Northern Virginia Writers Club

May 2026 Meeting: Jeffrey James Higgins on the Craft & Business of Writing
2026-05-16 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 7426 Idylwood Road, Falls Church, VA, 22043, United States
The Craft & Business of Writing
NVWC member Jeffrey James Higgins will provide an overview of what a writer needs to know about writing and publishing in 2026. The session will cover learning craft, writing practice and process, digital tools, dictation, common craft mistakes, editing iterations, critiquing, querying agents and publishers, current pathways to publication, marketing, and the business of writing.
Jeffrey James Higgins is a retired supervisory special agent who writes thrillers, short stories, creative nonfiction, and essays. He has wrestled a suicide bomber, fought the Taliban in combat, and chased terrorists across five continents. Jeffrey received the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Heroism and the DEA Award of Valor. He’s been interviewed by CNN, Fox News, and The New York Times, and he’s appeared on CNN Declassified, National Geographic’s Narco Wars, and ABC News. Jeffrey’s a #1 Amazon bestselling author with six published thrillers, including a selection for one of the best medical thrillers of the 21st century. Library Journal selected The Havana Syndrome as one of the best books of 2025. Jeffrey owns Elaine’s Literary Salon in Alexandria, VA, where he counsels writers, interviews authors, and hosts a podcast. He’s an Authors Guild ambassador for the DC area and a frequent panelist at conferences and book festivals.

NVWC @ Occoquan Riverfest
2026-06-06 - 2026-06-07 | Occoquan, VA, Occoquan, VA, United States
Visit the booth for the Northern Virginia Writers Club, pick up signed copies of members’ books, and learn more about the club.

June 2026 Meeting: The Art of Writing & Marketing Suspense (& Much More) by Andromeda Romano-Lax
2026-06-20 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 7426 Idylwood Road, Falls Church, VA, 22043, United States
Yes, I Do Think You Should Write a Suspense Novel
Why it’s harder than many think, and why writing (or just reading!) genre fiction can teach you important craft lessons
Thrillers and mysteries are strong sellers, but that doesn’t necessarily mean crime fiction is an easy genre to crash. As the author of literary and historical novels who successfully broke into the world of psychological suspense five years ago and became a Barnes & Noble “Our Monthly Pick” author in the process, I’ll discuss some myths and facts about the writing, revision, and marketing of thrillers, mysteries, and suspense. I’ll also touch on horror, an adjacent category that is currently hotter than it’s been in decades.
Let’s say you’re not planning to write crime fiction, only read it. I’ll address how paying attention to crime and horror as a reader can teach important craft lessons that apply to all forms of writing, even literary novels and memoirs.
Born in Chicago and now a resident of Vancouver Island, Canada, Andromeda Romano-Lax worked as a freelance journalist and travel writer before turning to fiction. Her first novel, The Spanish Bow, was translated into eleven languages and chosen as a New York Times Editors’ Choice, BookSense pick, and one of Library Journal’s Best Books of the Year. Her next four novels, The Detour, Behave (an Indie Next Pick), Plum Rains (winner of the Sunburst Award), and Annie and the Wolves (A Booklist Top 10 Historical Fiction Book of the Year) reflect her diverse interest in the arts, history, science, and technology, as well as her love of travel and her time spent living abroad.
Starting with The Deepest Lake (a Barnes & Noble Monthly Pick and Amazon Book of the Month) and continuing with her next novel, What Boys Learn (January 2026), Andromeda has swerved into the world of suspense fiction, although she continues to write historical and speculative fiction as well.

July 2026 Meeting: Jessica Berg on High Concept Fiction
2026-07-18 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 7426 Idylwood Road, Falls Church, VA, 22043, United States
High Concept Fiction: What It Actually Means & Why You Need to Know
You’ve heard agents and editors talk about “high concept,” but what does that actually mean for you and for the genre you write?
In this presentation, Jessica Berg, literary agent and founder of Rosecliff Literary will demystify one of publishing’s most-used (and most-confusing) terms. We’ll look at what high concept really means, how it functions differently across genres, and why understanding whether your book has it changes how you approach all aspects of publishing, no matter if you’re pursuing traditional or indie publication.
You’ll learn:

The clear definition of high concept (and what it’s not)
How to recognize it in your own work
Why it looks different in literary fiction vs. romance vs. thriller vs. SFF
What to do if your book isn’t high concept – and why that’s okay
How this understanding shapes your query strategy

This session is for writers who:

Want to understand industry language without the mystification
Are preparing to query and need clarity on how to position their work
Write across genres and wonder how this term applies to different projects
Want to make strategic decisions based on their book’s actual strength

Jessica Berg is the founder and agency director of Rosecliff Literary, a boutique agency built on the belief that ambitious writers deserve transparency, strategy, and a seat at the table. She earned her MFA from Spalding University and brings more than a decade of experience to her work with clients.
In addition to her agency role, Jessica serves as a contributing editor for Writer’s Digest, where she writes and consults on topics related to querying, craft, comp titles, and the business of authorship. She teaches globally on query letters, positioning, and sustainable author careers. Jessica serves on the board of the Historical Novel Society and is a chair for the National Women’s Book Association.
She lives online at @jessica__berg, where she talks about querying, writing life, and the realities of publishing with transparency, humor, and a touch of glam. Connect with Rosecliff at @roseclifflit.
Free download: How to Pitch Your Book in 30 Seconds at https://www.jessicaberg.me/the-30-second-book-pitch.

August 2026 Meeting: Summer Social
2026-08-15 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 7426 Idylwood Road, Falls Church, VA, 22043, United States
Back by popular demand, our Summer Social will be largely unstructured, with no featured speaker, to allow ample time for networking and sharing our experiences in writing and publishing. If you’re published, bring a book for the raffle.

September 2026 Meeting: The Writers' Rx with Dr. Jasmine Sandoval
2026-09-19 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 7426 Idylwood Road, Falls Church, VA, 22043, United States
From Pulse to Prose
Discover how to harness the body’s most visceral reactions and turn them into powerful storytelling tools. In this session, you’ll learn to translate racing pulses, constricted breaths, trembling hands, and subtle somatic cues into gripping narrative beats that drive tension and emotion. We’ll break down how the human body naturally responds to fear, desire, conflict, and revelation—and how to mirror those sensations on the page with precision. By the end, you’ll know how to craft scenes so physically immersive that readers don’t just follow your characters… they feel them.
Workshop Activity: “Visceral Revision Lab”
OPTIONAL: Writers will bring a short scene (150–300 words) from their work in progress—preferably a moment involving tension, emotion, or internal conflict. In small groups or paired breakout sessions, they will identify the character’s dominant emotional state, then rewrite 3-5 lines of the scene using visceral body reactions instead of abstract emotion words. Participants will focus on replacing “telling” phrases (fear, anger, shock, excitement) with pulse changes, breath shifts, autonomic responses, muscle tension, micro-movements, and sensory cues.
After revising, volunteers will share their before-and-after versions to see how the added somatic detail heightens immersion, tension, and emotional authenticity.
With over 25 years in the medical field and 15 years as a registered nurse, Dr. Jasmine Sandoval brings a unique blend of expertise and storytelling to every stage and page. She is the author of The Writer’s Rx, a guide for writers who want to master the art of immersive storytelling. Writing under the pen name J.C. Sang, she explores fiction that delves into resilience and human connection.

October 2026 Meeting: Overcoming the Fear of Self-Promotion
2026-10-17 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 7426 Idylwood Road, Falls Church, VA, 22043, United States
Learn to promote yourself and your work with confidence
When you’re reluctant to broadcast your accomplishments and capabilities, your ideal readers, as well as editors and influencers, never get the chance to find out about you and your work. Learn to identify when fear, resistance, and your inner critic are getting in your way; which fears are causing you the most trouble; how to develop antidotes to your fear; and quick fixes to manage your inner saboteurs. Discover how to transform your relationship with marketing – and with your desired audience – so you can promote yourself and your written work confidently.
C.J. Hayden is the bestselling author of Get Clients Now! A 28-Day Marketing Program for Professionals, Consultants, and Coaches. Since 1992, she’s been a business coach and writing mentor, helping self-employed professionals and creatives thrive. C.J. has taught for John F. Kennedy University, Mills College, and the U.S. Small Business Administration. She is the author of 8 books and hundreds of published articles and blog posts. Her newest book is Overcoming the Fear of Self-Promotion.

November 2026 Meeting: Writing History vs. Writing Historical Fiction
2026-11-14 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 7426 Idylwood Road, Falls Church, VA, 22043, United States
Writing History vs. Writing Historical Fiction
NVWC member David K. Wessel is a retired U.S. diplomat who served at embassies in Central America and Europe and is the former Mayor of Duck, NC. His recent publications include an article for American Historical Association’s Perspectives magazine and his first novel, Choosing Sides, which explores how ordinary people living in Germany between the two world wars responded to the loss of their democracy, a subject he has studied for some fifty years. In this presentation, David will share the perspective he has gained on the differences – and similarities – between writing history and writing historical fiction.

December 2026 Meeting: Holiday Social
2026-12-19 13:00 - 15:00 UTC | St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 7426 Idylwood Road, Falls Church, VA, 22043, United States
Join your fellow writers for some socializing. A favorite event every year, as it’s no business and all fun and getting to know your fellow writers!
