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Anne Perry & Victoria Zackheim Events

February 21, 2016 By Natalia Corres

Anne Perry and Victoria Zackheim Help You Become a Better Writer

The Writers of Kern Spring Conference is right around the corner. On Saturday, March 12th at Hodel’s Liberty Hall you will get to hear Edgar Award winner and novelist Anne Perry. Anne has sold over 27 million copies of her books and it’s a good bet she knows a little about writing.

Anne Perry Victoria Zackheim teaches writing at UCLA. She also is a novelist and playwright. One of her favorite topics to teach is the Acorn Class. “We’ve all been struck by that acorn-that nut of an idea- but what to do with it?” says Victoria. She helps the writer explore how one little idea…and acorn of an idea…can be nurtured and developed into many media possibilities: short story or poem, feature film or documentary, essay, memoir, novel, theater play.

At the Writers of Kern Spring Conference you will not only get to hear these two excellent speakers, but poet and CSUB professor Matthew Woodman and Lois Henry, columnist for the Bakersfield Californian. There is still time to register visit the Spring Conference Page. We’ll see you at the conference!

Anne Perry and Victoria Zackheim are also presenting a workshop along with Barbara Abercrombie at the Ebell Club in Los Angeles. The Ebell Club is an educational and philanthropic organization founded by women in 1894. The Ebell Clubhouse is a wonderful venue to see and learn from theses very knowledgeable writers. To register for this All Day Writing Workshop go to Ebell Events Page.

We were able to catch up with Anne Perry and Victoria Zackheim to talk about theirupcoming writers’ workshops in Southern California. If you want to take your writing to the next level, these are the people from which to learn. Check out the video with Anne Perry and Victoria Zackheim below.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPGfhXxXZ9A]

Mark Bagby Writings of Mark Twain

February 15, 2016 By Natalia Corres

Mark Bagby Writings of Mark Twain

Mark Bagby is an expert on Samuel Clemens, best known under his pen name, Mark Twain. Mark Twain wrote an astonishing array of work, practically inventing travel writing and redefining children’s literature. He was a journalist and sought-after speaker. The most popular and widely read author of his day, Clemens wrote what many consider the most notable American novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. He was America’s first celebrity author and a brand name.

Mark Bagby’s newest Twain lecture, “Finding Out is Better: Mark Twain on Writing”, is designed especially for the Writers of Kern February 20th monthly meeting at the Clarion Hotel.

Mr. Bagby compiled stories, anecdotes, and writing tips from his extensive research on the gamut of Mark Twain’s works to create this lecture. “I’ve gathered up material of interest to writers, along with a laugh or two,” he said. “I hope to engage listeners with some not-so-well known Mark Twain quotes about writing, editing, style, publishing, criticism and life.”

An accomplished Mark Twain performer, in his day-to-day life, Mark Bagby is a communications director for an agricultural marketing company. For this special presentation, he will provide a behind-the-scenes peek at the life of Mark Twain and discuss the work necessary to perform in character.

To hear a brief interview with Mark Bagby LISTEN HERE

Monthly General Meetings

Writers of Kern Monthly General Meetings are a time when local writers get together to socialize, network, and improve their writing skill. Each month the group presents an expert to help local writers hone their craft.

The meetings are open to the public. Coffee and light refreshments are served at 9:30 with the general meeting beginning promptly at 10 am. All Active Members of Writers of Kern are encouraged to wear their Writers of Kern Active Pin.

Writers of Kern meetings are held at the Clarion Hotel from 9:30-noon. Admission is $5 for members and $10 for guests, payable at the door or online https://writersofkern.com/meeting-fee/

Expressions Blog by Marie Elrich

February 11, 2016 By Natalia Corres

Expressions Blog by Marie Elrich

“The Expressions Blog is dedicated to encouraging writers and readers wherever they are in their lives. I write about my own experiences in order to inspire you in one way or another.” – From Expressions Blog

Marie Elrich has been writing since she was two years old. She picked up her mother’s magazines and copied them even though she had no idea what she was writing. Marie Created stories for a second grade assignment and she has been hooked on writing ever since. Marie graduated from Cal State Bakersfield and currently works at a magazine learning the marketing and publishing business. She has been published in her college literary magazine, Orpheus.

Marie’s Expressions Blog is a mix of reading reviews, writing tip, and life reflections. Her favorite genre is fantasy. Marie enjoys reading Jane Austen, Diana Wynne Jones, Eoin Colfer and Rick Riordan.

Topping the list of Marie’s favorite books are Sense and Sensibility, Howl’s Moving Castle, Artemis Fowl #1, and The Lightning Thief.

Marie’s Expressions Blog is part of the Writers of Kern A-Z Blog Challenge. Follow the Expression Blog at www.marieelrich.com You can also find Marie on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/marieelrichexpressions/ and her Twitter name is @MarieElrich.

Personally, I can’t wait until she gets to the letter “H” post on the Expressions blog because not a lot of people know that Marie owns a horse and loves to go riding.

Khoti Sarque Blog

February 7, 2016 By Natalia Corres

Featured Bloggers in the A-z Challenge

Over a dozen Writers of Kern writers have picked up the gauntlet, knocked the battery off the shoulder, taken the slap by the proverbial glove and committed their writing to the A-Z Blog Challenge 2016. Twenty Six posts in 13 weeks is their goal.

This is a diverse set of writers and we think YOU would enjoy following along. To that end, we will profile these very special bloggers right here. We know you will enjoy the diversity of their individual style. Please stop by their blog sites and drop them a word of encouragement. After all, as a fellow writer, you are keenly aware of their task.

Khoti Sarque Blog

Khoti Sarque Blog First up, (in no particular order, he just got his information to me first), Ian Cant. Ian writes under the name Khoti Sarque. Ian is not on social media so you won’t find his post on our Writers of Kern Facebook Group page, but don’t let that stop you. While Ian has been writing all his life, he has worked at it seriously for about 5 years now. The focus of his blog is “just writing” which fits well with the Writers of Kern mantra.

Ian likes to write in many styles, but when pinned to the mat says he leans toward Science Fiction and short stories. When asked if he has been published, “Yes, a little,” is his response. You gotta love a humble man.

Ian loves reading Joseph Conrad and has many favorite authors. His favorite book is the Left Hand of Darkness. I asked Ian to let us in on something most people don’t know about him. His answer: ” Certifiably insane…sorry, that’s what they DO know.”

Stop by the Khoti Sarque blog and follow along in Ian’s journey through the A-Z Blog Challenge. You will enjoy it!

Blog Name: khotisarque.wordpress.com
URL: https://khotisarque.wordpress.com

Blogging With Style Tips for Bloggers

January 30, 2016 By Annis Cassells

“If you’re going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance.”

Blogging with Style

Blogging is about you. Are you new to the Writers of Kern A-Z Blog Challenge? Breathe. You will be fine. You have the support of friends and fellow writers. You have plenty to be blogging about. Breathe. As a past participant in the Blog Challenge and with many years blogging under my belt, let me offer some tips and suggestions that will help you through your next 26 posts.

Find a Theme

One way to approach blogging is to have a theme. Having a theme narrows topics and lends to finding something for the letters K, Q, X, and Z. And, the whole A-Z thing is just a suggestion anyway. Don’t worry if you don’t have a topic for every letter. But, I did find the alphabet structure was comforting to me. Having one letter to start with was one less thing to think about.

The first year I participated, my theme was places I’ve been. I looked back at photos and travel journals for inspiration, topics, and words for the page. “Write what you know” is something every writer hears. You know where you’ve been and that’s why it is such a good place to start blogging.

The second year motorcycling stories was my theme. I had just decided to sell my beloved motorcycle, and writing the A-Z blog challenge was therapeutic. Having a motorcycle had been a big part of my life. And, as you can imagine, there were lots of memories – both good and bad – that went along with that experience. Blogging helped me deal with the impending loss of my bike and my identity as a biker. When I handed over the keys to Big Red, I’d resolved all issues.

Plan Ahead

So, think about the interests and hobbies and passions you have. Choose your theme and start brainstorming, then you can start blogging. I found an organizational grid helpful in listing possible topics and fleeting ideas. Here’s an example of my grid.

Still thinking about joining in? It’s never too late. There’s still time to get on board the A-Z Blog Challenge train.

We’re all here to cheer you on, extend a hand if you need one. Have fun and enjoy the writing, the reading, the camaraderie. Breathe. Go! Just Write.

Did I miss anything? Share it in the comments.

Annis’s work has been published in local magazines as well as in professional journals and hobbyist publications. She is a contributing author in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Inspiration for the Young at Heart. Her short story, “The Blessing” appears in the Scarlet Leaf Review, and she has a poem in the Yellow Chair Review anthology. Annis writes and publishes The DayMaker, an inspirational blog..