Guest Speakers

Workshop Title: Artificial Intelligence for Creatives

Discover Practical Ways to Use AI in Your Writing Journey

AI is everywhere these days, but how does it fit into a writer’s life? If you’ve ever been curious—or maybe a little skeptical—about how AI could help you as a creative, our next program, “Artificial Intelligence for Creatives,” might be just what you’re looking for.

This session isn’t about replacing creativity. It’s about exploring how writers can ethically and practically use AI tools to make their work a little easier, whether that means brainstorming a logline, drafting a query letter or book proposal, or creating promotional artwork.

What Will Be Covered:

• Simple ways to write prompts that help AI give you the results you need.
• How AI can be a helpful assistant for tasks like proposals and marketing.
• Tips for saving time without losing the personal touch in your writing.

What You’ll Take Away:
Terry Willey will show ways that AI can free up your time so you can focus on what you love—writing. He’ll also share tips for using AI to enhance your marketing effectiveness, even if you’re not a tech expert.

What to Expect During the Talk:
Terry has learned through trial and error what works for writers (and what doesn’t), and is looking forward to sharing those insights with you. He also plans to do a live demonstration with work from attendees, showing step-by-step how AI can help with specific tasks like creating a logline, synopsis, or mockup artwork.

If you’re curious but cautious, this session is for you. AI doesn’t have to be intimidating or impersonal—it can be a simple tool to support your creative goals. We’d love to see you there!

*Note: The above blog post was written by AI and edited by a human! 🙂

Bio:

Terry Willey and Carol Baker are award-winning writers of full-length plays, one-acts, screenplays, teleplays, short stories, novels, and biscuit and gravy reviews. Their book, Time Travel for Fun and Prophet, won second place in Humor and third place in Science Fiction in the 2024 CIPA EVVY^TM Book Awards. They’re original members of Writers of Kern and have been published in the WOK Anthology 1 and Anthology 2. They were members of the screenwriting and scifi critique groups and are members of the Coastal Dunes CWC. Their new book, Rio Cyborg, will be coming out in 2025.

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

Workshop Title: A Picture is Worth a 1,000 Words

This workshop will focus on using visual mediums as a source of inspiration.

In this workshop participants will:

• Examine the use of paintings
• Listen to the life stories of the artists and absorb their colors, shapes, and messages.
• Write using a visual prompt
• If you’d like to, share your work

Carla Joy Martin is a poet, pastel artist and piano instructor. After living in New York, Scotland and Pasadena, she found herself in Bakersfield and has been here for thirty years now. She obtained her MA in English Literature from Stanford and enjoys promoting the arts in Bakersfield. She hosts the Dukes Memorial Concerts as well as co-hosts the First Friday Open Mic Nights with Portia Choi. She published her first poetry chapbook, A Kaleidoscope of Love, in the middle of the pandemic. A member of Writers of Kern for many years, Carla is the current Critique Group Chair. She can’t thank WOK enough for all they have done to nurture her talents.

Hope to see you there!

Meeting on Saturday, January 11, 2025
Breakfast begins at 8:30 am
The general meeting begins at 9:15 am
Hodel’s at 5917 Knudsen Dr, Bakersfield

Workshop Title: “I Object!”

“I object!” is a follow-up to a 2013 Writers of Kern presentation entitled “The Top Ten Most Stupid Crime Writer Blunders.” The 2013 presentation was given by then attorney David Wolf. In 2016, David was elected to be one of our Kern County Superior Court judges. Judge Wolf will share his experiences about mistakes writers make regarding the criminal justice system, police work, and courtroom proceedings. He will also discuss the jury system and share some fun stories.

If you like British cozies, or British crime dramas, Judge Wolf will discuss some interesting differences between our system and the British legal system. In addition, he will discuss how any member of Writers of Kern or anyone who attends the presentation can get into court to watch real court proceedings. You’ll learn about the best hearings to come watch and how to make the most of your visit.

Judge Wolf also enjoys talking about careers in the legal field and never passes up an opportunity to discuss what you should do with that student who you know “should be a lawyer.” You know, that youngster who always wants to debate with you and never takes “no” for an answer. That condition is not curable; however, there is a treatment which Judge Wolf will be happy to discuss. 

David Wolf was a criminal trial attorney for twenty-four years and handled cases ranging from misdemeanors to first-degree murder. He also handled employment law and civil cases for a year. In 2016, he was elected to the Kern County Superior Bench where he has handled: traffic, small claims, civil and thousands of criminal cases. He also opened Kern County’s award winning Prison Court which saves the tax payers approximately $1.5 million annually by using video appearances for state inmates.

Perhaps, most importantly, he and his wife are big fans of the Writers of Kern. He worked with the Writers of Kern and Judge Tafoya to develop the student writing competition. 

Come join us for our breakfast meeting at Hodel’s (5917 Knudsen Dr., Bakersfield) on November 16th. The meeting is 9:15-10:45 a.m., but come early for breakfast and conversation. Members are $20, non-members $25.

Meeting on Saturday, November 16, 2024
Breakfast begins at 8:30 am
The general meeting begins at 9:15 am
Hodel’s at 5917 Knudsen Dr, Bakersfield

Workshop Title: Writing to Market

Jenna Brandt has been a bestselling author on Amazon for 7 years.

Jenna Brandt, international bestselling and award-winning author who writes historical and contemporary romance, will be speaking at the Writers of Kern meeting October 19 at Hodels. Come at 9:00am for breakfast and visiting. At 10:15, Jenna will speak to us on how she started in the industry, why she chose to self-publish, her writing process and how she established and maintains her readership. Her historical books span from Victorian to Western eras and all of her books have elements of romance, suspense and faith.

She has her own best-selling historical series, as well as contemporary series. Additionally, she’s created two best-selling multi-author series, The Lawkeepers and Disaster City Search and Rescue based off the life of her husband in law enforcement. Her books, Waiting on the Billionaire and Lawfully Treasured, were voted into the Top 50 Indie Books of 2018 and her book, The Billionaire’s Birthday Gift, was a finalist in the “Best Book We’ve Read All Year” Contest in 2020.

She’s been an avid reader since she could hold a book and started writing stories almost as early. She graduated with her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Bethany College where she was the Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper. Her first blog was published on The Mighty website, Yahoo Parenting and The Grief Toolbox as well as featured on the ABC News, CNN Health, and Good Morning America websites. She’s also a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Association.

Writing is her passion, but she also enjoys date nights with her hubby and  activities with her three young daughters. She summers on the Central Coast where she finds endless inspiration for her romance books. She’s also active in her local church where she volunteers on their first impressions team and operates as the story curator for their media team.

You can connect with Jenna here:

Website: www.jennabrandt.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JennaBrandtAuthor
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jenna-brandt
Instagram: www.instagram.com/jennnathewriter/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/JennaBrandtAuthor/
Jen’s Joyful Page Turners Reader’s Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/844819802336835/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16847426.Jenna_Brandt

Come join us for our breakfast meeting at Hodel’s (5917 Knudsen Dr., Bakersfield) on October 19. The meeting is 9:15-10:45 a.m., but come early for breakfast and conversation. Members are $20, non-members $25.

Meeting on Saturday, October 19, 2024
Breakfast begins at 8:30 am
The general meeting begins at 9:15 am
Hodel’s at 5917 Knudsen Dr, Bakersfield