See you at our (scandalous!) Winter Social — 12/7/25 at Highlands Country Club!
It's that time of year ... and what a scandalous year! To celebrate our community and creativity, we've booked the Highlands Country Club in Oakland all day on December 7th for a Sunday morning bagel brunch and writing retreat, plus evening cocktails, dinner and a contest. Dress merrily! Bring friends!
This year we're having a contest on the theme of Holiday Scandals! Come to the morning retreat to write some flash fiction, or bring something with you. We'll draw 6 names from a hat for a ...
Discovering Your Author Voice with Renee Swindle – November 16, 2025
Exploring the act of resistance with writers on technology, sexuality and spirituality.
CANCELLED – Writing History, Finding Community: One Historian’s Journey with Richard Schwartz – October 19, 2025
Exploring the act of resistance with writers on technology, sexuality and spirituality.
Maximize your discoverability with the Indie Author Project with Roy Serrao – September 21, 2025
Exploring the act of resistance with writers on technology, sexuality and spirituality.
Local Author Showcase: Annual New Book Celebration on June 21, 2025
The Author Showcase will take place at Clio's Bookstore (353 Grand Ave, Oakland, CA 94610) from 2:00 to 5:00 PM.
On Saturday, June 21st, the Berkeley Branch of the California Writers Club will honor its members who have published a new title in the past year. This is a proud moment for this century-old writing club, highlighting the diverse literary accomplishments and talents of this notable group. A wide range of literary genres will be featured, including historical fiction, mystery, ...
New Submission Support Group
New Submissions Support Group Meets Fourth Sundays at 1 p.m. on Zoom
For many writers, the dream is to see their words in print. Whether it's in their favorite literary journal, an anthology in the library, or even professionally narrated on a podcast, publishing can take many forms.But how do you get published? Is it normal to pay submission fees, or to not hear back for months? Where do you find places to submit, and how do you even do that?
New Submissions Support GroupMeets Fourth ...
“Writing to Resist” feat. Cory Doctorow, Carol Queen, and David Holper, May 18th, 2025
Exploring the act of resistance with writers on technology, sexuality and spirituality.
Finding Joy in our Writing (in the Time of Apocalypse) with Nazelah Jamison – April 19th, 2025
The world seems to be ending: wanna-be dictators are being elected, the planet is heating up and glaciers are melting, the number of natural disasters is at an all-time high, and our enemies seem to be joining and actively conspiring against us. In a time when internal and global conflict is more prevalent than ever, how does a writer still find actual joy in writing? From changing paths to changing direction, Nazelah Jamison invites you to seek, and find, the joy.
We're excited to present ...
Researching and Writing about History with Liam O’Donoghue – March 16th, 2025
Since 2016, East Bay Yesterday host Liam O’Donoghue has been transforming his local history research into articles, podcasts, and tours. In this presentation, he’ll share some helpful tips he’s learned over the years for turning facts, oral histories, and raw data into compelling narratives. This talk will cover researching, developing sources, conducting interviews, writing, and promotion (because we want people to actually read our work, right?)
About Liam
Liam O’Donoghue is ...
Finding the Right Editor with Romance Author/Book Coach Gala Russ – February 16th, 2025
Loose or Lose? Why Editor's Are Crucial.
Should hiring an editor be part of your 2025 writing journey? Join Gala Russ—book coach, author of eight romance novels, and mentor to emerging writers—as she demystifies the editorial process. From developmental editing to proofreading, Gala will break down what each type of editor does and how to determine which (if any) aligns with your goals. Whether you're pursuing self-publishing or a traditional deal, this workshop will show you how to ...