HAPPY NEW YEAR, REDWOOD WRITERS! |
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Board of Directors
Shawn Langwell, President
Judy Baker, Vice President
Marilyn Lanier, Vice President
Jeane Slone, Vice President
Malena Eljumaily, Treasurer
Crissi Langwell, Secretary
Roger Lubeck, Immediate Past President
Joelle Burnette, Website Editor
Tina Deason, Contests
Tommie Whitener, Vault Master, Policies & Procedures
Adele Layton, Member at Large
Chairs and Editors
Les Bernstein, Poetry Anthology Editor
Skye Blaine, Newsletter Poetry Editor
Fran Claggett-Holland, Poetry Anthology Editor
Robin Gabbert, Writers Salon
Pamela Heck, Conference Volunteers
Marie Judson, Critique Groups
Jeanne Jusaitis, Author Support
Marilyn Lanier, Speaker Chair
Crissi Langwell, Newsletter Editor, Social Media, and 2020 & 2021 Prose Anthology Editor
Shawn Langwell, 2021 Prose Anthology Editor
Roger Lubeck, Membership Chair
Linda L. Reid, Writers Circle & Poetry Anthology Liaison
Danna Ruffner, PR Manager
Jeane Slone, Author Launch
Deborah Taylor-French, Author Support
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GENERAL MEETINGS ARE NOW HELD IN PERSON AND ON ZOOM |
Every third Saturday, Redwood Writers general meeting will be held 1-2:30 p.m.at:
Finley Center
2060 W. College Ave
Santa Rosa.
Masks are required by all, regardless of vaccination status per CDC rules.
If you are unable to attend or still feel uncomfortable attending in person, we will be streaming the meeting via Zoom.
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A NOTE FROM YOUR PRESIDENT |
Connection and Community
Dear Redwood Members,
I have received so much positive feedback from our meeting last month. It reminds me that as humans, we are hardwired for connection, for relationships, for community. As a club we love to recognize our members, but with Zoom, it has been a challenge to form stronger bonds. That was not the case in December 18. Those bonds were strengthened by celebrating you, the 200+ members of this fantastic club. I don’t know about you, but I walked away feeling reenergized and part of something special.
During the meeting, it was great to hear stories about what drew folks to the club initially and what keeps members coming back—each other. The friendships that are formed when people come together are the glue that makes this club attractive to new members and old alike.
Without each other, we have no club.
As we begin a new year, I have a favor to ask—please consider what you could do to improve yourself and the club. What skills, talents, or ideas do you have or would like to develop that may be helpful or valuable to others in the club? The second part of my ask is this, are you willing to invest in your own growth and share your talents with the club so we can be even better?
With respect to writing, no ideas are too far-fetched. No need to improve unwelcome or lame. No skill, invaluable, unless not used. Please send me a note and let me know what you need and/or what you can offer. My private email is: President@redwoodwriters.org.
Note: Future meetings and newsletters will occasionally highlight or feature members, old and new. In the spring we will celebrate of our selfless volunteers. On October 8, 2022, we will host the Sonoma County Writers’ Conference. Each of these, coupled by a nearly full slate of speakers and workshops by our Speaker Chair, Marilyn Lanier, are opportunities your board has planned for your benefit. Use them. Be a part of them. Make them yours.
For now, I want to wish each and every one of you a Happy New Year. I look forward to seeing you in person or online on January 15th.
Best wishes for a safe, happy, and healthy 2022.
See you on the 15th.
P.S. Start writing your poems. The Poetry Anthology kick off happens on the 15th.
Shawn Langwell
Redwood Writers President
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Our next board meeting is on Tuesday, January 11, 6-7:30 p.m. via Zoom. Board meetings are held 6-7:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month unless otherwise noted, and are open to any member in good standing. If you would like to attend a board meeting, contact: president@redwoodwriters.org to receive an invitation.
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An easy way to support Redwood Writers... |
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IN THIS NEWSLETTER
- President's Message
- Upcoming Events
- January General Meeting
- Article: How to Register for Meetings Without PayPal
- 2021 Prose Anthology
- Poetry Contest Winners
- Homegrown Poetry
- Writing Exercise
- Submit to the CWC LIterary Review
- Author Launch Registration
- Redwood Writers Circle
- Author Support Group
- Member News & Events
- Member Books
- Editor's Note
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Mark your calendars for this month's upcoming events! Keep reading the newsletter for more details about each event.
Jan. 11: Board Meeting
Jan. 15: Author Support Group
Jan. 15: General Meeting with Jordan Rosenfeld
Jan 15: Submissions open for 2022 Poetry Anthology
Jan. 22: RW Circle
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NOTE: If you are reading this newsletter through your email, it may be clipped at the end. If you don't reach the editor's note, be sure to click "view entire message" at the bottom of this newsletter.
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How to Evoke Emotion in Every Scene
with Jordan Rosenfeld
From fast-paced thrillers to contemplative literary novels and everything in between, readers need to connect to your characters to create a page-turning story. Emotion is the thread that binds readers to your characters’ experiences. This session will help you use sensory cues, powerful imagery, character demonstration, and other tools to evoke the emotion that hooks readers and creates deep, compelling characters.
Jordan Rosenfeld is author of the novels Women in Red and Forged in Grace and six books on the craft of writing, most recently How to Write a Page-Turner, the bestselling Make a Scene, Writing the Intimate Character, A Writer’s Guide to Persistence, Writing Deep Scenes and Write Free. Her freelance articles and essays have been published in hundreds of publications, including The Atlantic, The New York Times, Scientific American, Writer’s Digest Magazine, The Washington Post, and many more. She is also a freelance manuscript editor, writing coach, and teaches online classes. Visit JordanRosenfeld.net.
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Saturday, January 15
1 - 2:30 p.m.
at the Finley Center in Santa Rosa
and also online
$5 Members / $10 Guests
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Masks are required by all, regardless of vaccination status to attend this meeting, per CDC. |
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January's General Meeting Agenda |
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- Finley Center opens at noon for networking with other authors
- Zoom meeting room opens at 12:45 p.m. for open conversation
- Meeting starts at 1 p.m.
- Jordan Rosenfeld, "How to Evoke Emotion in Every Scene"
- Chair announcements
- Member announcements
- Adjourn at 2:30 p.m.
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Register for meetings without a PayPal Account
In answer to the question: Do I have to have a PayPal account to register online for an event? You do not need to have a PayPal account. You do need a credit card or a debit card, but not a PayPal account.
Start on the Event landing page
The landing page has all the event information. And when you get to the Register Now button, click it and it will bring you to the registration form.
- Fill in your name.
- Check the circle to indicate you are a member of Redwood Writers or a member of another chapter of CWC, or perhaps, you're a non-member, whichever applies to you.
- Let us know how you plan to attend. Don't worry. You can change your mind about how you will attend. For now, to attend in person means you are double-vaccinated and are going to wear a mask at the Finley Center. And maybe you just want to watch the recording later.
- Tell us the name of your home chapter.
- How did you hear about the event?
Payment Options
How are you going to pay? The form says you may Pay with PayPal or with a Credit Card. It does not say you have to have a PayPal account. You can access the option to pay with a debit or credit card without having a PayPal account. You choose how you want to pay.
Select your option and click Continue.
The next screen gives you the option to use a PayPal account or pay with a debit or a credit card. Fill in your card information. After you enter your payment, it will take a few seconds before you return to the registration page screen where you are thanked for registering. Then, watch your email for confirmation on how to join the Zoom call or attend in person.
I hope this makes it a lot easier for those of you who want to pay using a credit card or a debit card, and don't want to use PayPal.
And you can pay by check or at the door. If you are paying by check, send it to:
Redwood Writers
P.O. Box 4687
Santa Rosa, CA 95402
Allow two weeks to be sure we receive your check before the event.
Thanks for your support.
If you would prefer to watch a short video (4 minutes) to walk you through paying with a credit or debit card, click here to watch a demo of how to register without a PayPal account
Judy Baker, Vice President and Zoom Queen for Redwood Writers
P.S. If you have a question about registration, reach out to me with a call or text at 707.210.6696
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2021 Redwood Writers Prose Anthology
Remember When
Fiction & Memoir Tales of Memories and Times Past
Editors: Shawn & Crissi Langwell
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Polishing Mom’s silver spoons. Cheering on young baseball players. The streets of San Francisco in the sixties. Falling in love with a felon.
These are just some of the themes shared by members of the Redwood Writers branch in 2021’s anthology of fiction and true stories. In this collection of forty-nine tales, take a trip down memory lane as writers share about times past.
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Editors Shawn & Crissi Langwell would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone involved in making this anthology a wonderful example of our branch members' writing. From the judges to the editors to the proofreaders, and of course, the authors, your dedication and exceptional hard work are much appreciated! This is an anthology to be proud of! |
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Congratulations to the winners of the Redwood Writers Poetry Contest! And a special thank you to our judges Les Bernstein, Susan Gunter, and Fran Claggett-Holland, and our contest chairs Tina Riddle Deason and Linda Loveland Reid. |
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FIRST PLACE
"J" by Barbara Armstrong
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Barbara Armstrong enjoys the nuanced power of words and their intrinsic music. Her poems have appeared in RW anthologies
Phoenix, Crow, And Yet, and Beyond Distance, and others. She is a devoted member of The Poetry Collective in Sebastopol. Other interests include gourd and Shaker Box crafting, linguistics, construction, Balkan music and organic blueberry farming.
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SECOND PLACE
"Attendance" by Jean Wong
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Jean Wong is an award-winning writer. Her work has been produced at Sixth Street Playhouse, Petaluma Reader's Theater, and Off the Page. She is the author of Sleeping with the Gods and Hurtling Jade. Jean writes at the bottom of a well, amazed to look up and see the light.
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THIRD PLACE
"Collect My Dust" by Dana Rodney
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Dana Rodney was born in Westchester, New York in 1962. Poetry was a passion of hers from a very young age. When asked as a child what she wanted to be when she grew up, she remembers saying confidently, "a poet." Now retired, she is preparing two novels for publication - One Extraordinary Thing (historical fiction) and The Last Polar Bear (eco-fiction), which won first place in the 2021 Jessamyn West Creative Writing Contest.
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Honorable Mention
"Cassandra" by Patricia Nelson
"Wildfire Elegy" by Dana Rodney
"Purple Dust" by Jo Ann Smith
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HOMEGROWN POETRY IS NOW ACCEPTING YOUR POEM SUBMISSIONS!
Please submit poems to: poetrynewseditor@redwoodwriters.org. Submission guidelines: single-spaced, Times or Times New Roman, 12 point font, no all caps, please. Poems are reviewed by a team of poets. We will acknowledge receipt of your work, and let you know if your poem is going to be included, or if we are requesting minor edits prior to inclusion.
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Diversion
By Jean Wong
Stern eyes intent, my grey-black cat will play
a game. He rolls a ball made out of cloth,
swats it under couch or cart—makes it stray
so he can try to find what has been lost.
A streak of rippled fur; sharp claws dart out
gripping his prey, next, thrust it far afield.
This sport is better than a bug or mouse
which lies inert when it is swiftly killed.
The fun was blocked when he once tried the stove
and pushed the toy beyond his feline cuff.
So too are we his human friends now moved
to take our colored threads and bits of fluff
and cast them out beyond horizon’s gaze,
then long for dust that gleams when swept away.
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Jean Wong, author of Sleeping with the Gods and Hurtling Jade, is an award-winning poet, fiction, and memoir writer. Her work has been produced by the 6th Street Playhouse and other theater venues. Jean writes from the bottom of a well, amazed to look up and see the sky.
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SUBMIT TO THE 2022 POETRY ANTHOLOGY |
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Keep an eye out for information about the next poetry anthology! More details will be shared at the January meeting, and submissions will open on January 15. However, you are welcome to start preparing your submission now. |
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Each month, the Redwood Writer will feature an exercise to help inspire your writing. This can be an exercise you do on your own, or you can send your 300-word (or less) piece to editor@redwoodwriters.org for possible publication in the newsletter. |
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SECONDARY CHARACTERS
Frank McHugh was a contract player for Warner Brothers, playing the sidekick to lead actors like James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart. He was a mechanic, priest, or bagman. When needed, he would provide the comedy relief in tense situations. He is remembered because of his nervous laugh, fast talking New York/Irish accent, hangdog look, and hat. He appeared in over 175 movies. More than most of the leading actors in his movies.
Secondary characters add depth and dimension to a story, and they help the plot move. These characters are successful when they are interesting enough to be main characters. They have personalities. They have a secret. Perhaps, they have a tragic back story. We feel sorry for the character. We like the character. They are flawed but dependable (think of Sam or the Gollum in the Lord of the Rings). They might display memorable physical characteristics or unusual behavior.
EXERCISE: Write the premise for a future novel. Briefly identify the main character. Write a 100- to 200-word description of a secondary character for the story. Describe the character’s relationship to the main character. Describe the gender, appearance, physicality, dress, quirks, mannerisms, and habits of the person or creature. Give the character a flaw, an interesting back story, and a great name. When you are ready, write a novel or story using this character.
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2022 CWC LITERARY REVIEW NOW ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS! |
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The 2022 California Writers Club Literary Review is now accepting submissions.
The Literary Review is the CWC’s annual collection of the best poetry and prose submitted by our members. It is meant to represent our best writing as a club.
The Literary Review is the published face of the club. Every year there are suggestions on how to improve the Literary Review: the cover, the diversity of content, the quality, the process, what was accepted, what was rejected, and the feedback. This year, the editors and the CWC board are taking positive steps to address these suggestions and make the process fair and transparent. The result will depend on our authors.
Having a poem, story, or essay appear in the Literary Review is exciting. However, having had more stories rejected than accepted, I understand why authors stop submitting and find other ways to publish, e.g., a branch anthology. All I can ask is that our authors try or try again.
The Literary Review only is as good as the poems, stories, and nonfiction pieces our members submit. We want your best. A poem, story, or essay that meets not only the submission guidelines: in format, carefully proofed, grammatically correct, but most important, is a piece that is interesting and compelling. Writing that moves and challenges a reader. A piece that is unforgettable.
This year, submissions are limited to two poems or one short piece of prose (fiction or non-fiction.) The work must be original and unpublished. To be considered for judging, the piece has to be free of spelling and grammar errors and in the prescribed format. In some years, more than half of the submissions did not meet this requirement. Historically, as few as 10% of the submissions were published.
Our goal is to publish as many excellent pieces as possible, but that depends on you. Write a great first draft, edit and revise it, have others review it, finalize, format, and proof. When the piece is ready, send us what you know to be your best work. The only limit for this year’s publication is the quality of the pieces submitted by our members.
Deadline: January 31, 2022.
For more information about guidelines or how to submit, click the button below.
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RW Member Appreciation Celebration
We had so much fun at this year's end of year member appreciation party, and we hope you did, too! The general meeting was filled with lots of fun, including recognition for longstanding members, awards for the poetry winners, and presenting Roger Lubeck with this year's Jack London Award. What was your favorite part? Weigh in on our post on Facebook.
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RW Salon
Salon members had a great time sharing their writing at the Holiday Salon in December!
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AUTHOR LAUNCH
It is my great pleasure to present Author Launch on February 19, Saturday from 1-4 p.m. at the Finley Community Center, 2060 W. College Ave. Santa Rosa. If you are a member of the club and have published an edited book between January 2021 and January 2022, please email me to be presented. Eighteen authors will present their book on this exciting "book birth" day. The author will read from their book for five minutes. After all the readings are done, the authors will autograph and sell their books.
This is a free celebration with family, friends and members who are all invited to this exciting event.
Jeane Slone
Chair Author Launch
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Mission of RW Circle:
To offer members a constructive and enjoyable environment
in which to read their work among the support of fellow writers.
Bring your Prose, Memoir, Poetry and more.
Meeting format:
Meetings will be in-person unless otherwise notified. Vaccinations required.
Meeting begins at 10:00 am and ends at Noon.
- Those to be “Readers” will be limited to the first 20 who register.
- Other attendees may be “listeners.”
- Each reader will have 5 minutes, including introductory remarks.
- After each reading there will be a one-minute written critique.
REGISTER IN ADVANCE TO RECEIVE THE ZOOM LINK
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AUTHOR SUPPORT GROUP
Jan. 15, noon - 1 p.m.
(via Zoom before the general meeting)
Please join us online via Zoom on Jan. 15 at noon to chat about writing, listen to the challenges of others, and share resources. All levels of writers can benefit from participating. Published authors enjoy this group as well as beginning writers. This is a forum where you pick the topics and questions to be discussed. Discuss the challenges of writing fiction, memoir, or nonfiction. Find new ways to handle rejection, writers' block, or to start a critique group.
The Author Support Group's purposes are to help those who want assistance getting unstuck, want new resources, or need guidance in choosing options.
Be sure to register in advance to receive the link to this free online gathering.
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Check out a few recently published books by our members! To see even more newly published books, be sure to attend our Author Launch event on February 19. |
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The Write Spot: Musings and Ravings From a Pandemic Year, the seventh book in The Write Spot series, chronicles emotions and experiences during a tumultuous year. Whether you are a seasoned writer or just now beginning to capture your thoughts and feelings in words, the relatability and humor of this anthology provide a variety of heartfelt lessons in how to capture the essence of our times and emotions with encouragement and tips for writing.
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Many individuals seeking healthy relationships feel anxious and confused by today’s dating world. In Date Smart, Dr. Carla Marie Manly offers direct, honest guidance in the art of creating authentic, empowering relationships through increased self-awareness. Learning more about the self—from personal desires to boundaries—increases the confidence, wisdom, and self-esteem necessary for healthy dating. Using powerful mindset shifts and case studies, readers learn to replace illusions with healthy discernment Most important, Date Smart draws the reader into an introspective realm for a singular purpose: to support the dater in becoming an expert on what feels right, healthy, and sustainable in intimate relationships.
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Tired characters you can’t relate to like those in the New Yorker style stories about frustrated young adults living in New England and coming to grips with their new-found adulthood? If so, the characters in California Vignettes, some stories may provide welcome relief. Most of the folks you will meet in California Vignettes are well beyond the age of majority, living in California locales you will recognize, and facing problems and situations you won’t be a stranger to. A few stories are farcical, some quite serious. All twelve are entertaining and fun reads.
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If you have news to share about your writing, an award, an appearance, or other writing-related news, send a 100-word or less announcement to editor@redwoodwriters.org. Photos encouraged. Deadline for consideration in next month’s newsletter is the 15th of this month.
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Creative Writing With Prompts
Write more this year. Spark your creativity in a new class: “Creative Writing with Prompts.”
Wednesdays, 5:30-7:15pm, beginning January 19, 2022.
On-going creative writing classes through SRJC’s Older Adult Program. Open to all adults living in California. No fee. Join anytime. Attend when you can via Zoom. Or, join one of our lively groups of writers sharing works in progress for useful feedback. (Either Wednesday afternoons or Friday mornings) Classes begin with a brief instructional lecture on an aspect of craft. Occasional in-class writing exercises.
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New CWC Events Page
All CWC branch speaker meetings have now been added to the Event page on CWC's website at: calwriters.org/events. Because many of the 22 branches are still holding their speaker meetings online, this link is a handy tool to attend meetings all over the state. While you're there, be sure to check out many of the other interesting pages and posts on the CWC website. |
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CWC NorCal Group News & Events
The NorCal Group is comprised of representatives from all fourteen CWC branches in the northern part of California. Together, we work through CWC issues, problems, and seek solutions for our branches as well as work to bring more opportunities for our branch members:
In the coming year, we will once again be hosting a CWC booth at the San Francisco Writers Conference in February 2022: www.sfwriters.org/2022-conference. With this booth comes opportunities for our branch members to join us at the Conference through volunteering their time, participating on panels, and also in receiving free tickets for one-day events in the Books to Screen Summit and the Poetry Summit. If you are interested in attending these one-day events, contact your branch president. If you are interested in participating or volunteering in the SFWC, please contact Carole Bumpus at carolebumpus@gmail.com.
The NorCal Group will also host a booth for the Bay Area Book Fest (BABF) in May 2022 in Berkeley. For those who would like to volunteer to help at our booth, you will also be given the opportunity to sell your books at our booth. Stay tuned for more details.
After missing our biennial NorCal Leadership Conference in 2020 (due to Covid), the NorCal Group will once again be hosting the Leadership Conference this coming September 2022. Training will be offered for all leaders in executive board positions, as well as other important roles within the branches. This may be a hybrid conference, but however it is presented, it will be essential for all CWC branch leaders take advantage of this pertinent CWC training. Put this on your calendars. Our goal is to offer all branch leaders the best tools available to help them meet the growing needs of their branches. Working together and sharing best practices strengthens all.
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CRITIQUE GROUP COORDINATION
Marie Judson keeps an ongoing list of RW members interested in joining or creating a writing group. If you would like to find a critique group, or add more members to an existing group, send your genre(s) and contact information to mariejudson@gmail.com. You'll receive an email with the subject line, "Writers seeking writing groups." You can then either reply to all or select specific writers to contact. This has been an ongoing free service for Redwood Writers members for nine years. |
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Redwood Writers are members of the California Writers Club (CWC). Redwood Writers is the largest of the 22 Branches in the CWC. Becoming a members of the Redwood Branch of the California Writers Club is a simple as 1, 2, 3.
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Go to the website: redwoodwriters.org/membership/join
- Complete the submission form. Include references to any publications.
- Pay the $65 new member fee.
Redwood Writers offers members the opportunity to:
- Attend the monthly meeting (3rd Sat. 1-3 p.m. at the Finley Center, Santa Rosa)
- Interact with other writers and sell books at the monthly meeting.
- Learn from professional speakers at monthly meetings.
- Publish fiction and memoir in the annual prose anthology.
- Publish poetry in the annual poetry anthology.
- Read their work at the club-sponsored Salon and Writers Circle.
- Present their work at local bookstores.
- Sell their work at the Sonoma Country Fair.
- Launch their new book at the Author Launch party.
- Attend workshops and conferences on the writing.
- Win writing contests with cash prizes and special recognition for winners.
- Advertise their expertise—graphic designer, editor, illustrator.
- Receive club news from our award-winning website and monthly newsletter.
- Submit stories, essays, and poetry to the Literary Review published by CWC.
- Receive the annual Literary Review from the California Writers Club and receive a triannual CWC Bulletin with state-wide events from CWC branches.
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Author Launch!
18 members will present their recently published books
February 19, 2022
at the Finley Center and on Zoom
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Dear friends,
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I love the beginning of a new year. I know it's cliche to make New Year's resolutions, but I look at January 1st as a necessary time to reset and find new energy for the things I want to accomplish or gain over the next 365 days.
Of course, my goals have simplified with each new year. This year is no exception, as I plan to embark on a year of embracing the quiet and keeping things simple. This includes coming at my writing with a fresh outlook - embracing the joy I have for writing instead of scurrying toward a finished product. I find that when I focus on the journey of my writing from start to finish, I feel a larger sense of fulfillment. My goals will not include a checklist of writing every day. But I will remember that writing feeds something inside me, and I'm not a happy person when I put off writing for too long.
Have you included changes or goals toward your writing routine this year? You're definitely not alone! All the best to you as you make 2022 a year to remember!
In this newsletter, you'll find information about our just launched prose anthology Remember When, details about our next meeting, the announcement of our poetry contest winners, and more! Plus, if you missed our member appreciation party, there's a link to the video recap. Scroll up if you missed any of this!
Happy reading, and happy writing!
Crissi Langwell
Newsletter Editor
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CONTRIBUTE TO THE NEWSLETTER! |
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Want to be a part of the newsletter? Here's the cheat sheet to the different sections of this newsletter and the word count requirements:
- Writers Helping Writers - 300 words or less
- Other Articles or In Memoriam - 300 words or less
- Members News - 100 words or less
- What We're Reading - 100 words or less
- Homegrown Poetry - short poems work best
Please do your best to adhere to word count limits! Send your articles and news by the 15th of the month to the newsletter editor at editor@redwoodwriters.org. Send your poems by the 10th of the month to the poetry editor at poetrynewseditor@redwoodwriters.org. Submission guidelines may apply, read section for requirements. |
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If you're interested in advertising in the Redwood Writer newsletter, contact the editor at editor@redwoodwriters.org for submission requirements and guidelines.
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Our mailing address is:
The Redwood Writer
P.O. Box 4687
Santa Rosa, CA 95402
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