California Writers Club, Sacramento Branch

Dedicated to Educating Writers of all Levels

First Friday, July 6 – Presenting the Written Word

Beyond Technicalities:

Extending Your Image as an Artist

through Self-Publishing Products

with

Todd Boyd

Coordinator & Host, “Writers on the Air”

First Friday Network
July 6, 2018
9-11 AM Coco’s, 7887 Madison Avenue, Citrus Heights
Bring Market Leads & Marketing Tips

Put aside the technical/business side of publishing to discuss the creative and artistic side of the written word with Writers on the Air host Todd Boyd.

Writers on the Air is a monthly venue where attendees read their work in an open mic format and  are recorded, then aired on an internet channel, KUBU, 96.5 LP-FM and streamed at accesssacramento.org. Each month features two local writers as well as an open mic which is open to the public at the Sacramento Poetry Center. Featured Readers have included local novelists and short story writers, such as Amy Rogers, Azi Sametipour, Katya Mills, Frederick Foote and many other published and unpublished poets and storytellers, most well representing the Sacramento writing community. WOA also produces an iTunes podcast called The Writers On the Air Show.

Previous open mics and featured readers can be listened to at www.writersontheair.com.

Todd has been a carpenter, a railroad worker, and a social studies teacher. He self-publishes his work in various formats, hosts an internet radio show and open mic events, and blogs. He will bring samples of different ways to present the written word. A poet, Todd has also written a novel, two poetry chapbooks, a collection of short stories, and a journal of personal history. Some of his work in audio form can be found at www.writersontheair.com and at his blog- www.saylavproductions.com.

Todd is a strong advocate of the written word and other artistic media, allowing each person to create and experiment with his or her personal vision.

 

The California Writers Club–Sacramento Branch Networking Meeting is held the first Friday of every month at Coco’s Restaurant, 7887 Madison Avenue, Citrus Heights, at the corner of Madison and Sunrise,  starting at 9 a.m. Meetings are free. Attendees pay for their own breakfast.

Questions? Ask via our Contact page.

First Friday, Jun 1 – Avoid the Blogging Blues

HOW TO NAVIGATE SOCIAL MEDIA

Without Sidetracking Your Writing Time

 

Erika Mailman

Friday,  June 1, 2018

9-11 AM Coco’s, 7887 Madison Avenue, Citrus Heights

 

Everyone claims that authors must be involved in social media to help promote their books—but how do you do this without feeling like you’re stealing time away from producing new work? Join us to hear novelist Erika Mailman give tips to engage in short, effective bursts and to grow a follower base. This presentation will be of interest to writers of novels, nonfiction books, short stories, memoir, poetry, and dramatic formats.

Erika is the distinguished author of four historical novels: The Witch’s Trinity, a San Francisco Chronicle Notable Book which Khaled Hosseini called “gripping”; Woman of Ill Fame, which is about a Gold Rush prostitute; House of Bellaver, which is a literary ghost story set in Oakland; and now The Murderer’s Maid: a Lizzie Borden Novel. With an MFA in poetry from the University of Arizona, Erika has been a Yaddo fellow and has also served as a juror for the Shirley Jackson Awards. Under the pen name Lynn Carthage, she writes Y.A. fiction. Her websites are www.erikamailman.com and www.lynncarthage.com.

The California Writers Club–Sacramento Branch Networking Meeting is held the first Friday of every month at Coco’s Restaurant, 7887 Madison Avenue, Citrus Heights, at the corner of Madison and Sunrise,  starting at 9 a.m. Meetings are free. Attendees pay for their own breakfast.

Questions? Ask via our Contact page.

First Friday, May 4 – Publishing Decisions

“To Publish or not to Publish,

That is the Question.”

with

Al Zagofsky

Publisher, California Update

Friday,  May 4, 2018

9-11 AM Coco’s, 7887 Madison Avenue, Citrus Heights

 

So you write. Have you been published? Do you want to be published? Do you want to make money from publishing? As someone once said, Be careful what you wish for, as there may be important things to consider. Speaker Al Zagofsky will review emotional, financial and time considerations of being published.

Al teaches journalist techniques to writers desiring to improve. He has had a varied career. In addition to being a prolific writer and oral storyteller, Al has given storytelling seminars. For the past 15 plus years, he has been a print journalist, an online magazine publisher, a storyteller, and a movement awareness teacher. Al is an interesting presenter. He sometimes uses humor in both writing and speaking.  His original training was as a mechanical and project management engineer. He has also worked as a raft and kayaking guide.

The California Writers Club–Sacramento Branch Networking Meeting is held the first Friday of every month at Coco’s Restaurant, 7887 Madison Avenue, Citrus Heights, at the corner of Madison and Sunrise,  starting at 9 a.m. Meetings are free. Attendees pay for their own breakfast.

Questions? Ask via our Contact page.

First Friday, Apr 6 – Friends in High Places

FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES

with

 Roger S. Peterson

Editor, Writing Coach, Business Writer

Friday,  April 6, 2018

9-11 AM Coco’s, 7887 Madison Avenue, Citrus Heights

 

Maintain Your Credibility by Avoiding Language Misuse

From politicians to sportscasters to company CEOs – people who should know better are mistreating the English language. Writers can avoid common blunders by listening to editor Roger S. Peterson.  A long-time business writer, writing coach, and West Coast editor of The Business Book Ghostwriters, Roger will make us laugh, squirm, and roll our eyes at egregious errors made by prominent people while he reminds us of pesky language traps to avoid.

Roger’s list of article credits spans more than 150 titles, including four cover stories and four guest editorials in The Sacramento Bee. He writes extensively on business communication. Roger is also a frequent manuscript reviewer for Berrett-Koehler Publishers and edits book reviews for the Wild West History Association.

Co-author of numerous books, Roger has served as developmental editor on four volumes. He got his start in college textbook publishing where he published 45 books in psychology and education. Now The New York Times and The Harvard Business Review come to Roger for opinions, as has the NBC Nightly News.

The California Writers Club–Sacramento Branch Networking Meeting is held the first Friday of every month at Coco’s Restaurant, 7887 Madison Avenue, Citrus Heights, at the corner of Madison and Sunrise,  starting at 9 a.m. Meetings are free. Attendees pay for their own breakfast.

Questions? Ask via our Contact page.

First Friday, Mar 2 – Creating Story from Real Events

FROM FACT TO FICTION:

CREATING STORY FROM REAL EVENTS

with

Anne da Vigo

Friday, March 2, 2018

9-11 AM Coco’s, 7887 Madison Avenue, Citrus Heights

 

Have you ever read a gripping news story or had a fascinating experience and thought, “This would make a great novel?” Anne Da Vigo, author of the new thriller, Thread of Gold, will show you how to craft a fictional work using actual people, events, and settings. This presentation, offered recently by Anne and other panelists at Florida’s Other Words conference, will include examples from her novel, inspired by a decades-old clipping from the New York Times. Bring paper and pen for a short writing exercise.

Anne Da Vigo is a former police reporter and newspaper feature writer. She is also a long-time short story writer and critique group participant. Her work has appeared in literary journals and won prizes for another upcoming thriller. Her first novel, Thread of Gold, was acclaimed as follows by Kirkus Reviews, “Stop the presses! An appealing crime fiction heroine is born.”

The California Writers Club–Sacramento Branch Networking Meeting is held the first Friday of every month at Coco’s Restaurant, 7887 Madison Avenue, Citrus Heights, at the corner of Madison and Sunrise,  starting at 9 a.m. Meetings are free. Attendees pay for their own breakfast.

Questions? Ask via our Contact page.