Redwood Writers Workshops and Events Page

Writers' Workshops and Events

July

2-5

For more information, click here to open a PDF

Second Thursday in Mendocino Mendocino Poets and Writers OPEN MIC 7:00-9:00 pm Ocean View Dining Room Hill House For more information, contact Harriet Gleeson, harrienone@aol.com, 707 937-2246

8-11

Open to all Thriller fans, Thriller authors, and would-be Thriller authors.ThrillerFest is the premier thriller event of the year! Featuring the world's most popular authors of fiction's blockbuster genre. Over 150 of the best loved and best selling authors will be in New York City to mix and mingle with fans during this unprecedented event.

9-12

Foothill Writers' Conference Foothill College, South Bay - Now in its 33rd year, the Foothill Writers' Conference continues its tradition of bringing literary arts mentorship and cultural enhancement to the Foothill College community and the San Francisco Bay Area.

The 2009 conference will offer seminars, workshops, and readings in fiction, poetry, and nonfiction; this year the conference will also include a screenwriting component for those interested in writing for television or film.

Registration begins June 2-5; the 2009 schedule is forthcoming.

This year's speakers include: Alan Cheuse, Justin Chin, Lesley Dauer, Sharon Doubiago, Danielle Haysbert, Scott Inguito, Linda Janakos, Avotcja Jiltonilro, Carol Lem, Morton Marcus, Barbara Jane Reyes, Michelle Richmond, Doren Robbins, Floyd Salas, Greg Sarris, Tony Tulathimutte, Marianne Villanueva, R.J. Ward, Kim Silveira Wolterbeek, Al Young.

ALL CONFERENCE EVENTS ARE ONLY $53.00 FOR CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS.

Stories and Poetry Mendocino Hotel 7:30 PM Bobby Markels, author and Peter Lit, poet featured

Redwood Writers Meeting 3-5 PM This meeting will be held at Copperfield's Books 2316 Montgomery Dr, Santa Rosa, CA - (707) 578-8938 For a map, click here. The Redwood Branch will celebrate a number of recently published authors, all members of the Redwood Writers and recognize 100 years of CWC literary history.

Westword Second Sunday Salon 4-6 PM Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 6780 Depot Street at Brown Street.

All poets and writers are welcome to hear and read at monthly gatherings in the quiet comfort of the Center's west-corner Library Room. Come hear and share home-grown literature, and your writing process, problems, and motives with colleagues in our sessions facilitated by Gor Yaswen, for $1 donation to the Center. Listeners also are cordially invited to these-smoke-and-fragrance-free meetings. For info. call: 707-829-1549

Writers Forum Presents Kim Green 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Petaluma Community Center, 320 No. McDowell Blvd. Petaluma $15 at the door.

For more information: Please visit Marlene Cullen's website: www.thewritespot.us or contact Marlene at mcullen@comcast.net

This event is sponsored by Petaluma Arts Council and supported by Poets & Writers, Inc. through a grant it has received from the Hearst Foundation.

Odd Month Readings 2:00 to 4:00 pm Theme: Heatwave, Sonoma, Sonoma County authors will read excerpts from their original poems or other literary pieces. Local author and Redwood Writer member, Ann Wilkes, will emcee this event, which will take place from 2:00 to 4:00 pm at the Sonoma branch of the Sonoma County Library, on 755 W. Napa Street, Sonoma, 707-996-5217. The general public is welcome. This is a free event.

26-31

Napa Valley Writers’ Conference The total tuition for the 2009 program is $775, and includes breakfast,lunch, two dinners, and attendance at all Conference events. Audit the Conference Those wishing to attend all the lectures may do so for a fee of $150. Those wishing to attend just the poetry or fiction series (half of the lectures) may do so for $80. For further information, please contact Charlotte or Anne (707-967-2900 x1611; writecon@napavalley.edu).

30-8/2

20th ANNIVERSARY 2009 MENDOCINO COAST WRITERS CONFERENCE the College of the Redwoods Fort Bragg Campus. Confirmed so far are poet Ellen Bass (The Human Line), Newberry Honor author Gennifer Choldenko (Al Capone Does My Shirts), children’s picture book author/illustrator Ian Schoenherr (Cat & Mouse), and Pushcart Prize-winning fiction writer Benjamin Percy (Refresh, Refresh; The Language of Elk.). Save the dates and check back for updates on faculty, editors, and agents.

30-8/2

54th Annual Summer Conference Seattle Airport Hilton
* The first 150 Attendees to register receive two agent appointments! (Register now before space fills up!)
* Learn how to write a best selling novel.
* Learn the business side of writing.
* Find an Agent and Editor.
* Publish and watch your dreams come true.

NEW THIS YEAR: One-on-One, 30 minute appointment with Bookdoctor to evaluate your manuscript.
You must mail in the following information to the PNWA Office:
* 1-2 page synopsis
* First 25 pages of your manuscript

Limited space available, sign-up now! ($50.00 Bookdoctor fee until April 8th! After April 8th Bookdoctor fee $75.00) For more details please visit our Bookdoctor page located in the conference section of our website (www.pnwa.org)

31-8/2

Minneapolis, Minnesota Writercon is a gathering of writers, poets, editors, and fans of writers, poets, and editors.

August

Redwood Writers Meeting 3-5 PM This meeting will be held at Copperfield's Books 2316 Montgomery Dr, Santa Rosa, CA - (707) 578-8938 For a map, click here. Our speaker is Jess Winfield a founding member of the Reduced Shakespeare Company. He co-created the Laurence Olivier Award-nominated comedy The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) and performed in it for many years, including launching its decade-long run in London’s West End. After leaving the RSC, he spent ten years writing and producing animated television and won two Daytime Emmy Awards for Disney’s Teacher’s Pet. In June 2007 he revised and co-directed The Complete Works (abridged) in a West End revival at the Arts Theatre. His first novel, My Name Is Will: A Novel of Sex, Drugs, and Shakespeare will be released in July, 2008, by Twelve Books. A California native, he is married and lives in Los Angeles.

6-10

Montreal, Canada

Second Thursday in Mendocino Mendocino Poets and Writers OPEN MIC 7:00-9:00 pm Ocean View Dining Room Hill House For more information, contact Harriet Gleeson, harrienone@aol.com, 707 937-2246

Writers Forum Presents Chris Baty 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Petaluma Community Center, 320 No. McDowell Blvd. Petaluma $15 at the door.

21-23

Mendocino Hotel 7:30 PM “The Usual Suspects” Writers Group Molly Dwyer, Henri Bensussen, Doug Fortier, Nan Walter

September

Second Thursday in Mendocino Mendocino Poets and Writers OPEN MIC 7:00-9:00 pm Ocean View Dining Room Hill House For more information, contact Harriet Gleeson, harrienone@aol.com, 707 937-2246

Redwood Writers Meeting 3-5 PM This meeting will be held at Copperfield's Books 2316 Montgomery Dr, Santa Rosa, CA - (707) 578-8938 For a map, click here. Our speaker is Seth Harwood who grew up in the Boston area, graduated from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop in 2002 and currently lives in Berkeley, CA with his wife Joelle and their dog. He teaches writing and literature at Stanford University and the City College of San Francisco.

Writers Forum Presents J.T. Bymaster 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Petaluma Community Center, 320 No. McDowell Blvd. Petaluma $15 at the door.

J.T. BYMASTER is a bodyworker, somatic counselor, tai chi and meditation instructor. He has published his own magazine, Tangent Zine, and is currently working on a multimedia project. J.T.'s passion is getting people in touch with their bodies as a way to fuel creativity and insight. For more information, visit his website: jtbymaster.com For more information: Please visit Marlene Cullen's website: www.thewritespot.us or contact Marlene at mcullen@comcast.net

This event is sponsored by Petaluma Arts Council and supported by Poets & Writers, Inc. through a grant it has received from the Hearst Foundation.

27-10/4

Odd Month Readings 2:00 to 4:00 pm Theme: The Launch (Vintage Voices Book Launch) Contact Ann Wilkes at omr@redwoodwriters.org or 707-792-1704 for more information.

October

2-3

Central Coast Writers' Conference XXV, Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo. The conference offers 32 workshops in all genres of writing including fiction, nonfiction, children's literature, memoir, screenwriting, humor, historical fiction, marketing, poetry, how to get published, and basic writing skills. Christian Moerk, author of the acclaimed novel Darling Jim, is this year’s keynote speaker. The faculty includes agents, publishers, and authors. The conference offers a writing competition, manuscript critique service and a special program for teens. For complete details, check out the Web site www.communityprograms.net/wc/wcindex.htm or call 805-546-3132.

Redwood Writers Meeting 3-5 PM at Copperfield's Books 2316 Montgomery Dr, Santa Rosa, CA - (707) 578-8938 For a map, click here. Stefanie Freele speaks on Literary Magazine Submissions - Author and Editor POV" or "Out Of The Drawer, Off The Desk, And Into The Mail – Author and Editor Stefanie Freele

Second Thursday in Mendocino Mendocino Poets and Writers OPEN MIC 7:00-9:00 pm Ocean View Dining Room Hill House For more information, contact Harriet Gleeson, harrienone@aol.com, 707 937-2246

9-17

Litquake is set for October 9-17, 2009- and it’s our 10th anniversary! Yes, yes, thank you. Naturally, we’ll be doing lots of celebrating. Special guests, special events, and all done in the inimitable Litquake style.

10-11

Writers Forum Presents Clara Rosemarda 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Petaluma Community Center, 320 No. McDowell Blvd. Petaluma $15 at the door.

DEEP INQUIRY: A Memoir Workshop Seven techniques to deepen and expand the inquiry into our lives, will be the focus of this evening's presentation. It is not the story but "the depth of inquiry" says Vivian Gornick, "that guides us into memoir." Bring notebooks and pens. We will write from a deep place, and learn how to make art out of our lives.

CLARA ROSEMARDA, MA, writer, writing coach, counselor, and workshop leader, has been in private practice in Santa Rosa for over twenty-five years. A memoirist and poet, Clara works with beginning as well as mainstream writers, and teaches workshops internationally. She is co-creator and coordinator of the popular writer’s program, The Writer’s Sampler, of the Sebastopol Center for the Arts. Her prose and poetry are published in literary journals and anthologies. Her most recent book, published by Interlink Books, 2004, is STEEPED: IN THE WORLD OF TEA. For more information: Please visit Marlene Cullen's website: www.thewritespot.us or contact Marlene at mcullen@comcast.net

This event is sponsored by Petaluma Arts Council and supported by Poets & Writers, Inc. through a grant it has received from the Hearst Foundation.

15-18

Indianapolis, Indiana World Mystery Convention

17-18

California Writers Club- Marin Branch Special Centennial Event 1 to 5 p.m., Book Passage, Corte Madera - We Know They Can Write… But Can They Sing? Kathi Kamen Goldmark and Sam Barry, two authors and musicians of Rock Bottom Remainders fame, will be showcased along with many of your favorite authors, such as David Corbett, Cornelia Read, Cara Black and more!

California authors will sing their favorite songs, along with the fabulous cover band, Los Train Wreck.
California authors will read works of their other favorite authors.
California authors, along with agents and other professionals “in the biz” will be conducting workshops on a number of publishing and writing topics.
California authors will be signing their books.
YOU get to attend and enjoy all of this, including a fabulous lunch and one book of your choice (written by the participating authors) all for one fantastic price of 45 dollars.*

What Better Way to Celebrate the Centennial of one of the best writing organizations in the country, The California Writers Club?

(*Admission is used to cover the costs of the band, Book Passage facilities, and California Writers Club expenses. Names of more authors, agents, and industry professionals will be posted on the website, www.cwcmarinwriters.com, as we get closer to the event.)

For questions/comments/suggestions on this event, or to volunteer, please email the committee chair, Patricia Volonakis Davis at patricia@patriciavdavis.com

29-11/1

November

Redwood Writers Meeting 3-5 PM at Copperfield's Books 2316 Montgomery Dr, Santa Rosa, CA - (707) 578-8938 For a map, click here. Verna Dreisbach is an award winning writer who has been featured in books, literary journals, magazines, and newspapers. Prior to founding Dreisbach Literary Management in 2008, she spent nearly two years working for a reputable literary agency and has established numerous contacts in the publishing industry.

A frequent traveler to writing conferences, Verna also serves on the board of directors for the CSUS Writers Conference in Sacramento, CA and is the president and founder of the Capitol City Young Writers, a non-profit writing organization for students in both junior high and high school. In addition, Verna serves as an editor to the Calaveras Station, Sacramento State University's literary journal.

1-30

National Novel Writing Month is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing. Participants begin writing November 1. The goal is to write a 175-page (50,000-word) novel by midnight, November 30.

Second Thursday in Mendocino Mendocino Poets and Writers OPEN MIC 7:00-9:00 pm Ocean View Dining Room Hill House For more information, contact Harriet Gleeson, harrienone@aol.com, 707 937-2246

Writers Forum Presents Gretchen Giles 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Petaluma Community Center, 320 No. McDowell Blvd. Petaluma $15 at the door.

Odd Month Readings 2:00 to 4:00 pm Theme: A Novel Idea. (Focusing on novelists.) Contact Ann Wilkes at omr@redwoodwriters.org or 707-792-1704 for more information.

December