Programs & Events
Click on the event to get details on how to get your tickets.
The California Writers Club offers a multitude of activities and programs for its members and for the public.
Writers Groups
Our ongoing Critique Groups help writers practice and polish their craft. We have a climate action group, the Wolf Pack Writers, and a poetry group, Poetrope. See Groups for more info.
Speaker Programs
Our informative and interesting Speaker Programs are the focus of our monthly Meetings. These meetings are open to the public.
Workshops
We also offer monthly Workshops for writers by professionals, with special rates for members.
Contests
Two annual Contests: the 5th Grade Writing Contest and the Write On! Story Contest (formerly the WestSide Story Contest), celebrate local writers. Occasionally we hold a poetry contest at year’s end as well.
Our contests are currently on hiatus. If you’d be interested to help organize the next one, please contact us.
Conferences
We promote various Writers Conferences and our members can get discounts to several.
Recent Events
We also have a more concise list of past speakers.
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,…
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…
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…
“I’ve Got a Notion” —Top Productivity Apps for Creative Writers with Mel Lee Smith — January 19th, 2025
Organizing drafts and outlines, staying on top of of tasks and research, budgeting projects and tracking submissions—writers have a lot to keep up with! At our first meeting of 2025, we are excited to host Mel Lee-Smith, a Notion consultant and a creative writer whose flexible systems help writers create smooth work flows. Mel will…
“Top 10 Tips for Grant, Fellowship, & Residency Applications” with Lyzette Wanzer—November 17th, 2024
Lyzette is the recipient of 10 artist residencies and 11 grants and fellowships. In this session, Lyzette shares the top tips you need to know to position yourself as a competitive applicant for literary grants, fellowships, and artist residencies. Being a good grant writer is not enough. Did you know that these opportunities do not…
Superpower Your Writing With Scrivener – Zoom Workshop with Karma Bennett
Thursday, November 14th at 6 p.m. Learn to Use the Best Tool for Writing a Novel, Script or Nonfiction Book This participatory workshop will take place on Zoom and be recorded and sent to all. Get 20% off the purchase of Scrivener when you buy your ticketPerhaps you’ve heard that Scrivener is the best tool…