Party
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Kick off the season at the IWOSC Annual Holiday Bash at the Biltmore! Follow the tradition of presidents, celebrities, dignitaries, and IWOSC writers by celebrating history, architectural splendor, and creativity at the beautiful downtown Millennium Biltmore Hotel!
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Seminar
Saturday, December 7, 2013
Cashing in on an opportunity to read aloud can be an effective marketing tool for the writer, and if done right, it can generate great word of mouth.
If not done right, a great novel, nonfiction discourse, essay, short story or poem can sound like sour mud.
Many writers are reclusive. The process of writing does lend itself to solitary moments. But sometimes you just have to get out there and market your work. Writing is a form of communication, of course. It would be a shame to find the work hitting a wall and sliding down in a gooey heap. You want it to resonate.
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Panel
Monday, November 25, 2013
According to polls taken in the mid-1990s, 25% of college seniors could not pinpoint the date of the first voyage of Christopher Columbus; 40% couldn’t say when the American Civil War occurred, and fewer than 2% of American teenagers could name the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court — but for all this seeming historical ignorance, works of history often show up on non-fiction best-seller lists. Either the polls aren’t telling the whole story, or there is a fanatic minority out there who voraciously eats up anything to do with the past.
This month’s panel on writing history will look at what’s happening now about the unpredictable past and explore the motivation, research, writing and publishing that go into creating the chronicle of who we have come to be.
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Panel
October 28, 2013
Literature for children is meant to inform, entertain, stimulate and grow future readers, as well as promote family interaction. This is quite a responsibility, a highly competitive field where immense imagination and mature child-like properties combined with a good business plan, plenty of energy, and an openness to possibilities.
We will trace the journeys of a few published writers of children’s literature and mid-range (for ages 2-11), and one on the way to becoming published, plus a representative from a children’s bookstore.
We will cover…
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Seminar
Saturday, October 26, 2013
In keeping with this year’s theme exploring the writing process, we cannot ignore humor, nor do we want to.
There are methods, tricks, turns of phrase, and surprises that elicit a laughter response. The two presenters have all of this, plus the instinct and a distinct ability and personality to clearly communicate how you can apply this to your own writing.
We will discuss how to open up to the absurdities and vagaries of life, and how to enjoy them. If you want to bring something that you have written, we will work with that as time permits, and we may also throw a few easy exercises your way.
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Outside event
Sunday, September 29, 2013
As always, IWOSC hosted a booth at the West Hollywood Book Fair.
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Seminar
Saturday, September 28, 2013
This year at IWOSC, we are exploring several different and creative ways to approach the process of writing fiction and nonfiction. Our seminar leaders are all experienced teachers who approach the creative process with a particular gift, and they are all eager to pass along the gift to you.
Your writing is a reflection of who you are and who you are becoming. – Hugh Leonard
This illuminating workshop will let you…
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Party!
Saturday, August 17, 2013
For our 2013 summer party, we enjoyed the hospitality of the CBS Radford Studios in Studio City, near Laurel Canyon and Ventura Boulevards.
We wined with the Murphy-Goode Wine’s California Collection.
We dined on the scrumptious buffet dinner at Carla’s Café, by their very own Events d’ Elegance.
And we socialized with fellow writers and guests!
We loved being on this CBS lot.
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Panel
Monday, July 29, 2013
There are many outspoken members of the writing community. These writers have taken an active and effective part in changing the world, or at least one or two parts of the world. It’s all about the reason for writing. We HAVE to write. We want to get our MESSAGE out there. And some messages shake things up a bit.
Daniel Elsberg to Edward Snowden; Martin Marietta to Treyvon Martin; there is never a loss of issues scientific, political, religious, sociological, with ample reasons for anger, stimulus, and perhaps tilting at a few windmills. No subject will be off limits tonight.
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Outside event
July 20 & 21, 2013
IWOSC, Independent Writers of Southern California
co-sponsored this Pacific Institute for Professional Writing Writer’s Weekend
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IWOSC Reads Its Own
Join us for 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. We’ll be regaled with their wit, have our emotions stirred, or be plunged into deep thought as these talented member writers read short excerpts from their published, unpublished, or in-progress works at the beautiful independent bookstore, Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena, California.
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Panel
Monday, June 24, 2013
A varied but distinct discipline, play writing is a good exercise for any writer. The restrictions and opportunities are a good exercise, and if you want to develop natural dialog, this is a good way to perfect it. Aside from the exercises inherent in the form, it is particularly rewarding to see your works performed in readings or staged productions.
The revelations from viewing your work are manifold.
But how do you get this work conceptualized, written, polished, produced, and published?
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Seminar
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Part 1
Peter Balaskas will discuss the craft of short story writing, the importance of writing cogently for brevity and impact, and various critical elements of this special writing genre. In a nutshell: What do I as an editor look for when publishing short stories in published anthologies?
Part 2
Strictly a writer’s workshop, where Peter will teach and moderate. Everyone brings 5 pages of material. Peter will give an introduction of the seminar, explain critiquing rules. Followed by individuals reading excerpts of their work, to be critiqued by the participants.
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Panel
Monday, May 20, 2013
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.
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Seminar
Saturday, May 18, 2013
“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
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Panel
Monday, April 29, 2013
In a changing marketplace, it’s more important than ever to have an advocate to fight for you when going the route of traditional publishing.
Our stellar Southern California agents will provide a look at their world today.
We’ll cover what you need to know to find the right representative, how to get their attention, and the steps you should take to create the strongest relationship. In addition, we’ll look at the ebook factor, transitioning from self-publishing to traditional publishing, book-to-film deals, and more.
Come join us!
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Seminar
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Want to turn your book or short story into a screenplay? Screenwriting instructor Pilar Alessandra gives you a way in.
You’ll learn how to …
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Outside event
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Sunday, April 21, 2013
The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books started in 1996 with a simple goal: to bring together the people who create books with the people who love to read them. The largest and most prestigious book festival in the country, it attracts more than 150,000 book lovers each year — and IWOSC was proud to once again be a participant.
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Panel
Monday, April 1, 2013
According to Andre Schiffrin, former head of Pantheon Books, “The publishing world has been through more changes in the past 10 to 15 years than it had in the 100 years before that.” And that’s putting it mildly.
Today, E-books, Kindle, and iPad literature apps are poised to “take over” hardcover book publishing as we know it. What new opportunities – and pitfalls – does this present? How has the change from emphasizing professional career authors (e.g., Stephen King, Joyce Carol Oates) to “overnight superstar” reality-TV and celebrity authors changed what – and WHO – editors and agents are looking for? How have the new electronic platforms affected self- and small-press publishing – and how will authors and writers make their living in this brave new world?
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Seminar
Saturday, March 16, 2013
This is a unique approach to understanding your motivation to write, to discover why your own voice is so critical, and how to apply that to best represent your work.
Attendees will be challenged to think beyond the parameters of the how-to-write approach, which contain some myths and do not encourage independent thinking. Topics covered will include:
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Panel
Monday, February 25, 2013
Writing a memoir? Contemplating tackling the form? Our panel of memoir writers and teachers, plus our legal specialist in things literary, will cover memoir writing do’s and don’t’s, and getting the book of your life story out there.
Topics to be covered include…
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Seminar
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Thinking about writing the stories of your life? Wondering where to start? Or have you started but feel unclear about how to organize your writing? Looking for ideas to make your tales a better read? Are you a published author looking for help writing in memoir form?
In this workshop, we will be using specially designed techniques that help enliven and enrich books of memoir, and tools to sharpen your writing and organization skills. We’ll get you started, and you’ll find you won’t want to stop. Or we’ll help you move to the next level of your work in progress.
Please bring a brief sample (one-three pages) from what you have written, for review. If you have not yet begun, that’s perfectly fine.
We’ll be writing one to two short pieces
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Panel
Monday, January 28, 2013
So what’s the story?
The short story form continues to stimulate writers, whether novice or veteran. It is not an easy form to perfect, and not an easy form to market, but the draw for the writer is undeniable.
The rich tradition of the short story encompasses some of the most creative and memorable literature.
The short story can be lyrical, like a poem, gritty, cartoon-like, super-realistic, and it often grabs the writer and does not let go until it turns itself into a novelette or novel.
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Seminar
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Join us for a morning of learning how to make money from your Blog (YES, as a writer … you absolutely should be blogging!). Blogs are big business. You don’t want to miss this opportunity to learn what blogging can do for your writing aspirations.
Tammy Bleck, writer/ghostwriter for hire, author, speaker and blogger extraordinaire, will share the ups, downs, ins and outs of creating a blog that will bring you business, solidify your brand and actually bring prominent recognition to your work.
Learn how your Blog can get you:
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IWOSC Reads Its Own
Sunday, January 20, 2013
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