Everything Writers Need | Writers of Kern
Writers of Kern Members! You are eligible to enter the Fall Writing Contest and get your name engraved on the Fall Writing Contest plaque.
Jean Chapman, winner of the 2013 contest, dispelled the illusion that you must be “Robert” or “Rob” to win.
Annual dues may be paid online. To renew your current membership, please click here. New members, please click here. Annual membership dues must be paid by August 31, 2014.
The Writers of Kern 2014 “A-Z” Blog Challenge is coming!
The 2014 A to Z challenge will begin Wednesday, September 10th and end Saturday, December 6th. Thirteen weeks, 2 posts per week equals 26 posts. Writers may choose any theme; but, each post must feature one letter of the alphabet in alphabetical order.
There are two parts to the challenge:
If you don’t have a blog, now is the time to start one. Check WordPress and Blogger for free blogging options. If you have a blog and you’re not a seat-of-the-pants writer, you have a few weeks to jump start your challenge plan.
Winners will be recognized at the WOK Winter Dinner, Saturday, December 13, 2014.
NOTE: If you choose to participate in the WOK Blog Challenge, please email your blog site to [email protected] by Friday, September 5, 2014. Blog Challenge participants will receive an email listing blog sites of all who have accepted the challenge.
$20 members — $30 non-members
Clarion Hotel
3540 Rosedale Hwy. (Hwy. 58)
Bakersfield, CA 93308
8:00 – 8:30 Meet & Greet with continental breakfast
8:30 – 9:00 Welcome, Writers of Kern President, Dana Martin
Book sales provided by Book Hounds, hourly door prizes, Q&A with speakers
9:00 – 9:45 – CAROL SANDERS
A Writer’s Journey: In this session, Sanders will discuss the requirements of the first chapter of a novel, then proceed with a verbal tour of her journey as a creative writer. Highlights of this tour include a peek into a writer’s birthing chamber, a place of both pain and delight. Discussion will include the traits necessary for a creative writer, the helps and hindrances for writing, and the roller coaster of publishing.
Carol Sanders is a retired high school English teacher. After 30 years in the classroom, Sanders moved to Oregon and wrote Spy on Clinton Street, published in 2013 by dMon Publishing, Dallas, Texas, which followed her first book, the already-published novel Selene, retitled One Last Kiss, published by Zebra Press.
10:00 – 10:45 – ESTER SHIFREN
How to Self-Publish Successfully: Attendees will learn how to build a platform prior to self-publishing and the importance of social media as it relates to building your platform on the road to publication. Shifren will explain how to develop a theme to get speaking engagements and how to get noticed by subscribing to, and regularly commenting on, excellent blogging sites. She will also break down publishing using Createspace and Kindle (KDP) and other self-publishing engines.
Ester Shifren is a published author, artist, musician, and dynamic international speaker. In 2005, in England, she was featured in the BBC1 program “We’ll Meet Again,” and was a guest lecturer for several days at the Imperial War Museum. Ester’s book Hiding in a Cave of Trunks details all facets of Shanghai’s colorful multi-ethnic population and relates the saga of her family’s century-long existence in China.
11:00 – 11:45 – NINA AMIR
How to Blog a Book: Rather than just blogging and repurposing your posts into a book, or booking your blog, learn how to write, publish, and promote a book on the Internet using blog technology. Blogging a book is the easiest and quickest—and most efficient—way to write a book and promote it at the same time. If you can write, you can blog. That means you can blog your way to creating a successful book—one that attracts readers and publishers.
Nina Amir has 35 years of experience in the publishing field, earned a BA in magazine journalism from Syracuse University, and has edited or written for more than 46 publications on a full-time or freelance basis. She is the author of How to Blog a Book and The Author Training Manual, is a successful book editor, and speaks widely to inspire people to create books that positively impact others.
11:45 – 12:30 Q&A, discussion, book signings, books sales, closing
Beginning Wednesday, September 11, 2013.
Ending Saturday, December 7, 2013.
Thirteen weeks = 26 posts.
The prompt: “A–Z”. Writers may choose their own theme, but must feature one letter of the alphabet each post.
Rules are the same as the previous blog challenge:
Participants must 1) blog twice a week (Wednesdays and Saturdays suggested);
2) Read five different blogs twice a week, a total of ten different blogs a week;
3) Leave thoughtful comments and encouraging words for bloggers you visit.
Winners will be recognized at the Christmas Dinner on Friday, December 13, 2013.
NOTE: If you choose to participate, please email your blog site to [email protected] by September 9, 2013 so we can let the other participants know who is accepting the challenge.
Nancy Ellen Dodd, writer, university professor, editor, and author of The Writer’s Compass, is no stranger to Writers of Kern. In November, she returns for a two-part writing workshop. At this time, the twelve spots are filled. But, we have begun taking names for the waiting list.
The first session will include writing from visual representations; Nancy and the participants will discuss options for Session Two.
Dates and Time: Nov. 2 and 23, 2013; 9:00 AM -1:00 PM.
Location: Westbrook Church Coffee Shop on Ashe, south of District Blvd.
Fee: $105 per WOK Member for the 8-hour workshop. Non-Members: $120. Fees are payable to Nancy Dodd at the first meeting.
If you wish to be added to the waiting list, email Annis Cassells. She will confirm that you have been added and let you know your position on the list.