• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

Writers of Kern

Everything Writers Need | Writers of Kern

  • About Us
    • History
    • Membership
    • Newsletter Archive
    • Officers & Chairs
    • Overview
  • Upcoming Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Holiday Writers Row Outdoor Book Fair: Local Authors, Local Voices
  • Jump In
    • Attend a Workshop
    • Become a Member
    • Get the Guide: The Best Places to Write in Bakersfield
    • See Upcoming Events
    • Submit a Speaker Proposal
  • Blog
  • Members
    • Books by Members
    • Join a Critique Group
    • Student Member Scholarships
    • Pay Dues
    • Request a Sunshine Card
  • Become a Member
  • WOK Press
    • WOK Press Books
    • Rubrics
  • Contact
    • Stay Connected
  • Donate
    • Donate
    • Donate to Student Scholarships
  • Show Search
Hide Search

July Featured Speaker – Mary Beth O’Connor

June 29, 2025 By Writers of Kern

Workshop Title: Memoir Writing Fundamentals

Square-shaped event flyer for the Writers of Kern July 2025 meeting featuring speaker Mary Beth O'Connor. All event details are listed in the main body text below.

Mary Beth will define “memoir” and review the scope, themes, arc, and immersive story structure. She also will explain how to incorporate takeaway and reflection. Mary Beth then will address the emotional aspects of writing memoir. She will review writing goals, techniques, and skills development. Mary Beth will then delve into the business side of publishing and marketing memoir.

Mary Beth’s Bio:

Mary Beth has been sober from her methamphetamine use disorder since 1994. She also is in recovery from abuse, trauma, and anxiety. She wrote about her story in her award-winning memoir From Junkie to Judge: One Woman’s Triumph Over Trauma and Addiction. Mary Beth regularly writes opinion pieces which have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, Recovery Today, and other publications. Her memoir writings have been published in Memoir Magazine, Awakenings, and Ravens Perch, among others. In addition, she trains writers about memoir writing.

You can connect with Mary Beth here:

Website: junkietojudge.com
X/Twitter: @MaryBethO_
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-beth-o-connor-8aaa4b121/

Meeting on Saturday, July 19, 2025
Breakfast begins at 8:30 am
The general meeting begins at 9:15 am
Hodel’s at 5917 Knudsen Dr, Bakersfield

Registration for this past event is closed.

Filed Under: Guest Speakers, Memoir Tagged With: Writers of Kern

Copyright © 2026 · Writers of Kern · Website by Hypist

  • Advertise
  • Submissions
  • Speakers
  • Terms
  • Policies & Procedures
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
Manage Consent

Writers of Kern uses basic cookies to keep our website running smoothly, analyze our local site traffic, and display features like videos. By continuing to use our site, you agree to this standard behavior. You can update your choices at any time in our footer link

Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
  • Manage options
  • Manage services
  • Manage {vendor_count} vendors
  • Read more about these purposes
View preferences
  • {title}
  • {title}
  • {title}