by Nate Hoffelder | May 12, 2025 | Events
Members-Only Summer Salon
July 13 (Sun), 4-6 pm
Mill Valley
SORRY! July is FULL.
Aug 17 (Sun), 5-7 pm
San Rafael
RESERVE MY SPOT
Join us for an evening of socializing and sharing creative work. If you’re feeling shy, this is the place to build your confidence. It’s hard to ‘put yourself out there’, but we are supportive! Summer Salons are always popular so register soon to hold your reading slot.
- Free
- Members Only (any CWC branch). The first ten Members who renew their membership (2025-26) ahead of the event will be guaranteed a reading slot.
- Not a Member yet? Join today!
- We can accommodate up to twenty readers per session
- Readers have the floor for five minutes each (about 750 words). We use a stopwatch and a cowbell, so practice ahead.
- Any original work is welcome (essay, excerpt, poem, etc.)
- When you register, please provide your name, email address, and whether you will read or not. You are welcome just to listen.
- Members may bring one guest (please let us know). Only Members may read but we encourage guests to join!
- Potluck – please bring a drink or hors d’oeuvre to share
- Mill Valley and San Rafael residential addresses will be provided just prior to the event to registered guests only
by Nate Hoffelder | Apr 13, 2025 | Events
Pros and Cons of AI for Writers
Wed., June 11
5:30 – 7:30 pm PT
Online (Zoom)
$5 for CWC Members
$10 for non-members
In a world increasingly shaped by AI-driven innovation, how do authors navigate the complexities of copyright law? This presentation explores the intersection of artificial intelligence and intellectual property, addressing pressing questions about authorship, ownership, and accountability.
CWC Marin President Jean Gordon Kocienda will start with a basic “AI for Dummies”-style demo of tools such as Chat GPT and Canva, generating a short story, a query letter, artwork, and a bio in a matter of minutes.
Next, Dan will examine the ethical issues and legal challenges AI brings to writers and artists. Plenty of time will be left for Q&A as we discuss strategies you can put to work in this rapidly evolving landscape.
Dr. C. Daniel Miller is a co-founder and co-owner of Integrated Writer Services, LLC, which provides copyright consulting and clearance service. He formerly served as president of the Collective of Independent Publishers and Authors (CIPA), previously known as the Colorado Independent Publishers Association. Dr. Miller regularly speaks and conducts workshops on “Copyright Basics” and “Copyright in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.” These presentations are designed for authors, independent publishers, and other creative professionals.
In addition to his consulting work, Dr. Miller is working on a second edition of the award-winning Copyright Clearance for Creatives, which serves as a guide to copyright issues for the creative community. The new edition will include a section on copyright and artificial intelligence (AI).
Through his various roles, Dr. Miller contributes to the copyright literacy of individuals needed to help them ethically create and use copyrighted materials in the digital age.
https://thecopyrightdetective.com
(Disclaimer: Dr. Miller’s bio was created using an AI platform.)
by Nate Hoffelder | Mar 2, 2025 | Events
Bringing the Past to Life
Sat., May 10, 2025
1:00 – 2:30 pm
Mill Valley Public Library
RESERVE MY SEAT
Rhys Bowen is the New York Times bestselling author of the Molly Murphy mysteries, set in early 1900s New York City and the lighter Royal Spyness mysteries featuring a minor Royal in the 1930s. She also writes internationally bestselling historical novels.
Her latest is The Rose Arbor, currently nominated for the Mary Higgins Clark award. Her books have won ten awards to date and are translated into over thirty languages.
Rhys is a transplanted Brit who divides her time between Marin and Arizona.
Rhys will talk about how she does her research and how important it is to feel the places she writes about so that she can transport a reader to a time and place, not merely tell them about it.
RESERVE MY SEAT
by Nate Hoffelder | Feb 23, 2025 | Events
Literary Walking Tour of San Francisco
Along the Barbary Coast Trail
Led by Daniel Bacon
April 12, 2025
9:30 AM – 1:00 PM
$20 for Members (any CWC branch)
$25 for Non-Members
$5 for Students
Space is Limited! Reserve Your Spot Below
The 3 1/2-hour tour starts with a scenic cable car ride from Aquatic Park Cove to Powell and Market with panoramic views of the bay and the historic waterfront. Daniel will then guide us on a literary journey through San Francisco to relive the times and imaginations of Dashiell Hammett, Mark Twain, Ina Coolbrith, Jack London, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Allen Ginsburg.
The tour ends at Washington Square in North Beach, where walkers can grab a slice of pizza or some other fare and enjoy it in the park. Then you can walk back to Aquatic Park or take an Uber. (Without Uber, the total walking distance from Powell and Market to Aquatic Park is 3.5 miles. With Uber, it’s 2.5 miles.)
Daniel Bacon is the creator of the Barbary Coast Trail, San Francisco’s official historical walk (www.barbarycoasttrail.org). He has led lively tours with amusing tales and dramatic accounts for over 20 years.
$20 for Members (we will confirm your current active status)
$25 for Non-Members
$5 for Students
- Does not include cable car ticket and lunch.
- Cable car ticket: $8 exact change or purchase a ticket online with the MiniMobile or Clippercard apps
- Clothing: Wear layers to keep warm and good walking shoes
Be prepared for a wonderful time!
Daniel can only take 16 people, so reserve your spot today!
by Nate Hoffelder | Jan 21, 2025 | Events
The World of Flash
Flash Fiction Writer’s Workshop
Sat., March 1, 2025
1:00 – 3:00 pm
Mill Valley Public Library
Reserve your seat on the library website: https://millvalleylibrary.libcal.com/event/13584265
Dive into the world of ‘flash fiction’ (defined as very short fiction, a few hundred words) in this fast-paced, hands-on workshop where creativity knows no bounds! Together, we’ll explore both classic and cutting-edge techniques for crafting impactful, bite-sized stories that linger long after the last word. In a supportive, judgment-free space, you’ll unleash your imagination, write your own flash fiction, and share your creations with a community that celebrates your voice.
About the facilitator: Award-winning indie poet, historical novelist, and forensic historian
Gini Grossenbacher is one of California’s respected and sought-after creative writing educators and certified copyeditors. She is an experienced conference presenter and a favorite speaker at book clubs, fairs, and festivals. She has an M.S. in Education from The University of LaVerne, Los Angeles, and earned a certificate in copyediting from UC San Diego in 2021. Gini has forty years of experience teaching writing and language arts to adults and adolescents.
by Nate Hoffelder | Dec 15, 2024 | Events
Wrangling Your Inner Critic
with Danika Bloom
Wed., Feb. 12, 2025
7:00 – 8:30 pm PT
Online (Zoom) Only
$5 for CWC Members (any branch)
$10 for Non-Members
Register Below
Feeling stuck in your writing or overwhelmed by self-doubt? This interactive workshop, Wrangle Your Inner Critic, empowers you to transform that nagging voice in your head into a creative ally. Through brain science, reframing techniques, and actionable strategies, you’ll uncover why your inner critic exists and how to quiet its unhelpful chatter.
Learn how to replace guilt-driven goals with ones that bring joy, set yourself up for success through productive routines, and find a community that supports your growth as a writer. By the end of the session, you’ll have practical tools to turn anxiety into action, procrastination into productivity, and fear into confidence.
Perfect for writers of all levels, this workshop combines neuroscience, mindful practices, and a supportive atmosphere to help you write with clarity, courage, and joy.
Danika Bloom is a USA Today bestselling romance author and the founder of Author Ever After, a community membership where she supports pre-published romance writers to finish and strategically indie-publish their first romance novels during weekly small group coaching calls and masterminds.
$5 for CWC Members, $10 for Non-Members
