California Writers Club, Sacramento Branch

Dedicated to Educating Writers of all Levels

Writers Network June 2 – Pulling Your Reader in Close, Mastering Deep Point of View


Friday, June 2, 2023

9 – 11 am

CH Cafe & Grill (formally Perko’s)
6215 Sunrise Blvd (just off Greenback)
Citrus Heights 

or

Join with Zoom

Passcode 811481
 
Judith Starkston
Judith Starkston

 

 

Judith Starkston

Author

Pulling Your Reader in Close, Mastering Deep Point of View

Attendees will learn about:

  • How to recognize what deep point of view is and why you want it
  • How to fix common ways we distance our readers
  • How to add details that close the distance
  • How to get physical without clichés
  • How to put deep point of view into your setting

Judith Starkston has spent too much time exploring the remains of the ancient worlds of the Greeks and Hittites. Early on she went so far as to get degrees in Classics from the University of California, Santa Cruz and Cornell. She loves myths and telling stories. This has gotten more and more out of hand. Her solution is her brand: Fantasy and Magic in a Bronze Age World. Hand of Fire was a semi-finalist for the M.M. Bennett’s Award for Historical Fiction. Priestess of Ishana won the San Diego State University Conference Choice Award. Judith is represented by Richard Curtis.

For more information, visit www.judithstarkston.com/

Tesha Series
Tesha Series

 

Hand of Fire
Hand of Fire

Monthly meeting at Cattlemens

Mark your calendar for another exciting Cattlemens meeting Saturday, June 17!

TELL ME WHY: CREATING REALISTIC & BELIEVABLE MOTIVATION FOR (ALL) YOUR CHARACTERS

Featured speaker:  Anna J. Stewart, USA Today Bestselling Romance Novelist

What you will learn:

  • What is motivation and how does it apply to character.
  • Why motivation is important to your characters and your story as a whole.
  • Film and TV examples of strong (and not so strong) character motivation.
  • The difference in creating motivation for villains versus heroes.
  • Motivation examined in relation to goals and conflict.

Networking & Coffee: 11:30 am.

Book display – Bring a copy of your book to display and SELL!

Book giveaway – Bring a used book you think others might enjoy.

Meal: Plated, with vegetarian option

Meeting cost: $32, advance purchase; walk-in, $37. Required of all attendees, receipt available which can be tax deductible.
Sadly, our prices have gone up to cover bank charges.

Purchase Tickets

Native Californian Anna J Stewart is the author of more than 50 romance novels and novellas. Currently under contract with Harlequin and ArcManor, she writes sweet to spicy happily ever afters across the romance genre. A former Holt Medallion winner, a Daphne, and National Readers’ Choice finalist, she’s also been lucky enough to have one of her books optioned for a TV movie.

Special post-meeting club fundraiser: “Public Speaking Tips for Writers,” by member Linda Champion, Toastmasters District Champion, Speech Evaluation, a 30-minutes verbal presentation, written tips, and plenty of time for questions! (Attendees who stay to hear Linda are invited to give a donation to the club!)

Purchase Tickets

 

Monthly Meeting, May 20 – Beginning Again: Putting Fun Back Into Writing

Saturday, May 20 2023

 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Arden-Dimick Library
891 Watt Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95864

Free Meeting – Open to the Public

Zoom link

Come see your fellow writers! Hear what everyone’s working on! Find new friends who share your genre!

 

Kirsten Casey
Kirsten Casey

with

Kirsten Casey

Author 

Beginning Again: Putting Fun Back Into Writing.

Nevada County Poet Laureate, Kirsten Casey, wants you to enjoy the process of writing, even if you feel undisciplined and blocked. Her approach to writing will entertain you and inspire you. Remember why you started to write and come to renew that sense of inspiration.

I will boost your creativity, through a glimpse into the ways I find inspiration, and I will provide prompts to renew your curiosity and love for writing.

You will learn where to look for inspiration when you don’t feel inspired.

  • the internet is your friend, the internet is your enemy.
  • accountability in writing, what does that mean to you?
  • fun prompts that are useful in any genre of writing.
  • encouragement without judgment, learning to accept your own approach.

Kirsten Casey is the current Nevada County poet laureate, and an active California Poet in the Schools. As laureate, she is writing poems celebrating local historical places, people, and events. She is also holding community workshops to promote poetry and to make the process of its creation more accessible. Her second book of poetry (with the working title Instantaneous Obsolescence) explores historical and literary characters struggling with social media. Kirsten Casey.

 

Writers Network May 5 – Get Emotional With Your Writing


Friday, May 5, 2023

9 – 11 am

CH Cafe & Grill (formally Perko’s)
6215 Sunrise Blvd (just off Greenback)
Citrus Heights 

or

Join with Zoom

Passcode 811481
 

Pete Cruz

Author

Why Evoking Emotions in Writing is Vital to Engaging Readers

Attendees will learn about:

  • Why emotions are significant to telling a story
  • Challenges to feeling our emotions
  • How to access emotions
  • Why Show, Don’t Tell is the golden rule.
  • Tools and tips for writing emotional content

Pete Cruz is a member of our California Writers Club–Sacramento Branch.  He has won awards for short stories, served on writers panels, editing teams, and presented talks and workshops on a variety of subjects during his professional career in adult education and as a trainer and consultant for the State of California.

His memoir, No Tears for Dad, was published last November.  It’s his raw and sensitive account of recovery from childhood trauma and its effects on adulthood. He calls his book the most significant thing he’s ever done in his life, besides being a father to his daughter. For more information, visit www.PeteCruz.com, Facebook: PeteCruzAuthor, Instagram: @PeteCruzAuthor.

 

Monthly Meeting, April 15 – Pitching to Agents or Publishers

Saturday, April 15, 2023

 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Arden-Dimick Library
891 Watt Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95864

Free Meeting – Open to the Public

Zoom link

Come see your fellow writers! Hear what everyone’s working on! Find new friends who share your genre!

 

with

Jordan Bernal

Author 

Craft Your Pitch to Draw Agents’ Attention

You’ve written a great book, now learn to draw an agent’s interest enough to request a sample of your writing. Bring your pitch and receive feedback on ways to hone it.

You will learn how to:

  • Learn the Key Components of a pitch
  • Be concise: short is sweet
  • Enjoy the conversation
  • Understand the ultimate goal of pitching
  • Develop other uses for your pitch

Jordan Bernal is the author of The Keepers of Éire, The Keepers of Alba, & Reluctant Paladin—dragon fantasies that encourage readers to let their imaginations take flight. Jordan publishes through Dragon Wing Publishing, her independent press. She’s been a member of CWC Tri-Valley Writers since 2010. Follow Jordan at http://www.jordanbernal.com.