SAN FERNANDO VALLEY BRANCH – CALIFORNIA WRITERS CLUB

We are one of twenty-two branches throughout California organized and operating under the auspices of The California Writers Club.

We are a non-profit professional organization whose goal is to provide a friendly and inclusive environment for members to meet and network; to provide professional speakers who will aid in writing, publishing, and marketing members’ endeavors; and other writing-related opportunities that will further members’ writing enjoyment and careers.

Publications

VALLEY SCRIBE
The Valley Scribe is published monthly by the San Fernando Valley Writers and provided to its members at no charge.

 

This digital newsletter is full of branch news, program announcements and highlights, emerging markets, articles on writing and editing, poetry and short fiction from our members, and much, much more.

 

ANTHOLOGY
“Cascade of Pearls”, the latest in our series of anthologies of our members’ prose and poetry, was published in May 2017.

 

Copies are available on Amazon. A few copies are also available directly from the club; contact the Editor-in-Chief:

 

Rita Brown
ritakeeleybrown@yahoo.com

Meetings and Events

FOR INFORMATION AND REVIEWS ON PRIOR SPEAKERS: Check out speakers' articles in the monthly editions of the Scribe.

CWC Publications

LITERARY REVIEW
The Literary Review is a juried collection of superior poems, stories, fiction, and nonfiction by members of the California Writers Club statewide.

BULLETIN
The Bulletin is the official publication of California Writers Club. It contains news of the statewide branches, including awards and presentations, plus upcoming events and publications.

If you would like to support us, click here.

Critique Groups

Membership in one or more critique groups is open to active members of the San Fernando Valley branch of the California Writers' Club, subject to group size limitations. Each group has established general expectations for submissions and critique etiquette. Currently most groups are meeting via Zoom. Presently active groups are as follows:

Tuesday Poetry Critique Group Meetings held once a month on the 2nd Tuesday from 10:30 until 12:00 PM. Poetry only.  

Wednesday Daytime Critique Group Meetings held 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month from 11:30 to 3:00 PM. Long and short fiction, memoirs and poetry.  

Wednesday Evening Critique Group Meetings held 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Long and short fiction, memoirs and poetry.  

Friday Daytime Critique Group Meetings held on the 2nd and 4th Friday of the month from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. All genres except poetry.  

Saturday Long Fiction Critique Group Meetings held once a month on the 3rd Saturday from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. Focus on long fiction.  

Saturday Daytime Critique Group Meetings held 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Long and short fiction, memoirs and poetry.    

For further information about joining a critique group contact Marlene A. Bumgarner marlenebumgarner@gmail.com

Also visit us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/CWCSFV/

Meetings and Events

FOR INFORMATION AND REVIEWS ON PRIOR SPEAKERS: Check out speakers' articles in the monthly editions of the Scribe.

April 6th

Kirsten Casey

PUTTING THE FUN BACK INTO WRITING

Kirsten Casey

PLEASE NOTE THIS PRESENTATION WILL BE ON ZOOM, BUT WE WELCOME THOSE WHO WISH TO PARTICIPATE IN PERSON. WE MEET AT THE SABAN WELLNESS CENTER AT THE MOTION PICTURE & TELEVISION FUND (MPTF)

In celebration of National Poetry Month, the San Fernando Valley Branch of the California Writers Club is pleased to welcome Nevada County Poet Laureate 2021, KIRSTEN CASEY, as our keynote speaker on Saturday, April 6th at 1:00 pm, via Zoom, with a presentation entitled, “Putting the Fun Back into Writing.”

Are you feeling frustrated with your work-in-progress? Kirsten wants to show you how to enjoy writing again, even if you feel undisciplined and blocked. Her approach will entertain and inspire you whether you write poetry, fiction, short stories, or screenplays. To renew that sense of inspiration, Kirsten provides a glimpse into her process, and will provide prompts to renew your curiosity and love for writing. So be ready with pen and paper!

Kirsten is a California Poet in the Schools, creative writing teacher, and was the 2021 poet laureate of Nevada County. In 1992, she earned her MA in creative writing from San Francisco State University where she worked with Frances Mayes, her thesis advisor. Kirsten’s poetry collection, Ex Vivo: Out of the Living Body, published by Hip Pocket Press in 2012, is inspired by odd stories, remarkable words, and the mysteries of the human body. Her second book of poetry, (with the working title Instantaneous Obsolescence,) explores historical and literary characters struggling with social media.

In 2019, Kirsten taught high school workshops as part of the Academy of American Poets Laureate fellowship that was granted to Molly Fisk to facilitate the creation of the poetry anthology, California Fire & Water. The anthology, which was a response to California’s climate crisis, includes one of Kirsten’s poems. She was also a co-editor of the book.

Currently, Kirsten is an associate editor of the book Small, Bright Things, a collection of 100-word stories by teens, collaborating with author and editor, Kim Culbertson.

Kirsten has lived in Nevada City for almost 30 years with her husband, and has three children in their twenties, who patiently assist her with technology. Visit https://kirstencasey.com/ for more info on this terrific presenter.

While Kirsten will be joining us via Zoom on the big screen at the MPTF, we encourage you to attend in-person to meet and talk about your work with other members over snacks and drinks. Looking forward to seeing you there! All members of the CWC-SFV will receive a Zoom invitation to this presentation. Members of other CWC branches should contact Zoom host, Anat Wenick, by noon on April 5th at SFV.CWC@gmail.com for an invitation to register. Guests may purchase admission at www.cwc-sfv.org by noon on April 5th. After purchasing admission, guests will receive a Zoom invitation.  We regret we cannot accommodate late requests.

Guest Payment Via Zelle: sfv.cwc@gmail.com

In-person guests can pay at the door.

Meeting Address for in-person participants:

MPTF | Motion Picture & Television Fund
The Wasserman Campus
23388 Mulholland Drive
Woodland Hills, CA 91364