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Events and Activities for Southern California Writers

GENERAL MEETING/ Discussion
MARKETING FOR THE WRITER: How to get the biggest bang for your buck-and your time

Monday, May 20, 2013
7:30 SHARP to 9 p.m. (Schmoozing follows)

Your work will not sell itself. No marketing, no nothing, nada, zilch. Regardless of the enormous competition out there, if you are savvy, creative, and energetic, your work will have an edge. But you need to know how, you need to know where, you need to know what's new and creative, and you need to know how to do it inexpensively and time-efficiently.

What has changed recently? What is all of this new buzz about Amazon and short stories?

For our yearly panel, we have assembled veterans who are very experienced in those matters. Learn from them and resolve to put the time and energy into improving your marketing. Yes, everyone can benefit from improved marketing.

Panelists

PENNY C. SANSEVIERI, Founder and CEO Author Marketing Experts, Inc., is a best-selling author and internationally recognized book marketing and media relations expert. She is an Adjunct Professor teaching Self-Publishing for NYU. Her company is one of the leaders in the publishing industry and has developed some of the most innovative Social Media/Internet book marketing campaigns. She is the author of five books, including Red Hot Internet Publicity, which has been called the "leading guide to everything Internet." AME is the first book marketing and publicity firm to use Internet promotion to its full impact through The Virtual Author Tour™, which strategically harnesses social networking sites, Twitter, blogs, book videos, and relevant sites in order to push an author’s message into the online community at sites related to the book's topic and thereby position the author in his or her market. AME has had eleven recent books top bestseller lists, including those of the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal. To learn more about Penny’s books or her promotional services, you can visit her web site at AMarketingExpert.com.

DONNA M. THOMAS is an Author, Life & Empowerment Coach, Ad executive and Copywriter, and Mother. She has worked in the field of marketing and advertising since 1994. Her clients include Miss Grace Lemon Cake Company, Gaviña Gourmet Coffee, Don Francisco’s Gourmet Coffee, Gioia Apparel, Ivory Records, Andrea Woolf and IgniteYourLifeBook.com, and now Sage House Publishing. Nowadays, she’s focused her presence on Google and Social Media, and on “consciously” marketing her new memoir, “From Pebbles to Pathways: A Journey of Healing the Heart One Insight at a Time”. Even being relatively unknown, for the past 3 years, Donna has maintained 5k friends and over 900 followers on Facebook, and almost 2,800 Google friends. Her name, Donna M Thomas, dominates the first two pages in Google, and her face, book and blog site (donna-thomas.com) dominate the first window of Google images.

TAMMY BLECK is a ghostwriter, proficient columnist, and author of the award-winning book "Single Past 50 Now What?" and the award winning blog "Witty Woman Writing." She is known for her humor and has often been compared to Erma Bombeck and dubbed the female Andy Rooney. Her writing has been published in countless magazines and newspapers such as the "Los Angeles Daily News," "The Denver Post," "The Rocky Mountain News," "The Portland Post," "The Jewish Writing Project," and "Jewish Journal." Tammy is a recipient of the Certificate of Commendation from the mayor of Los Angeles for her work in educating the public. You can contact Tammy at Tammy-at-WittyWomanWrting.com and enjoy her weekly blog at WittyWomanWriting.com/blog/

MELODY JACKSON, Ph.D., founder of Smart Girls Productions, has worked with over 3000 screenwriters and has critiqued thousands of screenplays in depth. Three times named a Top 5 Script Analyst in the country, Melody is a frequent guest speaker at screenwriting events, and and her work has appeared in such industry publications as Script Magazine and the Television Academy’s Emmy Magazine. In 2012 Final Draft Software invited Melody to deliver a webinar on Marketing Your Screenplay to Hollywood to a huge success. Smart Girls offers a unique, comprehensive range of script marketing services, including writing query letters, email queries, and targeting literary agents, managers and producers by genre. For more information on writer services, go to: SmartG.com/writers. Also claim your free, first-rate articles on marketing scripts and developing screenplays, at: SmartG.com/screenwritertips.

Moderator STEVEN SANCHEZ is founder and CEO of the Los Angeles-based internet agency, INEXUS. For the past 20 years, Steven has helped large and small companies start web sites and get discovered. He has taught numerous workshops on starting web businesses and using social media to promote one’s visibility. He has also worked on several web design books such as “Homepage Usability,” “Web Design on a Shoestring,” and “The Unusually Useful Web Book.” Steven is currently developing BookPlatform101 , a web community to help authors build successful platforms for growing full businesses out of their books. He can be reached at steven-at-bookplatform101.com.


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Location:
Veterans Memorial Building
4117 Overland Avenue
Culver City, California
Parking entrance on Culver 
Corner of Culver Boulevard.
Map of location.
Parking is free.

Note: Wear layered clothing.
The room is usually comfortable but the temperature can vary.

Admission:
IWOSC members - free
Non-members - $15

RESERVATIONS REQUIRED
Reservations by email only.
Reservations close at 5pm Sunday, the day before the meeting.
Email the IWOSC office with "IWOSC Reservation" in the subject line.
Be sure to tell us your first name, your last name, a phone number, and whether you are a member or not.
Your name will be on a list at the check-in table.
For proof of your reservation, bring a printout of your email or show a smartphone version of your “sent” email or confirmation. Please arrive before 7:20 pm to be seated. Doors open to everyone at 7:20 p.m. and people will be admitted as space permits.

If you have a blocker such as Boxbe, be sure to add info(at-sign)iwosc.org to your OK list or you will never see your confirmation.

If you reserve and can not attend, please email our office to let us know.

For information call 310-773-8075.

Future IWOSC General Meetings
These are our tentative dates and topics so you can plan for them.

June 24: Playwriting, with an all-star panel
July 29: When Writers Attack: making a difference with your writing

As a rule, IWOSC meetings are the 4th Monday of the month.
We don't hold meetings in August or December, opting for parties those months.

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IWOSC SATURDAY SEMINAR
METHOD WRITING: An Organic Approach to Writing
with Presenter Jack Grapes

Saturday, May 18, 2013
10:30 am to 1:00 p.m.

“Method Writing” is an organic approach to writing, much as method acting is an organic approach to acting, stressing inner process and deep voice. “Method Writing” consists of various concepts that take the writer through techniques designed to make the writing more compelling and more effective, publishable and productive.

Jack Grapes will present this overview of the writer's creative process, focusing on his book “METHOD WRITING,” a technique he's developed and used in his writing workshops over the last 35 years. Jack will discuss the nature of the creative process, and how that applies to "Method Writing." So bring something to write on: paper and pen, parchment and quill, stone and chisel -- whatever works.

He will lead the group in a writing prompt, time permitting.

Our presenter:
JACK GRAPES, an award-winning poet, playwright, actor, teacher, and the editor and publisher of “ONTHEBUS,” one of the top literary journals in the country. He has received three fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, and nine artist-in-residence grants from the California Arts Council to teach writing in various schools throughout Los Angeles. Grapes is the author of 13 books of poetry, including “The Naked Eye: New and Selected Poems, 1989-2012.” His book “Method Writing” is based on concepts he's developed over the last 35 years teaching writing workshops.

Due for publication in 2013 will be two other books: “The Tender Agonies of Charles Bukowski,” based on Grapes' longtime friendship and literary correspondence; and “How to Read Like a Writer,” a unique approach to discovering the deep elements of a writer's style.

Jack Grapes was featured on the cover of the Directory of American Poets and Writers, along with Robert Creeley and Tobias Wolff. Over the last 30 years, he has taught over two thousand poets and writers. He was a board member for PEN Center USA West.
His website is JackGrapes.com.


View Larger Map

Where:
Veterans Memorial Building
4117 Overland Avenue
Culver City, California
Corner of Culver Boulevard.
Parking entrance on Culver. Parking is free.

Wear layered clothing; the room is usually comfortable, but the temperature can vary.

Admission:
IWOSC members: $15
Non-members: $35

Reservations Required — Space is limited.
Reservation deadline: 5 p.m. the Friday before the seminar.

For further information you may phone 310-773-8075 or email the office.

NEW POLICY: Reservations are by email only.
 Send your email to the IWOSC office, info(at-sign)iwosc.org
When reserving:
Please write “IWOSC Reservation” in the subject line.
Provide your first name, your last name, a phone number, and let us know whether you are a member or not so we can accurately list you on our check-in sheet.

For proof of your reservation, bring a printout of your email or show a smartphone version of your “sent” email or confirmation.

If you have a blocker such as Boxbe, please add info(at-sign)iwosc.org to your OK list or you will never see your confirmations.

NOTE: If you reserve and can not attend, please email the IWOSC office to let us know.

 

Future IWOSC Seminar and Workshops
These are our tentative dates and topics so you can plan for them.

June 15: Peter Balaskas - Crafting the Short Story - part 1
July 20: Peter Balaskas - Crafting the Short Story - part 2

As a rule, IWOSC seminars are held on the 3rd Saturday of each month.
We don't hold a seminar in August or December as those are our party months.

IN ORBIT: UPCOMING SATELLITE MEETINGS

IWOSC's monthly drop-in satellite sessions are free and open to all writers — both members and non-members.
Bring your writing, your ideas, problems, questions, and complaints. Receive support, laughs, juicy controversy, and plenty of networking. And please support our hosts by purchasing snacks and other products.

Pasadena/Altadena Satellite

IWOSC's Pasadena/Altadena Satellite meets the 2nd Friday of the month at Coffee Gallery. This is a joint meeting of our IWOSC Pasadena Satellite and the Alameda Writers Group Special Interest Group (SIG).

Hosted by: Jane Neff Rollins

Next meetings:
Friday, April 12
Friday, May 10
Friday, June 14
Friday, July 12
Friday, August 9
Friday, September 13

Time: 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.


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Location:
Coffee Gallery
2029 N. Lake Avenue
Altadena, California 91001
626-398-7917

Admission:
Free to both IWOSC members and non-members.
However, we'd like you to purchase coffee or a snack in support of our host.

For more information about this satellite,
write to Jane Neff Rollins or call her at (818) 957-3405.

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West San Fernando Valley (Woodland Hills/SFV) Satellite

IWOSC's San Fernando Valley Satellite meets in Sherman Oaks (pretty much) each 2nd Wednesday. If you live in the area or just happen to be around at meeting time, come join Sylvia and fellow scribes in a free-flowing exchange of ideas about their work and the writing business.

Hosted by: Sylvia Cary

Next meetings:
Wednesday, May 8
Wednesday, June 12
Wednesday, July 10
Wednesday, August 14
Wednesday, September 11

Time: 10 to 11:30 a.m.


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Location:
Marie Callendar's
14743 Ventura Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, California 91403
(between Van Nuys Bl and Kester)

Admission:
Free to both IWOSC members and non-members.

For any questions write to Sylvia Cary.

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Ventura County Satellite (Thousand Oaks)

IWOSC's Ventura County satellite meets the 2nd Thursday at 10 a.m. at Linda Parks, County of Ventura Board of Supervisor, Second District Office at 625 West Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks, 91360

Hosted by: Dawn Wood. Dawn is a published poet, physician, and medical script consultant, who recently taught medical narrative fiction at a University of Iowa workshop, The Examined Life: Writing and the Art of Medicine.

Next meetings:
Thursday, May 9 - sorry, cancelled
Thursday, June 13
Thursday, July 11
Thursday, August 8
Thursday, September 12

Time: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.


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Admission: $2 per person, collected at the meeting.

Location:
Linda Parks, County of Ventura Board of Supervisor, Second District Office
625 West Hillcrest Drive
Thousand Oaks, California 91360

RSVP:
Please email to let Dawn Wood know you'll be coming.

More info: This group has its own website at iwoscventura.ning.com.

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Westside Satellite

IWOSC's Westside Satellite meets the 2nd Thursday at 10 a.m. at the Santa Monica Bay Woman's Club in Santa Monica.

Hosted by: Vickey Kalambakal

Next meetings:
Thursday, May 9
Thursday, June 13
Thursday, July 11
Thursday, August 8
Thursday, September 12

Time: 10 to 11:30 a.m.


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Location:
Santa Monica Bay Woman's Club
1210 4th Street
Santa Monica, California 90401

We alternate between reading our own work, listening to a speaker, or just going around the table asking questions, sharing gripes and discussing insights.

Parking: You can park for free in the small lot south of the Woman's Club, but due to other events, you may have to wait 10 minutes or so to retrieve your car afterward. Parking is also available in the city lot next door; the first 90 minutes are free.

Admission: There is a fee of $3 per meeting. This fee is donated to a charity.

RSVP:
RSVPs are appreciated, but not necessary.
Please email Vickey with your RSVPs or questions.

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Orange County Satellite

IWOSC's Orange County Satellite meets on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Tustin Library.

Hosted by: Kurt Bensworth

Next meetings:
Thursday, May 16
Thursday, June 20
Thursday, July 18
Thursday, August 15
Thursday, September 19

Time: 7 to 9 p.m.


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Location:
Tustin Library
345 E. Main Street
Tustin, California

Admission:
Free to both IWOSC members and non-members.

If you have any questions about this satellite,
contact Kurt by email.

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South Bay Satellite

IWOSC's new South Bay Satellite is for writers who live or work south of Culver City. This South Bay area extends from the Pacific to Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, El Segundo, and the book loving towns of Torrance, Gardena and Lomita. Gutsy travelers from San Pedro and Long Beach are more than welcome.
Manhattan Beach Library is our first home, but as it undergoes a marvelous reconstruction, to add a second story and a coffee shop, we have a new home and a new time.

The South Bay Satellite of IWOSC will meet on the third Tuesday of each month at 10a.m. at the Marmalade Cafe in El Segundo: 2014 Park Place. (just east of PCH, a block north of Rosecrans)

Next meetings:
Tuesday, May 21
Tuesday, June 18
Tuesday, July 16
Tuesday, August 20
Tuesday, September 17


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Time:
10:00 a.m.

Location:
Marmalade Cafe in El Segundo
2014 Park Place (just east of PCH, a block north of Rosecrans)
El Segundo, California

Admission:
Free to both IWOSC members and non-members.

If you have any questions/suggestions about this satellite, please write to: Joan Rodman, writeratwork@yahoo.com

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IWOSC Reads Its Own

Sunday, July 14, 2013
2 to 4 p.m.

Twice a year IWOSC holds a special FREE event — “IWOSC Reads Its Own” — a spellbinding afternoon of eclectic, eccentric, and exemplary works — from poems to true stories to hilarious monologues and beyond, read aloud by distinguished IWOSC scribes. An assortment of IWOSC’s talented member writers will read short excerpts from their work. Their selections may be published, unpublished, or works in progress. We’ll be regaled with their wit, have our emotions stirred, or be plunged into deep thought at the beautiful independent bookstore, Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena.


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Location:
Vroman's Bookstore
695 E. Colorado Blvd
Pasadena, California 91101
626-449-5320

There is plenty of parking on Colorado and neighboring streets.

Admission:
Free. The public is welcome.
No reservations necessary.

Do join us and bring friends and family. In fact, why not make a day of it? There’s so much to do in Pasadena!  

To help you plan your day, here are Google searches for Pasadena, sightseeing and of things to do in Pasadena. Or pick up a copy of Pasadena Weekly when you're there.

Send a email the IWOSC office for more information.

IWOSC’s Annual Holiday Bash!
We're back at the Biltmore!
Celebrating the season and our 30th year!

Thursday, December 6, 2012
6:00 p.m.
No-host cocktails or hotel tour
(both optional)
7:30 – 10:00 p.m.
Dinner and program

We kicked off the season and commemorate our 30 years at the IWOSC Annual Holiday Bash at the Biltmore! Following the tradition of presidents, celebrities, dignitaries, and IWOSC writers we celebrated history, architectural splendor, and creativity at the beautiful downtown Millennium Biltmore Hotel!

Scribes and guests enjoyed an excellent party in the heart of downtown Los Angeles at the historic, elegant, architecturally striking Millennium Biltmore Hotel.

We met for no-host cocktails in the gorgeous Rendezvous Court or took an escorted tour of the hotel (both optional), including the elegant ballrooms and indoor pool.

At Smeraldi’s Restaurant, we dined on the Biltmore’s famous custom pasta bar with all the trimmings, salad, beverages (non-alcoholic included with dinner; no-host bar available) and great desserts.

Awards and drawings followed,
and some nice surprises.

Location:
Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles
506 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90071

Parking:
Event parking, $6.00 flat rate with the hotel valet.
Parking also available at Pershing Square Garage.

 

Some of Our Past Events

Wondering what other events and types of events we've had? See our past 2006 events, 2007 events, 2008 events, 2009 past events, 2010 past events and 2011 past events.

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