PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
Dear friends,
President’s Message for October
Welcome to fall, when the cooler weather inspires mornings wrapped in a blanket while sipping something warm, and when the words flow like fog over the hills. That is, of course, unless you live in Sonoma County and are experiencing 90-degree autumn weather.
Nevertheless, it’s still a great time to revisit your writing routine if you’re like me and put it down for the summertime. I’m excited about starting my next writing project, and I look forward to the cooler, foggier mornings that really enhance my writing sessions.
Over the summer, we sent a survey out to members to help us understand the needs of our members. And the response was wonderful! So many of you shared why you joined Redwood Writers, what is working for you in the branch, and what you want to see more of. I revealed the survey results at the September Town Hall and received even more valuable feedback from attending members.
If you would like to see the results of this survey, I have it available on the website at redwoodwriters.org/2024-survey-results.
By the way, one suggestion that came out of the Town Hall meeting was to have a calendar on the website. Message heard! There is now a Google calendar on the homepage that lists Redwood Writers events and submission windows. Visit redwoodwriters.org and scroll down to find the calendar.
This month, I am so very excited about the Sonoma County Writers Conference, an event we’ve been working on for over a year to present to you the very best speakers and topics. A special thank you to Shawn Langwell who organized so much of this year’s conference, to Pamela Heck who gathered our beloved volunteers to meet your needs, and to Judy M. Baker who created the beautiful logo, program, and marketing images. And thank you to every member who said yes when asked if they could help at the conference. Our volunteers are the heart of our branch, and we are very grateful for your support!
Something to keep your eye on is the CWC poetry contest that just started today. Be sure to read through this newsletter to learn more about it and how to enter, or visit the CWC website at calwriters.org. This one is a teeny tiny bit exciting.
Finally, I want to hear about your current (or future) writing project! Share about what you’re writing in this groups.io discussion, and cheer on other writers who have also shared. Check it out at https://groups.io/g/rwgroup/message/2380
I hope you all have a lovely month, and I’ll see you at the conference!
Happy writing!
Crissi Langwell
Redwood Writers President
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SONOMA COUNTY WRITERS CONFERENCE | |
Your 2024 Sonoma County Writers Conference | |
There is so much to share about the conference and it is available on our website.
Our Keynote:
Jeff Goins is the best-selling author of five books, including The Art of Work and Real Artists Don’t Starve. His award-winning blog Goinswriter.com has been visited by tens of millions of people, and through his online courses and events, he's taught over 20,000 writers since 2012. Jeff lives outside of Nashville with his family, where they spend most of their free time listening to records and making homemade pasta.
Shawn Langwell
Conference Chair, Vice President, and Director of PR and Communications, Redwood Writers
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Pamela Heck is the volunteer coordinator x 3. Connect with Pamela. She is in charge of assignments. It is not too late for you to offer your services.
Your help is vital to making this event possible.
- Information Table
- Registration Table
- Room Monitors (timers)
- Speaker Shepards (make the speakers feel at home)
- Merchandise Table (club materials)
- Roving Guides (between sessions)
- Food Director (breakfast/lunch)
- Clean-up
- As Needed (the unsung heroes)
- Fill conference bags with materials (one week before the event)
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Redwood Writers: Autumn Writers Salon
Date: October 26, Saturday
Time: 1:00 - 3:00
Place: Private home address included in confirmation of your rsvp
RSVP - Register at redwoodwriters.org/salon
Reading:
Each person has 5 minutes to read prose, essay, poetry, play, or whatever you like.
Refreshments:
Light refreshments will be provided by the host.
You are not required to bring a dish to share, however, contributions are always welcome.
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Looking for a Writing Group? | |
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Marie Judson keeps an ongoing list of members interested in joining or creating a writing group. If you would like to find a critique group, or add more members to an existing group, send your genre(s) and contact information to mariejudson@gmail.com.
You'll receive an email with the subject line, "Writers seeking writing groups." You can then either reply to all or select specific writers to contact. This has been an ongoing free service for Redwood Writers members for nine years.
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Homegrown Poetry and More | |
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The Witching Hour
Snakes of mist hover
hanging in midair
before dissipating into the night,
slick ribbons merging into the silent stream.
Encased in hushed whispers
ringing like the aftermath
of a bomb blast
cloak the forest.
Footfalls make no sound,
pine needles suck the crunch
whooshing it out of reach
before ears can latch upon it.
Glittering butterflies dart overhead,
casting narrow beams of midnight light,
barely visible in the near dawn.
A witching hour, tween night and morning,
electrified air,
magic, waiting.
—Judy M. Baker
Judy M. Baker, creator of the Buzzworthy Book Experience, is a book marketing strategist. Baker is the past president of Redwood Writers and BAIPA. She shares her unique understanding of publishing as co-host of the Grand Authors Group. She is finalizing The Buzzworthy Book Blueprint and a memoir. Judy is completely creative: an author, speaker, and graphic artist. She lives in Sonoma.
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Poetry Lab
The Poetry Lab is an online gathering for poets to share their original works—whether in progress or complete—and receive constructive feedback and craft suggestions. Les Bernstein and Amrita Skye Blaine will guide participants in a supportive and encouraging environment.
How to Participate:
- Submit your poem to Les at lessieb13@yahoo.com and Amrita and amritaskyepoetry@gmail.com one week before the meeting.
- Use "Poetry Lab Poem Submission" as the subject of your email.
- Include your name in the text of the document.
Date for the first meeting:
October 31st
Time: 3:30 pm–5 p.m.
Zoom link provided upon receipt of your poem
Limited to 10 participants per session
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A
BIG
CONTEST
FOR
SMALL
POEMS
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Announcing a statewide CWC poetry contest beginning on October 1, 2024.
Details will be posted in September on the CWC website under CONTESTS.
or click the button below.
https://calwriters.org/
We will also be accepting prose poetry/flash fiction of 75 words or less.
AWARDS
First Place $100
Second Place $50
Third Place $25
Submission period is
October 1st to October 31st
$10 submission fee for CWC members
$20 for non-members
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Billy Collins, past Poet Laureate of the U.S.A writes in his book, Musical Tables, “Whenever I pick up a new book of poems. I flip through the pages, looking for small ones. Just as I might trust an abstract painter more if I knew he or she could draw a credible chicken, I have faith in poets who can go short.”
Here is an example of one of his poems from this book:
Falling Asleep
Walking backwards
into a dark forest,
I sweep my footprints
out of existence
with a large
weightless branch
For questions, please contact Les Bernstein
at lessieb13@yahoo.com
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The submission period is from October 1st to October 31st
- $10 submission fee for CWC members
- $20 for non-members
- Maximum 8-lines per poem (please no Haiku or Tanka)
- Maximum 3 poems can be submitted
- Typeface: Times New Roman 12-point font
- Format poems as Microsoft Word document
- Multiple poems must be submitted in a single document
- Each poem must have a title
- Poems must be the original work of the author
- The author’s name cannot appear in the Word Doc
In addition to the 8-line poems, we will be accept prose poetry/flash fiction of 75 words or less.
This contest invites participation from writers of all genres. Mixing prose poems and poetry in your submission is welcome but not mandatory.
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The Major Arcana
The Major Arcana: An Anthology of Short Stories Inspired by the Tarot Major Arcana
Editor: Katherine Shaw
(contributor/editor: Mara Lynn Johnstone)
A talented team of writers has penned dark fantasy stories inspired by tarot cards — from monstrous beasts to scheming nobility to the tricksome fae, it’s a journey of magic and intrigue unlike no other.
(Mara has contributed three stories that she is very excited about, featuring reincarnation, a second-generation portal fantasy, and characters from the prehistory of her first published book.)
Read in order, or perhaps take out your own tarot deck and let the cards decide your fate...
Where to Get the Book
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THE BUZZWORTHY BOOK BISTRO
Judy M. Baker invites you to the BUZZWORTHY BOOK BISTRO, formerly the Book Buzz Cafe. We meet about twice a month on Mondays via Zoom. It's an hour of marketing honey for authors focused on building an audience.
Dates: October 7 and 21, November 4, 18
Time: 1:00-2:00 PM
Come for support, practice interview skills, celebrate wins, and brainstorm solutions for book marketing challenges.
Register:
https://bookmarketingmentor.com/cafe-sign-up
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Writers' Night Out at Mac's
There is a new open mic reading series starting November 12.
Featured Writer: Allison Landa,
Author of Bearded Lady, a memoir
Where: Mac’s at 19 Broadway - Fairfax, CA 94930
When: 2nd Tuesday of the month 6-8 p.m.
How: sign-up starts at 5:30 p.m. for 5-minute timed limits, first come first served
flyer available upon request.
Contact Susanna Solomon
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Submit member news by the 15th of the month to editor @ redwoodwriters.org
Have you published a new book? Have you got a book deal? Received media coverage, earned an award? We want to share your good news.
Please include your name and contact information. Do it all in 50 words or less about book events, publications, awards, and classes of interest to our members. Photos, jpegs, or pngs are welcome.
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REDWOOD WRITERS LEADERS & VOLUNTEERS | |
Redwood Writers would not be a possibility without our many wonderful leaders and chair-people who generously volunteer their time and efforts. We appreciate you!
Board of Directors
Crissi Langwell, President
Mara Lynn Johnstone, Vice President
Shawn Langwell, Vice President
Barb Cottrell, Secretary
Malena Eljumaily, Treasurer
Judy M. Baker, Immediate Past President
Tommie Whitener, Vault Master, Policies & Procedures
Roger Lubeck, Membership Chair
Chairs and Editors
Les Bernstein, Poetry Anthology Editor
Crissi Langwell, Website Editor
Judy M. Baker, Newsletter Editor
Amrita Blaine, Newsletter Poetry Editor
Robin Gabbert, Writers Salon
Linda L. Reid, Writers Circle, Poetry Anthology Party
Janice Rowley, 2024 Prose Anthology Editor
Marie Judson, Critique Groups
Laura McHale Holland, Social Media
Shawn Langwell, Speakers, Communications & PR Director, and Conference Chair
Pamela Heck, Conference Volunteers Chair
Karl Kadie, Member at Large
Board meetings are held 6:30-7:30 p.m. on the third Monday of each month unless otherwise noted and are open to any member in good standing. Contact president@redwoodwriters.org to receive an invitation.
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