Writers of Kern

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Writers of Kern

August Featured Speaker – Dan Bronson

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Workshop Title: This Writer’s Journey

Good writers READ obsessively, compulsively, continuously.

Good writers LISTEN to the way people actually talk and to the way locale, education, social status, and personality shape their speech.

Good writers RESEARCH, losing themselves in basement libraries, immersing themselves in the backgrounds of their stories, visiting the settings of those stories and getting to know the people who live there.

Good writers learn to unlock their unconscious minds, escaping the world around them and living in a world elsewhere, the world of their stories.

This writer’s journey…from the written word to the screen image and back again.

The maxims Dan writes by:

1) Show, don’t tell.
2) Action is character.
3) Conflict is drama.
4) Make a virtue of necessity.

Dan’s Bio:

Dan has had many careers: Associate Professor of English at DePauw University, Senior Story Analyst at Universal, Associate Story Editor at Filmways, Executive Story Editor at Paramount, Writer/Producer of HBO’s acclaimed Ed Harris thriller The Last Innocent Man and NBC’s cult classic Death of a Cheerleader, author of the memoir Confessions of a Hollywood Nobody, and of the Jack Shannon mysteries Someone to Watch Over Me and Shout at the Devil, books that critics have compared to the novels of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett.

Dan also has a B.A. in English, Pomona College. M.A., Ph.d. in English and American Lit, Princeton University. Tenured Associate Professor of English, DePauw University. Senior Story Analyst, Universal Pictures. Associate Story Editor, Filmways Pictures. Executive Story Editor, Paramount Pictures. Independent Writer-Producer at the major networks and studios. Memoirist. Novelist.

You can connect with Dan here:

Website: https://dan-bronson.com
Website: https://hollywood-nobody.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100006971839074

Meeting on Saturday, August 16, 2025
Breakfast begins at 8:30 am
The general meeting begins at 9:15 am
Hodel’s at 5917 Knudsen Dr, Bakersfield

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

July Featured Speaker – Mary Beth O’Connor

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Workshop Title: Memoir Writing Fundamentals

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

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

June Speaker – Robert A. Lane

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Workshop Title: Art of Audiobook Narration (and Marketing)

NOTE: This meeting will take place on the 4th Saturday of June, on June 28th.

Narrating an audiobook is more than just grabbing your book and hitting the record button. There are two factors that are key to creating an engaging audiobook – the practical and the intangibles.

In this interactive presentation, participants will not only learn but discover that they CAN narrate their own audiobook. They will also learn the practical steps needed to create an audiobook as well as tools to build confidence in their voice.

We will also talk about ways to market your audiobook before, during and after your audiobook is launched.

Robert’s Bio:

Robert A. Lane is an Audiobook Coach & Producer as well as a Transformational Speaker. After working 30+ years in the entertainment industry, Robert founded Robert Lane Coaching in 2020 as a career and life coach, then expanded his business to help nonfiction authors narrate their own audiobooks by creating the “Your Book Your Voice” audiobook coaching program, getting authors published on Audible, Amazon & Apple Books in six weeks.

You can connect with Robert here:

Website – https://www.robertlanecoaching.com/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/robertlanecoaching/
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@robertlanecoaching
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-a-lane/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/robertlanecoaching
“Lights, Action, YOU!” (Book on Amazon) – https://amzn.to/3Ly833t

Meeting on Saturday, June 28, 2025
Breakfast begins at 8:30 am
The general meeting begins at 9:15 am
Hodel’s at 5917 Knudsen Dr, Bakersfield

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

May Honors Breakfast 2025

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May Honors Breakfast – Members and Guests Only

Please note that this Awards Breakfast will be held at our usual Saturday morning meeting time.

It’s time for our May Honors Breakfast.  Unlike our “teaching” meetings, this meeting is a breakfast, a social opportunity, and a time to honor those who have met certain goals.

Peggy Connelly Scholarship Presentations*
April Poetry Month Contest Awards*
Robert C. Hargreaves Achievement Award
Writers of Kern Active Member Pinning

If you have been traditionally published within the last 12 months you will be honored with the Robert Hargreaves award.  Please let us know asap if you have qualified for that honor.

If you have any questions, you can reach out to Bethane Banks at president@writersofkern.com for more information.

At the meeting, there will be an opportunity basket and time to share your latest writing (five minutes each).  In addition, there will be games and prizes, and a writing prompt if you would like to participate.

*All entries will be judged according to a rubric and must meet the standards of the rubric to be considered for an award.

We look forward to seeing all of our members and their special guests.

Members $20 and **Guests $20
(**If you are bringing a guest and would like to pay below, choose “Member” and then select 2 people, so you can pay for you and your guest at the same time.)

Meeting on Saturday, May 17, 2025
Breakfast begins at 8:30 am
The general meeting begins at 9:15 am
Hodel’s at 5917 Knudsen Dr, Bakersfield

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

April Poetry Month Contest

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The Spring Poetry Contest is upon us! This year’s prompt is “Windows.”  

All paid members of Writers of Kern are invited to write a poem and apply.

Word count is up to 1,200. Please use a Word document with no names or other identifying marks. Use Times New Roman, 12pt font, double-spaced, and use the attachment function to send your submission. 

Submissions will be blind judged using a rubric with the following parameters: form, originality, figurative language, message, and meter. The rubrics that Writers of Kern uses can be found on our Rubrics page.

Submissions will be accepted from April 1, 2025 through April 30, 2025. Submissions received before or after those dates will not be accepted. 

Please send your submissions with the subject line “April Poetry Contest” to Sandy Moffett: sm@sandymoffett.com 

Prizes of $100, $75, and $50, if applicable, will be awarded at the May meeting.