You’re a writer, alone in a room (or wishing you were. If you’re like me, between husband and dog, there’s rarely a moment’s peace), and you need help. When you ask your husband, he gives you a blank stare, when you ask the dog, she licks your cheek. So what’s a writer to do?

The answer is simple—seek out local writing resources. Despite our relatively small size, northern Nevada has a myriad of resources for writers.

Need to learn the craft? Go back to school. UNR, Truckee Meadows Community College (Reno) and Western Nevada Community College (Carson City) all offer skill building courses for writers, many of which are offered at night as part of the community education program.

If you don’t have the time or energy for a semester’s worth of studying, local writer’s organizations sponsor workshops throughout the year. The most well-known is the Squaw Valley Writers’ Conference, a week-long workshop which brings in notable authors (such as Amy Tan), for lectures and workshops. Scholarships are available on a limited basis, and many of the lectures are open to the public. TMCC also sponsors a four day workshop each March, including an optional intensive critique workshop. Scholarships are available for that workshop as well.

SCBWI and Unnamed Writers’ Group also sponsor workshops. SCBWI has at least one major seminar during the year, which includes manuscript critiques by editors and/or agents. Unnamed Writers’ Group sponsors two smaller workshops a year, including at least one writing contest.

Once you’ve learned all there is to know about the craft of writing (ha,ha) and just want to hang out with other writers, you’re in luck. Both SCBWI and UNWG have monthly meetings, SCBWI on the second Saturday of each month, UNWG on the first Saturday of each month. At the SCBWI meetings you can bring work for critiques. UNWG has speakers who discuss various aspects of writing. The groups also sponsor individual critique groups, and UNWG has groups who meet to freewrite. For poets, there are two groups to contact—Black&White&Red Poets and Ash Canyon Poets. If romance is in the air, contact Northern Nevada Romance authors, a branch of Romance Writers of America.

For those days when you need information instead of companionship, take advantage of the Washoe County Library system. With a library card, you can do your library research on the internet. And don’t overlook local bookstores. Sundance will order anything you want (or need) and the staff is knowledgeable and friendly. Borders has an amazing selection of books about every aspect of writing, from inspiration to publication. By the way, while you’re exploring the stacks, don’t overlook good literature as a resource. Study the pros.

Finally, get on the mailing lists of Nevada Arts Council and Sierra Arts. There are grants (yes, they give you money, up to $1,000), contests, and events you’ll want to know about. Best of all, they’ll send you everything for free.

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UNR 784-1110

TMCC 673-7300

WNCC 445-3000

Squaw Valley Writer’s Conference web site —squawvalleywriters.org

SCBWI contact Troy Reinhardt at Troylet2161@cs.com

UNWG contact Sue Edmondson 825-9623 and check web site— unnamedwriters.org

Black&White&Red Poets contact Sarah Hile —Pshile@greatbasin.net

Ash Canyon Poets contact Bill Cowee—billycow@aol.com

Washoe County Library internet access —327-8349

Sundance Books—786-1188

Nevada Arts Council—687-6680

Sierra Arts Council—329-2787

Northern Nevada Romance Writers website: http://www.jour.unr.edu/interactive/romance/index.html