August Writers Network: Westley Turner on “Story—What it is and How You Can Make it Better”
Friday, August 1, 2014, 9:00 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Professional editor and writer Westley Turner will address the CWC Breakfast meeting at IHOP on Friday, August 1, 2014. His topic is “Story: What it is and How You Can Make it Better.” He will share what things you should look out for before submitting your work for editing and publication, what he calls a bit of “preventative editing.” Westley served as a judge at the most recent Northern California Publishers and Authors Book Awards, and he will talk about what he looks for when judging contest submissions.
Westley was raised by two schoolteachers (his mother taught English, his father music), so he should have been well prepared for a career in education; however, that’s not the path he chose to follow. After a couple decades in the computer industry, he returned to the same university where his mother had taught to work towards a teaching position himself. Again, life didn’t follow the intended route. Currently he works for the State of California and writes and edits in his spare time.
Most of Westley’s stories began as bedtime tales told to his children (eight of them now, and nine grandkids!). As the children grew up, so did the stories. One day someone said, “Hey, that stuff is pretty good. Maybe you should write it down.” Thus was born another writer. Joining a few writers’ groups helped him realize his passion for the English language (and all languages in general). Currently, Westley is taking a course in linguistics. He constantly aims to improve himself and is willing to help others along the way.
Although focusing primarily on Sci-Fi as a youth, Westley finds it quite enjoyable to expand his horizons, picking up books he would never have considered in the past. He has successfully edited a few books to publication (most recently a non-fiction piece on Hispanic soldiers of WWII). He finds that sharing his knowledge with others allows him to learn from them as much as they learn from him.
The public is invited. CWC membership not required.
Writers Network is held the first Friday of every month at the International House of Pancakes (IHOP), 2216 Sunrise Blvd., Rancho Cordova (just north of Highway 50) starting at 9 AM. Meetings are free. Attendees pay for their own breakfast. Get map
Questions? Contact Margie Yee Webb.
Members are urged to invite their writer friends to attend these sessions. CWC membership is not required. They may also want to consider joining CWC to enjoy the benefits of mixing with many experienced writers willing to share what they know.