April 18th Join Emily Cotler on Author Websites that Really Work
Your website is the only place online where YOU control the narrative. It’s the definitive word on your career, and this month’s speaker will help you make it the best it can be. Emily Cotler, founder and creative director of Waxcreative Designs, which boasts over 100 acclaimed author websites, shares best practices of a high-end author website service that can help any author. Emily will help attendees understand:
The subtle interplay of social media and websites How a trustworthy ...
Grantwriting for Writers
More and More Funders Are Giving Support to Individuals
Experienced Grant Strategist Denise Pate Shares Insider Tips on Winning Funding
March 21st at 1 p.m.
Historically-most grant support was given to nonprofit organizations. Denise Pate manages the Oakland’s Cultural Funding Program, one of the few places where INDIVIDUALS can find support for their work. She is part of the growing movement of funders who are now recognizing the value of supporting individuals who are part of the ...
An Interview with Sage Cohen, Keynote Speaker
Our February speaker Sage Cohen
Meet Sage Cohen, Author of Fierce on the Page and The Productive Writer
Sage Cohen is convinced that there are many ways to be productive in your writing. The key is to have fun experimenting with different methods until you find the one that inspires you. In her workshop with CWC-Berkeley this month, Sage Cohen will be discussing her top 10 strategies that will help you complete your project. In this interview, Sage shares her thoughts on writing ...
Focus and Finish the Writing that Matters with Sage Cohen
Join us on Sunday, February 21st, as Sage Cohen, author of The Productive Writer, shares her tips for writing
When you don’t know what matters most in your writing life, it’s hard to focus—and finish. In this live 60-minute keynote address, you will identify your top priority writing project. Then, you’ll create a simple strategic plan for achieving it. Sage will share ten key productivity strategies will help you work smarter, accomplish more, and cross each finish line faster.
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Deep Revision with Laurel Yourke
Join is January 17th when author and award-winning writing professor Dr. Laurel Yourke will show us her deep revision techniques.
“'Vision' is the heart of revision—it’s not just polishing or substituting one word for another.," Yourke says. "Instead, look at revision as viewing at your own words in a completely new way: re-envisioning them." Yourke will organize her keynote around these five steps:
What is the essence of your story, poem, or book?What is deep structure, and how ...
Get Known Everywhere for Authors featuring Jill Lublin: November 15th
Many authors have a great message but haven't learned how to use a book to leverage expertise and generate revenue. As an author, it is important to understand the real purpose of publicity - to boost credibility and amplify your visibility. If you want to be known as an author of influence, you’ve got to get noticed by the media.
Based on her international bestseller, “Guerrilla Publicity”, 4x Best Selling author and publicity expert, Jill Lublin, shares simple strategies and doable ...
The Amazing Life of Feisty Ina Coolbrith, America’s First Poet Laurate – October 18th
Writers often need courage, whether it is to meet a national event, a personal challenge, or just to face a blank page. In these instances we can look to our own history to find the inner strength to face our most profound challenges. At the culmination of California Writer's Week, historical author Aleta George will give us the details on the fierce and iconic Ina Coolbrith. Ina Coolbrith was not only California's first poet laurate and Oakland's first public librarian, she was also one of the founders of the California Writers Club. But these factoids merely scratch the surface of this ground-breaking rebel. Author and journalist Aleta George will share the moments in Ina Coolbrith's life when she was called upon to respond with courage and other fascinating stories of Coolbrith in the East Bay.
Learn more or get your tickets now.
Finding & Working with an Agent with Literary Agent Andy Ross – September 20th
Our speaker series returns on Sunday, September 20th with Oakland literary agent Andy Ross. Ross will detail the steps you need to take before beginning work with a literary agent. Ross will help you determine whether your project is right for commercial publishers and he'll explain how to write effective query letters and book proposals. You'll learn how to research the best agent for your book. He'll even go over how agents negotiate book contracts.
May 17th SPEAKER—Paul Shirley—”Writing Like an Athlete to Build Creative Focus”
Building an Athlete's Discipline and Focus into Your Writing Practice
In the midst of a global pandemic, when there's so much time on our hands staying at home, writers are having trouble getting things done. Paul Shirley, a former professional basketball player, will speak about how he applied an athlete's focus to his writing career, and has since helped hundreds of writers achieve their goals through building habits, routines and systems that work for them. The founder of Writers ...
3/15 – PANEL DISCUSSION with Bay Area Small Press Editors
What's the difference between working with a small press and a large mainstream publisher? Should I submit my work to a small press? Do local publishers want local authors? Why pitch to a small press if I can be a small press?
Learn about it in our panel discussion with small press editors.