January 10, 2023
Dear members of the San Francisco Peninsula Branch of the CWC,
News Update January 10, 2023!
Upcoming Meeting: Sat, Jan 21, 2023
Now’s the time to register for our first meeting of the year! And we’re kicking it off right with member, writer, and performer Sam Kaufman teaching us “How to Read Your Writing to an Audience.” Pre-register for $10 to attend meetings or pay $15 at the door. In-person only, Sequoia Yacht Club.
President's Message
Why Writers Block Isn’t Real
Geri Spieler
I don’t believe in writer’s block.
“Why,” you ask.
Because I think it’s mostly used by aspiring writers who don’t actually want to write. It’s a good show to throw oneself onto a sofa, flamboyantly crying, “I’m blocked, I’m blocked!”.
Here’s, the hard truth: writer’s block isn’t real. The feeling of not knowing what to do next comes from putting an unhealthy amount of strain on your creative muscle. It happens when you tell yourself, “I’m not good enough to start.”
In other professions, people do not get to shirk their work because they don’t feel inspired. That was the case when I was working as a full-time journalist. So, what if a surgeon decided that they were inspired to perform this procedure? “Maybe later.”
Also, comparing a physician to a writer is a bit much. You’re right: As much as I think we as writers are undervalued in society, I’m not going to say I perform a job with the same importance as a physician.
So, it’s the proverbial apples and oranges. Unless, of course, your writing is going to keep you from dying.
If you are going to call yourself a writer, you need to write. And if you’re expecting the sky to open up and angels to sing a rousing rendition of Hallelujah every time you sit down to work, you’re setting yourself up for a sad truth.
There will be days your fingers are on fire, and you can’t write fast enough. It’s thrilling. You know you are meant to do this.
But there will also be days when you write the same bland sentence over and over. You’ll be frustrated repeatedly, and the appeal of just throwing your hands up in the air and shouting, “DAMN WRITER’S BLOCK!” will be overwhelming.
What you need to do if you start writing something. Anything. I guarantee you will stay with it; if you believe in a muse, it will find you. Write stuff that only moves you. Write something that is totally unpublishable. Write.
That’s right. Writer’s block doesn’t exist. It’s a made-up concept that people tell themselves to get out of writing.
Writing Critique Group Support Is Coming!
We are very excited that member Miera Rao has volunteered to facilitate the formation of writing critique groups for our branch. This is a big deal and will benefit members! More in your next Newsblast.
San Francisco Writers Conference
This is your chance to attend the San Francisco Writers Conference Feb 16-19, Hyatt Regency near Embarcadero, for free! Volunteer to work the CWC booth for a three-hour shift during the conference with an opportunity to attend one presentation.
But wait … there’s more! The SFWC has offered two members from each of the twenty-two branches free. We’ll hold the drawing at our Jan 21 general meeting. If we your name out of a basket, you win a ticket to either:
Poetry Summit, Sat, Feb 18, 9:00am-5:30pm, followed by a Jazz Evening Event, or
Writing for Hollywood Summit, Sat, Feb 17, 9:00am-5:30pm
This is a big gift to our Club and a great time to attend one of the best writers
conferences around.
Member News (see more online)
This just in from Vanessa MacLaren-Wray: publication of a new story that presages her upcoming novel, Shadows of Insurrection. Ooo ... gotta check that out.
Geri Spieler is busy! Find out about all these events under the Events menu on our home page. First, there's a Writers Helping Writers presentation, "Super Sleuthing: Internet Research Skills and Information Everyone Should Know," Jan 16, 6:45pm – 7:45pm, at Rinconada Library in Palo Alto. Then she'll teach a master class, "Super Sleuthing: Internet Research Skills Everyone Should Know," at the SF Writers Conference, Feb 16, 6:30 - 9:30pm, and follow that up with a presentation, "Just the Facts: How to research true crime," Feb18, 3:15pm. An audio book of Housewife Assassin: The Story of the Woman Who Tried To Kill President Ford will be published and available the same day, Feb 7, 2023. Whew! Read all about these events under the Events menu on our website.
… and Super Sleuth Geri Wants You! She’s looking for one or two other true crime authors to share the stage. If you write true crime and are interested in joining her at the presentation, please contact her at gspieler@gmail.com.
More from Jim Hanna: positive reviews of his stories, a new story about a lonely librarian who answers a matrimonial ad from a demented farmer growing mutant plant-creatures for the government (whew!), and a story about a chicken. Oh my … Jim never disappoints ... read all about it, with links.
Keep writing!
Tim
Membership Chairman and Webmaster
California Writers Club
San Francisco / Peninsula Branch