WRITING SHORT: THE PATHWAY TO THE GREAT AMERICAN NOVEL AND TO INSTANT GRATIFICATION
5:15 pm (PDT) Critique Group Round Table
6:30 pm (PDT) General Meeting Presentation Judythe Guarnera leads a panel presentation on how to master writing skills by writing short stories, poems, essays, while building writing creds for your resume in the pursuit of Instant Gratification. Writing short: stories, creative non-fiction—essays, poems, and memoir is a proven tactic to improve your writing skills. Whether you plan to write the great American novel, your memoir, or enter contests or write for anthologies and online publications, watch your writing skills improve. Writing Short brings instant gratification. Join us at the meeting to find out how. Lillian Brown: Lillian, formerly a journalist, editor and journalism teacher, added fiction to her repertoire after she retired. A past board member for SLO NW, she also served as its newsletter editor. Her short stories and non-fiction articles have appeared in local newspapers, magazines and the NW anthology. Lillian is now writing and editing two historical novels. Cheri Grimm has provided bookkeeping/business management services since1989 and has operated her own business since January 1, 1996. She currently works in her daughter's business, CG Bookkeeping. Although not a writer herself, Cheri has worked as Business Manager for her sister, Sam Horn, a well-known author/speaker/consultant for thirty years. She consequently developed a strong enjoyment of working with and supporting writers and speakers. She serves as Treasurer for NW, as well as a number of other supportive roles. After Covid, she was instrumental in the rejuvenation of the NW newsletter and serves on its Editorial Committee. Judythe Guarnera, former NW board member and Manager for the NW column in Tolosa Press, served as Editor of the NW anthology. In addition she is a member of the Editorial Staff of the NW newsletter, for which she writes a monthly "Craft of Writing" column. After years of writing and publishing short writing, Judythe has published a full-length novel, co-authored two books with her husband, and completed the first of three books in her Collection Series. Jody Nelson, a retired teacher, writes poetry, personal essays, short stories, and is working on a novel, two children’s books and a family history written as a novel. Her first published book is a collection of her memories as a teacher. She enjoys beta reading and line editing. Charlie Perryess maintains a blog about words at Perryess.com. His short stories and essays have appeared in numerous literary publications, including those with national followings. Charlie writes a monthly column for the NW newsletter. Though his novel-length manuscripts have won various awards, they have not yet been published. He is, however, hopeful. Denise Yaffe earned impressive credentials in science and engineering. Her technical writing has been consistently published in peer-reviewed and scholarly journals and her articles and technical papers have been presented at national conferences. Currently, in addition to serving as editor of the NW newsletter, she is sharing her expertise by writing and illustrating environmental fiction and non-fiction for middle grade. Denise writes the Earth Kids series of books addressing pollution, global warming, climate change, and environmental justice.
6:30 pm (PDT) General Meeting Presentation
Judythe Guarnera leads a panel presentation on how to master writing skills by writing short stories, poems, essays, while building writing creds for your resume in the pursuit of Instant Gratification. Writing short: stories, creative non-fiction—essays, poems, and memoir is a proven tactic to improve your writing skills. Whether you plan to write the great American novel, your memoir, or enter contests or write for anthologies and online publications, watch your writing skills improve.
Writing Short brings instant gratification.
Join us at the meeting to find out how.
Lillian Brown: Lillian, formerly a journalist, editor and journalism teacher, added fiction to her repertoire after she retired. A past board member for SLO NW, she also served as its newsletter editor. Her short stories and non-fiction articles have appeared in local newspapers, magazines and the NW anthology. Lillian is now writing and editing two historical novels.
Cheri Grimm has provided bookkeeping/business management services since1989 and has operated her own business since January 1, 1996. She currently works in her daughter's business, CG Bookkeeping. Although not a writer herself, Cheri has worked as Business Manager for her sister, Sam Horn, a well-known author/speaker/consultant for thirty years. She consequently developed a strong enjoyment of working with and supporting writers and speakers. She serves as Treasurer for NW, as well as a number of other supportive roles. After Covid, she was instrumental in the rejuvenation of the NW newsletter and serves on its Editorial Committee. Judythe Guarnera, former NW board member and Manager for the NW column in Tolosa Press, served as Editor of the NW anthology. In addition she is a member of the Editorial Staff of the NW newsletter, for which she writes a monthly "Craft of Writing" column. After years of writing and publishing short writing, Judythe has published a full-length novel, co-authored two books with her husband, and completed the first of three books in her Collection Series.
Jody Nelson, a retired teacher, writes poetry, personal essays, short stories, and is working on a novel, two children’s books and a family history written as a novel. Her first published book is a collection of her memories as a teacher. She enjoys beta reading and line editing.
Charlie Perryess maintains a blog about words at Perryess.com. His short stories and essays have appeared in numerous literary publications, including those with national followings. Charlie writes a monthly column for the NW newsletter. Though his novel-length manuscripts have won various awards, they have not yet been published. He is, however, hopeful.
Denise Yaffe earned impressive credentials in science and engineering. Her technical writing has been consistently published in peer-reviewed and scholarly journals and her articles and technical papers have been presented at national conferences. Currently, in addition to serving as editor of the NW newsletter, she is sharing her expertise by writing and illustrating environmental fiction and non-fiction for middle grade. Denise writes the Earth Kids series of books addressing pollution, global warming, climate change, and environmental justice.
Chandler Hall, UCC San Luis Obispo11245 Los Osos Valley Rd San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
Terry Sanville and Mark Arnold will be here to critique your work
Please keep your submission to two pages, typed, 12-point font, double spaced. This is a great—and safe—way to see what the critiquing process is all about, get valuable feedback from two fantastic writers, and practice reading your work to a small audience.
This is an opportunity to get feedback on your work in progress and practice your constructive critiquing skills. It is also a great way to get to know other writers in our group. You do not have to bring along work to participate. Please keep submissions to double-spaced, 12 font, two pages.
Please email your submissions to Terry and Mark by the Saturday before the session:
Terry: tsanville@sbcglobal.net
Mark: markarnoldphd@gmail.com
In person or Zoom
11245 Los Osos Valley Rd San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
Zoom Invite Link: to be emailed to all members before the meeting
How do you know what needs rewriting?
Come join Patricia Alexander as she leads us with an editor’s eye in an open forum on all the ways you can improve your first draft. Why an open forum? Because Patricia loves the collaborative element of people sharing their wisdom and experience.
She’ll lead you with categories and examples that will stimulate the conversation and help you make your next rewrite more powerful as you consider important elements, such as:
Patricia Alexander Biography - Award-winning author, columnist, journalist, editor, teacher, inspirational speaker, humorist and freelance writer Patricia Alexander calls her 48-year career “highly eclectic” and fulfilling.
Now living in Paso Robles, Patricia was born and raised in Los Angeles. That’s where she had the classic Cinderella beginning when she stumbled into her first writing job in 1976 working for Rona Barrett when Rona was the Entertainment Reporter on Good Morning, America.
Patricia went on from there to work in animation, advertising, public relations and marketing, while freelancing dozens of articles to magazines and newspapers, including an editorial in the first edition of the Los Angeles Weekly. Eventually she became a stringer and a personal perspective columnist for a small newspaper, and later, for the Ventura County Reporter. A cover story she wrote for the Reporter in early 2000 was picked up by the TV news show 48 Hours, which bought her notes and gave her on-screen credit.
Patricia says she “finally” even wrote a book: The Book of Comforts: Simple, Powerful Ways to Comfort the Spirit, Body & Soul, with her late husband, Michael Burgos. The hard-cover, four-color inspirational book went on to win the Benjamin Franklin Silver Finalist Award for Best Spiritual Book. Patricia is also a trained speaker and workshop leader, with a background in acting and improv.
Along the way, she has started up Writing Support Groups wherever she lives, fulfilling her passion to help other writers work on and complete their projects, guiding them through writing, rewriting, publishing and marketing.
Semi-retired, she currently leads her Writing Supporting Group on Zoom and often edits the books that come out of it.
She says her significant other, Robert, would dispute the semi-retired part – but, hey! Does a writer ever really retire? Nah!
6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m
Free to SLO NightWriters members / $5 for non-members.
Chandler Hall, UCC San Luis Obispo
11245 Los Osos Valley Road, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
Organize to Inspire – Steps To Get Yourself Writing
M.J. Sewall (pronounced SOO-ALL, really fast) is an author, playwright, and restaurant owner. Mike is the author of six novels, a short story collection, and a book on local history. He is currently working on his seventh novel. Owner of Sewall Publishing, he began his writing career as a self-published author and has been with a small press publisher for nearly eight years. His book Wild Monsters Dance About: Stories From An Unruly Mind won a SOVAS (voice arts) award for best short story collection. Mike proudly served as the Vice President of the Coastal Dunes chapter of the California Writer’s Club for many years and is a firm supporter of the arts, serving on the boards of the Chamber of Commerce, Lompoc Civic Theatre and the Lompoc Theatre Project which is renovating a 1927 theatre into a performing arts and education center. He is the proud father of four children and three grandchildren.
M.J. Sewall (pronounced SOO-ALL, really fast) is an author, playwright, and restaurant owner. Mike is the author of six novels, a short story collection, and a book on local history. He is currently working on his seventh novel.
Owner of Sewall Publishing, he began his writing career as a self-published author and has been with a small press publisher for nearly eight years. His book Wild Monsters Dance About: Stories From An Unruly Mind won a SOVAS (voice arts) award for best short story collection.
Mike proudly served as the Vice President of the Coastal Dunes chapter of the California Writer’s Club for many years and is a firm supporter of the arts, serving on the boards of the Chamber of Commerce, Lompoc Civic Theatre and the Lompoc Theatre Project which is renovating a 1927 theatre into a performing arts and education center.
He is the proud father of four children and three grandchildren.
5:15 pm (PT) Critique Group Round Table
6:30 pm (PT) General Meeting Presentation ATTEND IN PERSON OR VIA ZOOM Chandler Hall, UCC San Luis Obispo11245 Los Osos Valley Rd., San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 A Zoom video conference link will be emailed to all SLO NightWriters members a day or two before the meeting.
6:30 pm (PT) General Meeting Presentation
Chandler Hall, UCC San Luis Obispo11245 Los Osos Valley Rd., San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
A Zoom video conference link will be emailed to all SLO NightWriters members a day or two before the meeting.
National Novel Writing Month:
NaNoWriMo Write-In
hosted by SLO NightWriters
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Free to the public.
Chandler Hall, UCC San Luis Obispo, 11245 Los Osos Valley Road, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405.
The Powerful Lead: Grab Your Readers' Attention by Taking Them Into the Story
You hear it all the time: Everybody's so busy.
Hence, if you want audiences to read your feature story, blog post or novel, you'd better grab their attention immediately.
Pat Pemberton will discuss how a descriptive, anecdotal lead can draw readers into a story, intrigue them and—most importantly—keep them reading!
As a former award-winning journalist, Pat Pemberton's stories took him to death row, behind the scenes of rock concerts, and on the back of a bull. As a reporter for the SLO Tribune, his features appeared in major newspapers nationwide, including the MIami Herald, Seattle Times, Chicago Tribune, and Houston Chronicle. As a freelancer, his stories appeared in Rolling Stone, AOL Music, Indianapolis Monthly, Surfer's Journal, and California Lawyer.
He has appeared in true crime shows on Oxygen, the E! channel, and Investigation Discovery.
After transitioning to the public relations and marketing world, he now heads communications at Cal Poly's Orfalea College of Business, where he continues to share stories.
Chandler Hall, UCC San Luis Obispo 11245 Los Osos Valley Rd San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
For questions: email slonwpresident@gmail.com
Mailing Address: 1126 Nipomo Ave Los Osos, CA 93402
Meeting Address: 11245 Los Osos Valley Rd San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
