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Rochester Speculative Literature Association

R-SPEC is a group of writers, readers and thinkers in the Rochester NY area, that exists to celebrate and create speculative literature. We hold public meetings once a month to discuss new ideas and critically examine the literature we care about. You can help by joining us at a meeting, or becoming a member.

R-SPEC Home Page

March 2026: Can “Microfiction” Pay Off Big?

On March 3, please join the R-SPEC Team as we explore writing “microfiction,” “flash fiction,” and even 100-word “drabble” stories – all of which require you to focus on the full narrative arc (beginning, middle, and end) within a tight, concise format.

As a group, we’ll select a writing theme, create a fictional piece, then share them, if you desire, in the hope this writing format can help you shape your longer works of fiction. Remember to bring pencil and paper, or a digital pad, to work your microfiction and record notes.

During the workshop, we’ll discuss these questions and others you may have: Why should I write such short stories? How do I start? What about character and plot development? What do I leave in? What must I leave out?

  • Location: Our meeting will be in person at Barnes & Noble, Pittsford and on Zoom.
    (Please join us at least 10 minutes before the 7:00 p.m. start time to ensure a good connection.)
  • Meeting Time: Tuesday, March 3, 2026, from 6:30-8:45 p.m.
  • Open chat: 6:30-7:00 p.m.
  • Meeting: 7:00-8:45 p.m.
  • Close meeting: 8:45 p.m. (or sooner, to break down the Community Room before the store closes)

Note: R-SPEC presentations on topics of interest may be recorded, and a link to the recording posted on our website.

Calendar, News, Blog
  • February 2026: R-SPEC Annual Business Meeting + Will A.I. Replace Humans in Speculative Fiction?
  • October 2025: Autumn Story Campfire
  • September 2025: Genre Bending: Navigating Reader Expectations and Authorial Intent
  • July 2025: The 2025 Hugo Short
  • In Memoriam: Lynn Spitz

Speculative Literature News

News from the Speculative Literature writing community, including items from Locus Magazine, SFWA, etc.

Dan Simmons (1948–2026)
(Locus News)
02/27/2026 - 17:12

Dan Simmons, 77, award-winning author of 31 novels and short story collections, passed away on February 21, 2026 in Longmont, Colorado....

2026 Compton Crook Award Finalists
(Locus News)
02/26/2026 - 11:39

TheBaltimore Science Fiction Society (BSFS) has announced the finalists for the 2026 Compton Crook Award:

  • A Song of...
2025 Young Writer of the Year Award Shortlist
(Locus News)
02/25/2026 - 15:59

Saraswati by Gurnaik Johal (Serpent's Tail) andThe Greatest Possible Good by Ben Brooks (Avid Reader)...

Okorafor and Thomas Win NAACP Image Awards
(Locus News)
02/25/2026 - 12:44

Winners in several categories of the 57th NAACP Image Awards, honoring outstanding work in various media by Black performers and...

2026 Locus Awards Announces Guest of Honor Nnedi Okorafor
(Locus News)
02/24/2026 - 18:00

Locus is pleased to announce that Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, Locus, Eisner and Lodestar Award-winner Nnedi Okorafor will be...

2026 Prix Bob Morane Finalists
(Locus News)
02/24/2026 - 17:27

Finalists have been announced for the 2025 Prix Bob Morane, recognizing French-language works in the science fiction, fantasy, espionage...

2025 Aurealis Awards Winners
(Locus News)
02/23/2026 - 14:32

The 2025 Aurealis Awards winners, recognizing the best in Australian speculative fiction, have been announced.

Best...

2025 Bram Stoker Awards Final Ballot
(Locus News)
02/23/2026 - 11:53

The Horror Writers Association (HWA) has announced the final ballot for the 2025 Bram Stoker Awards.

Superior...

2025 LA Times Book Prize Finalists
(Locus News)
02/19/2026 - 12:15

The Los Angeles Times has announced the finalists for their 46th annual Book Prizes.

Finalists of genre interest include...

2026 HWA Summer Scares
(Locus News)
02/17/2026 - 18:15

The Horror Writers Association (HWA) has announced their Summer Scares Reading list for 2025.

Adult Books:

  • ...
more
Become a Member

R-Spec Press

  • 'From the Lockdown' 2021 Short-Story Contest
    • March 2021 Winner: "Pest Control", by Amy Aderman
    • April 2021 Winner: "Baby Grand", by Jack Feerick
    • May 2021 Winner: "Reading Glasses," by Sally Caves
  • Rochester Rewritten: Rochester in the Alternative
    • Buy through our online store
  • 2034: Writing Rochester's Futures
    • Buy through our online store
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