Hunt for Your Next Story
2026-04-11 10:00 - 11:30 UTC | 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
