GENERAL MEETING/Panel DIscussion
Making Your Own Opportunities in Writing
Monday, July 26, 2010
7:30 to 9 p.m. (networking follows the program)
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.
Location: Veterans Memorial Building, 4117 Overland Avenue, Culver City
(Corner of Culver Boulevard. Parking entrance on Culver) Map of location. Parking is free.
(Wear layered clothing. The room is usually comfortable but the temperature can vary.)
Admission: IWOSC members - free; Non-members - $15
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED — Call 877-79-WRITE (that's 877-799-7483) or email the IWOSC office for reservations and information. Reservations will be honored up to ten minutes before the meeting begins.
Please note: The reservation deadline, space permitting, is 12:00 noon on Monday, the day of the meeting.
If you reserve and can not attend, please email the IWOSC office to let us know.
IWOSC SATURDAY SEMINAR
The Seminar:
Short Story Writing Workshop
Moderated by Peter A. Balaskas
Saturday, July 17, 2010
10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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.
Where: Veterans Memorial Building, 4117 Overland Avenue, Culver City
(Corner of Culver Boulevard. Parking entrance on Culver. Parking is free.) Map.
(Wear layered clothing. The room is usually comfortable but the temperature can vary.)
Cost: IWOSC members: $15; Non-members: $35
Reservations Required — Space is limited.
Reservation deadline: 4 p.m. the Friday before the seminar.
For reservations and information, email the IWOSC office or call 877-79-WRITE (that's 877-799-7483).
NOTE: If you reserve and can not attend, please email the IWOSC office to let us know.
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.
ORANGE COUNTY Satellite
Our Orange County Satellite is hosted by Kurt Bensworth, and now meets on Tuesdays. The Katie Wheeler Library in Tustin is the site for the monthly networking meeting.
Meeting pattern: Third Tuesday of every month
Next meetings:
Tuesday, July 20
Tuesday, August 17
Time: 7 to 9 p.m.
Location: Katie Wheeler Library (bottom floor, community room), 13109 Old Myford Road, Irvine
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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PASADENA/ALTADENA Satellite
Writers in the San Gabriel Valley meet on the second Friday of every month. This gathering is a joint meeting hosted by the IWOSC Pasadena Satellite and the Alameda Writers Group Special Interest Group (SIG). Jane Neff Rollins is our IWOSC contact for the Pasadena/Altadena Satellite.
Meeting pattern: second Friday of every month.
Next meetings:
Friday, July 9
Friday, August 13
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Location: Coffee Gallery, 2029 N. Lake Ave, Altadena 91001
626-398-7917
Here's a Map to the Coffee Gallery for you.
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, Jane Neff Rollins or call her at (818) 957-3405.
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SAN FERNANDO VALLEY (ENCINO) Satellite
Writers in the San Fernando Valley meet on the second Wednesday of most months to participate in a free-flowing exchange of ideas about their work and the writing business.
Meeting pattern: Second Wednesday of most months
Next meetings:
Wednesday, July 14
Wednesday, August 11
Time: 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Location: Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 16461 Ventura Blvd., CA, Encino
Free parking in the shopping center
Here's a map to Barnes & Noble for you.
Admission: Free to both IWOSC members and non-members.
Our San Fernando Valley Satellite is currently run by Ron Vazzano. Grab a snack from Starbucks next door or Gelson's across the street before the networking begins. For any questions, Ron Vazzano.
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Ventura County Satellite (Thousand Oaks)
Our Ventura County satellite group is run by Dawn Wood, 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. This group has its own website at iwoscventura.ning.com.
Meeting pattern: Second Thursday of every month
Next meetings:
Thursday, July 8
Thursday, August 12
Time: 10 to 12 p.m.
Fee: $2 per person
Location: Sherwood Country Club, 320 West Stafford Road (Golf Clubhouse), Thousand Oaks, CA 91361.
Free parking – stop at guard house for directions to IWOSC.
Reservations are requested. Please contact Dawn Wood.
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WESTSIDE Satellite — Now Thursdays in Santa Monica
Writers on L.A.'s west side gather in a private room at the Ye Olde King's Head in Santa Monica each month. We alternate between reading our own work, listening to a speaker, or just going around the table with our own announcements, questions, gripes, and insights. Because we’re in a new location, reservations are required, and all attendees must purchase food.
Meeting pattern: second Thursday of every month.
Next meetings:
Thursday, July 8
Thursday, August 12
Thursday, September 9
TIme: 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Location:
Ye Olde King's Head
116 Santa Monica Boulevard Santa Monica, CA 90401-2202
It's mid-way between Ocean and 2nd.
[Map]
Parking:
Ye Olde King's Head will validate 2 hours of parking if you park in the #4 lot (just north of SM Blvd) or #6 lot (just south of SM Blvd) on 2nd Street. [Santa Monica Parking map]
Admission: Free to both IWOSC members and non-members.
If you plan to attend, please email Vickey Kalambakal with your RSVP. RSVPs are important, especially since we're just starting our relationship with our hosts. You can also email Vickey for details.
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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. (The venue closes at 7.)
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.
RESERVATIONS:
Advance reservations AND payment are required. No walk-ins.
- IWOSC members and one guest: $30 per person, paid by Sunday, August. 1.
- Non-members, $35 each, paid by Sunday, August 1
- ANYONE Aug. 2-4: $40 (last day to pay is Wednesday, August 4)
Reserve now!
Email the IWOSC office with your reservation, including number of people.
Then go to PayPal and make you payment to: payiwosc (at symbol) iwosc.org
or
send payment to: IWOSC, PO Box 34279, LA, CA 90034.
NOTE: Please include your name on your reservation, not just your email.
Location:
San Antonio Winery
737 Lamar Street
Los Angeles, CA 90031
323-223-1401
Directions via the winery's site and Google maps.
Volunteer:
If you're an
IWOSC member and you'd like to help at the party or before, contact IWOSC president Flo Selfman.
Questions:
If you have questions, please call Flo Selfman at 323-653-4555 or email her.
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Intensive Writing Workshop
Our writing workshop is on hiatus. Watch this space for new information.
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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, and this year's past events.
