Old Bay Scribes

Crabby Writers

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Writing Events

Upcoming Events

There are two main ways to host or attend a writing event: in person or online. Each way has its own pros and cons. Here you will find suggestions and ideas for hosting each type, etiquette for attendees, and activities that you could include in your event.

Attending Events

  • Aim to treat the event as an all-ages event. There may be young writers in attendance, but it also sets a good public example.​
  • Be supportive of your fellow writers! Everyone is working towards a goal, so be encouraging and positive when people share their ideas, progress, etc.​
  • If you’re nervous about sharing or interacting, it’s totally ok to pop in some earbuds and just soak in the atmosphere. There is no requirement to actually socialize if you’re not comfortable!
  • In-person Events
    • Be respectful of the location. If it is a business, consider making a small purchase, like a drink, to show support. When you’re heading out, leave your space tidy.​

Hosting Virtual Events

The first step to hosting a virtual event is to pick your platform. It should ideally be a place where multiple users can communicate either via text or voice/video at once. Some popular services include:

  • Discord
    • Requires users to have a Discord account
    • Voice and Video available
  • Google
    • May have free account restrictions, such as time or number of participants
    • May require account creation for participants
    • Voice and Video available
  • Zoom
    • May have free account restrictions, such as time or number of participants
    • May require account creation for participants
    • Voice and Video available

Benefits to online events

  • Available 24/7
  • No travel​
  • Easier to set up​
  • Lots of free options
  • Wider potential range of attendees who can drop in as they have time​

Limitations to online events

  • Less personal​
  • More difficult to facilitate a writerly or inspirational atmosphere​
  • Many free sites have a time limit for the length of the meeting​
  • Possible technical difficulties​
  • Super easy to get distracted online or through research

Hosting In-Person Events

The first step is to determine the event location. Popular types of locations include libraries or cafes. Be sure to consider the following.

  • Type of establishment – cafe, library, park, restaurant, etc.
    • It is a good idea to ask ahead of planning to see if they are open to hosting a group of people. Some places might require reservations, and others may prefer folks not monopolize tables during busy hours.
    • Consider patronizing the establishment by making a purchase or showing your appreciation and support in some other way.
  • Accessibility for all people.
  • Outlets and power sources – will there be enough available for all expected attendees?
  • Is there enough room for the number of people expected?
  • Is the location public, easy to find, and with enough parking?
  • Bring a sign, flyer, or table tent so that attendees can easily find the right table.

Benefits to in-person events

  • More personal​
  • Writerly/Inspirational atmosphere​
  • Can easily ask for input or feedback​
  • Possible delicious food and drinks

Limitations to in-person events

  • Travel time and ability
  • Timing is dependent upon the location’s business hours
  • Might mean spending some money on food or drinks​
  • Possible lack of accessibility options​

General Tips for Hosts

  • Be open and welcoming! Greet people as they arrive with either a friendly hello for virtual or a wave and a smile in person.​
  • Focus on the fun! Friendly competition can be a great motivator, but don’t let things get overly competitive to where enjoyment is lost.​
  • Vary up the activities. It’s easy to add in a dare or challenge to a sprint in order to keep things from becoming boring or monotonous.​
  • Encourage folks to share favorite sentences or paragraphs as they write.​
  • Have some conversation topics ready, such as asking about everyone’s novels or what their favorite genres are and why. Use open-ended topics and questions.​
  • In-Person
    • If you have a spare power strip to share, it’s a good idea to bring it.​
    • At the end, make sure the area is as clean or cleaner than it was when you arrived.​

Activities

There are countless activities that can be included in writing events, be they virtual or in-person. Here are a few classics.

Word Wars and Sprints

These are essentially the same thing, though some see sprints as non-competitive. Many sprints are generally 10-15 minutes long, though they can be as long or as short as you would like.​

  1. Have everyone record their current word count. This can be their overall count or just their current page/scene word count.​
  2. Set a timer for the length of the sprint.​
  3. Have everyone start at the same time, on GO!​
  4. Write those words!​
  5. When the time is up, make sure everyone is stopped.​
  6. Have everyone record their new current word count, and figure out how many words they wrote.​
  7. For competitive sprints, whomever wrote the most words during the sprint wins!​

Alternatively, set a goal like the Fifty Headed Hydra challenge, where you aim to write 500 words in 5 minutes. Whomever is the closest to 500 words after 5 minutes wins!​

Prompts, Dares, and Challenges​

Prompts are great for helping folks who may have trouble getting started.​

  • Your character encounters the antagonist while going about a normal day.​
  • A mysterious letter is found.​
  • The characters start going missing one by one.​

Dares/Challenges can be just about anything. There can be a dare given for the entire write-in, or a dare to accomplish during a sprint.​

  • Include an octopus.​
  • Use the word Equivocation (an ambiguous or deliberately evasive statement – www.merriam-webster.com)​
  • Write a scene (or sprint) in a different genre style

Word Crawls

Word crawls are a combination of all of the previous activities, set to a narrative backdrop. These often come in the form of a themed adventure. Some crawls are able to be completed in under 30 minutes, while others are designed to last for multiple days.​

Here are some examples of Word Crawls, and places to find more!