The writing community in Phoenix and its surrounding cities is incredibly vibrant, and as advocates for local author talent and resources, Midnight Publishing is thrilled! We feel lucky to provide editing and ghostwriting services in the heart of the Southwest and are regularly inspired by the Phoenix-based events and classes our staff regularly attends. One of the best locations for writing advice and local author mentorship is the Tempe Public Library located at the intersection of Rural Road and Southern Avenue. Their “Tempe Writes at the Library” program is chock full of incredible resources and get-togethers for this summer, and they offer several additional groups, events, author mentoring programs, and several other summer writing events that we’ll share with you now.

Writing Groups

1. Writers Connection

When: August 11^th and 25^th, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Where: Meeting Room B

This critique group meets every other Friday so that participants can share their current work and receive feedback. A great way to meet other local aspiring and published writers for potential long-term beta reader relationships. Meets every other Friday.

2. Writing Studio

When: August 4^th and 18^th, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Where: Meeting Room B

Led by the group as a whole, this informal get-together offers attendees the chance to collectively practice writing with various exercises, and to increase their word counts for current works-in-progress. Meets every other Friday.

Author-in-Residence Melissa Marr’s Workshops

1. Writing for Children: From Picture Books to Teen Novels

When: August 16^th, 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Where: Meeting Room B

Led by New York Times bestselling and locally based author Melissa Marr, this workshop will focus on the basics of writing for children and teens.

2. Building Believable Characters: Beyond Dithering Damsels and Monologuing Villains

When: August 30^th, 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Where: Meeting Room B

This class will address how Marr straddles the line between providing characters and storylines that readers have proven they love while avoiding tropes and stereotypes. Special focus will be made on complexity in characters and finding the redeemable qualities in an antagonist.

4^th Annual Tempe Community Writing Contest

Entries for this annual contest must be original, single-authored, and previously unpublished.

Submissions Being Accepted

• Poetry (entry is defined as up to 100 lines)
• Fiction (entry is defined as a short story up to 3,500 words)
• Non-fiction (entry is defined as a work of creative non-fiction up to 3,500 words)

Submission Categories

• High school students
• College students
• Adults

Complete rules and submission guidelines can be found here.

Book Clubs

1. Coffee, Tea, and Books

When: August 21^st, 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Where: Café.
Book to discuss: Girl Waits with Gun by Amy Stewart.

This monthly book club held in the library’s café focuses mainly on popular novels and the occasional non-fiction book. Participants rotate in leading the discussion, and attendees must provide their own copy of the book.

2. Great Books Discussion Group

When: August 9^th, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Where: Café
Book to discuss: Now We Are Five by David Sedaris.

When: August 23^rd, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Where: Café
Book to discuss: The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas by Ursula K. Le Guin
Poem to discuss: Utopia by Wislawa Szymborska.

This book club is held on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month and is led by Kathy and Don Dietz. Reading, thinking, and sharing of personal thoughts are strongly encouraged.

For a full list of their summer writing events, go to the Tempe Public Library calendar page. Midnight Publishing has been serving authors, aspiring writers and entrepreneurs in the Phoenix area and globally for nearly a decade. Contact us today to discuss how we can provide our award-winning editing and writing services to help you prepare your book for publication!