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California Capital Book Festival — October 25-26

California Capital Book FestivalThe 2014 California Capital Book Festival is a free public event for book lovers, featuring prize-winning authors, presentations, children’s entertainers and activities, booksellers and other exhibitors. This inaugural literary event will be held Saturday, October 25, 10am-5pm and Sunday, October 26, 11am-5pm at the Sacramento Convention Center.

Meet and hear famous authors and illustrators, from across the US and around the world, as they present and sign their books.

Visit the Festival website to view the entire list of participating authors (note that you can sort by Last Name, Book Title, or Genre). There is also a full agenda available.

Look for CWC Members scheduled as Presenters.

  • Daniel Babka (Sacramento Branch)
  • Raymond Blain (Sacramento Branch)
  • Hazuki Kataoka (Sacramento Branch)
  • Dahlynn McKowen (Sacramento Branch)
  • Susan Pace-Koch (Mt. Diablo Branch)
  • Shirley Parenteau (Sacramento Branch)
  • Cindy Sample (Sacramento Branch)
  • Margie Yee Webb (Sacramento Branch)
  • Mark Wiederanders (Sacramento Branch)
  • Natasha Yim (Redwood Writers Branch)

There are also several CWC Members who will be at Exhibit Booths or Author Tables.

  • Raymond Blain (Sacramento Branch)
  • Edric Cane (Sacramento Branch)
  • Ken Champion (Sacramento Branch)
  • Linda Champion (Sacramento Branch)
  • Laurie Hoirup (Sacramento Branch)
  • Dahlynn McKowen (Sacramento Branch)
  • Cindy Sample (Sacramento Branch)
  • Margie Yee Webb (Sacramento Branch)

Hope to see you there!

Filed Under: Special EventsTagged With: author event, authors, book, book signing, california capital book festival, california writers club, local authors, other, sacramento, sacramento authors, sacramento convention center

Guest post by recent speaker Patricia Fry

How to Find Writing Work That Fulfills Your Passion

By Patricia Fry

First, let me say that I enjoyed meeting so many of you at the recent meeting of CWC-Sacramento. What fun it was talking about freelance writing and publishing. I meant it when I invited you to email me any specific questions you might have. PLFry620@yahoo.com.

As president of SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) and editor of the monthly SPAWN Market Update, I often respond to writers’ questions. Some of our most frequently asked questions relate to finding writing work.

For example, Lydia wrote, “My dream is to quit my job and become a full-time writer. Can you tell me how to get started?”

Jon asked, “What does it take to become a freelance writer? I’m disabled and want to do this work from my home.”

Rachel writes, “I’m a college graduate with a degree in journalism, but I can’t find work. Can you give me some job search advice?”

Whether you’re looking for corporate work, want to write for a newspaper or yearn to do freelance writing or editing, the opportunities are plentiful. If you can construct a sentence and you’re willing to approach job hunting with gusto, an open mind and a lot of creativity, you will find work.

Here’s my checklist for job hunters:

General Advice

  • Subscribe to online writing-oriented newsletters and join online writing organizations that offer job listings for writers. Many of them also keep you current on publishing trends. Here are a few resources to get you started: SPAWN (www.spawn.org), Writer’s Weekly Newsletter and website (www.writersweekly.com), Freelance Writer’s Report www.writers-editors.com, Writing-World (www.writingworld.com) and Working Writer (www.workingwriter1.com)
  • Become familiar with job search sites for writers.   These include http://www.sunoasis.com, http://www.writejobs.com, http://mockingbird.creighton.edu/ncw/jobs.htm, http://www.tjobs.com/new/writers.shtml, http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com

I often include new job boards and directories for writers in issues of the SPAWN Market Update. Join SPAWN at http://www.spawn.org.

  • Network constantly. Attend writers/publishers’ events and ask people how they got their jobs/assignments. Participate in interactive web sites for writers. Find local organizations through your library, bookstores and in the calendar section of the newspaper. Locate online sites using your favorite search engine. Type in “writers groups” or “writers,” for example.
  • Volunteer your writing services. A little volunteer work might land you the job you seek. Offer to write the church bulletin, a company newsletter or a press release for a charity organization, for example. Not only are you gaining experience and adding to your portfolio, but you’re showing off your talent and skills to all of the right people.
  • Read the classified employment ads every week and apply for every job that has “writing” in it. Post your resume on some of the major Internet recruiting sites such as monster.com. And search their databases for job opportunities.
  • Create a portfolio and keep adding to it. Make copies of your published articles, brochures, etc. to show prospective employers/clients.
  • Build a website and post your portfolio and resume there.
  • Keep writing. Write every chance you get. Practice, practice, practice.
  • Be open to all types of writing. You may have your heart set on becoming rich and famous writing your own novel or landing a job as the editor-in-chief for Reader’s Digest. In the meantime, however, accept the work that comes your way. Do some PR work for your neighbor, ghost write a book for a client, revise some technical manuals. Get paid and learn new skills.

If You Want a Writing Job in the Corporate World

  • Study the materials from companies for which you’d like to work and see if you can improve upon them. Show your ideas to the appropriate department head.
  • Join business organizations and service clubs where you can network with businessmen and women who might hire someone with your skills.
  • Sign with a temp agency as a writer. This may be your foot-in-the-door.

If You’re Hoping for a Job With a Major Newspaper

  • Hire on at a small newspaper while waiting for your big break. There’s an ongoing turnover at newspapers, so they’re always hiring. This is not a glamorous job, but it’s a step in the right direction.
  • Cover a story on speculation for the newspaper of your choice. Watch for the opportunity to write about a local high profile issue and offer it to the newspaper for a fee. Attend meetings and events that aren’t being covered by staff and offer to report on them. Your effort is bound to get the editor’s attention.

Create Your Own Work

  • Write articles for magazines. For this profession, you’ll need writing, organizational and research skills as well as patience and a great deal of self-discipline. You’ll also need the following tools: a computer, Writer’s Market and A Writer’s Guide to Magazine Articles for Book Promotion and Profit (Matilija Press, www.matilijapress.com).
  • Become an editor. Start by approaching busy freelance editors and see if they need help accommodating their clients. The editors I know often turn clients away because they’re too busy.
  • Find a mentor and be willing to do the work necessary to reach your goals. Many people who ask me for guidance in the writing field are not willing to take the necessary steps.
  • Don’t give up your day job. If you need the money and can’t keep waiting for THE job to come along, go to work and write in your spare time. “What spare time?” you might ask. This may be one of those situations where you have to make some sacrifices. I once wrote an entire book in 8 months while working full-time. How? I got up at 4 every morning and wrote for two hours before going to work. I also devoted my weekends to writing.

Use this checklist to generate other ideas. The point is to keep on keeping on. My writer friend, Kathy, earns a living for herself and two sons writing technical manuals. After struggling long and hard to find this job, she advises other writers, “You cannot win if you do not play.”

Patricia Fry is a full-time freelance writer and the author of 35 books including, Publish Your Book, Proven Strategies and Resources for the Enterprising Author and Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author. (Allworth Press, 2011 and 2012) She is also the president of SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) http://www.spawn.org. Follow Patricia’s informative publishing blog daily at http://www.matilijapress.com/publishingblog  Learn more about her editorial services here: http://www.patriciafry.com.

Filed Under: SpeakersTagged With: authors, california writers club, sacramento, writers, writing club

October Writers Network: Naida West, novelist

The California Writers Club, Sacramento Branch’s monthly Writers Network’s breakfast meeting for October will feature

Friday, October 7, 2011 – 9:00 a.m. – 11 a.m. The public is invited.

CWC membership not required.

Naida West, PROFESSOR, AUTHOR, and PUBLISHER

With a Ph.D. from UC Davis., Ms. West taught and wrote in the field of sociology, and then consulted and lobbied in Sacramento. The mother of three, she served on the San Juan School Board and other governmental panels, including the Sacramento History and Science Commission. In 1990, she became a full time novelist. Her award-winning novels, Eye of the Bear and River of Red Gold are required reading in colleges in the US and England. The 3rd book in the historical trilogy, Rest for the Wicked, won the 2011 New Generation Indie Book Award for historical fiction.  She conducts walking tours along the Cosumnes River at the little ranch where she lives which is the primary setting of her trilogy. She is also researching a new novel.

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).

California Writers Club Sacramento Branch is an educational non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation serving writers in the greater Sacramento area. The organization is dedicated to the education and encouragement of writers at all levels of expertise in the craft of writing and in the marketing of their work.

For more information, contact group leader Bob Quinlan

 

Filed Under: Writers NetworkTagged With: authors, california writers club, eye of the bear, naida west, river of red gold, sacramento

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