Writers’ Connections
There are many ways for Sonoma County writers and artists to get together, both formally and informally. One way is to check out the arts councils, writers’ groups and associations, and online connections listed here.
Sonoma County Arts Councils and Writers’ Organizations
Arts Council of Sonoma County
Healdsburg Literary Guild
Sonoma County Book Festival (Literary Guild of Sonoma County)
North Bay Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)
Petaluma Arts Council
Redwood Writers Branch of California Writer’s Club
Sebastopol Center for the Arts
StarMerrow: Supporting Science Fiction and Fantasy
If you are looking for a group, or would like to invite others in the literary community to join your writers’ group or network, send an announcement to sonomacountyliteraryupdate@gmail.com.
BOOK ARTS
Sonoma County Book Arts Guild:
If you make books, alter books, want to learn to make books please join us at the Center for the Arts. The intent is to create a group to share work, teach techniques, take field trips, invite guest artists to teach, and have a show.
15-Adult
Painting/Drawing Studio
Last Saturday of each month, 10 am-12 pm
Fee: $2-$5 donation to cover facility use
Contact Dena Bliss 829-1732
Call for Scriptwriters on Weekly Radio Show
Are you an accomplished scriptwriter looking for a long-term project to sink your creativity into? Ocean Rudee & Company of Sebastopol is in the process of pulling together a team of 4 to 6 ‘scriptors’. Project responsibilities will include: the development of an ongoing series of radio serial dramas and related multi-media programs for children from 4 to 8-years of age (as well as their parents, teachers and primary caregivers).
Prior experience writing for children is not necessary. An understanding of how to write for continuity, how to maintain and adhere to a well developed set of character profiles, the ability to function well as a team player, a love of children’s literature and an abiding commitment to the muse – are essential.
If this is you, please visit Ocean Rudee’s website (www.oceanrudee.com) and send them off an e-mail expressing your interest in learning more.
Critique Swap Sought
I am a literary fiction writer with a magical realism novel in need of critique. I am looking for other writers to swap manuscripts for mutual feedback. I prefer to meet in person, so you should be local – Marin or Sonoma County resident. I can read and edit your novel or collection of short stories. I am interested in literary fiction, as opposed to more commercial genres. Please e-mail me at cboaknin@verizon.net if you are interested.
Developmental Editor Sought
Published writer is seeking editorial and creative assistance from a content editor/”creative” coach, specifically a developmental editor who sees writing clients weekly. Prefer someone in Marin or Sonoma County. Topic/theme: non-fiction manuscript related to solitude/wilderness/creativity. Contact Daniel Edelstein: danieledelstein@att.net
First Leaves: Join the Staff
If you have ever wanted to be on the staff of an energetic, literary journal and learn the process of compiling a publication, plan to join English 80 (3 unit, CSU transferable). Students enrolled in English 80 are involved in all aspects of producing a literary journal (with the guidance of the instructor), from approving submissions to putting the actual journal together. Evaluating other people’s work is a great way to learn your own strengths and weaknesses. The class is fun, collaborative, and project-based: we will produce a high-quality, well-designed magazine. We welcome the participation of people throughout the North Bay, including mature working adults, young adults, teens and retirees.
Contact Instructor Abby Bogomolny for more information: (707) 522-2779
Free Writing Support Group
Do you enjoy writing but rarely make the time to do it yourself? Attend occasional workshops but crave a more regular, less expensive way to spur your creativity? I am looking to form a group of non-professional writers to meet monthly for freewriting exercises and supportive readings of our work. No experience, skill or body of work required! Location and dates TBD, although I’m thinking a weekday evening somewhere in Santa Rosa. If this sounds appealing to you, please contact Heidi Lang at h_c_lang@yahoo.com.
“Inspiring Young Children to Read”… Blog with me
Reading aloud to young children yields benefits aplenty. The NAE sez it this way:
“The single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children.”
– Commission on Reading of the National Academy of Education
There are five well defined ‘Facts, Advantages and Benefits’ to reading aloud that I’ve summarized here in relation to Ocean Rudee & Company’s program offerings: https://www.oceanrudee.com/what.is.ocean.rudee.and.company.html#readaloud
I’d love to hear other thoughts and ideas (from any of you within the Sonoma County Literary Update universe) in relation to your experiences, ideas and outlooks toward the future – in regards to reading, books, reading aloud, inspiring young children, early childhood education, multi-media programming, literacy and the like. My blog is located here: http://oceanrudee.blogspot.com. I await hearing the sounds of your keystrokes and absorbing your insights accordingly.
Paul Ennis, pwe@ oceanrudee.com
The International Women’s Writing Guild
The IWWG is a network for the personal and professional empowerment of women through writing. As such, it has established a remarkable record of achievement in the publishing world, as well as in circles where lifelong learning and personal transformation are valued for their own sake. The Guild nurtures and supports holistic thinking by recognizing the logic of the heart—the ability to perceive the subtle interconnections between people, events and emotions—alongside conventional logic. For more information about how to join the IWWG, contact Caroline Brumleve: e-mail iwwg@iwwg. org or visit their website at www.iwwg.org.
JacketFlap: Have You “Jacket-Flapped” Lately?
JacketFlap is an international social networking community where you can connect with upwards of 5,000 published authors and illustrators of books for Children and Young Adults. Paul Ennis of Sebastopol reports: “I’ve been a member of JacketFlap (http://www.jacketflap.com/profile.asp?member=OceanRudee) since late-June of 2008. My efforts to produce audio books for children and source read-aloud materials for my radio program production project (targeting an October 2009 broadcast premiere) have been greatly enhanced by the people I’ve been able to meet through JacketFlap. It’s FREE to join, the community is a vibrant one that does not seem to generate junk e-mails to any great degree and the atmosphere is very professional. If you are ready to network with folks around the world in the children’s book publishing industry this is an online community you need to be a part of. Their membership includes: children’s book authors, illustrators, editors, agents, publishing companies, designers, publicists, booksellers, librarians, teachers, students and just plain old ordinary folks who love children’s literature. Check it out — you’ll have fun in the process!”
Marian Lindner: Freelance Editor
I enjoy supporting writers and I help make words shine. Working with clients on everything from point-of-view to plot development to spelling and grammar, I retain the integrity of a writer’s unique voice while reaching readers in new, exciting ways. I am currently accepting new editing clients. Contact me at marian.lindner(@)gmail.com Website: www.marianlindner.com
North Bay Creative Prose
My writers group is looking for committed Bay Area writers willing to meet every two weeks in a coffee shop for mutual critique. The objective is to help each other focus on writing, whether it is a novel, a short story or a memoir, through constructive feedback in a supportive, productive, and inspiring environment.
I write literary fiction. I am presently working on a novel, and have published short stories long ago and far away.
Please e-mail me for more information.
Claudia Boaknin
e-mail: cboaknin@verizon.net
North Bay Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)
SCBWI is a professional organization for writers and illustrators of children’s books. For more information contact Charles Markee, charles-t@charlesmarkee.com To find out more about the society visit the website at www.scbwi.org and to learn more about events in the North Bay go to www.scbwinorthca.org
Peer Writer’s Group Needs More Members
Our peer-based writer’s group is looking for a new member or two. We are fiction (or creative non-fiction) writers who have been meeting for about six years, most recently at Iota Press in Sebastopol on alternate Thursday nights from 7:30-9:30. We alternate bringing refreshments and share the cost of renting the space ($25/session). The group has worked well so far and our members are getting published. Generally, we bring in manuscripts, read aloud, and open the floor for supportive but detailed comments and suggestions. We’re mostly looking for someone who can fit into our way of doing things and who is committed to finishing writing projects. Either that or someone who brings really great food when it’s his/her turn. If interested, please e-mail fongs89@sbcglobal.net
Prose Writer’ Group Forming
We are looking for two more experienced writers to join our new group. Our focus will be on fiction and non-fiction novel or short story writing for mutual support and honest critiquing of our work. We’ll meet once or twice a month in the Healdsburg, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol area. For more information call John at 707 326 5810 or email jhinkona@hotmail.com
The Redwood Branch of the California Writers Club
Redwood Writers is one of 17 branches of the California Writers Club, the nation’s oldest professional club for writers, founded in 1909. Its motto is “writers helping writers.” Early members included Jack London, George Sterling, John Muir, Joaquin Miller and the first California poet laureate, Ina Coolbrith. The Club has more than 1,200 members statewide.
Additional contact information: www.redwoodwriters.org
Screenwriter/Collaborator needed
I am looking to collaborate with an experienced screenwriter on my recently published book The Promised Cookie (See Amazon). If you know of an experienced writer(s) with some credits to his/her name please e-mail David Sortino at davidsortino@comcast.net.
Sitting Room Book Discussion Group
We meet 2:00-4:00 pm on the third Wednesday of every month, skipping December, at The Sitting Room and are always open to new readers. For more info, email Joanne Page at jpage@sonic.net.
Dee Sunshine’s Book Art and Cover Art
I am an artist, illustrator and graphic designer. If you need an illustration for a book cover, or if you need a book jacket design I can offer up my services. I have an online gallery of over 1,000 images that are available for reproduction at http://www.rimbaud.org.uk/artmainpage.html.
I have provided artwork for books by Clarinda Harriss, Kay Green, Janet Buck, David Bircumshaw, Marcy Jarvis, Rupert Loydell and Norman Jope among others; and I’ve had my art published in numerous periodicals including The North American Review, International Poetry Review, Orbis, Ambit, Cimarron Review, Black Mountain Review, Rattapallax and Bayou Review. You can see sample book jackets at http://www.rimbaud.org.uk/jacketmain.html
I work in acrylic, pastel, charcoal, pen & ink, photomontage & collage: each medium having it’s own specific style; and am sure I would have something in stock that would suit most needs. As the works are already completed (rather than produced to commission) I can be flexible about reproduction fees, depending on the budget of your publisher, or indeed your own budget, if you are self-publishing. If you like my work and want to use it, write to me and I’m sure we can come to some arrangement.
Website — www.thunderburst.co.uk
Blogger — http://deerimbaud.blogspot.com
MySpace — www.myspace.com/captainmelted
Facebook — www.facebook.com/captainmelted
Thrillerz Critique Group
The Thrillerz critique group is looking for new members. We meet at Borders in Santa Rosa on Thursday nights at 7:00 p.m. If you are interested in joining this wonderful critique group, please email the first five pages of your work in progress as a .doc or .rtf attachment to susanlittlefield@earthlink.net. Please indicate Thrillerz Submission in the subject line. Thank you.
UUCSR Writers
First Monday of the month from 4:00-6:00 pm in the “Green Room” at UUCSR, 547 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, Ca 95401, 707-568-5381, Can’t attend monthly meetings? Live in another city, state or country? Request an Invitation to join our Online Writer’s Blog. Information: UUCSR Writers, Georgette G. deBlois, GGdeB@aol.com, http://uucsrwriters.blogspot.com.
Video and Recording Services for Authors
Book trailers, live event video, editing, special effects, musical accompaniment, Youtube placement, audio books, voice over. Full recording studio. Low introductory rates. Email John Christian at jsc10@hughes.net. For a sample, see: http://youtu.be/JN-_vj0jcEI
Westword Second Sunday Salons
Sebastopol, 4:00-6:00 pm. All poets and writers are welcome to hear and read at monthly gatherings in the quiet comfort of the Center’s west-corner Library Room. Come hear and share home-grown literature, and your writing process, problems, and motives with colleagues in our sessions facilitated by Gor Yaswen, for $1 donation to the Center. Listeners also are cordially invited to these-smoke-and-fragrance-free meetings. For info. call: 707-829-1549
Location: Sebastapol Center for the Arts, 6780 Depot Street (@ Brown Street & behind Seb. Deli.)
Gor Yaswen, yaswen@aol.com
Welcome to WritingRaw.com
Writing Raw is a FREE literary ezine dedicated to new and emerging writers of the following categories: FICTION, POETRY and ASSORTED writings. Our goal at Writing Raw is simple — to serve the literary community with the opportunity to have their work online and out in the world. In this world of disappearing literary magazines, Writing Raw is providing the blank pages for writers to fill. WritingRaw.com
Writer’s Visibility Support Group Forming
I am looking to form a group of experienced, motivated North Bay Area writers. Any writer with a finished or nearly complete manuscript of any genre or writing style is welcome. The focus of the group will be on visibility: selling our books, finding a literary agent or publisher, and creating an action plan. We will meet once a month during the day on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday in the Sonoma or Santa Rosa area for mutual support and idea sharing. The day, time, and location will be based on member availability. Please e-mail me for more information. Marian Lindner: marian.lindner@gmail.com
