San Francisco Peninsula Writer
December 2018
Writers Helping Writers Since 1909
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President's Message
December, 2018
Good News!
We ask for "Good News" from members and visitors at all our meetings.
As all of us have learned from both personal experience and from many of our speakers, writing and publishing can be a long, hard road filled with pitfalls and mistakes, and more than anything, a lot of learning. A lot of us have completed and published books. A lot of us haven't-at least not yet.
So, starting in January, I want to encourage you to come to the front of the room when it's time for Good News and tell us something good happening in your writing life. It doesn't have to be a published book or a speaking engagement, though we are always happy and encouraged to celebrate those successes together. Let's also celebrate the smaller successes along the way. Did you join a critique group? Finish a first draft during NaNoWriMo? Did you get some great feedback that led you to an "Aha!" moment about your characters or style? Have you set a new writing schedule and stuck to it? Share this news, too! It might help the rest of us overcome our own fears and roadblocks.
Because without the "along the way" moments, we don't get to the big milestones.
Happy writing and happy holidays! Let's celebrate together at our CWC party December 2nd. Remember, there's no regular meeting this month.
Lisa Meltzer Penn
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December 2018 Highlights:
- President's Message - Lisa Meltzer Penn
- December 2, 2018 Holiday Party Invitation
- Fault Zone: Strike Slip Submissions deadline December 31, 2018
- Member News - Laurel Anne Hill and Maurine Killough
- Author's Day December 8, 2018 at Barnes & Noble
- SAVE THE DATE - Saturday, March 2, 2019 - Special CWC Workshop
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You are invited:
California Writers Club San Francisco Peninsula
Holiday Party 2018
December 2nd, 2-5pm
Sequoia Yacht Club
441 Seaport Ct, Redwood City, CA 94063
"And now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been."
-Rainer Maria Rilke
Celebrate the old and welcome the new
with lots of time to socialize with fellow club members!
Significant others or friends welcome
Light bites and cash bar
Compliments of your writing club
Make it more festive by bringing an appetizer, finger food, or dessert to share.
Let us know if you can spare an hour before or after to help with set-up/clean-up.
Reserve table space to display and sell your book (Note: you are responsible for your own books and sales)
Our next regularly scheduled meeting will be:
Saturday, January 19, 2019 at 10:00 a.m.
The Sequoia Yacht Club 441 Seaport Ct, Redwood City, CA 94063
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There will be no Regular Meeting or Think Tank this month.
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MEETING WRAP-UP November, 2018
SELF PUBLISHING AND THE FUTURE OF WRITING
On November 17, author Michael Grumley spoke about self-publishing and
the future of writing. "I made a lot of mistakes on the way to selling
more than a million books," he said. He shared his top five lessons learned:
- Do not, under any circumstances,* make your own cover. *unless you are a professional graphic designer.
- Pay close attention to your blurb. Write it, rewrite it, and rewrite it again.
- Do not be your own editor.
- Make sure you have a proofreader.
- Be careful who you listen to, including Michael Grumley. But he sells between 500 and 700 books a day, so he's doing something right.
Other takeaways from his talk included:
- Never have somebody else tell you what your chances of success are.
- Don't be afraid to give away books (he has given away more than a million).
- The most effective way to get reviews of your book is to ask.
Audrey Kalman
Vice President, SF/Peninsula California Writers Club
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CWC SF Peninsula Calendar
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Upcoming
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Every Tuesday, 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Shut Up & Write
As the name implies, we sit quietly and write. If you'd like to participate, join
Shut Up & Write Silicon Valley on Meetup to RSVP (look for Shut Up & Write/CWC SF Peninsula).
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Sunday, December 2, 2018
HOLIDAY PARTY
2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
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Wednesday, January 9, 2019
7:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.
Writers Helping Writers
Moderator: Darlene Frank
New!! 2nd Wednesday.
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Wednesday, December 5, 2018
Open Mic
7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Emcee: Carol Peyser
We get together to share our original work in a warm and welcoming environment. Members and non-members are welcome. Too shy to share? Come as part of the audience.
FREE
Starting in 2019, Open Mic moves to a new night, the 4th Tuesday of the month, beginning January 22nd.
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Wednesday, January 16, 2019
7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Writers Helping Writers
Moderator: Laurel Anne Hill
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at Hillsdale Shopping Center,
11 W. Hillsdale Blvd, San Mateo
Saturday, December 8, 2018
9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Bill Baynes has coordinated with published CWC authors to read, interact with potential buyers, and have their books on display at the Hillsdale Shopping Center
Barnes & Noble.
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Wednesday, December 19, 2018
7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Writers Helping Writers
Moderator: Bill Baynes
Let Technique Torque Your Poetry
The third Wednesday of each month, we meet to learn and teach about writing, publishing, marketing, critique groups and a myriad of other useful writing-related topics. Learn from your fellow writers. Bring pen and paper.
FREE
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Fault Zone:Strike Slip will continue to accept submissions up until
December 31, 2018.
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Tuesday, January 22, 2019
7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Open Mic
Emcee: Jeannine Gerkman
New night!! 4th Tuesday.
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"Writers Helping Writers"
Monthly Member-Led Community Writers Groups
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
On the third Wednesday we meet to learn and teach about writing, publishing, marketing, critique groups and a myriad of other useful writing-related topics. Learn from your fellow writers. Bring an open mind.
FREE
Subject: Let Technique Torque Your Poetry
Starting January, 2019; we will have
Writers Helping Writers sessions each month. San Mateo Library hosting the 2nd Wednesday
(New!!)
and San Carlos Library hosting the 3rd Wednesday.
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Fault Zone: Strike Slip
, Our Branch Literary Anthology
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Member News
In November, judges declared THE ENGINE WOMAN'S LIGHT the Winner in the "Fiction: Fantasy Category" of the 2018 Best Book Awards sponsored by American Book Fest. The news delighted author Laurel Anne Hill. This is the twelfth honor/award Laurel's spirits-meet-steampunk novel has received.
Maurine Killough's poem matryoshka dream won 3
rd
place in the Poetry & Dance Festiva
l held at the Legion of Honor in September, 2018.
Then her poem
aparagraha
was included in the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art's "Fire Sto
ries" exhibit running September 2018 through January 2019.
She was also part of their Fire Stories panel on November 10
, 2018
.
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Member Resources
Check out the updated
Writers' Corner
page on the SF Peninsula CWC website, where you'll find a list of resources to help you write and get published. Listings include publications and small presses founded or edited by branch members, literary magazines where members' work is published, local writing conferences and contests, and local writing organizations.
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Authors Day 12/8/18
CW
C members will stage an Authors Day during the middle of the holiday shopping season on Saturday, December. 8, 2018 at Barnes and Noble, Hillsdale, in San Mateo.
Club writers will staff a table at the front of the store from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m., working in shifts. They will conduct readings in an adjacent area on an hourly basis. The purpose is to promote our branch and sell our books.
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New 'Writers Helping Writers' Series in San Mateo
Have you participated in our Writers Helping Writers series
of monthly events either as a teacher or attendee? We have been holding workshops this past year at the San Carlos
Library, and we've recently added a new program at the San Mateo Main
Library as of January, 2019.
The gatherings for San Mateo Library will be on the
second Wednesday of the month, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. The
San Carlos Library will continue to be held on the third Wednesday of the month, with a similar time
frame.
Would you be willing to teach a session at
either the San Carlos or the San Mateo Libraries this year?
Our goal is to
introduce new writers to the art of writing, and we are focusing on
the most basic or fundamental ideas first. But we have also been open to members
teaching classes on poetry, editing, memoir writing, plotting, etc. to
give our 'students' a peek into your world of writing.
Each class will be
promoted by our SF Peninsula CWC social media as well as the libraries'.
And, if you have a book to sell, that can be accommodated. It's up to you,
but the main point of you teaching a class is to help other writers move
their writing forward and encourage them to come visit our monthly
CWC meetings.
If you think you'd like to teach a writing subject for a two hour space of time, please contact Carole Bumpus for more information.
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Classified Ads
This is the place to find Writer's Conferences, Workshops, Volunteer Opportunities, Upcoming Events and Member Ads.
If you would like to submit an ad related to a writing need or service, send your submission to:
Subject line: "CWC Newsletter - Classified Ads"
Together, we can promote our club, boost your career and get you the help you need to move forward with your writing projects.
We are delighted to have had so many eager volunteers ready to help with Outreach and Marketing, Membership, Hospitality, Open Mic, Special Events, and Fault Zone. If you missed out and/or have questions about upcoming opportunities, please contact our President, Lisa Meltzer Penn at pres@sfpeninsulawriters.com.
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March 2, 2019: SAVE THE DATE for a fabulous all-day workshop sponsored by our local SF Peninsula CWC.
SAVE THE DATE - Saturday, March 2, 2019 - for an all-day craft workshop
with renowned writing teacher Elizabeth Stark.
More details and signup info to
come.
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San Francisco Writers Conference February 14-18, 2019
Click here to read SFWC's latest newsletter. Learn about free stuff and other goodies. What kind of stuff? See below:
- Want to attend the SFWC for FREE? Two scholarships are still available!
- NEW! A full-day Poetry Summit will focus on publishing your work
- New Feature: Conference Question
- How to get an extreme makeover of your novel's first page...for free!
- First SFWC-MIL Class of 2019 is free and features the SFWC Management Team
- In the News: Items of interest for writers
- Writers' Calendar: So many exciting Events & Deadlines for all writers
http://archive.aweber.com/sfwcnewsletter
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Wonder Writing Workshop
January 6th, 2019
(10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.)
Half Moon Bay
Facilitated by Mary E. Knippel
Wondering...
- How do I know I have a story worth sharing?
- Who do I think I am to think that I my story matters?
- And who would want to hear my story anyway?
What about the impact your writing could have on your life and the lives of those you were meant to impact?
Register at:
Join us for this inspirational hands-on workshops and tap into your creativity where we will transform your experiences into the story the world is waiting to hear. I guarantee your imagination will be stirred up and your creative juices will be flowing as you tap into your brilliance.
$97 *all fees includes workshop materials and snacks
Mary E. Knippel
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Critique Groups
Look for updated information on joining Critique Groups in January.
Any questions in the meantime? Contact Lisa Meltzer Penn at
EXISTING GROUPS:
San Mateo: Meets on the 2nd and 4th Friday each month, 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Peninsula Regent, 1 Baldwin Avenue, San Mateo, rear of the large meeting room opposite the elevator. Bring at least 5 copies of your no-longer-than-6-page manuscript to hand out. For more info, contact Karen Hartley at
sew1machin@icloud.com
or (408) 315-0271.
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The membership renewal period is closed. However, you may join as a new member any time.
There are two options:
1) Combined Fee: Pay a combined fee upfront that covers both your annual membership dues and meeting fees through to June, 2019 for $145.00.
2) Separate Fees: Pay the annual membership dues of $65.00 and pay the $10.00 meeting fees when you attend each meeting .
If you pay by check, make it out to "CWC SF-Peninsula". Either bring your annual membership funds to the next meeting or mail them to CWC SF-Peninsula, P.O. Box 853, Belmont, CA 94002. Thank you.
Tim Flood, Membership
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President: Lisa Meltzer Penn
Vice President: Audrey Kalman
Secretary: Korie Pelka
Treasurer: Jean Morrow
Appointed Board Positions:
State Board & NorCal Rep: Carole Bumpus
Membership Co-Chair: Tim Flood
Marketing & Outreach Chair: Bill Baynes
Newsletter Editor: Jeannine Gerkman
Acting SMCF
Literary Stage Coordinator: Sue Barizon
Fault Zone Editor-in-C
hief: Laurel Anne Hill
Non-Voting Positions:
Immediate Past President & Volunteer Coordinator: Carole Bumpus
Web Manager: Mindy Yang
Hospitality Co-Chairs: Geri Spieler and
Carol Park
Think Tank: Geri Spieler
Parliamentarian: Alisha Willis
Member-at-Large: Bette Houtchens
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Guidelines for Submitting Articles to This Newsletter
Want to see your article, ad or poem published here?
Submission deadline is the 23rd of the month.
Keep in Mind:
Format Requirements:
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