Anyone who writes fiction knows this dilemma. You write a memorable character who is so realistic your friends swear they know who it is. They’re right, and they’re not pleased. Admit it, sometimes friends and family do the most interesting things. You want to include their exploits in your novel, but you know they won’t be flattered. My …
Keeping a Collection of Characters by Lani Longshore Read More »
Recently I took a workshop for an art technique I already know. I registered for the class to work with teacher. It was the best decision I made – on a variety of levels – and useful for writing as well as art. First, however, I had to commit to following her instructions. Following instructions is hard …
I really enjoy the “Aha!” moments in life — those flashes of inspiration that come when you least expect them. They are moments of brilliance and joy, testament to the magic that we call human creativity. Inspiration cannot be coerced or scheduled. Sir William Rowing Hamilton offers a famous example with his discovery of quarternions. He …
Discover the working principles of building a successful story world. Juliette Wade will conduct a workshop on November 16 on the fundamentals of world building a fundamental task for a writer of any genre. Learn how characters act as ambassadors for their worlds, and how to use them to convey key information to the reader. We will discuss …
November Workshop: Create a Culture (or Society) from Scratch Read More »
Patricia Marshall will be the guest speaker at the next meeting of the California Writers Club Tri-Valley Branch on Saturday, September 21, 2013, at the Four Points by Sheraton, 5115 Hopyard, Pleasanton. Writer and editor Patricia Marshall, who has helped more than a dozen authors self-publish, will walk you through the steps you need to …
Sept 21 Meeting: You’ve Written the Book, Now What? Read More »
Life is getting in the way of my writing. My roles of wife and mother got a little busier, and while the situation is temporary I find myself with more excuses not to sit down at the computer and drag words from my brain to the page. If it weren’t for my critique groups, I …
One More Reason to Join a Critique Group by Lani Longshore Read More »
You don’t have to wait until September to get together again with your fellow Tri-Valley Writers. Join the California Writers Club Tri-Valley Branch in collaboration with the Pleasanton Library for “Open Mic Night with My Friends” on Monday night August 12, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. This event will be held at the Pleasanton Public Library, 400 Old Bernal Avenue. …
Please join Stacey Gustafson, Not Your Mother’s Book…On Travel and Shelley Riley, Casual Lies A Triple Crown Adventure, who will be signing their books and talking about their work at Towne Center Books on Wednesday, June 26 from 7 pm to 8 pm.
Jordan E. Rosenfeld will be the guest speaker at our next monthly meeting on Saturday, June 15, 2013, at the Four Points by Sheraton, 5115 Hopyard, Pleasanton. Jordan E. Rosenfeld, author of the popular writing guide Make a Scene and the debut novel Forged in Grace, will teach you how to activate your writing, creating the page-turning energy of …
Make a Scene: Crafting a Powerful Story One Scene at a Time Read More »
Gretchen McNeill will be the guest speaker at our next monthly meeting on Saturday, May 18, 2013, at the Four Points by Sheraton, 5115 Hopyard, Pleasanton. Gretchen McNeil is an opera singer, clown, and writer. She has written the Young Adult horror POSSESS about a teen exorcist which debuted in 2011. Her follow up, TEN …
