Category: PastEvent07

Annual Holiday Party

Party
Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Jingle bells are ringing at the Biltmore. Follow the tradition of presidents, celebrities, dignitaries – and IWOSC writers – by kicking off the holiday season and celebrating history, architectural splendor, and creativity at the beautiful Biltmore Hotel!

Once again, we’ll enjoy a lavish custom pasta bar, with chefs cooking up pasta dishes with all the trimmings. Dinner includes salad, dessert and beverages. No-host bar. After dinner, we’ll toast this year’s IWOSC dignitaries with special service awards. You can join the fun with raffles and door prizes.

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Top Ten Editors Talk Trends Meet editors from Angeleno, Boulevard, Nurses World, and more!

Panel
Monday, November 19, 2007

Today, the most successful specialized magazines are taking a cue from their online competitors and are building “communities” of devoted readers.

Angeleno magazine Editor in Chief Degen Pener moderates a panel of editors from Boulevard, Gorgeous, and Nurses World. They’ll discuss the Los Angeles magazine scene and opportunities in their publications for writers. Pener joined Angeleno in April. Previously, he did staff editing and writing stints at Entertainment Weekly, Details, Santa Barbara magazine, and New York magazine.

The editors will tell you how to get their attention and which departments are looking for fresh ideas. Each editor will describe what the magazine is broadly about, and what kinds of things it does cover and does not cover. They’ll tell how to contact them, and will provide a calendar of upcoming topics.

Moderator: DEGEN PENER
RASPIN STUWART
SEAN O’MEARA

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Writing Memorable Screenplays: Idea to Successful Script

Seminar
Saturday, November 17, 2007

Powerhouse writing partners, Marvin J. Wolf and Larry Mintz, explain the subtle dynamics behind writing a successful screenplay. Several of their projects have aired on the small screen since their collaboration began in 2001. Between them, the men represent more than 70 years of professional writing.

Presented by: Marvin J. Wolf and Larry Mintz

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The Wonderful World of Audiobooks: The Hows, The Trends, The Possibilities

Panel
Monday, October 29, 2007

Between appearing on The Oprah Winfrey Show and the time it aired, Grammar Girl blogger Mignon Fogarty had already created an audiobook, which quickly climbed to the top of iTunes’ best-selling books list.

Like Fogarty, audio is hot, and it’s constantly evolving. At IWOSC’s October General Meeting, learn about downloadable audiobooks, how audiobooks are handled at the major publishers, and how authors and others are creating their own audio products. Our speakers include former Audio Publishers Association President Jessica Kaye, Media Staff Studio President Jerry Maybrook, Hachette Audio Producer Dennis Kao, audio expert Ian Rich, and Marie Elena Rigo, creator of the Everyday Feng Shui instructional CD. Robin Quinn, an independent L.A. writer/editor, is the producer and moderator of this panel.

Moderator: Robin Quinn
IAN RICH
DENNIS KAO
JERRY MAYBROOK
MARIE ELENA RIGO
JESSICA KAYE

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Secrets of the Super Successful by Media Expert Michael Levine

Seminar
Saturday, October 20 , 2007

Levine’s talk gives you the tools to immediately and permanently super-charge your career. In more than 20 years as founder of Levine Communications Office, he has cultivated several effective tactics for success, which can be applied to many types of business.

Move than motivate, he’ll teach you how to structure your career like a super-success. His Guerilla P.R. (Harper Collins) is the most widely used text around the world for beginner public relations courses. His most recent book. Broken Windows Broken Business (Warner Books) uses the metaphor of broken windows to describe the small problems in business that escalate into serious consequences. Levine’s book offers a road map on how companies can fix broken windows promptly.

Presented by: Michael Levine

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The Art of Book Reviews

Panel
Monday, September 24, 2007

A top-notch panel of book reviewers moderated by Digby Diehl demystifies the steps involved in critiquing a work of literature: what they look for, what matters, and what qualities make literature resonate with the public. In addition, who is it that decides which books are reviewed? Panelists include Los Angeles Times Book Review critic Erika Schickel, Amazon reviewer Dr. John L. Murphy, literary fiction reviewer Edward St. John, nationally syndicated radio host Michael Dresser, and award-winning author and critic Amy Wilentz.

Moderator: Digby Diehl
MICHAEL DRESSER
EDWARD ST. JOHN
DR. JOHN L. MURPHY
ERIKA SCHICKEL
AMY WILENTZ

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Media Training for Writers: It’s Edutainment!

Seminar
Saturday, September 15 , 2007

Become a valuable “edutainer” with an arsenal of talking points that can be used effectively during an interview or any media opportunity and discover why passion is the secret to presence. Mindy Bradish, Director of Membership and Events at the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, thought her patter to chamber members was working until hearing Convery’s 15-minute speech. Bradish hired Convery for an additional two-hour meeting with the entire staff. “I realized that while I could get away with my pitch, she could teach me to take it to the next level…From that two-hour meeting, I took away ten different sound bites and a polished elevator speech, which I started using that very day,” says Bradish.

For this IWOSC seminar, she’ll share her tips on how to convey your specialty and position yourself as an expert resource to the media — in 60 seconds or less.

Presented by: Ann Convery

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IWOSC Summer Party!

Seminar
Saturday, August 25, 2007

This year’s party is being held at the landmark stone residence of John Steven McGroarty, a playwright, Los Angeles Times columnist, author, historian, elected Congressman, and Poet Laureate of the State of California from 1933 until his death in 1944.

Nestled in the Verdugo foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains in Tujunga, this impressive stone structure was built in 1923 and is also known as “Rancho Chupa Rosa.” Like many nearby homes constructed in the period, much of the property was constructed with rocks found in the soil or from the nearby Tujunga Wash. The home features a large veranda with a spectacular view of surrounding oaks, the sprawling city below, and the majestic San Gabriel Mountains to the north.

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Helping Others: Personal Stories and How They Can Make A Difference

Panel
Monday, July 30, 2007

Two largely unsung heroes, who have inspired and given hope to many, will receive well-deserved Lifetime Achievement Awards at IWOSC’s July General Meeting.

Actress/Author Mariette Hartley is known for her tireless work with the American Society for Suicide Prevention. Comedienne/Author Marcia Wallace is a national spokesperson for Breast Cancer Awareness. In addition to their artistic accomplishments, they are generous with sharing their personal stories, in written and spoken word, in order to help others make changes in their lives.

For this IWOSC program, the pair will be interviewed by author and personality Digby Diehl. They will share what drew them to the writing life, and how their books and other written works — along with their talent and Hollywood clout — have helped make a difference.

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What Do You Think? Writing and Selling Personal Essays

Seminar
Saturday, July 21, 2007

What do YOU think?

Ever since 16th-century writer Montaigne created the essay form, scribes and littérateurs have experimented with the boundaries of non-fiction prose. Today, the display of private experience as public intimacy through memoirs, one-person stage performances, and personal essays has become an increasingly important part of the writing business.

From magazines to such book series as “Chicken Soup for the Soul,” personal essays have a home in today’s literary marketplace. In this IWOSC seminar, author Marvin J. Wolf will discuss both style and sales, helping participants identify their own unique experiences worth writing about.

Presented by:

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Going Green: Writing About, and For, the Environment

Panel
Monday, June 25, 2007

Green Journalism and Green Marketing are going global, especially in the wake of the Oscar win for Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth.” Our panel of experts will tell you how to tap into this marketplace, and how to turn hard-core science into readable, layman’s English.

Moderator: Julio Moran
Zach Jordan
Ty Carlisle
Heyman-Uliano
Sophie Heyman-Uliano

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Agent Insider 2007: What’s New, What’s Tried & True, What They Want

Panel
Monday, April 30, 2007

You have a strongly saleable idea and writing you’ve polished until it shines. Now you want to explore the realm of agents. What still holds true from the dog-eared books on agents that you have on your shelf? What’s changed in today’s milieu and with the electronic environment? What’s hot today? A stellar panel of agents, including former Los Angeles Times Book Review editor Steve Wasserman (now a New York agent), will share insider views. Join us and become armed with the most up-to-date information.

Moderator: Robin Quinn<
Steve Wasserman
Betsy Amster
Paul S. Levine

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Businesses Reaching Businesses — In Your Words

Seminar
Saturday, April 21, 2007

You write brochures, flyers, press releases, and reports for your business clients. In this hands-on, interactive seminar, you will learn how to optimize your clients’ business-to-business communications.

Instructor Trish Lester teaches techniques that will help improve your clients’ communications to other businesses as well as directly to the consumer.

Presented by: Trish Lester

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Once Upon A Tome: the Art of Storytelling

Panel
Monday, March 26, 2007

Storytelling is the ancient art of conveying events in words, images, and sounds, usually characterized by an active dialogue between the storyteller and an audience. Today there is a surge of interest in storytelling, as evidenced by the dozens of storytelling festivals throughout the country. But it is also a useful skill to learn. Whether you write fiction or nonfiction, for page or stage, a strong, narrative story will keep the reader interested and bring your writing to life.

A panel of professional storytellers and creative narrative specialists will share their secrets and techniques for finding your writing voice and applying the art of storytelling to your work. They’ll also explore the marketplace for writers as storytellers.

Moderator: Gary Young’
Terrie Silverman, MFA
Ina Hillebrandt
Marvin J. Wolf
Penny Post
Stacie Chaiken

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Flavors of Life: Writing for the Travel, Health, Fitness, and Food Markets

Panel
Monday, February 26, 2007

Lifestyle writing offers independent writers a wide selection of writing styles and topics. Like ingredients found in flavorful dishes, the words of lifestyle writers can enhance their readers’ savory exposure to one or more fields. For this program, a melange of seasoned writers and editors who have successfully bridged more than one style of writing will discuss opportunities in the various lifestyle genres, synergies between the different topics, and how to adapt your writing to connect with readers of particular lifestyle markets.

Panel
Barbara Hansen
Elisabeth Deffner
James Burns
Devin Alexander
Roy M. Wallack

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Screenwriter’s Survival and Success Guide

Seminar
Saturday, February 17, 2007

You wrote a screenplay. Now learn how to get a good agent, manager, producer, and deal.

Agent Victoria Wisdom has represented screenwriters as diverse as 2007 Oscar nominee writer/director Deepa Mehta (“Fire,” “Water”), Ernest Thompson (“On Golden Pond”), and Christopher McQuarrie (“The Usual Suspects”).

In this workshop, she will help you understand…

Presented by: Victoria Wisdom

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Unraveling Mystery Writing

Panel
Monday, January 29, 2007

Need a clue about how to write a great mystery? Please join IWOSC in January as its panel of expert mystery novelists and screenwriters unravel the mysteries of crime and mystery writing.

The panelists discussed the rules of the genre and their own paths to success. Our panelists also discussed the future for the genre, especially how the Internet will be involved.

Moderator: Diana James

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PUBLISHING 101: Trends in the Book Biz

Panel
Monday, January 28, 2007

“When did the rules change?” Many writers and journalists have pondered this question over and over about book publishing, which has completely undergone a metamorphosis in the past decade. The Internet, media consolidation, big-box vs. independent bookstores, the boom in self-publishing/online “e-books” and blogs, and Hollywood-style demographics, age discrimination, and target-audience issues have transformed what was once the most stable and reliable of media industries into a completely new — and relatively uncharted — landscape.

IWOSC kicks off 2008 with a panel created to untangle some of these knotty career issues. It includes experts from every checkpoint of modern publishing -an agent for one of Hollywood’s most A-list literary and talent agencies and a top book publicist. Plus, two of LA’s most prominent booksellers — one anchored in the independent bookseller world while the other hails from one of the nation’s premiere chain bookstores.

Moderator: Telly Davidson

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