February 14, 2023
Dear members of the San Francisco Peninsula Branch of the CWC,
Newsblast Update February 14, 2023!
Happy Valentines Day!
Find our website at https://cwc-sfpeninsula.org
Members submit news to: newsletter@sfpeninsulawriters.com
Upcoming Meeting: Sat, Feb 18, 2023
In “Story Telling Crossover, Incorporating Video in Your Writing Projects,” Chris Hennessy, will teach us how and why to incorporate media into our writing projects. Read more and pre-register for $10 to attend or pay $15 at the door. In-person only, Sequoia Yacht Club.
President Geri Spieler’s Message: Big Doins Next Week
Hi all my writing buddies. I’m a nervous wreck this week. Well, I have been for weeks now.
You know the saying, be careful what you ask for.
Well, I contacted the San Francisco Writers Conference people promoting myself as a potential presenter after a session I attended last July at their conference on publishing nonfiction. It was awful. I kept thinking, I should be on that panel; these people are terrible presenters.
So, I wrote to the woman who was organizing the nonfiction track this year and sold her a bill of goods of what I could offer. One is my “Super Sleuthing: Internet Research Skills Everyone Should Know.” I’ve given this one-hour workshop for years around the country now. It’s constantly updated; of course, things change rapidly.
She loved it, but not for one hour. She wanted it for one of their three-hour master classes.
Yikes. Three hours? Could I possibly make it that long?
I didn’t say no. My ego was very involved, but the reality is I’m going nuts working on it. Well, they like to have their speakers do three events, so I’m moderating a session on how to research true crime and contributing to a session on anthologies. Those two I’m really excited about and I had Zoom sessions with both sets of panelists.
Back to the Internet master class. Fortunately, I have a husband who is highly skilled and has spoken all over the country. He is an excellent audience and critic.
So, you may not hear much from the three until after Feb. 19.
Also, very importantly, I’m representing the California Writers Club, so I really want to do a good job on all three. Hopefully, we can get some new members, which of course, I will include in my introduction.
Wish me luck, please.
Writing Critique Groups
As you learned from Miera Rao’s email on critique groups, she is collecting information about current groups. Then she’ll open everything up for additions to existing groups, as desired, and the formation of new groups. Miera is your matchmaker pairing writers with groups of peers. If you have a group now, please provide information about it here.
New Members
Members new and old attended the recent New Member Orientation at the home of Carole Bumpus to learn more about our club. Another orientation will be planned.
Writers Helping Writers
On Feb 16, member Eva Barrows, freelance editor and writer, will present “Create a Newsletter Your Audience Will Want to Read” at the Feb 16 Writers Helping Writers event at the Rinconada Library. She’ll discuss “creating a value-filled newsletter your target audience will eagerly await to receive in their email inbox.”
Exciting news! Superhero David Strom will host a new monthly WHW program at the SM City library, on the 3rd Tuesday of each month, in coordination with new member and librarian Tuula Laine.
Stuart Horwitz Workshop, Mar 11, 9am - 1pm
This may be the best workshop you’ll ever attend! Stuart will take us through his acclaimed Book Architecture Method, where “finding your unique approach requires a method rather than a formula.” Sign up now!
Fault Zone
Submitters will receive provisional acceptance/rejection letters by month’s end.
Poetry Contest
Redwood Writers Poetry Contest, deadline Mar 01.
Member News (read more online) Congrats to all! (Gosh, I hope I got it all….)
A short story by Nanci Woody, “Bessie,” appears in the CWC-Sacramento anthology, Visions. In December she published two poems, “A Question for the Gods,” in the online magazine, Fear of Monkeys, and “These Hands,” in the online mag, Fleas on the Dog.
New member Dr. Jeanne Powell, a Rooted & Written Fellowship recipient, read from her works at Salesforce Park in San Francisco Feb 09. Performances are curated by the SF Writers Grotto.
Marianne Brems' poem "Feather Meme" appears in the February 10 edition of The Bluebird Word. Two more, "Curtain of Darkness" and "Wolf in Sheep's Clothing" appear in Writenow A Literary Journal.
His flash fiction piece, “Acts of God”, which David Harris read at the holiday party, was accepted for publication in the summer issue of Calliope.
As mentioned above, Geri Spieler has lots going on! Plus, there’s this: She says, “I can finally announce” that her book Housewife Assassin (released with accompanying audio) “has been optioned for a movie again with different folks. I can't reveal who they are just yet, but we do have a contract. Fingers crossed….” Plus, Geri will speak about her book at the Rinconada Library book club.
In his latest, Jim Hannah’s Gertie McDowell, the heroine of The Ping-Pong Champion of Chinatown, returns in Lights Out Lizzie, a novelette appearing in Across the Margin.
Got News?
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Keep writing!
Tim
Membership Chairman and Webmaster
California Writers Club
San Francisco / Peninsula Branch