San Fernando Valley Writers

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.

December 7th

Shawna Kenney

HOW TO WRITE A WINNING BOOK HOOK, QUERY AN AGENT, AND FIND YOUR PLACE IN THE PUBLISHING WORLD

Shawna Kenney
Shawna Kenney

The San Fernando Valley Branch of the California Writers Club is pleased to welcome author, story teller, editor, and writing coach, SHAWNA KENNEY, as the keynote speaker on Saturday, December 7 at 1:00 pm with a Zoom presentation on the crucial information we all want to know: How to Write a Winning Book Hook, Query an Agent, and Find Your Place in the Publishing World.

During her presentation, Shawna will discuss how to approach agents and publishers with a completed manuscript, and whether they are even necessary for your particular project. She will teach how to leverage the heart of your story to get it into the world while also exploring today's plethora of publishing options. Additionally, Shawna will explain how to keep momentum going during the challenging process of getting your book published.

Shawna has an MFA in Creative Writing. She is the author of four books, including the award-winning memoir I Was a Teenage Dominatrix (Punk Hostage Press) and the oral history Live at the Safari Club: A History of HarDCore Punk in the Nation’s Capital 1988-1998 (Rare Bird Books). Her arts journalism and personal essays have appeared in The New York Times, Playboy, Ms., Pitchfork, Vice and more.  She teaches creative writing with UCLA Extension, serves as a Contributing Editor with Narratively Magazine, and leads international writing retreat, Hamlet's Hideaway, in Denmark every summer.

Shawna’s experience with writing and editorial services can help you in all aspects of writing from finding the heart of your story and getting started to developing book pitches and proposals to finishing and targeting the literary marketplace. So make sure to have your questions ready for the Q & A after the talk.

To learn more about this presenter, visit: www.shawnakenney.com We look forward to seeing you there!

In-person Attendees:

Mingle with other writers and see this presenter on the big screen in the Saban Center at Motion Picture Television Fund, 23388 Mulholland Drive, Woodland Hills, CA 91364. In-person attendees do not need to register in advance. Members free. Guests pay $10 at the door. First visit free. Please arrive a few minutes early.

Zoom Attendees: 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 December 6 at SFV.CWC@gmail.com for an invitation to register. Zoom guests may purchase admission at www.cwc-sfv.org by noon on December 6. 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

(map of campus)

Header Photo: By Downtowngal (Own work) via Wikimedia Commons | Site Design: Kay Henden | © 2022 CWC - San Fernando Valley Branch