by Brett Poetry Lounge)
June 9th, 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).
June 20th, 7-9:30pm: Bellevue Music Festival Fundraiser Poetry Slam
Where: Pittsburgh Savoyards (523 Lincoln Avenue)
$10 cover
Hosted by Pittsburgh Poetry Collective
This slam will feature 9 poets competing in 3 rounds, along with a performance from the improv troupe The Latchkey Kids.
June 20th-August 8th: Writing Through Grief
Where: New Castle Public Library (New Castle, PA)
6 Saturdays, 10-11am
Free but registration required
This poetry workshop is designed for people experiencing grief, and will include prompts, discussions, poetry readings, and the chance to share work with other writers.
June 25th-28th: In Your Write Mind
Where: Seton Hill University (Greensburg, PA)
Costs $120 (day passes available)
The summer writing conference of the Seton Hill Popular Fiction master’s program, and also one of my favorite local writing conventions! Along with access to the panels and evening events (along with a bloodstain analysis workshop led by the forensics department, for all the mystery and crime writers out there), every registration comes with a table in the Saturday night book fair.
June 27th, 3-7pm: Second Annual Yinzilla Day
Where: Alternate Histories Studio (517 Greenfield Avenue)
This event will include neat things like a maker market, a screenprinting demo, music, and tacos. Also lots of stuff with Godzilla (natch).
June 28th, 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).
June 28th, 6pm: Austere/Lonely: An evening of poems about fathers
Where: Stay Gold Books (1104 S. Braddock Ave)
This event will open with featured readers C.M. Berger, Devan Murphy, Christine Stroud, and Lisa Summe, followed by an open mic.
June 30th-August 4th: Madwomen in the Attic Poetry Workshop
Where: Carlow University (3333 Fifth Avenue)
Six Tuesdays, 6:30-8:30pm
Instructor: Nancy Krygowski
Costs $175 (scholarships and pay-what-you-can options available)
This workshop will focus on discussing a book by a woman poet, with discussion and writing prompts
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.
In-person book launches, talks, & readings
June 8th, 7-8pm: Paperback release: That’s How They Get You edited by Damon Young
Where: Alphabet City (40 W. North Avenue)
Hosted by PGHwrites
Genre: Essays/humor
June 9th, 6-7pm: Book launch: Americanapocalypse and Necropia by Tommy Wyatt Blake
Where: Poetry Lounge (313 North Avenue, Millvale)
Genre: Poetry
June 9th, 7pm: Author Talk: Kate Koenig
Where: Riverstone Bookstore (5841 Forbes Avenue)
Genre: Fantasy
June 11th, 7-8:30pm: Reading: Place Envy by Michael Lowenthal
Where: Carnegie Library Lecture Hall (4440 Forbes Avenue)
Hosted by Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures
Genre: Essays
June 11th, 8pm: Reading: Dave Housley (Aliens Attack!) and Aaron Burch (Tacoma)
Where: Stay Gold Books (1104 S. Braddock Ave)
In conversation with Jake Maynard
Genre: Fiction
June 12th, 7pm: Poetry & Song at Greenhouse Co-Op
Where: Greenhouse Co-op (557 Greenfield Ave)
Featured performers: Nick Romeo, Francis Volpe, Scott Frazzone, and Folk IndieBob
Genre: Poetry and folk music
June 12th, 7-9pm: meTamorphosis: A queer and trans led reading series
Where: White Whale Books (4754 Liberty Avenue)
Featured readers: Almah LaVon, Steffan Triplett, Grace Gilbert, and James
Reading followed by a mingle party featuring DJ Queen Father
June 14th, 3-4pm: Book launch: American Elegy: Reflections on 250 Years of the Dis-United States by Ed Simon
Where: Alphabet City (40 W. North Avenue)
Hosted by PGHwrites
In conversation with Tony Norman
Genre: Nonfiction/criticism
June 18th, 7-8:30pm: Reading: The Brady’s Bend Flood of 1980 by Lisa Olszak Zumstein
Where: Carnegie Library Lecture Hall (4440 Forbes Avenue)
Hosted by Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures
Genre: Memoir
June 20th, 7-8pm: Reading: Tangled Roots & Wild Dreams by Angela Velez
Where: White Whale Books (4754 Liberty Avenue)
In conversation with Lissette Norman
Genre: YA Coming of age
June 23rd, 7-8pm: Poetry Reading: Anne Marie Macari, Judith Vollmer, and Carey Salerno
Where: White Whale Books (4754 Liberty Avenue)
Genre: Poetry
June 25th, 7pm: Reading: Grandma Joy and Me by Brad Ryan
Where: Stay Gold Books (1104 S. Braddock Ave)
Genre: Memoir
June 30th: Book Launch: American Elegy: Reflections on 250 Years of the Dis-United States by Ed Simon (yes, it has two launches, apparently)
Where: Stay Gold Books (1104 S. Braddock Ave)
Genre: Nonfiction/criticism
June 30th, 10:15-11:15am: Reflections on America Reading
Where: Second Chapter Café, Whitehall Public Library (100 Borough Park Drive)
Hosted by the Left to Write Memoir Group
Genre: Memoir
Free but registration required
Every attendee gets a free printed book of essays
June 30th, 7-8:30pm: Reading: The Invisible Years by Rodrigo Hasbún
Where: Alphabet City (40 W. North Avenue)
Genre: Literary fiction
Online events & classes
There are a few Craft Talks webinars in the next month:
June 6th-7th, 1-3pm: Give Sorrow Words: Grief Writing as Sanctuary ($125)
June 10th, 3-4:30pm: Self-Publishing Foundations: Prepare, Plan and Promote for Long-term Success ($20)
June 17th, 3-4pm: Artful Intelligence: What the Rise of AI Can Teach Us about Great Writing ($20)
June 20th, 2-5pm: Get Your Book Unstuck: How to Fall Back in Love with Your Manuscript ($75)
June 24th, 3-4:15pm: Poetry, Prose, or Both? Writing and Publishing a Hybrid Memoir ($20)
July 1st, 3-4:30pm: Crafting Emotion & Imagination: Exploring Lyrical Writing ($20)
There’s also a 4-week workshop starting June 14th: Writing from Photographs: From Image to Essay
4 Sundays, 3-4:30pm
Costs $190
June 13th, 10am-3:30pm: Workday Co-Play
Hosted by Poet Camp
A virtual silent working session with check-ins at the start, middle, and end
June 27th, 12-5pm: Creating 3-Dimensional Characters
Hosted by PennWriters
Instructor: Anette Dashofy
Costs $75 ($55 for members)
June 38th, 3-6pm: Poetry from the Underworld
Hosted by Poet Camp
Instructor: Lesley Wheeler
Costs $25-$50 (sliding scale)
July 6th-27th: Make Your Characters Memorable
4 Mondays, 6-8pm
Hosted by PennWriters
Instructor: Kathy Otten
Costs $75 ($55 for members)
Western PA Publishers with Open Calls
Short prose & individual poems
Bridge Literary Arts Journal is open for fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, drama, and art through June 15th.
Send them:
Fiction, creative nonfiction and plays up to 2,000 words
Up to 3 poems
Up to 3 works of art
Especially interested in writers and work with a connection to Northwest Pennsylvania, but open to work from all
Northern Appalachia Review is open for fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry through June 15th.
Send them:
Fiction and creative nonfiction up to 7,500 words
Up to 5 poems
Interviews up to 1,000 words
Book reviews up to 500 words
Focus is on writers from and writing about Northern Appalachia
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
Lake Effect is open year-round for submissions of stories, poems, and essays.
Published by Penn State Behrend (Erie, PA)
What they want in their own words:
Fiction: “Lake Effect is looking for stories that emerge from character and language as much as from plot. Lake Effect does not, in general, publish genre fiction, but literary fiction.”
CNF: “Lake Effect is looking for well-crafted and lively literary or personal essays. We are not looking for literary criticism, but essays that engage literature in the context of a lived life are certainly welcome.”
Poetry: “Lake Effect is looking for poems that demonstrate an original voice and that use multilayered, evocative images presented in a language shaped by an awareness of how words sound and mean. Each line should help to carry the poem. There is no length limit per poem.”
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 Autumn House Press Poetry Prize is open through June 30th.
For poetry manuscripts of 50-80 pages
Costs $30
Winner gets $2,500 and publication (all finalists considered for publication)
Black Lawrence Press’ open reading period is open through June 30th.
Open for novels, novellas, story collections, and poetry collections
Costs $14 (comes with a Black Lawrence Press book)
The Seven Kitchens Press Keystone Chapbook Series is open for submissions through June 30th.
For poetry manuscripts of 16-20 pages
Series is focused on writers with Pennsylvania roots
Publishes accepted manuscripts as limited-edition, hand-assembled chapbooks
Published authors get 20 copies
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 $25 until June 30th ($30 from July 1st onward)
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)
What they want in their own words: “We are always seeking new titles to publish including: history, historical fiction, mystery/detective, police procedurals, crime thrillers, horror, literary fiction, young adult, current events, science, reference, art history, ANY local/regional history, humor, spiritual/metaphysical, self-help, professional, memoirs, etc. If we didn’t mention your category — try us anyway!”
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