by Nate Hoffelder | Aug 28, 2024 | Events
Who’s Afraid of Social Media?
Author Platform Two-Part Workshop
6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Mill Valley Public Library
FREE
In the self-propelled world of modern publishing, writers must promote themselves. You need a website, social media followers, and speaking engagements. But where to start? What if you’re technically challenged? How can you create content to promote your unique story? The California Writers Club of Marin partners with Dominican University to answer your questions and provide actionable advice in this two-part workshop.
Pt. 1 Author Platform Primer: After all the work you’ve done, your writing deserves to be seen and heard. Dominican University Professor Claudia Morales and Communications student Elizabeth Rosales make the case for getting outside your comfort zone. Their fresh ideas will educate and inspire you.
Pt. 2 Instagram 101: Bring your laptop or mobile phone to this 90-minute workshop and leave with an Instagram account to which you have posted. If you already have an account, bring your questions about hashtags and SEO algorithms. Dominican student Elizabeth Rosales will lead the workshop, sharing what she learned working with CWC Marin authors over the summer. Other Communications and Media students will also be on hand to provide one-on-one help.
Prof. Claudia Morales Ramirez hails from Chiapas, Mexico, where her debut novel, No Habrá Retorno, won the National Rosario Castellanos Prize for Short Novels. Her work has been supported by the Fulbright Program and the Foundation for Mexican Novels. She is Assistant Professor of English at Dominican University in San Rafael.
Elizabeth Rosales is studying Communications & Media and Creative Writing at Dominican University, where she edits the Dominican Beat and contributes to Tuxedo literary magazine. CWC Marin is supporting her internship in author social media this fall.
by Nate Hoffelder | Jun 13, 2024 | Events
10 Myths About Publishing
With Steven Radecki
3:00 – 4:30 pm
Mill Valley Public Library
FREE
Register here
Getting your book published is easier than ever, but it is also more confusing. How do you choose between traditional publishing, hybrid, indie, vanity, or self-publishing? How much is it going to cost? Do you need an agent? How do I promote my book? Is it even possible to make money? Steven Radecki will debunk the myths and help you come up with a plan.
Steven Radecki is the Managing Editor of Paper Angel Press and its companion imprints Water Dragon Publishing, Unruly Voices, Graveside Press, and Cupid’s Arrow Publishing. He produces the podcast Small Publishing in a Big Universe. (https://paperangelpress.com)
This event is presented by the Mill Valley Library in partnership with the California Writers Club of Marin. The registration link will be available shortly.
Reserve your seat here
by Nate Hoffelder | May 20, 2024 | Events
Summer Salon
Open-Mic Nights
Sorry, August Salon is full up! We’ll schedule another Salon soon!
Join us in August for an evening of socializing and sharing our work. Summer Salons are always popular so we are asking members to renew their membership for 2024-25 to ensure we can hold your reading slot.
- First ten people with renewed 2024-25 membership are guaranteed a speaking spot. Renew your membership early to hold your spot!
- Readers have the floor for five minutes only (about 750 words). We use a stopwatch, so plan ahead!
- Any original work is welcome (essay, excerpt, poem, etc.)
- You don’t have to read, you’re welcome to come and just listen
- Members Only (plus one guest), please. This is a great time to join (www.cwcmarin.com/memberships/)
- Potluck – please bring a drink or hors d’oeuvre to share
- Exact address will be sent just prior to the event to registered guests
- Questions? Ask at marin@cwcmarin.com
by Nate Hoffelder | Apr 11, 2024 | Events
Ask-Me-Anything
with Literary Agent Kimberley Cameron
Wednesday, June 12, 6 – 7:30 pm
Mill Valley Public Library
Looking to get your novel published but don’t have an agent yet? This event is for aspiring writers seeking representation. In this program, literary agent Kimberley Cameron will take your questions on changes in the publishing industry and tips for how to get an agent. Aspiring authors can leave this program feeling empowered to take the next step in their publishing journey.
Kimberley Cameron is president of the successful literary agency that bears her name, based in Tiburon, CA. She has been a literary agent for thirty years, representing both fiction and nonfiction manuscripts. She has found success with many different genres, and loves the thrill of securing representation for debut authors.
This event is presented by the Mill Valley Library in partnership with the California Writers Club of Marin. Register for the event on the Library website at: https://millvalleylibrary.libcal.com/event/12201246
by Nate Hoffelder | Mar 17, 2024 | Events
How to Write a Killer Book Blurb
Saturday, May 18, 10 – 11:30 am
Book Passage Corte Madera
$5 for CWC Members, $10 for Non-Members
Having a killer book blurb for the back cover of your book and online sales page is critical! Only your cover and title are more important in attracting readers. In this hands-on workshop, John will walk us through the art of creating a teaser that grabs readers’ attention and makes them want to know more.
Submit your blurb in advance (100 words or less, one per participant) if you’d like a live critique! Send it to marin@cwcmarin.com by May 10 or share with us during the workshop. We will collaborate to make your hook stronger and sharper.
John Byrne Barry is a writer, designer, actor, director, and crossing guard. He is author of four novels and three plays, including “Sausalypso Houseboat Wars Murder Mystery,” which he wrote and directed in 2023, and has adapted into a novel called Pirates of Sausalito: Houseboat Wars Murder Mystery. johnbyrnebarry.com
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by Nate Hoffelder | Feb 18, 2024 | Events
The Secret to Writing a Good Novel:
Take Off Your Writer’s Hat
Wed. April 10th, 7 – 8:30 pm PT
Online Only (Zoom)
$5 for CWC Members, $10 for Non-Members
Whether you’re struggling to start a novel, stuck in the middle, or overwhelmed by a revision, the natural tendency for writers is to write their way out of their story problems. But writing forward is not always the best thing to do. It often pays to take off your writer’s hat and define the foundational elements of your story before you keep writing — which means understanding your motivation, considering your reader’s expectations, and making sure your story has a solid structure that will hold up inside and out from beginning to end.
In this interactive presentation, top book coach Jennie Nash will walk us through the foundational elements of story in her 14-step Blueprint process. Participants will receive a digital copy of Jennie’s Blueprint for a Book and the confidence and clarity to put it to use.
Jennie Nash is the founder and CEO of Author Accelerator, a company on a mission to lead the emerging book coaching industry with rigorous training, high standards for certification, and ongoing support for coaches while they build their businesses. Her own coaching clients have landed top New York agents and six-figure book deals with traditional publishing houses such as Penguin, Scribner, Simon & Schuster, and Hachette, and won dozens of national indie book awards. Jennie is the author of 12 books in 3 genres, including her Blueprint for a Book, Blueprint for a Nonfiction Book and Blueprint for a Memoir. Visit her at authoraccelerator.com and jennienash.com.
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