Creating interesting characters, rich settings and nuanced plots in as few words as possible is the mark of a skilled writer. Short stories present a wonderful opportunity to hone those skills—and lay the groundwork for longer works.
I chickened out on NaNoWriMo again, but I’m still getting something out of it. For the last three years I’ve thought about using NaNoWriMo to help break one writing block or another, but haven’t quite done it. This year, however, I determined to take advantage of some of those tips for NaNo participants. I’m on …
One of my quilting groups did an alphabet challenge. We drew a letter, and made a quilt related to a word beginning with that letter. I wondered if I could use the same challenge in my writing and decided to start an alphabet hop. The word “accountable” leaped off the page of my dictionary. How …
D. Patrick Miller and Sari Friedman will be guest speakers at the next monthly meeting of the California Writers Club Tri-Valley Branch on Saturday, October 18 at 2:00 p.m., at the Four Points by Sheraton, 5115 Hopyard, Pleasanton. Before founding Fearless Books in 1997 to continue the publication of his writing, D. PATRICK MILLER sold three solo projects to major publishers: …
Oct. 18, 2014: The Golden Age of Self-Publishing is NOW Read More »
Winners in Julaina Kleist-Corwin’s “Choices” poetry contest: Second Place: Tanda L. Clauson for “If You Want to Exist Do Not Choose Left” Third Place: Kate Ann Scholz for “About Choices” Honorable Mention: Mona Dawson for “By My Choice” Read the winning poems on Julaina’s blog at www.timetowritenow.com.
Tri-Valley Writers has been awarded a grant of $1,600 from Alameda County Arts Commission/ARTSFUND Grants. Of the 38 award recipients totaling $72,000, we are the only literary award winner. The branch will use the grant funds to assist with our 2015 Writers Conference and our 4th Annual High School Writing Contest. Congratulations Tri-Valley Writers!
Sheldon Siegel will help us kick off the new 2014-2015 season as the guest speaker for the California Writers Club Tri-Valley Branch on Saturday, Sept 20. Sheldon Siegel is the New York Times best-selling author of seven critically acclaimed legal thrillers featuring San Francisco criminal defense attorneys Mike Daley and Rosie Fernandez, two of the most beloved characters in contemporary …
Sept 20, 2014: Essential Elements of Bestselling Crime Fiction Read More »
Teresa LeYung-Ryan will be the guest speaker at the next monthly meeting of the California Writers Club Tri-Valley Branch on Saturday, June 21, at the Four Points by Sheraton, 5115 Hopyard, Pleasanton. Teresa LeYung-Ryan is a writing coach and author. She helps writers of all genres create their “platform statements” and shows them how to broadcast to attract agents, publishers, the media, and …
May began with a vigorous celebration of writing. Towne Center Books held a Book Fight on May 3 – contestants were given five minutes to write a story based on three words chosen at random. TVW members Arleen Eagling, Alice Kight and Lani Longshore competed along with other writers from the community. After three rounds …
Flexing Those Writing Muscles – by Lani Longshore Read More »
Linda Watanabe McFerrin will be the guest speaker at the next monthly meeting of the California Writers Club Tri-Valley Branch on Saturday, May 17. Learn how poetry surrounds our everyday lives. Join us for a few short exercises that will help develop your creativity. Linda Watanabe McFerrin is a poet, travel writer, novelist and contributor to numerous newspapers, magazines and anthologies. She …
