Our Past Events of 2010
Wonder what IWOSC has to offer you? Wonder what type of people come speak with us?
Here are some of our most recent meetings and events.
Past 2010 General Meetings
Making Your Own Opportunities in Writing
Monday, July 26, 2010
The writing business requires a creative mind, especially when one expects it to create an income. Fortunately, the demand for content is expanding. Writers can make this business grow by embracing new and evolving applications in journalism, books, plays, and more.
Our eclectic panelists have done just that. They’ll describe their success steps, and explain where they found opportunities, how they met their challenges, and what new outlets they see on the horizon.
OUR PANELISTS INCLUDE:
TERRI CHENEY attended Vassar College. She graduated with honors and continued her studies at UCLA School of Law, following that by specializing in intellectual property and entertainment. Over the course of her sixteen-year career, Ms. Cheney represented many celebrities and major motion picture studios, including Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Universal, Columbia, and more. Her pro bono work ranged from counseling local theaters to petitioning the United States Supreme Court on behalf of the ACLU. After years of struggling with manic depression, Terri decided to leave the law and devote her advocacy skills toward writing about her illness, and encourage the mentally ill to tell their own stories. She was appointed a member of the Community Advisory Board of the UCLA Mood Disorders Research Program, the nation’s largest nonprofit research consortium regarding manic depression. Her book, “Manic,” tells her journey.
LARRY NEMECEK began building his career in local Oklahoma journalism, after working for a BA and MA in theatre. But it was his Star Trek reference research that put him on the map. Larry’s annual “TNG” guides to the hit “Star Trek: The Next Generation” series caught the eye of Star Trek’s TV writers and Pocket Books. Mr. Nemecek's “ST:TNG Companion” became the first official episode guide for modern Star Trek and a 1992 genre bestseller. Two years later, Larry moved to Burbank, California where he because an author/editor/consultant and archivist within the Star Trek franchise.
Additionally, Mr. Nemecek held the position of Managing Editor of “Communicator" Magazine (1998 to 2005), art coordinator, writer and consultant for “Star Trek Fact Files” (1998 - present), columnist for “Star Trek Magazine” in the UK (1998 – present), for the USA (2006 – present), and consultant for Star Trek: World Tour, Star Trek: The Experience (Las Vegas), Star Trek: Science Tour, and Star Trek: The Exhibition. He is also an on-camera authority for TV documentaries, a DVD commentator and is a promoter for live events.
You can learn more about Larry at his TREKLAND blog, LarryNemecek.blogspot.com, and at LarryNemecek.com.
Author of 25 published plays and produced worldwide, Jonathan Dorf is co-chair of the Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights, resident playwriting expert for Final Draft and The Writers Store, for whom he created Playwriting101.com, Google's top-ranked playwriting site, and co-founder of YouthPLAYS.com, the online publisher of plays for young actors and audiences.
Jonathan has served as US Cultural Envoy to Barbados, Visiting Associate Professor of Theatre at Hollins University, and as a guest artist at schools and conferences from Nebraska to Singapore. He works as a script consultant with playwrights and screenwriters all over the world, and holds a BA in Dramatic Writing and Literature from Harvard University and an MFA in Playwriting from UCLA. He is also Co-Chair, Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights.
PAUL RYAN recently co-starred as Bruce on "Desperate Housewives" and is in the running for a show on Oprah's new OWN Network. Paul's new book "The Art of Comedy: Getting Serious about Being Funny" was published by Random House; his screenplay is "J.A.P.P." and last year he wrote, directed, produced, and starred in the Los Angeles theatrical run, "Miss International Princess Pageant."
In addition, for the past year Mr. Ryan produced the series "A BraveHeart View," and emceed and produced "The 2009 BraveHeart Awards," with recipients including Maya Angelou and Carol Channing. He will do the same for The 2010 BraveHeart Awards with Marianne Williamson and Florence Henderson. Ryan has hosted and interviewed for NBC, CBS, PBS, ET, CNBC, BBC, KCAL 9, and KTLA, channel 5. Paul's credits also include celebrity correspondent for "Entertainment Tonight;" series co-host for "Mid-Morning L.A," host/producer/owner of 675 in-depth TV celebrity talk shows with a "Who's Who of Hollywood," most recently "Feel Good TV with Paul Ryan & Friends."
Paul is also a film actor and has guest-starred on many TV shows. His speaking engagements on "Hollywood, Health, & Humor" have taken him around the globe, and he hosted and co-produced "Celebrity Master Class" for the Screen Actors Guild Foundation. Learn more at PaulRyanProductions.com.
TRACY TRIVAS, a graduate of Dartmouth College, won a Dartmouth Graduate Fellowship to study Victorian Literature at Oxford University, England. She received her Masters Degree in English from Middlebury College. She directed a Gifted and Talented program in a Los Angeles school and has written gifted and talented workbooks for McGraw-Hill as well as an adult non-fiction book, "A Princess Found" (St. Martin's Press), which was voted a 2009 "Best Adult Book for High School Students" by School Library Journal. "The Wish Stealers' (Simon & Schuster) is her first book for children.
MARILYN ANDERSON (Moderator) is an award-winning comedy writer, speaker, and screenwriter. She has been interviewed on over 250 radio and television shows, as well as being featured in magazines and newspapers nationwide. Marilyn’s TV credits include “Murphy Brown,” “Fame,” “Sherman Oaks,” “Friday the 13th,” and “Carol & Company.” Her book “Never Kiss a Frog: A Girl’s Guide to Creatures from the Dating Swamp” has been published in 10 countries and generated a line of merchandise based on the frogs in her book. Women in Film honored Ms. Anderson with the Luminus Award for positively depicting women in film and television programming. She is currently producing two of her own movies and a webisode series. Also, she had an MOW produced on Lifetime TV last year.
---------------------------------------------
IWOSC LOVES A MYSTERY: How to write and enjoy reading mysteries of all shapes and styles
Monday, June 28, 2010
Everybody loves a mystery — but not everybody knows how to write one. That's not a surprise, since there are almost as many kinds of mystery novels as there are novels themselves. From the classic English "cozy" or "drawing-room" mystery, to the quintessentially American, hardboiled Film Noir thriller, to the scary and gory forensic thrillers and psychological shockers of the past 25 years, tonight IWOSC and a panel of experts will set out into the night to unravel the mystery of what makes a great mystery. From plot pacing to story structure to the eternal choice between plot-driven and character-driven fiction, our psychological autopsy will leave no stone unturned and no clue behind. For every writer from the amateur "sleuth" to the old pro, this panel should be almost as exciting as a good thriller. And with straight-ahead literary fiction on the decline, and established literary authors like Rita Mae Brown and Don DeLillo adding second acts to their careers in the mystery genre, we'll be discussing how to set out on your own mystery writing journey, and how to adapt your stories to the mystery format
OUR SLEUTHS — ER, PANELISTS, INCLUDE:
- April Smith is an award-winning screenwriter, story editor, screenplay consultant, and bestselling author of novels like GOOD MORNING KILLER, NORTH OF MONTANA, BE THE ONE, and THE JUDAS HORSE. From 1977 to 1982, she was a writer for the Emmy-winning drama LOU GRANT, and went on to produce and write for its equally acclaimed replacement on CBS, the legendary CAGNEY & LACEY, and six years after that, CHICAGO HOPE. Her TV-movies include TAKING BACK MY LIFE, ERNIE KOVACS: BEHIND THE LAUGHTER, BLACK AND BLUE, BEST KEPT SECRETS, and episodes of the miniseries NIGHTMARES & DREAMSCAPES. The Bronx native graduated with honors from the Bronx High School of Science, magna cum laude from Boston University's English department, and holds an MFA from Stanford in Creative Writing. She is also an active member of the Writers' Guild, PEN-USA, and has appeared at several IWOSC programs. For more clues, check out AprilSmith.net.
- Erica Miner has a passion for writing -- and all the arts, with a multifaceted career as an award-winning screenwriter, author, lecturer and poet. A native of Detroit, she studied music at Boston University and the New England Conservatory of Music. Finally winning the coveted position of violinist with the Metropolitan Opera Company -- the pinnacle of her field -- injuries from a car accident prematurely ended her dream. Miner then drew upon her lifelong love of writing for inspiration and studied screenwriting with authors and script gurus Linda Seger and Ken Rotcop. Her screenplays have won awards in WinFemme, Santa Fe and the Writer's Digest. She then penned the novel and screenplay of TRAVELS WITH MY LOVERS, winner of the fiction prize in the Direct from the Author Book Awards. The first in her journal-based FOUR-EVER FRIENDS Young Adult series, chronicling four teenage girls' coming of age in Detroit in the volatile 1960s, was published in March 2009 by Nightengale Press. Currently she is working on the feature screenplay and TV Series Bible for FOUR-EVER FRIENDS, as well as the next novel in the series, which takes place at Boston University. Erica has written both the novel and screenplay of her suspense thriller, MURDER IN THE PIT -- which takes place at the Met — to be published in 2010 by Twilight Times Books. Get clued in at EricaMiner.com.
- Dianne Emley is the bestselling author of the Nan Vining detective series, including hits like THE FIRST CUT, THE DEEPEST CUT, CUT TO THE QUICK, and the brand-new novel LOVE KILLS, which just debuted as a paperback and E-book on May 25th. Her detailed and delightful procedural novels have garnered rave reviews from the toughest critics in the business, including The New York Times, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, and fellow top-name authors like Tess Gerritsen and Michael Connelly. Open the case at DianneEmley.com and follow the clues at Twitter.com/DianneEmley
TELLY DAVIDSON, moderator, has produced, hosted or served on several IWOSC programs including "Books to Film," "Trends in Publishing," "Biographies & Memoirs," and "Covering the Celebrity Beat." He is author of the award-winning media tie-in book, "TV's GROOVIEST VARIETY SHOWS, and completed the novel "Pop Culture." He has written for NBC and PBS specials, the American Film Institute, and reviewed movies, music, and TV shows for numerous magazines both print and online.
---------------------------------------------
Getting The Buzz On: Marketing Your Book
Monday, May 24, 2010
It's obvious: ineffective marketing equals few sales. Even if you are savvy, creative, energetic, and your work has an edge, it will rarely sell itself. There is tremendous competition out there, and you need to know how to shine through it, effectively, efficiently, and inexpensively. We've assembled a panel of experts experienced in writing, marketing, and publicity. Come and learn from them. Discover what mistakes to avoid and where the hot media outlets are today. Anyone intent on disseminating ideas to wide audiences can benefit from attending this discussion.
Our panelists:
Shannon Hammer is the author of The Positive Portions Food & Fitness Journal, published by Fairview Press.
Having been overweight all her life, in 2003 Shannon adopted a holistic approach to health and weight loss that included keeping a daily food diary. As a result, she lost over 100 pounds and has kept it off for over seven years. She wrote her positive portions journal after realizing there was a need for a book that combined a food diary structure with daily motivational guidance.
Shannon will explain how she uses her blog, other social media tools and a publicist to expose her methodology to a wide market.
Ms Hammer currently works in the Marketing department of Honda USA.
MAGGIE ANTON was born Margaret Antonofsky in Los Angeles, California, where she still resides. Raised in a secular, socialist household, she reached adulthood with little knowledge of her Jewish religion.
In 1992, Anton began studying Talmud in a class for women taught by feminist theologian Rachel Adler, and became intrigued that the great medieval scholar Rashi had no sons, only three daughters.
Legend has it that Rashi's daughters were learned when women were traditionally forbidden to study the sacred texts. These forgotten women seemed ripe for rediscovery, and the idea of a trilogy of historical novels about them was born.
RASHI'S DAUGHTERS: BOOK I - JOHEVED was published in 2005 and won the 2006 Benjamin Franklin Award for Best New Voice Fiction. Its sequel, BOOK II - MIRIAM, was published in 2007 and spent 18 weeks on the Bookscan bestseller list.
In 2007, Anton retired from being a clinical chemist in Kaiser Permanente's Biochemical Genetics Laboratory to become a full-time writer, with the final volume in the series, BOOK III - RACHEL, published in August 2009.
BILL SALEEBEY, Ph.D. holds a doctorate in Educational Psychology from UCLA and has recently self-published his third book, Connecting: Beyond the Name Tag.
Doctor Saleebey's specialty is networking and relationship building, approached from the confluence of business and psychology. He will be speaking about marketing through the social media outlets, book signings, blogging, broadcast media interviews, new media press releases and branding.
MARILYN ANDERSON is an award-winning comedy writer, speaker, and screenwriter. She has been interviewed on over 250 radio and television shows, as well as being featured in magazines and newspapers nationwide. Marilyn's TV credits include Murphy Brown, FAME, Sherman Oaks, Friday the 13th, and Carol & Company.
Her book NEVER KISS A FROG: A Girl's Guide to Creatures from the Dating Swamp has been published in 10 countries and generated a line of merchandise based on the frogs in her book. Women in Film honored Ms. Anderson with the Luminus Award for positively depicting women in film and television programming.
CLIFF CARLE has authored ten books and edited over 400 fiction and non-fiction tomes by other writers. In 1983, Cliff founded CCC Publications which specialized in self-help and humor books.
Currently, as a freelance editor, Mr. Carle assists authors with manuscript reorganization, developing an effective writing style, and fixing rejected manuscripts.
As a publishing consultant, Cliff assists authors with pre- and post- publication marketing within the traditional and self-publishing process, and also offers referrals to agents and publishers.
JOHN SEELEY has been called the Book Marketing Wiz. John's books are distributed around the world.
Prior to his own success, John learned from the best in the book business, having attended Mark Victor Hansen's Mega Book Marketing University, Author 101 University, PMA Publishing University, Million Dollar Author Program and numerous other trainings.
He has been featured on radio and TV across the country, as well as in the New York Times, L.A. Times, Chicago Tribune, Woman's World, Fitness, Self magazines, and numerous other publications worldwide.
Janie Hewson loves the "creative mind" and loves to do business. She has been in the business of marketing creatives and creative business entrepreneurs for 15 years.
Hewson has met and guided the careers of hundreds of creatives beginning with her work as an Artist Representative, her years with the Creative Black Book and several stints as a Studio Manager for creative businesses, including photography and film.
For seven years Hewson was the marketing instructor for Brooks Institute of Photography and Film, where she taught classes to photography, film, graphic design and photojournalism students helping them to create powerful marketing for their careers. In 2004 she was named Teacher of the Year.
Hewson holds a Masters' degree in Organizational Psychology, and a Bachelors' degree in Communications. She is married to a filmmaker and they are the proud parents of an 18-year-old equestrian competitor, her high jumping horses, a high jumping dog, and the sweetest kitty ever. You can reach her through her site, MarketingCreatives.net.
---------------------------------------------
Literary Agents 101: What Writers Must Know About Finding, Securing & Working with Representation
Monday, April 26, 2010
As every savvy writer learns, getting the words onto the page is just half the battle. To gain proper exposure and compensation for these efforts, writers must develop marketing intelligence. It also helps to be aligned with someone who has been down this road before – the literary agent. IWOSC’s April program presents a stellar panel of agents and a literary attorney, who will reveal how to find the right representative, get their attention, and create a successful relationship. We’ll look at new trends, and how to protect yourself in the current marketplace.
Robin Quinn, an award-winning book editor, ghostwriter and publishing consultant, will moderate.
Our panelists:
Angela Rinaldi — The Angela Rinaldi Literary Agency: Angela has been a literary agent for twelve years. Before that, she was an editor at NAL/Signet, Pocket Books, Bantam Books, and manager of book publishing for The Los Angeles Times. Ms Rinaldi has taught publishing programs at UCLA, was a member of the California Arts Council and AAR, and served on the board of PEN.
Ms Rinaldi specializes in: general fiction, mystery, juvenile fiction, reference, biography, business/investing/finance, mind/body/spirit, health, lifestyle, cookbooks, children's books, African-American, commercial and literary fiction. Some of her best known projects are: “Who Moved My Cheese?” by Dr. Spencer Johnson; “Zen Golf: Mastering the Mental Game” by Dr. Joseph Parent; “Before Your Pregnancy” by Amy Ogle and Dr. Lisa Mazzullo; “Blood Orange” by Drusilla Campbell; “The Starlite Drive-in” by Marjorie Reynolds; and “Entwined Lives” by Dr. Nancy Segal.
Sally van Haitsma — van Haitsma Literary — Sally recently founded van Haitsma Literary, a boutique agency in Encinitas, California. She worked six years at the Castiglia Literary Agency and, prior to that, at the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency. Properties Sally has represented include: the NY Times bestseller “Wesley the Owl” by Stacey O'Brien; “Silverstein & Me” by Marv Gold; “America Libre” and “House Divided” by Raul Ramos y Sanchez; “Hick” by Andrea Portes, optioned for film; “Does this Mean You'll See Me Naked?” by Robert Webster; and “The Leisure Seeker” by Michael Zadoorian, also optioned for film.
Actively seeking new authors, Sally focuses on commercial and literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, pop culture, education, business and current affairs.
She has a Masters in Communication from UC San Diego and graduated Phi Beta Kappa.
Natalie M. Fischer — Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency — Natalie is a literary agent at the Sandra Dijkstra Agency, one of the most respected literary agencies in the United States, with over 100 authors based around the world.
Ms. Fischer is an honors graduate of the University of San Diego, and holds a B.A. in Literature/Writing. After an internship at the agency in 2007, she wrote author profiles and book reviews for the San Diego Union Tribune. But journalism was not for her, and she returned to work full-time at the Dijkstra Agency in April 2009.
Natalie’s specialty is commercial fiction, with an emphasis on children’s literature (from picture book to YA/Teen), romance (contemporary and historical), historical fiction, multi-cultural fiction, paranormal, sci-fi/fantasy in YA or romance, fairy-tale/legend spin-offs, and “beautifully dark” novels. She is drawn to authors with an open, positive attitude; good grammar; and engaging, sexy plots.
Michael Klein, Esq. — Klein & Weisz — Michael is a senior partner with the law firm of Klein & Weisz in West Los Angeles, and long-time legal advisor to IWOSC. A graduate of Yale Law School, he has spoken and written extensively on issues including copyright, First Amendment law and contracts in the entertainment and business arenas. He is on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and chairs its First Amendment Committee. His clients include publishers, writers and newspapers. Klein has also served as a governmental official, most recently in his capacity as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Santa Monica Pier.
Robin Quinn, our moderator, is an award-winning ghostwriter, book editor, and publishing consultant with more than two decades of experience. Her numerous editing credits include the best-selling “The Detox Solution,” the award-winning “Soul-Full Eating,” and the newly released “Celebrity Leverage.” Robin is a highly successful editor of health, nutrition, spirituality, self-help, memoirs and novels. Her work spans from book development to the final polish.
---------------------------------------------
FROM BOOKS TO FILM — Getting the Hollywood Treatment
Monday, March 22, 2010
"Look what they've done to my book, Ma!”
This month, the Independent Writers of Southern California presents a special program, on "Getting the Hollywood Treatment" — and what it means for novelists, memoir and biography authors, and journalists. How can a writer best position his or her work for a screen option? What can a novelist expect when his or her book gets an offer to be adapted into a movie? Does a self-published and small press author carry professional credibility? If not, how does one establish it? What storytelling qualities help make a novel, biography/memoir, or news article a must-see for the screen? And likewise, how has the lightning pace of movies and TV changed what Larry McMurtry calls "the Culture of the Book”?
These questions and more will be discussed and explained by a lineup of writers who have had their material adapted for the screen (or who have adapted another writer’s work), as well as, literary agents and executives who decide WHICH books and articles garner a movie deal in the first place! Students, aspiring writers, entertainment scribes, journalists and authors of books or screenplays will find much to learn. A Q&A plus polite networking with the panelists will follow the discussion.
Our panelists:
DAN WATANABE works in scripted and unscripted programming, as well as, international distribution of feature films. He is a 25-year veteran of Hollywood film and TV development with over a decade in program development at FremantleMedia, the production company behind Baywatch, American Idol, Family Feud, and The Price is Right. Dan also serves as a consultant for CRC Entertainment, an independent production company, and has written audience research reports for clients including Fox, New Line, Warner Independent, and Regency. Watanabe is a Professor of Media Arts at Los Angeles Valley College, teaching classes in screenwriting, production, broadcasting, and low budget/independent filmmaking.
BARNEY LICHTENSTEIN holds a Master's Degree in Fine Arts and is a UCLA Instructor of Screenwriting. He served as a story analyst for Amblin Entertainment (Steven Spielberg), New Line Cinema, and Largo Entertainment, and has assisted in training story analysts for studios, networks, and independent production companies as well as the Sundance Institute. In 2006, he received the UCLA Extension "Outstanding Instructor Award" in Screenwriting.
MARVIN J. WOLF is IWOSC's own award-winning author, biographer, and screenwriter. He has turned two of his books into TV movies and has come close to producing two books he optioned from other writers. As a “recovering” photojournalist and magazine writer, Marvin has taught at Glendale College and Cal State Fullerton, and is a four-time IWOSC past president.
TELLY DAVIDSON moderator.
He has written about TV, film, and culture for Yahoo Movies, FilmStew, 213 Magazine, iF, TV-Now, Guitar Player, Entertainment Today, the LA Daily News, Newsmakers, HollywoodChicago, the American Film Institute, and even the liberal Republican blog The FrumForum.com. His work in media tie-ins includes the book “TV's Grooviest Variety Shows,” which was cited by Goodreads, National Public Radio, and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, as well as several NBC and PBS specials, including the Emmy-nominated Pioneers of Primetime. He is an active member of IWOSC and PEN and has coordinated panels on "Trends in Publishing," "Bios and Memoirs," and "Avoiding Literary Scams."
---------------------------------------------
Writing Spiritual Topics – health and healing, self-awareness and empowerment, the essence of love, dealing with loss, and more
Monday, February 22, 2010
It’s an evolving trend – humankind’s search for fundamental truths by moving beyond conventional wisdom to ask the questions behind the questions, seeking the answers behind the answers. And consequently, as our personal quests draw more attention within the popular culture, an expanding group of smart thinkers are responding to our call by offering public lectures, structured lessons and a myriad of books. The more popular publications in this arena have risen to the top of the best-seller lists, such as: The “Chicken Soup” series, “A Course in Miracles,” “The Secret,” “The Last Lecture,” “The Power of Now,” “The Science of God,” “Life after Death,” “Healing through Faith,” “Law of Attraction,” and many more.
But how wide and differentiated IS the current market for New Age books and articles? If you choose to write about spiritual topics, what are the most constructive ways to focus your message and then stage yourself as an authority and lecturer? How do you define your platform and handle criticism of your message? And most important, why write a book of this nature to begin with?
Our panel will discuss these questions and more by expressing their reasons for tackling such a provocative literary journey and what they’ve learned along the way. Come and join this sharing of ideas and experience.
Our panelists:
DEE WALLACE has worked for over 100 film directors, including Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson, Wes Craven, Joe Dante, Stephen King, Rob Zombie, and Blake Edwards, and is notably remembered for her starring role in “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial.” Ms. Wallace appears in the new Harrison Ford film, “Extraordinary Measures.” Recent television credits include “Sons and Daughters,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Cold Case,” “Without a Trace,” and “Ghost Whisperer.”
Ms. Wallace has written three books devoted to the art of self-healing: “Conscious Creation,” “The Big E,” and “The Spiritual Lessons of An Actor’s Journey.” Her call-in radio shows air worldwide. She conducts teaching seminars through the United States, as well monthly workshops about the healing techniques outlined in her books. She also facilitates private healing sessions in the Los Angeles area.
Wallace’s Law of Attraction radio show is every other Thursday at loaradionetwork.com/dee-wallace.html. Also see officialdeewallace.com.
RICHARD JELUSICH, Ph.D., has been teaching, giving lectures, workshops, and private sessions for over 20 years. He served as Dean of Administration and Core Faculty at the California Institute for Human Science, and currently holds a chair on the Board of Directors, continuing as part of the core faculty. Having earned a Ph.D. in Human Science, Jelusich researches the properties of light and sound and the blending of metaphysics and science. He is also an “intuitive” and energy worker, able to perceive how “soul-quality” infuses itself into our waking personality. Dr. Jelusich’s goals are simple: to de-mystify metaphysics, and also to heal and help self-empower individuals on multiple levels.
TODD J. LYON, M. D., graduated from New York University School of Medicine and is a Board Certified Family Physician specializing in mind/body healing. Skilled in the use of hypnosis, Dr. Lyon helps his patients deal with chronic pain. He also leads workshops about physical/emotional state management, grieving, our body’s expression of internal/unconscious experiences, and therapeutic hypnosis. He has a particular interest in somatic awareness as a tool for healing and spiritual transformation. His book, “The Holding Sky of Awareness,” is a collection of essays and metaphors explaining how we can reach states of joy by tempering our egos.
MONY VITAL, Ph.D., is the director and creator of Vital Energetic Balancing, a program designed to raise life force, balance frequencies, and evaluate energy blockages within the physical matrix. Dr. Vital’s program combines the science of quantum mechanics with spiritual perspectives and insight. Using sound frequency technology, Vital Balancing provides in-home bio-energy balancing via one’s own personal computer. In addition, Mony Vital is author of “Ageless Living; Freedom from the Culture of Death.” Through his book and programs, Dr. Vital provides the information you need to create effective life changes.
GEMINI ADAMS has written three books, eight e-books and hundreds of articles for magazines such as: “Women's Health,” “Red,” and “Live It Natural.” As an Amazon bestselling author, Ms. Adams is also the recipient of the National Best Book Award 2009, and the Winston Churchill Fellowship 2006. Her books have been published worldwide by Duncan Baird and Sterling, and have been translated into Spanish by Random House. She has also self-published, self-publicized and gained coverage on 50+ radio and TV shows. In the role of Book Midwife, her mission is to help other budding authors get their work finished and published. She is also a member of the National Federation of Spiritual Healers.
ELAINE WILKES, Ph.D., N.C., M.A., LEED, is the Hay House author of the book, “Nature’s Secret Messages: Hidden in Plain Sight.” It was awarded a rare star of recommendation from Publisher’s Weekly. She will share her experience of working with Hay House publishers. Wilkes combines her Ph.D. in naturopathy, a master’s degree in psychology, her nutrition degree, and a LEED™ accreditation. She writes and speaks on how nature has the answers to the issues that you and society are facing. She has a private practice as a wellness counselor/motivator, and teaches a method for passing the LEED™ exam. See ElaineWilkes.com.
---------------------------------------------
Writing 2.0: Electronic, POD, and Social Media
Monday, January 25, 2010
Now that you have so many options for the dissemination of your writing, as well as the promotion of your book and/or services, the choices can be daunting -- if you look at it as one package. However, when you break down the components, each one can serve to enhance all the aspects of your work … without making you crazy.
Our expert panel will explain the new methods offered today, and show you how to integrate these new tools and shortcuts to promote your work.
Our panel includes:
ANNETTE FIX is the author of “The Break-Up Diet: A Memoir,” a finalist in the memoir category for ForeWord Magazine’s Book of the Year. Her memoir was recently optioned for development as a cable television series (the direct result of her social networking on Twitter).
Annette speaks at national writers’ conferences and hosts online and in-person workshops: “Online Author and Book Promotion,” “How to Get the Right Agent for Your Manuscript,” and “Memoir 101: Drawing from Your Life to Create Your Story.” Annette blogs about writing and book marketing at AnnetteFix.com. She provides freelance services that include comprehensive manuscript analysis and publishing consulting. Annette is the former Senior Editor of WOW! WomenOnWriting.com, an online magazine written by, for, and about women in the publishing industry. Under her editorship, the site celebrated its second year on the list of the Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers.
PENNY C. SANSEVIERI, CEO and founder of Author Marketing Experts, Inc., is a best-selling author and internationally recognized book marketing and media relations expert. Her company is one of the leaders in the publishing industry and has developed many innovative 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 marketing and publicity firm to use Internet promotion to its full impact through The Virtual Author Tour™, which strategically works with social networking sites, micro-blogs, blogs, book videos, and relevant sites to push an author’s message into the virtual community and connect with sites related to the book's topic, positioning the author in his or her market. AME has had ten recent books top such bestseller lists as the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal. To learn more, go to Amarketingexpert.com.
ELLEN REID is one of the industry’s premier book shepherds. For over ten years she has been helping authors and independent publishers produce books that win awards and, more importantly, stand tall to compete in a rapidly changing book market. She brings to her clients a uniquely diverse background in advertising, marketing, and sales, so the books she shepherds are all branded and positioned to SELL. Her mantra is that there are only three things that matter when it comes to books: quality, quality, quality. Her new book, “Putting Your Best Book Forward,” will be published this month. Smarketing.com.
JULIE SPIRA is a best-selling author and social media expert. She is the founder of Social Media and More, a social media marketing company that helps authors, businesses, and individuals create personalities and brands on the Web. She utilized her social media marketing expertise in making her book, “The Perils of Cyber-Dating: Confessions of a Hopeful Romantic Looking for Love Online,” a bestseller. Through her social media expertise, she launched her site which is consistently ranked in the top 2-2.5% in websites worldwide, according to Alexa. Spira has appeared on numerous media outlets for her expertise in social media and was recently named the Newsmaker of the Week by the Los Angeles Business Journal. She also holds the position of Executive VP/Social Media for Brandloft. Visit her at SocialMediaMore.com.
~~~~~~~ Past 2010 Seminars ~~~~~~~
Short Story Writing Workshop
Moderated by Peter A. Balaskas
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Last year, Peter A. Balaskas taught the sold-out interactive writers workshop "What Editors Look For in a Short Story." After many requests for another workshop, Balaskas will again teach an IWOSC writing class where attendees’ work will be critiqued by the group as well as by the instructor. In addition, Balaskas will discuss the craft of short story writing, the importance of writing cogently for brevity and impact, and various critical elements of this writing genre.
Attendees are invited to bring at least two pages (double-spaced, please!) of their short story for a collaborative discussion. Writers must also bring at least 20 copies to be shared in class. In the interest of time, Balaskas will determine how many works-in-progress will be able to be read in the seminar. Pitching short story ideas is also welcome.
So put pen to paper, fire up the computer, and write two double-spaced pages for a great interactive engaging seminar! There's nothing more constructive than getting your work evaluated from fellow writers and an established author.
Mr. Balaskas's expertise in selecting publishable manuscripts and working with other editors makes him an ideal seminar presenter. As managing editor of Ex-Machina Press he also handles and establishes distribution channels via local bookstore and on-line vendors, as well as working with third-party printers. If you want to learn how to make your work appealing to editors looking for fresh scenarios, this workshop is a must.
Peter Balaskas’s fiction and poetry have been published internationally. His short novel, “The Grandmaster,” a supernatural thriller that takes place during the Holocaust, was published by Bards and Sages Publishing. Originally his graduate master’s thesis, “The Grandmaster” ranked third in the Bards and Sages nationwide Speculative Fiction Novel Contest and is now on sale at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble. “The Grandmaster” was also named a Top Ten Finalist by the Preditors and Editors Reader's Poll for Best Horror Novel of 2007. It was also named Best Science Fiction Novel of the Year by the Hollywood and New England Book Festivals. Peter has just completed his first short story collection, “In His House,” for which he is seeking publication. One story from that collection, "Crossing the Styx," was awarded Best Unpublished Short Story at the 2007 DIY Book Festival in Los Angeles. His short story, "Oranna's Song," was awarded Honorable Mention (ranked SECOND in the nation) in the Romance Category by the Fourth Annual Writer's Digest Popular Fiction Awards. Balaskas also often serves as a reviewer for L.A. Splash.
------------------------------------------
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Get Your Book Published! Choose the path that's right for you!
In this seminar, multiple Award-Winning author and Book Midwife, Gemini Adams,explores vanity, self, traditional and hybrid publishing with a detailed analysis of the pro's and con's, together with up-front costs, back-end returns, rights issues, royalites and what materials you actually need according to the path you choose. This information will save you hours of your life that can be wasted writing book proposals, pursuing publishers who have no interest in your work, and can save you thousands that you might otherwise waste creating and self-publishing a product that won't sell anywhere!
*This seminar is relevant for writers at all stages of the process, even those who've already been published and those who are yet to type a word!
GEMINI ADAMS has completed two bestselling books, received various awards, including the National Best Book Award 2009, Mom's Choice Gold Award 2010 and is a Finalist in the 2010 International Book Awards. She has secured publishing deals with the major houses of Sterling, Duncan Baird and Random House, both for herself and her clients, has self-published, self-publicized and started her own imprint, Live Consciously Publishing. Gemini also acts as a Book Midwife and has helped her clients birth over 20 new books—painlessly, without drugs, sweat or tears!
------------------------------------------
Saturday, May 15, 2010
You're So Brilliant! Why Don't They Buy?
ANN CONVERY is an international speaker, seminar leader, trainer and author who has worked with top professionals in politics, medicine, law, business, health and beauty. For 18 years she has prepared clients for CNN, 60 Minutes, The New York Times, Time magazine, The Los Angeles Times, Vogue, People, Self, and other media outlets. She has also guest lectured at UCLA Extension and The USC Marshall School of Business. In addition, Convery has been interviewed in The Los Angeles Times, Elle, Cosmopolitan, Woman's Day, First for Women, Entrepreneur, and Presentations Magazine.
Convery will talk about her system called Speak Your Business in 30 Seconds or Less™ which explains that the self-centered Primitive (or Old) Brain responds to stark contrast, likes street language, stops listening to the middle of your message, is attracted to word-pictures, and is only reached through emotion. Her system reveals how to get around these mental rules and target the hidden needs of your listener to deliver YOUR message.
------------------------------------------
Saturday, April 17, 2010
WORKING YOUR MANUSCRIPT: The Beginning, the Plot, and Ten Ways to Improve Everything
Before you spend years researching, writing, rewriting and polishing that great
nonfiction tome that no one else could possibly assemble, STOP! Why invest time and
effort in a book that may not be what publishers believe is marketable? Or worse, after
three years and three hundred pages, your book turns out to be very similar to another
already set for publishing. Would it not be more time- and cost-effective to first distill
your concept and structure into its essence, then write a proposal outlining your format
and information? And before you send that detailed proposal to agents or editors,
would it not be even more prudent to focus your ideas further by writing a single-page
query letter? The answer to both questions is yes. Proposals and query letters are
standard publishing industry procedures.
Overworked agents and editors welcome anything which helps them work more
efficiently. A query letter gives them a sense of whether or not they should invest time
in reading your proposal. If you “hook” them, they in turn will use your query to sell the
concept up the ladder into the publishing houses. Everyone wants to scan one page
first, then peruse the expanded proposal.
But where to begin? In this morning seminar, powerhouse writer Marvin J. Wolf offers practical advice and savvy tips about turning your work into an attractive product ripe for picking by the book-publishing establishment.
MARVIN J. WOLF has written professionally since 1965. In addition to authoring or
co-authoring 15 nonfiction books, his articles have appeared in magazines and
newspapers in 132 nations around the world. Mr. Wolf honed his storytelling talents
while serving as a U.S. Army infantryman, Ranger School instructor, basic training drill
instructor, combat photographer, public affairs officer, staff officer and company
commander. Later, he worked in creative advertising positions for Foote Cone, Wells
Rich Greene, and Northrop. In 1978, Marvin Wolf became an independent writer.
In partnership with veteran screenwriter Larry Mintz, Wolf took up screenwriting in 2001.
Their script "Ladies Night," based on a chapter of Wolf 's 1988 book "Platinum Crime,"
aired in February 2005 on the USA Cable Network, as did "The Pierre Heist," based on
another Wolf book. Mr. Wolf's books include "Buddha's Child," the wartime memoirs of
former South Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Cao Ky, and "Where White Men Fear To
Tread," the autobiography of Native American activist and film actor Russell Means. His
"Beating The Odds" recounts the life story of ABC Television founder Leonard
Goldenson. In addition, he has written several true-crime anthologies, including "Fallen
Angels, Chronicles of Los Angeles Crime and Mystery," considered a minor classic of its
genre.
Marvin J. Wolf is a charter member of IWOSC and has served four terms as president.
------------------------------------------
Saturday, March 20, 2010
WORKING YOUR MANUSCRIPT: The Beginning, the Plot, and Ten Ways to Improve Everything
As the author of 12 books in a variety of genres, and a creative writing teacher for 22 years, Maralys Wills is ready to provide concrete suggestions and tips in the following areas:
- “Ten Ways to Improve Your Manuscript” — which involves concrete, practical suggestions for upgrading your writing in all genres.
- “The all-important Beginning,” — based on her knowledge that a weak beginning to any piece means an editor or agent won't read further.
- “Plotting Made Easy” — a simple way to view the overall plot of a book so that it doesn't fall into an episodic pattern, and the dramatic structure is evident from the start.
MARALYS WILLS has published twelve books that span several genres and publishers. Her fiction works include four romance novels published by Harlequin and Silhouette, and a techno-thriller about airplane sabotage. The N.Y. Times called SCATTERPATH “exciting, down-to-the-wire stuff ... her cockpit sequences all but put the reader at the controls.”
Among her non-fictions is MANBIRDS: HANG GLIDERS & HANG GLIDING (Prentice-Hall), a party game book (Price/ Stern/Sloan), and her family story about hang gliding champions, HIGHER THAN EAGLES (Longstreet Press). Sadly, the Wills family lost two sons to the sport, and Wills’ account of those years — initially exhilarating, then tragic — earned her high marks in Publishers Weekly and Kirkus. HIGHER THAN EAGLES garnered five movie options, including one from Disney.
Wills’ book on addiction, SAVE MY SON, is the result of years of trauma with an addicted son.
Her recent, light-hearted memoir, A CIRCUS WITHOUT ELEPHANTS, earned a national award from Writer’s Digest. In 2008, Stephens Press published the sequel, A CLOWN IN THE TRUNK (an Indie award winner), and in 2009, her writing book, DAMN THE REJECTIONS, FULL SPEED AHEAD, won two national awards.
For the past 22 years Wills has taught college novel-writing, and in 2000 was voted “Teacher of the Year.” In addition to frequent speaking engagements, she has given numerous writing seminars — at UCLA, UC Riverside, UCI, Orange Coast College, Cerritos College, and at writers’ conferences across the country. She is a past president of the Orange County Chapter of Romance Writers of America.
------------------------------------------
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Grammar for Grownups: Painless Grammar and Punctuation Review for Writers
Back by popular demand is "Grammar for Grownups: A Painless Grammar and Punctuation Review for Writers," offered by Independent Writers of Southern California (IWOSC). Presenter is Flo Selfman, public relations consultant, proofreader/copyeditor and sixth-year IWOSC president.
Has the lazy language of email and texting made your professional communications sloppy? Do you agonize every time you prepare an article or a query letter because you're afraid it contains grammar and punctuation errors? Are your skills a little rusty?
Seminar participants will gain grammar confidence in a review of few simple rules that can correct dozens of the most commonly made errors in written and spoken communication. Topics to be covered include:
· 10 common grammar and punctuation errors to avoid
· How to error-proof a manuscript
· Why spell-check isn't enough (or, when is a rose not a rose?)
· Why grammar and punctuation matter
· My computer has a dictionary; what else do I need?
· Coping with current trends in language
· And more!
The seminar incorporates class exercises and useful handouts, and the opportunity to have your grammar, syntax, and punctuation questions answered.
Seminar presenter FLO SELFMAN is a public relations consultant with more than twenty years experience creating and implementing PR campaigns for entertainment, literary and lifestyle clients. Her press kits have received awards. She is a consultant on all aspects of publishing, marketing and publicity for self-published authors and small publishing companies. Her new writing-editing service (with Roberta Edgar) is Words a la Mode.
A native of Ohio, Selfman has a B.A. in Psychology from UCLA, a California Secondary Teaching Credential, and the Instructor Development Certificate from UCLA Extension. This is her sixth year as president of IWOSC.
What they say about her workshops:
- “The grammar class was fabulous. Thanks for all the preparation!! Loved every bit of it!”
- “I thoroughly enjoyed your class. Please let me know when you have more”.
- “Excellent course. A wide array of topics. Well-presented. Answered a lot of questions.”
- “GREAT, FANTASTIC FUN!! Teaching with humor always gets the point across.”
------------------------------------------
Saturday, January 16, 2010
The Seminar:
WEBSITES AND BLOGGING: The latest information and methods
Blogging and website creation can go hand-in-hand, one complementing the other, but the journey begins with a single step.
In this seminar, you'll discover how to:
- Define your website goals and objectives and then design your website to win.
- The ideal homepage structure that promotes your books and closes the sale.
- Strike the right balance between selling and information.
- Design your website that promotes your books, builds community, grows your email list, and moves visitors from surfer to buyer.
- Brand yourself and your books online.
- Craft your website to deliver what your target market seeks.
- Match your web site with your SEO strategy.
- Use a blog to bring your fans back to your site again and again.
- And much, much more.
Our expert will show, in layman’s language, what options exist and how to simplify the integration of the new technology into your work.
If you are a writer, you can greatly enhance your promotion and even your creative flow by having a website that addresses the new century and a blog that comments on it.
Spend a morning with us and take notes. It’s actually easier than it looks.
Returning to IWOSC following two dynamic presentations in 2009 is PENNY C. SANSEVIERI, CEO and founder of Author Marketing Experts, Inc. She’s a best-selling author and internationally recognized book marketing and media relations expert. Her company is one of the leaders in the publishing industry and has developed many innovative Internet book marketing campaigns. Sansevieri 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 marketing and publicity firm to use Internet promotion to its full impact through The Virtual Author Tour™, which strategically works with social networking sites, micro-blogs, blogs, book videos, and relevant sites to push an author’s message into the virtual community and connect with sites related to the book’s topic, positioning the author in his or her market. AME has had ten recent books top bestseller lists including New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal. To learn more about Penny’s books or her promotional services, go to amarketingexpert.com.
~~~~~~~ Past 2009 IWOSC Reads Its Own ~~~~~~~
Sunday, January 31, 2010
2:00 - 4 p.m.
Free
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.
Sixteen of IWOSC’s talented member writers will read short excerpts from their work. We’ll be regaled with their wit, have our emotions stirred, or be plunged into deep thought. First-time and return readers will share their work. Selections may be published, unpublished, or works in progress, several minutes in length.
We're pleased to announce another outing of IWOSC Reads Its Own at Barnes & Noble in The Grove
189 The Grove Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90036 (map)
Come hear:
Ron Vazzano ("Shots from a Passing Car"),
Gary Young (“Loss and Found”),
Lisa-Catherine Cohen,
Robert Birchard (Cecil B. DeMille’s Hollywood”),
Marvin J. Wolf ("Where White Men Fear to Tread"),
Keith Adams (“Broken Whole”),
Kay Mouradian (“A Gift in the Sunlight: An Armenian Story”),
Michele Newman,
Todd Reimer,
Flo Selfman
Lisa Marguerite Mora,
Sue Paoletti,
Dave Henderson, and
Joe Wallenstein.
Reservation NOT Required
Location: Barnes & Noble at The Grove, 189 The Grove Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90036
~~~~~~~ Past 2010 Parties ~~~~~~~
IWOSC Summer Party!
Wine and dine with fellow writers at San Antonio Winery, the last producing winery in LA!
Enjoy an antipasto bar followed by a buffet dinner with entrees, pasta, salad, vegetable, dessert and unlimited iced tea.
No-host bar.
Guests may also take a 30-minute winery tour and browse the gift and wine shops.
Sunday, August 8
3:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Program:
appetizers, dinner, installation of officers and board members, door prizes
Optional 30-minute tours of the winery are at 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00. Space on the winery tours is limited, so you must have a reservation.
Location:
San Antonio Winery
737 Lamar Street
Los Angeles, CA 90031
323-223-1401
Directions via the winery's site and Google maps.
