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August Featured Speaker – Matthew Woodman

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Workshop Title: The Poetries of Inner Geographies: Exploring the Self through Weather and Land

Matthew Woodman’s poems, stories, and essays have appeared in publications including Puerto del Sol, Sonora Review, Hawai’i Review, Fourteen Hills, Catamaran, and The Moth. He was named the 2018-2023 Kern County Poet Laureate and was awarded the 2018 Outstanding Lecturer at California State University, Bakersfield, where he currently teaches.

Matthew will speak on The Poetries of Inner Geographies: Exploring the Self through Weather and Land

Through a guided lecture, workshop, and reading, Matthew Woodman will lead writers through an exploration of how poets have combined the internal, reflective process of self-analysis and understanding with the external, seemingly objective world of weather and landscape. Participants will leave the workshop with a draft of a poem that uses a combination of these internal and external elements to capture a sense of their self and their lived experience.

Writers of Kern Monthly Meeting and Workshop Fee. Breakfast is included.

July Featured Speaker – Joan Raymond

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Workshop Title: Creating Memorable Characters

Unleash the power of unforgettable characters! Join author, Joan Raymond for her immersive workshop on Creating Memorable Characters and learn the secrets behind crafting personalities that leap off the page and into readers’ hearts.

Discover techniques for breathing life into your protagonists, antagonists, and supporting cast, ensuring they resonate with your audience long after the last page.

Through dynamic discussions, interactive exercises, and expert guidance, you’ll gain invaluable insights into character development. Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your storytelling skills. Register now and embark on a journey to captivate readers with characters they’ll never forget!

A long-time member of Writers of Kern, Joan served on the board for nine years, six of those as the club’s president. She is a published author, professional editor, creative writing instructor, and Certified Professional Writing Coach.

Connect with Joan:


A Heart For Writing FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/737527804229012

Coaching Site: https://aheartforwriting.com/

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B07SMSZGLX

Writers of Kern Monthly Meeting and Workshop Fee. Breakfast is included.

Free Money?  Yes!

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We are holding a dues renewal incentive for all current and incoming members of Writers of Kern.  If your dues are paid before the end of June (closing of the fiscal year), your name will be put in a hat for a $100 Amazon gift card.

A second name will be drawn for the return of your monies…free membership for the term. 

Get in on the fun. Click the link below to join or renew your membership!

Click Here to Join or Renew!

June Featured Speaker – Mike Apodaca

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Workshop Title: DO THE TWIST: HOW TO CREATE A GREAT ENDING

Learn how to organize a story where the reader gets that mind-shifting realization at the end that the solution to everything was right in front of them, but they never even saw it.

Mike Apodaca – Bio

Mike Apodaca was born and raised in Southern California with his mother, adopted father, and three brothers. In college, he felt there had to be an answer to the pain and suffering he saw in this world. He turned to his God where he found his answers and never turned back. He received a degree in preaching and, later, a masters in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. He pastored a church for nine years and then moved to the High Desert where he helped start a church and then led a home church for a time. For the last seven years he‘s devoted himself to teaching high school boys about the faith.

Mike became a public-school teacher and molded the minds of over a thousand young people. Mike’s specialty was Gifted education. He taught classes at the state-wide CAG Conference and for UC Riverside. He also taught a class in teaching reading at Brandman University. 

After 30 years in education, Mike took his retirement. He’s been working with his young grandchildren in the age of COVID. He’s currently the Vice President of the High Desert branch of the California Writer’s Club where he runs their Zoom meetings, edits their newsletter, and sits on various committees. Mike‘s written seven books, four of which are self-published on Amazon. His stories have appeared in club anthologies and in The Literary Review.

Mike would tell you that his greatest treasure is his family: His loving wife, Debi, who’s shared their adventure for 38 years, his two children, and two grandchildren.

Mike can be reached at mrdaca.ma@gmail.com

Writers of Kern Monthly Meeting and Workshop Fee. Breakfast is included.