Come Write In
2025-10-15 18:00 - 19:30 UTC | Montclair Library, 5049 Waterway Drive, Dumfries, VA, 22025, United States
Melody Ann Kramer will host this month’s writing session (any genre!) at Montclair Library. Come for some craft prompts and, while you’re there, share some of your writing.

Write by the Rails Writers' Conference: Publishing Perspectives
2025-11-15 09:00 - 13:00 | Clearbrook Center of the Arts, 2230 Tacketts Mill Drive #B, Lake Ridge, VA, 22192, United States
✍️ Write by the Rails Writers Conference: Publishing Perspectives ✍️
Explore. Connect. Get Published.
Conference Schedule
9:00 – 9:40 AM: Opening Panel
Meet the Panelists: Maryel Stone, Heather Cole, Beth Ford, and James Blakey discuss their diverse publishing journeys.
9:40 – 10:30 AM Session 1: Short Story Publishing
📢 Speaker: James Blakey
Insights into getting your short stories published—from literary magazines to anthologies.
10:30 – 10:40 AM
☕ Break
10:40 – 11:30 AM Session 2: Small Press Publishing
📢 Speaker: Beth Ford
Learn how to navigate and thrive in the world of small press publishing.
11:30 – 11:40 AM
☕ Break
11:40 – 12:30 PM Session 3: Media Relations for Writers
📢 Speaker: Heather Cole
Master the art of media presence and grow your author platform.
12:30 – 1:00 PM Writing Blurbs and Loglines
✍️ Facilitator: Andrea Yarbough | Writing Enrichments
Craft compelling blurbs and irresistible loglines to hook readers and agents alike.
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👥 Meet the Panelists
Maryel Stone – Self-Published Author
Heather Cole – Self-Published & Small Press Author
Beth Ford – Small Press & Traditionally Published Author
James Blakey – Self-Published, Small Press & Traditional Author
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🎟️ REGISTRATION: Purchase tickets from EventBrite
$10 Members, $15 Non-members
📚 **ALL LEVELS WELCOME
Let your story find its path to publication. Join us for a morning of inspiration and practical advice!
Join us for a panel discussion regarding all things publishing, from querying to beta readers, from authors who have self-published, hybrid-, and traditionally published. Learn the tips, tricks and strategies to become published!

Write by the Rails Holiday Mixer and Elections
2025-12-13 10:30 - 12:00 | Bull Run Unitarian Universalist Church, 9350 Main St, Manassas, VA, 20110, United States
Join us for a holiday potluck mixer and vote for your new board members.

Food Drive: Attendees are encouraged (but not required/expected) to bring non-perishable items for a food drive to help families in need this holiday season.
We will also host a holiday-card signing event and deliver the cards to Manassas area seniors.

Board positions up for election are Vice President and Treasurer.
Vice President:

The Vice President shall assume the duties of the President in case of absence or vacancy and will chair the Program Committee.

Treasurer:

The Treasurer shall keep the accounts of the WbtR and provide a summary report at meetings and general membership. At the last meeting of the year, the Treasurer will make a full report on the WbtR’s finances. The books of the Treasurer shall be readily available for audit as required by the WbtR Bylaws.

Interested in running for an open position? Learn more about each role by clicking the “Website” link under “Details” below. Email your interest to writebytherails@gmail.com by Wednesday, 12/10 to ensure your name is on the ballot!

WBTR Winter Writing Book Club - Session #1
2025-12-15 19:00 - 20:00 | Online – Zoom
Join us for a special Winter Writing Book Club as we read Stephen King’s, On Writing. We will host two virtual Book Club sessions:

December 15th from 7:00 – 8:00 pm: Emphasis on Part 1 of the book (King’s Writing Journey)
January 19th from 7:00 – 8:00 pm: Emphasis on Part 2 of the book (King’s craft exploration)

Please register your interest in joining the Book Club by completing the form accessed by clicking the “Website” link under “Details” below. We will send registrants a Zoom link to the sessions in advance of each meeting.

Come Write In - Writing Critique Group
2025-12-17 18:00 - 19:30 | Montclair Library, 5049 Waterway Drive, Dumfries, VA, 22025, United States
Join host Mike Mulligan for our December writer’s critique group at the Montclair Public Library, Room 3.

Writers' Enrichment: Great Beginnings
2026-01-17 10:30 - 12:00 | 9132 Grant Avenue, Manassas, VA 20110, 9132 Grant Ave, Manassas, VA, 20110, United States
Explore the opening pages of novels and best-practices for hooking a reader.

WBTR Winter Writing Book Club - Session #2
2026-01-19 19:00 - 20:00 | Online – Zoom

Come Write In – Writing Critique Group
2026-01-21 18:00 - 19:30 | Montclair Library, 5049 Waterway Drive, Dumfries, VA, 22025, United States
Join host Mike Mulligan for our January writer’s critique group at the Montclair Public Library, Room 3.

Writers' Conference: Transformations
2026-02-07 13:00 - 17:00 | George Mason University’s Potomac Science Center Multipurpose Room, 650 Mason Ferry Avenue, Woodbridge, VA, United States
Write by the Rails members are invited to attend the Transformations Writers’ Conference hosted by the Northern Virginia Writing Project. Two of our own members will be speaking at the event. Join PWC Poet Laureate, John Dutton and Sharon Krasny, author of “Iceman Awakens” and “Shroud of Ice” along with writer Marcie Atkins for this great FREE event.

Transform Your Writing to 3D with Foreshadowing and Symbols
Doodle Monster
Teachers as Writers: Making Space for your Own Creativity

Montclair Critique Group
2026-02-11 17:30 - 19:30 | Montclair Library, 5049 Waterway Drive, Dumfries, VA, 22025, United States
Join the Montclair Critique Group every second Wednesday of each month at the Montclair library. You will need to coordinate with the host, Natalina Reis, in advance to ensure your pages can be read in advance of the meeting. See the WBTR members-only Facebook group for more information!

February Enrichment—Fall in Love with Writing
2026-02-14 10:30 - 12:00 | Bull Run Regional Library, 8051 Ashton Ave, Manassas, VA, 20109, United States
Join us for another great writing enrichment and fall in love with writing!

Come Write In - Montclair Writers' Group
2026-02-18 18:00 - 2026-03-03 19:30 | Montclair Library, 5049 Waterway Drive, Dumfries, VA, 22025, United States
Come Write In with the Montclair Writer’s Group every third Wednesday of the month.

ScribbleCon26
2026-02-21 09:00 - 15:00 | Benton Middle School, 7411 Hoadly Road, Manassas, VA, United States
Do you like grabbing your pencil and scribbling your way to another dimension where anything is possible? Well, we have a day for you!

ScribbleCon26 is a writing workshop that welcomes students of all levels [middle school and above] and anyone [parents and guardians] who love to write. It is a creative, hands-on experience led by writing professionals. Come and write alongside professional writers, authors, poets, and teachers. Students will engage in the writing process by selecting topics, drafting, revising, and editing their original work.

Registration info is available at ScribbleCon26 Registration – Fill out form.
Contact John Dutton at: duttonjl@pwcs.edu for more information.

Parents are encouraged to come and write alongside their child!

Just write and you will be right!

Write ON the Rails
2026-03-14 | VA
Write by the Rails is on the move!
Join us for a very special March enrichment: Write ON the Rails.
We’ll gather in the morning and travel as a group via metro into the city, where we’ll enjoy a relaxed lunch at Clyde’s of Gallery Place. Along the way, participants will engage in some creative writing prompts, with time to share their work, exchange ideas, and spark new inspiration.
After lunch, we’ll make our way back with even more opportunities for creative writing before returning mid-afternoon.
To facilitate planning and ensure you receive all updates, please RSVP no later than March 7 to reserve your seat. You can find the sign-up form in our February 27th newsletter and in the members-only Facebook Group.
If you have any questions or experience difficulty finding the registration form, please reach out to us at writebytherails@gmail.com.

Hunt for Your Next Story
2026-04-11 10:00 - 11:30 | VA
Ready to find your next great read? We invite you to bring a recommended book or a powerful excerpt you can share with fellow writers. Join us in discovering these literary gems!

Golden Nib 2026 Submission Window
2026-07-10 00:00 - 2026-08-01 23:59 | VA
This year’s Golden Nib submission window will run from July 10th to August 1. Send your submissions to the judging mailbox (wbtrsubmissions@gmail.com) by no later than 11:59 pm on Saturday, August 1.
As a reminder, anyone who submits their pieces for evaluation must be a member of both Write by the Rails and our parent organization, The Virginia Writer’s Club.
To learn more about the competition, including how to properly format your submissions, you may access the information shared by the VWC here:
Virginia Writer’s Club 2026 Golden Nib Competition

Summer Write-in: July
2026-07-11 10:30 - 12:00 | Jirani Coffeehouse, 9425 West St, Manassas, 20110, United States
Join us for a chat over coffee and some inspiration for your writing. We will provide prompts that you could use for a Golden Nib entry or bring your own projects.

Summer Write-in: August
2026-08-08 10:30 - 12:00 | Jirani Coffeehouse, 9425 West St, Manassas, 20110, United States
Join us for a chat over coffee plus some writing inspiration. Prompts are provided or bring your own work in progress.

National Book Festival!!!
2026-08-22 09:00 - 20:00 | VA
Join us at the National Book Festival for a celebration of stories, ideas, and the people who bring them to life. Meet fellow writers, connect with readers, discover new inspiration and celebrate the power of written word.
August 22nd @ Walter E. Washington Convention Center from 9:00a.m to 8:00p.m
