Category: PastEvent15

Annual Holiday Bash at the Biltmore

Party
Thursday, December 10, 2015

Let’s meet for no-host cocktails in the gorgeous Rendezvous Court or take an escorted tour of this historic hotel (optional), including the elegant ballrooms and indoor pool.

Then in Smeraldi’s Restaurant, we’ll have dinner with all the trimmings – soup or salad, entrée and sides, dessert selection, and beverages (non-alcoholic included with dinner; no-host bar available).
Awards and drawings follow, and we’ll have some nice surprises for you!

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Writing Nostalgia: When the Past Sings, Make it Zing

Panel
Monday, November 16, 2015

Who doesn’t like nostalgia?

But nostalgia for one person might be ancient history for another. But good nostalgia can strike a chord with many people.

Nostalgia can liven fiction and stand on its own. If given the proper treatment, it can become an “evergreen.”

We will look at the writings and the process of several notable writers, veterans in the field of nostalgia. They have preserved a world and within those words are inspiration, fascination, humor, and pathos, and since it is all based on real events, often from known names, we can relate to the universals.

The many horror stories, success stores, emotional upheavals and poignant aftermath of events past, take on a personal meaning in the world of nostalgia.

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A Storytelling workshop with Annie Korzen: Writing (and Performing) the Personal Essay

Seminar
Saturday, November 14, 2015

Storytelling is the hottest new literary form – from The Moth to David Sedaris. In Los Angeles, there are many spoken-word events every night of the week. The competition is tough, and most tellers need help with creating the text and/or a relaxed performance technique.

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805 Writers’ Conference

Outside event
October 31 & November 1, 2015

IWOSC is proud to co-sponsor the 805 Writers’ Conference.

The Craft and Business of Writing. 805 Writers’ Conference delivers the skills and knowledge writers need to succeed. Perfect for novelists, nonfiction, magazine, and screenwriters.

39 professionals to hear and meet, including our own Flo Selfman and Roberta Edgar and IWOSC had a table there as well.

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Everybody’s a Critic! How To Get Your Projects Noticed By Top Critics — And How To Become One Yourself!

Panel
Monday, October 26, 2015

How does a book writer, artist, performer/musician, or filmmaker get noticed by professional critics and bloggers, in today’s cacophony of 500 channels, Netflix, and YouTube — especially if they’re small-press, self-published, or an “indie” filmmaker or performer? And just as important, what qualities do critics want to see (and avoid!) in what they’re reviewing? What sets paid/professional film, TV, book, and arts criticism apart in today’s world of Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, Goodreads, Pinterest, and Blogspot “film critics” and “political commentators?” What is the ROLE of the professional critic in today’s society — and can you become one yourself?

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Get Your Book Noticed: Let Reviewers Sell Your Book for You!

Seminar:
Saturday, October 17, 2015

Don’t drown in the sea of published books. Learn how to compete against the publishing Big Fish using the same highly effective book promotion techniques … without spending thousands of dollars.

Discover how to use the secret power of book reviews to ensure that the media, buyers and consumers start paying attention to and buying your book, spreading the word around the globe.

Get exclusive access to …

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Writing Captivating Memoirs —Tips and Tools

Panel
Monday, September 28, 2015

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?

We will discuss techniques that help enliven and enrich books of memoir, and tools to sharpen your writing and organization skills. We’ll help you move to the next level of your work.

We will discuss…

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Researching and Writing the Historical Novel

Seminar
Saturday, September 19, 2015

The historical novel is one of the most popular genres in fiction. But writing one presents some special challenges. In this seminar Gerald Everett Jones uses his recent novel ‘Bonfire of the Vanderbilts” as a case study into the more than 15 years he spent trying to unravel the secrets hidden in Julius Stewart’s 1892 painting “The Baptism.” His searching included art history, unpublished scholars’ whitepapers, genealogy, steamship passenger records, Episcopal church history and archives, private memoirs and ephemera, oral history and even family rumors, image archives, rare book collections, and more.

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IWOSC Reads Its Own – August 2015

IWOSC Reads Its Own
Sunday, August 9, 2015

FREE!
Everyone is invited!

Guests and members came to hear some of IWOSC’s talented member writers as they read excerpts from their work. Published, not yet published, in progress…

The writing was varied — poetry, fiction, memoir, nonfiction.

Location: Vroman’s Bookstore

[To read more, click the title!]

IWOSC’s Sumer Party!

Party!
Saturday, August 8, 2015

Location:
Carla’s Cafe
CBS STUDIO CENTER

This summer season we returned to enjoy the hospitality of CBS Studios in Studio City where fellow writers and guests wined, dined and socialized — after seeing the lot and in between being regaled with the personal stories of the fabulous Marianne Muellerleile.

Two years ago our summer party at CBS Studio City was such a hit that we’ve decided to return!

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The Lucrative Speaking Business: The Power of Your Personal Story

Discussion
Monday, July 27, 2015

WOSC is pleased to present an exciting program with international speaker, coach, author and comedian JUDY CARTER.

Do you shy away from public speaking even though it can help you promote your writing career and earn you extra money?

All writers need to know how to do something that’s scary: speak in front of others.

[To read more, click the title!]

WordPress For Writers

Seminar
Saturday, July 18, 2015

WordPress! You’ve heard and keep hearing the name. “THE way you should set up your website.” “THE way Google will better rank your website.” “THE #1 choice people are using to get their message, their writing, out to the world.”

Maybe you’ve heard that it can be difficult. Maybe you’ve even tried to use it and got stuck. …

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Pitch Class with Pilar Allesandra

Seminar
Saturday, June 20, 2015

Whether we’re at a cocktail party, on an airplane, or face to face with an agent or producer, we’re always pitching. Even experienced writers get tongue-tied when it comes to presenting their work aloud in the best possible light. IWOSC is pleased to welcome back one of the best pitching instructors anywhere: Pilar Alessandra, director of the writing program “On the Page.”

In this seminar, you will …

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An Evening with Ted Lange: Actor – Director – Screenwriter – Playwright – Producer

Discussion
Monday, May 18, 2015

Ted Lange personifies the Renaissance Man Award he received from the NAACP. A graduate of London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, Lange gained worldwide recognition as a gifted actor of stage and screen, revered director, and prolific writer.

Join us as he is our guest for an interview and Q&A about his career as an actor, screenwriter, director and playwright…

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Writing the Marble: A Writing Workshop with Deborah Edler Brown

Seminar
Saturday, May 16, 2015

There’s an oft-told story that Michelangelo, when asked how he could possibly create a statue as beautiful as David from a block of marble, answered, “I simply chip away everything that’s not David.”

As writers, we don’t start with a block of marble. If we want to get at the beautiful work of art, what do we do?

As our presenter, Deborah Edler Brown, will explain, we have to “write” the marble, then chip away at it.

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Literary Agents Panel: What Writers Must Know About Working With Representation

Annual Agents Panel
Monday, April 27, 2015

In a fast-changing marketplace, it’s more important than ever to have an advocate to fight for you when going the route of traditional publishing. Our annual Agent’s program this April 27 will present a panel of stellar Southern California agents who will provide a look at their world today. Topics we’ll be covering (and there will be time for Q&A from the audience) will include:

Do’s and Don’ts — how to get an agent’s attention in a good way, what agents are especially on the lookout for (and what they DON’T want to see) in cover/query letters and proposals.

How to make your cover, query, or proposal irresistible, and how to match yourself with the right agent for your “brand” and interests as a writer.

[To read more, click the title!]

How to Write Query Letters & Proposals

Seminar
Saturday, April 25, 2015

Nearly all nonfiction books are sold with a proposal that enlists the aid of a literary agent in convincing an acquisitions editor at a publishing entity to advance funds to a writer with an idea.

Bring paper and pen (or a laptop or iPad) and your best idea for a nonfiction* book, and learn how to write irresistible query letters and book proposals. Marvin J. Wolf, author of a dozen nonfiction books, as well as a novel and several photography books, will take you through the seven steps to a successful book.

*Except for a handful of superstars, selling a novel or a screenplay requires that the writer create a brilliant first draft of the work. Nevertheless, novelists and screenwriters will find this workshop valuable.

[To read more, click the title!]

The 2015 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books

Outside event

Saturday, April 18
Sunday, April 19

Every year the Festival emerges bigger, better, and more exciting. This year’s Festival featured lectures and presentations by 540 authors, 8 cooking demonstrations, 11 artists, 3 screenings, 9 stages, 16 musical performances, 34 poets, 13 food trucks. All free!

Thousands attended — with the common goal of mingling in the rarified atmosphere of creativity and knowledge.

We were happy that so many stopped by and the IWOSC booth to meet IWOSC member writers and authors.

[To read more, click the title!]

Collaboration: Taking the Mystery Out of Mysteries

Panel
Monday, March 30, 2015

Looking for clues on how to get started writing mysteries? Have a who-dun-it in the trunk eager to escape? IWOSC’s March panel assembles a cadre (i.e., a core group of trained personnel able to assume control and to train others) of mystery writers, and a mystery reader-moderator who couldn’t solve a crime if his life depended on it, even though he read “The Hardy Boys Detective Handbook” and mixed his own fingerprint powder with chemicals from his Gilbert Chemistry Set.

Topics for discussion:

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COLLABORATION: Writing it Right, Together

Panel
COLLABORATION: Writing it Right, Together

Monday, February 23, 2015

What are the elements that make two (or more) pens better than one?

There are many horror stories and success stores about collaboration. We will take a look at the elements that can make two (or more) pens better than one, and how to spot the poison pens ahead of time. Even Rodgers and Hammerstein had their issues.

Several writers and an attorney will chat about their insights and stories related to collaborative writing.

We will explore…

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Reading your own writing: How to make it count

Seminar
Saturday, March 21, 2015

Reading your work aloud is a powerful marketing tool for the writer, if done right. If you lack performance skills, however, a great piece of writing can sound like sour mud. Many writers are reclusive, but sometimes you just have to get out there and present your work by reading to an audience. Some people are inherently gifted in this discipline, but most of us need the simple tips, tricks, and pointers that are offered in this workshop — which include microphone technique, dealing with stage fright, vocal strength, and communicating the emotional meaning of language. We will aim to give individual time to each student.

In keeping with this year’s theme of exploring the writing process, this seminar will tell you what to expect and how to make it happen.

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Erika Fabian’s “The Secret to Storytelling Photography”

Seminar
Saturday, February 21, 2015

Everyone takes pictures these days, with cellphones, tablets, and cameras of all sizes and capabilities. But are they pictures or snapshots? If you hope to illustrate your story with photos, or sell photos from your travels, the three simple principles of professional photography that you will learn during Erika Fabian’s presentation will help you to do so. Based on years of worldwide assignments using the techniques of National Geographic photography, Erika Fabian will show and tell…

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IWOSC Reads Its Own – February 2015

IWOSC Reads Its Own
Sunday, February 8, 2015

Guests and members came to hear some of IWOSC’s talented member writers as they read excerpts from their work. Published, not yet published, in progress…

The writing was varied — poetry, fiction, memoir, nonfiction.

Location: Vroman’s Bookstore

[To read more, click the title!]

Jasmine Powers’ Twitter 101 Workshop

Seminar
Saturday, January 17, 2015

In this short, interactive program, Jasmine Powers, multimedia marketing expert, will teach how to:
Set up or optimize your Twitter account
Build strategic relationships on Twitter
Define a Twitter strategy
Connect with potential clients and friends with shared interests.

[To read more, click the title!]