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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)

Supplemental: Writing Workshop - Can Microfiction Pay Off Big?

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.

Locus Awards Guest of Honor Stephen Graham Jones
(Locus News)
03/05/2026 - 14:41

Bram Stoker, Shirley Jackson, and Locus Award-winner Stephen Graham Joneswill be joining us as a Guest of Honor at the Locus Awards...

2026 Women’s Prize for Fiction Longlist
(Locus News)
03/05/2026 - 13:37

The 16-title longlist has been announced for the 2026 Women's Prize for Fiction. Titles and authors of genre interest include:

...
2025 BSFA Awards Shortlist
(Locus News)
03/05/2026 - 13:18

The shortlist for the 2025 British Science Fiction Association (BSFA) Awards has been announced.

BestNovel

...
2025 Clarkesworld Readers’ Poll Winners
(Locus News)
03/04/2026 - 15:48

The results of the annual Clarkesworld readers' poll for best stories and cover art of 2025 have been announced in an editorial...

2026 Must Read Books Award Winners
(Locus News)
03/04/2026 - 11:55

From Upstream by Sophia Aki Kawamura of the University of Washington is the winner of the 2026 Must Read Books Award, previously the...

USSC Refuses AI Copyright Case
(Locus News)
03/04/2026 - 11:14

The US Supreme Court has declined to hear the case of a Missouri computer scientist whose copyright application was rejected for a work...

2026 FAAn Awards Winners
(Locus News)
03/03/2026 - 12:06

The winners of the 2026 Fan Activity Achievement Awards (FAAns) were announced at Corflu 43, held February 27 - March 1...

Due Named Nebula Awards Toastmaster
(Locus News)
03/03/2026 - 02:33

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA) has announced that writer Tananarive Due will be toastmaster at the 61st...

2026 Locus Awards Guest of Honor Tananarive Due
(Locus News)
03/02/2026 - 17:26

World Fantasy, Bram Stoker, and Shirley Jackson Award-winner Tananarive Due will be joining us as a Guest of Honor at the Locus Awards...

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....

more
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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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