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The Writer’s Web: Weaving Community into a Solitary Craft

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by Christina Vo 

While writing is often perceived as a solitary pursuit, and indeed, much of the work is done alone, it doesn’t need to be an entirely isolating experience. My personal journey has taught me the invaluable importance of fostering connections with fellow writers throughout the creative process.

Here are some effective ways to make writing a more collaborative and social experience:

  1. Join a writing group: This can be an excellent opportunity to connect with local writers,
    share your work, and receive constructive feedback. These groups often provide a
    supportive environment where you can discuss challenges, celebrate successes, and
    find motivation.
  2. Participate in literary events and book festivals: Attending readings, panel
    discussions, and other literary gatherings can expose you to diverse perspectives and
    writing styles. It’s also a great way to network with other writers, publishers, and industry
    professionals in your area.
  3. Take a writing class or workshop: Structured learning environments can provide
    valuable guidance and accountability. For instance, I enrolled in a six-month memoir
    writing class that proved pivotal in shaping and completing my first memoir. Such
    classes often offer a blend of instruction, peer review, and deadlines that can help propel
    your writing forward.
  4. Engage in online writing communities: With the rise of digital platforms, there are
    numerous online forums, social media groups, and virtual writing circles where you can
    connect with writers from around the world. These spaces can offer daily inspiration,
    writing prompts, and opportunities for collaboration.
  5. Attend writing conferences: These events often feature workshops, networking
    opportunities, and chances to pitch your work to agents or publishers. They can be
    intensive but rewarding experiences that immerse you in the writing world.

The benefits of building a community while writing are innumerable. Beyond alleviating the sense of isolation, you gain access to a wealth of collective knowledge and experience. Writers at different stages of their careers can offer insights into various aspects of the craft and the publishing industry. This network becomes a source of mutual support, encouragement, and accountability.

I’ve found my writing community to be an incredibly nourishing and supportive resource. When faced with challenges or uncertainties, I can turn to my writing buddies for advice, brainstorming, or simply a sympathetic ear. This sense of camaraderie can be especially valuable during the more challenging phases of the writing process.

To illustrate the unexpected connections that can arise from engaging with the writing
community, let me share a personal anecdote. Through my involvement with the Women’s
National Book Association, I attended an event called Pitch-O-Rama. There, I met a woman
who not only became a good friend but also offered me a place to stay when I visited Seattle for a book reading. Our connection, forged through a shared passion for writing, extended far beyond the initial event and blossomed into a lasting friendship. This could happen to any aspiring writing simply by showing up to an event and forging a connection.

While the act of writing itself may require solitude, the journey of a writer can be greatly enriched by the connections we make along the way. By actively seeking out and nurturing these relationships, we create a support system that can sustain and inspire us throughout our writing careers.

Christina Vo is a writer based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Her work reflects her commitment to understanding and sharing the complexities of the human experience. Christina’s debut memoir, The Veil Between Two Worlds: A Memoir of Silence, Loss, and Finding Home, demonstrates her ability to weave personal experiences into broader narratives about identity, home, and belonging. Her second book, My Vietnam, Your Vietnam, an intergenerational memoir co-written with her father, was published in April 2024 and recently selected for the Ms. Magazine Most Anticipated Feminist Books of 2024. She has worked internationally for UNICEF in Vietnam, the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, as well as served as a consultant for nonprofits.

The Why Behind the Words: Discovering Purpose in Your Writing Journey

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by Christina Vo 

There are countless reasons why people write. Some individuals know from a very early age that they are destined to be writers. Others, like myself, might arrive at writing later in life, and not necessarily because we dreamed of becoming published authors. For me, writing was a way of understanding myself, the world around me, and my relationships with others. In my younger years, journaling in the morning became a method to grasp the thoughts and emotions swirling in my mind.

I believe it’s crucial for people to understand and reflect on why they write. If you’re determined to become a published author with one of the big five publishers, that’s an admirable and worthwhile goal. However, you might fall into another category where you enjoy writing but weren’t formally trained. Perhaps you used writing as a life tool and later decided to publish some of your works. Whatever your reason for writing, it’s important to remember that ‘why’ and let it be a guiding principle as you delve deeper into your craft.

For those like me, it’s also vital to understand that some of the rewards of writing are not solely external (e.g., publishing in a prestigious journal or securing a great book deal). Many rewards are internal, and these lessons are invaluable.

Let me share a personal example. Earlier this year, I published a book, My Vietnam, Your Vietnam, co-written with my father. It’s a dual-perspective memoir about Vietnam, with chapters alternating between my father’s story and mine. I crafted the book by pulling pieces from a book he published in 2000 and my earlier writings on Vietnam. Through this process, I gained a deeper understanding of my father’s story and the challenges he faced throughout his life. It brought me a newfound respect and compassion for his journey. While I was delighted to have the book published by Three Rooms Press, more importantly, I am pleased that it deepened my understanding of my father.

This is just one example of how writing has benefited me beyond publication. In many ways, writing can be an art of being present (and we know we could all use more presence in our lives). The benefits can simply lie in the process of writing, in getting your thoughts out on the page, and in developing a deeper understanding of the world around you.

It’s important to remember this so that we don’t get lost in the business of writing and publication. The joy of writing can be found in the moment, in the art and craft itself. And who knows — you might find that you do your best writing when there’s nothing at stake, and when you’re writing simply because you’re committed to it.

By keeping sight of your personal ‘why,’ you can maintain a balanced perspective on your writing journey, appreciating both the external achievements and the internal growth it brings. Remember to never lose sight of your ‘why’ and that ‘why’ might be different for all of us.

Christina Vo is a writer based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Her work reflects her commitment to understanding and sharing the complexities of the human experience. Christina’s debut memoir, The Veil Between Two Worlds: A Memoir of Silence, Loss, and Finding Home, demonstrates her ability to weave personal experiences into broader narratives about identity, home, and belonging. Her second book, My Vietnam, Your Vietnam, an intergenerational memoir co-written with her father, was published in April 2024 and recently selected for the Ms. Magazine Most Anticipated Feminist Books of 2024. She has worked internationally for UNICEF in Vietnam, the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, as well as served as a consultant for nonprofits.

May 12th – Confident Communication for Authors: How To Overcome Public Speaking Anxiety As An Introvert

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Thursday, May 12th, 2022

Confident Communications for Authors: How to Overcome Public Speaking Anxiety As An Introvert w/ Julia Beauchamp Kraft

12 pm PST

 

In this talk, you’ll learn…

  • The 3 mistakes authors make when they want to overcome nervousness and why you keep spinning in anxiety no matter how much you prepare
  • The secrets to always having the perfect words at your fingertips and never blanking out again!
  • The 4 step framework for comfort and confidence in your skin when the stakes are high without anxiety or fear of the audience’s judgment
  • How to calm and relax your nervous system for instant confidence

 

Bio:

Julia Beauchamp Kraft is an authentic expression mentor and public speaking coach who specializes in helping introverted women overcome public speaking nerves. Through her signature program, “Fully Expressed”, Julia teaches quiet, shy women how to cultivate authentic confidence in the spotlight.

Over the past 8 years Julia has trained 1000’s of professionals and entrepreneurs about public speaking best practices and skills including companies like LinkedIn, Twitter and Salesforce. But, it wasn’t until the start of the pandemic that she created The Fully Expressed program as the world of public speaking completely changed. Through her years of experience, she saw that some people were able to implement public speaking skills right away and others really struggled and even seemed traumatized by the public speaking workshop itself. She realized that most of the people struggling were women and all of them had a long history of performance anxiety, public speaking nerves and an intense fear of the audience’s judgment.

Being an introverted woman herself she understood these challenges and created a program designed specifically for the more sensitive, empathic woman who has a desire to be heard but is struggling with public speaking PTSD. This work empowers introverted women to get out of overwhelm and burnout, unpack old conditioning that’s keeping them stuck and discover their full range of expression as confident communicators.

 

Sign up for the event here:

Sorry! Registration is closed, so we can manage the list of attendees.

April 14th – Looking Back, Looking Forward: A Reading with Jan Beatty and Dana Levin

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Thursday, April 14th, 2022
Looking Back, Looking Forward:
A Reading with Jan Beatty and Dana Levin
5pm-6pm / PT

 

Poets Jan Beatty and Dana Levin will join us for an evening that will celebrate their award winning poetry and celebrate the foremothers who inspired them.  Each poet will begin the evening by introducing the foremother poet who influenced her work.  Then, Beatty and Levin will share their own new work.

 

Participants: 

Jan Beatty is the winner of the Red Hen Nonfiction Award for her memoir, American Bastard (2021). Her sixth book, The Body Wars (2020), was published by the University of Pittsburgh Press. In the New York Times, Naomi Shihab Nye said: Jan Beatty’s new poems in “The Body Wars” shimmer with luminous connection, travel a big life and grand map of encounters. Books include Jackknife: New and Collected Poems (2018 Paterson Prize) named by Sandra Cisneros on LitHub as her favorite book of 2019. Beatty worked as a waitress, a welfare caseworker, an abortion counselor, and in maximum-security prisons.

 

Dana Levin’s fifth book is Now Do You Know Where You Are (Copper Canyon, Spring 2022), a Lannan Literary Selection. Recent books include Banana Palace (2016) and Sky Burial (2011), which The New Yorker called “utterly her own and utterly riveting.” She is a grateful recipient of honors, including those from the National Endowment for the Arts, PEN, and the Library of Congress, as well as from the Rona Jaffe, Whiting, and Guggenheim Foundations. Levin teaches in the MFA Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College, and serves as Distinguished Writer in Residence at Maryville University in St. Louis.

 

 

Jan Beatty and Dana Levin will share their most recent work. Audience members will not only learn about these current poets, they will also discover writers from the past.  

 

Sign up for the event below:

Meet the Agents & Editors: Virtual Pitch-O-Rama 2022

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Saturday, April 30, 2022
8:00 am – 1:00 pm 

 

Another year, another round of Pitch-O-Rama! We’ve learned a lot from the last two events, and we are ready to do our utmost to make this year’s Pitch-O-Rama the best one yet. Also, we are adding even MORE agents, so keep checking back in here for the latest updates.

 

Sign up for 2022 Pitch-O-Rama with the link below as registration is filling up quickly:
https://wnba-sfchapter.org/april-30th-virtual-pitch-o-rama-2022/

 

Includes pre-pitch coaching.


$65 WNBA-SF members, $95 Non-members


EVERYONE Welcome!

 

Meet the Agents and Editors for Pitch-O-Rama 2022!

 

These impressive publishing professionals bring years of experience and will provide advice, direction, and next steps for your literary project! 

 

Jim Azevedo is the marketing director at Smashwords, the largest distributor of self-published ebooks, serving over 130,000 independent authors, publishers, and literary agents. Since 2008, Smashwords has helped authors around the world release more than 470,000 titles and distribute their work globally to top ebook retailers, subscription services and public libraries. Prior to joining Smashwords in 2011, Jim built his career in marketing & PR for high-tech companies. Although Smashwords is a self-publishing platform, Jim loves helping authors sharpen their pitches and book descriptions. He credits his journalism education when it comes to guiding authors, and himself, to “get to the point” with messaging. Jim is open to discussing all genres.

 

 

Peter Beren, formerly Vice President, Insight Editions, Publisher of Sierra Club Books, Publisher of VIA Books and an Acquisitions Editor for Jeremy Tarcher. Peter Beren is a literary agent and a book publishing consultant to authors and independent publishers. He is the founder of The Peter Beren Agency, located in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is also author or co-author of eight books, including The Writers Legal Companion (Basic Books), California the Beautiful (Rizzoli) and The Golden Gate (Insight Editions). As a publishing consultant, Peter works with independent publishers, self-publishers, and authors to help them make the most of their publishing opportunities. He represents selected nonfiction projects as a literary agent to help authors obtain publishing contracts. https://peterberen.com/

 

Associate Agent Karly Caserza was born in the Phillipines and immigrated to Northern California as a child. She obtained her Business Marketing degree and has been a Freelance Graphic Designer for over 10 years. In addition to designing a wide range of print and web promotional material for clients. Karly creates book covers for Short Fuse and promotional graphics for Fuse authors. Professionally, Karly began her career in the publishing industry as a reader for Tricia Skinner at Fuse Literary, a role that also included a spot on the production team of Short Fuse. Karly is also the Marketing Coordinator of the San Francisco Writer’s Conference. In her spare time, Karly has a deep love for characters with a strong voice and seeks out stories she can get lost in. Diversity in genre fiction is a major bonus. She specializes in middle grade and young adult genre fiction (fantasy, science fiction, and contemporary.)

 

Leland Cheuk is a MacDowell and Hawthornden Castle Fellow and award-winning author of three books of fiction, most recently the novel NO GOOD VERY BAD ASIAN (2019). Cheuk’s work has been covered in Buzzfeed, The Paris Review, VICE, San Francisco Chronicle, and elsewhere, and has appeared or is forthcoming in publications such as NPR, The Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, Salon, among other outlets. He is the founder of the indie press 7.13 Books, which publishes debut book-length fiction. He is looking for quality works of fiction and short story collections, favoring literary comedies and genre-bending submissions as well as work from the queer and/or POC writing community.

 

M.J. Fievre, B.S. Ed, is a longtime educator whose publishing career began as a teenager in her native Haiti. At nineteen years old, she signed her first book contract with Hachette-Deschamps for the publication of a YA book titled La Statuette Maléfique. Since then, M.J. has released nine YA books in French that are widely read in Europe and the French Antilles, and she is the author of the award-winning Badass Black Girl book series for tweens and teens (in English). As the ReadCaribbean program coordinator for the prestigious Miami Book Fair, M.J. directs and produces the children’s cultural show Taptap Krik? Krak! In addition, M.J. serves as the managing editor of DragonFruit, which publishes high quality children’s books, which connect with readers by paving the way to lifelong learning.

 

Georgia Hughes is editorial director at New World Library, publisher of the Joseph Campbell Library and The Power of Now. She acquires and edits nonfiction books in the areas of spirituality, sustainability, animals, business, women’s issues, and personal growth. Recent acquisitions include Spiritual Envy by Michael Krasny, Dreaming the Soul Back Home by Robert Moss, Dogs and the Women Who Love Them by Allen and Linda Anderson, Right-Brain Business Plan by Jennifer Lee, and The Practicing Mind by Thomas Sterner. 

 

Jane Kinney Denning is a freelance agent and editor and former president of the WNBA. With over 30 years of experience in writing, editing, and educating, she has worked as an adjunct professor in publishing at Pace University, and has editing books with HarperCollins, Little Brown, CRC Press, and Van Nostrand Reinhold. Jane has also worked as the Acquisitions Editor for Mango Publishing, acquiring notable books such as The Fearless Women’s Guide to Starting a Business, Plan and Organize Your Life, Baker Bettie’s Better Baking Book, and the first three titles of the Baseball Hall of Fame Imprint.

 

Brenda Knight began her career at HarperCollins, working with luminaries Paolo Coelho, Marianne Williamson and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Knight was awarded IndieFab’s Publisher of the Year in 2014 at the ALA, American Library Association. Knight is the author of Wild Women and Books, The Grateful Table, Be a Good in the World, and Women of the Beat Generation, which won an American Book Award. Knight is Editorial Director at Mango Publishing and acquires for all genres in fiction and nonfiction, LGBTQ as well as children and photography books. She is the immediate past President of the Women’s National Book Association, San Francisco Chapter, and an instructor at the annual San Francisco Writers Conference.

 

Michael LarsenMichael Larsen co-founded Larsen-Pomada Literary Agents in 1972. Over four decades, the agency sold hundreds of books to more than 100 publishers and imprints. The agency has stopped accepting new writers, but Mike loves helping all writers. He gives talks about writing and publishing, and does author coaching. He wrote How to Write a Book Proposal and How to Get a Literary Agent, and coauthored Guerrilla Marketing for Writers. Mike is co-director of the San Francisco Writers Conference and the San Francisco Writing for Change Conference.

 

Michele Martin is an editor and literary agent specializing in non-fiction and children’s books. Previous experience includes acting as VP for North Star Way (imprint for Simon & Schuster) where she acquired award-winning actress Keke Palmer’s book I Don’t Belong to You in 2017, as well as finding MDM Management, specializing in topics such as business, health & wellness, and self-help.

 

 

Kristen Moeller, MS, is an agent at Waterside Productions, the literary home of Eckhart Tolle, Neale Donald Walsch, Jean Houston and other luminaries. Previously, she was an acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing and the executive publisher for Persona Publishing, a self-publishing imprint. With close to 30 years of training and experience in psychology and personal growth, she craves discovering new (mostly female) authors with real and gritty memoir or literary fiction about walking through the fires of life – exploring depths and darkness while maintaining a strong psychological base. A published author and a three time TEDx speaker, she has been featured on NPR, ABC, NBC, Fox News, the New York Times, Huffington Post and Tiny House Nation.

 

Stefanie Molina is an agent and editor who specializes in titles written by authors and for communities of color. Since 2013, she has helped edit various fiction and non-fiction from children’s books to memoirs in order to help authors reach the highest caliber to develop their creative work. Some of her previous experience includes over 5 years as Senior Editor at Brink Literacy Project, whose mission is to share storytelling that empowers underserved communities, and is currently an agent at Ladderbird Literary Agency.  Outside of agenting, she enjoys hiking, swimming, baking, and playing the piano. Her favorite place in the world is Yosemite National Park! You can find her on Twitter @fiction_tech. Stefanie is primarily looking for BIPOC stories inclusive of intersectional identities (LGBTQ+, disability, mental illness, neurodiversity…). She particularly relates to stories centering mixed protagonists. In all genres, she adores stories that incorporate food, animals, the outdoors, and intergenerational relationships. She also loves when stories explore “messy” feelings like rage, fear, guilt, grief, etc. in empowering ways. Please don’t send her books that revolve around abuse (though it can be in a character’s past) or books where the protagonist dies at the end. In picture books, she’s looking for heartfelt stories about family, facing your fears, and/or finding your place in the world. She especially loves brave, quirky heroines. In middle grade and YA, she likes contemporary and urban fantasy and coming-of-age stories. She loves a touch of mystery and is also open to the right high fantasy or romcom. In adult, she’s looking for romcoms, mysteries, thrillers, and urban or contemporary fantasy. She’s also open to high fantasy or historical fiction that empowers BIPOC individuals and communities. Two of her specific wishes are for a mystery or thriller helmed by a BIPOC woman, and for historical fiction centering a BIPOC cowgirl.

 https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/stefanie-molina/

 

Liz Nealon is the founder and president of Great Dog Literary, a publishing company specializing in sharing unique voices for both adults and children. In her previous life, she was an award-winning executive producer and children’s media industry leader who played an integral role in shaping the indelible youth brands Sesame Street, Kidz Bop, and MTV, as well as being the former Publisher of StarWalk Kids Media, an award-winning digital publishing company that she co-founded with author Seymour Simon (2012-2016). Liz has unique and specific experience in children’s digital publishing, with extensive knowledge of the US Schools & Libraries sector. She is a big reader of both non-fiction and literary fiction, and is particularly looking for Modern Women’s Fiction (no fantasy or Regency); True Crime with a strong, literary voice; memorable Narrative Non-Fiction; Art/Illustrated titles for adults; Illustrated Middle Grade (both fiction and non-fiction). She is committed to representing diverse voices and would be over the moon if she could acquire a captivating LGBTQ RomCom for YA readers.

 

Becky Parker Geist is CEO of Pro Audio Voices and has been in the audiobook industry since 1981. As an audiobook publisher and producer, Becky has produced and/or narrated hundreds of titles, helping authors leverage their content through audio – even if it is the first or only format of their book to get publishedTypically working with authors and publishers who are challenged in reaching their widest audience, the Pro Audio Voices team provides audiobook production, including complex and unusual projects, and the Audiobook Marketing Program™ to help authors increase their impact. Committed to leadership, Becky serves as President of Bay Area Independent Publishers Assoc. and a Chapter Leader of Nonfiction Authors Association. proaudiovoices.com

 

Randy Peyser sells non-fiction manuscripts in all genres and speaks nationally about how to get book deals. She also serves on faculty for CEO Space International where she teaches about writing book proposals. She is the author of: The Write-a-Book Program; Crappy to Happy as featured in the movie, Eat Pray Love; and The Power of Miracle Thinking. Her clients’ books have been in Oprah and Time Magazines, the Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestseller Lists, in airport bookstores, Office Max and FedEx/Office stores, and on Hallmark TV. Her work is featured in: Healing the Heart of the World; The Marriage of Sex and Spirit; Secrets of Shameless Self-Promoters; and the national bestsellers, Networking Magic, Guerrilla Publicity, and The Profit of Kindness. AuthorOneStop.com.

 

Leah Pierre is a literary agent and production manager who loves diverse and unique work that is fast paced and has a complex cast of diverse characters. After graduating from Rosemont College with her B.A. in English and History and currently finishing her Master’s in Publishing, she has moved back to the South to begin her next adventure. In addition to searching for the next commercial YA or Adult project that will hook her (or make her cry), Leah is looking for YA/Crossover/Adult fiction across speculative, contemporary, romance, mystery/thriller, and fairytale reimaginings and retellings. She currently works at Ladderbird Literary Agency and is the Production Project Manager at Greenleaf Book Group: https://www.ladderbird.com/leah-pierre.html

 

Marthine Satris is the Acquisitions Editor for Heyday, a nonprofit publisher located in Berkeley, CA. Having worked as an editor and writer for Stanford University Press, Callisto Media, and the Center of the Art of Translation, Marthine’s main goal is to help shape a title with an eye on the fine detail. At Heyday, some of the books she has edited include Charles Hood, Marni Fylling, Mary Clare and Gary Ferguson, John Muir Laws and Emilie Lygren, Alex Harris, Jack Gedney, and David Harris, with more to come. Marthine is acquiring prescriptive books, reference books, narrative nonfiction, literary essays, and, for Heyday, quirky books on Californian history, our natural world, and social justice.

 

Brooke Warner is a writing coaching, professional publishing consultant, and WNBA-SF member. She has worked as an acquiring editor in the publishing industry for the past sixteen years, most recently as the Executive Editor at Seal Press. Brooke left Seal Press in May 2012 to pursue the coaching practice and to co-found She Writes Press with Kamy Wicoff. Also, she launched Write-Minded: Weekly Inspiration for Writers in 2018, teaches and facilitates memoir courses through Write Your Memoir in Six Months, co-founded with Linda Joy Myers, President of the National Association of Memoir Writers, and has published three books on writing and publishing. Some genres Brooke is looking for are memoirs, self-help, entrepreneur, and other business-like titles.

 

Viveca Shearin is a co-publisher of Not a Pipe Publishing, an indie publishing house based in Oregon (though she lives and works in NYC). An avid reader since childhood, her tastes in books have changed throughout the years. However, she is still a lover of fantasy, magic, and all things dark and mysterious. As she searches for her new talent, Viveca is looking for YA and Adult fiction projects in these genres: fantasy, speculative, paranormal, supernatural, mystery and thriller, science fiction, and retellings of fairy tales and mythology (Greek and Japanese). Viveca is especially interested in BIPOC representation and acquiring BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ voices. She’s drawn to stories that feature strong female characters (lead and secondary), stories with a diverse and eclectic cast of characters that all shine in their own ways, stories that feature found families, and stories that stay with her long after the last page is turned. She will not read stories that feature Black trauma, abuse, or anything of that vein. So please do not send these to her. Aside from working for Not a Pipe, Viveca also works as a sensitivity reader.

 

Leticia Gomez is a prominent literary/film/television agent who specializes in bringing culturally diverse voices to the forefront. She has helped her clients secure deals with the largest publishers in the world and has seen several of her projects successfully optioned for TV and film rights. In January of 2007, Leticia launched Savvy Literary Services, becoming one of a highly select group of agencies in the world that specializes in the Latino book market. Savvy Literary is now an industry leader specializing in Self-help, Narrative Non-fiction, Memoir, True Crime, Spiritual/Inspirational, Political/Current Affairs, Suspense/Thriller, Family Drama, and the Young Adult market. Blending her experience as an author, literary/film/television agent and acquisition editor, she is now truly excited to spearhead her very own Hispanic book imprint Café con Leche Books. At the present time, Savvy Literary Agency is interested in reviewing compelling and commercially viable book proposals and manuscripts written in English or Spanish. Fiction areas of interest: adventure, chick lit, fantasy, historical, humor, multicultural, mystery, paranormal, romance, young adult, and middle grade. Nonfiction areas of interest: advice/relationships, biography, cooking, diet, health, history/politics/current affairs, how-to, humor, lifestyle, memoir, parenting, religion/spirituality and true crime. 

 

Tips for Pitching 2022, CLICK HERE!

 

Sign up for 2022 Pitch-O-Rama now!

April 30th – Virtual Pitch-O-Rama 2022

April 7th, 2022 Pitch-O-Rama Prep Workshop & AMA

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Thursday, April 7th

Noon – 1pm, PDT
Online, via Zoom

 Virtual Workshop!

Click the logo above for more information on Pitch-O-Rama 2022!

 

By popular demand, WNBA-SF will hold our 2022 Pitch-O-Rama Prep Workshop & Ask Me Anything (AMA)!

We are VERY excited to hold this year’s Pitch-O-Rama, which is looking to be a fabulous event with new agents and editors including those from the New York publishing world. And, since it is virtual, we are having many new writers joining us, hailing from all over the country and even a couple of international guests. We have gotten many questions and suggestions which resulted in this debut Pre Pitch and Ask Me Anything (AMA) session.

WNBA-SF stalwarts who have run Pitch-O-Rama for many years will tell you what to expect, tips, and strategies for inspired pitching, and how to get the most from this mini writers conference. Hosted by Madame President, Elise Marie Collins, this event will feature experts who can answer any question you have, so make your list now!

Collins will offer techniques on how to overcome nerves and make your best impression. Past President of WNBA-SF, librarian, author and master storyteller Kate Farrell ran Pitch-O-Rama for years, and can tell you secrets to success from her deep experience. Publisher Brenda Knight will share what editors and agents are looking for, and how to position your project so it will garner real interest from acquiring editors and literary agents. Ellen McBarnette, an attendee from last year’s virtual Pitch-O-Rama will tell you “what she wishes she knew last year and what you should know for this year.”

Every year, writers find agents, get publishing deals and get excellent feedback that advances their writing careers. This year, it can be you!

 

Registration is free for anyone already signed up for 2022 Pitch-O-Rama. If you haven’t, prices are $10 for WNBA-SF members and $25 for non-members.

 

Distinguished panelists:

 

Brenda Knight, author of  Women of the Beat Generation, will read new work and a tribute to “Beat Goddess” ruth weiss. Brenda began her publishing career at HarperCollins. An author of ten books, she won the American Book Award for “Women of the Beat Generation.”  In 2015, she was named Indiefab Publisher of the Year. She is Editorial Director at Mango Publishing and is President of WNBA-SF Chapter.

 

Elise Marie Collins has consulted with small businesses, authors, and alumni associations on social media marketing and believes that a social media plan should be intuitive, fun, and seamless. Helping students and clients form healthy lifestyle patterns is Elise Collins’ passion and life purpose. She has taught yoga for the past 20 years and is the author of several books on healthy living, including her latest, Super Ager: You Can Look Younger, Have More Energy, a Better Memory, and Live a Long and Healthy Life. Elise enjoys sharing yoga wisdom and current scientific research.

Kate FarrellStoryteller, author, librarian Kate Farrell is the author of Story Power: Secrets to Creating, Crafting, and Telling Memorable Stories. Kate founded the Word Weaving Storytelling Project and published numerous educational materials on storytelling. She has contributed to and edited award-winning anthologies of personal narrative, Times They Were A-Changing: Women Remember the 60s & 70s, and Cry of the Nightbird: Writers Against Domestic Violence. 

 

Ellen McBarnette is a life-long writer whose nonfiction work has been published as testimony, fact sheets and opinion pieces for organizations that include the Sierra Club and the American Bar Association. A professional storyteller, she is a recent transplant from Washington, DC where she ran the Arlington Creative Nonfiction Writers Group. She now runs the Beta Readers and Writers Group and is an active participant in critique groups in the Bay. She lives in Hayward with her partner Ben and their cat Java.
 
 

Register here for the Prep Workshop & AMA:

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Heart Wisdom Panel – March 9th – The Power of Prayer and Manifestation: Creating Peace

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Wednesday, March 9th, 2022
Heart Wisdom Panel:
The Power of Prayer and Manifestation – Creating Peace with Sherry Richert Belul, BJ Gallagher, and Sam Beasley
1:30 pm / PT

 

During these challenging times of war, illness, and violence, many of us are seeking new ways to manifest peace – in our lives and in the world. 

We are asking ourselves how to deal with grief, fear, heartbreak, helplessness … and yes, even horror. How do we find peace within ourselves, in our families, in our neighborhoods, and in our world? 

Join us at this week’s Mango Publishing Author Panel to participate in a non-denominational (and unconventional) conversation about the power of prayer and manifestation. 

Our guest authors, BJ Gallagher and Sam Beasley, co-authors of “Your Life is Your Prayer” will share some practical guidance and helpful insights about how to use prayer practices and manifestation methods in everyday life. 

The session will be facilitated by Sherry Richert Belul, author of “Say it Now.” 

Come join us in this timely, lively conversation! 

Mango Author Panels are a great way to get a behind-the-scenes look at the publishing world and what goes on in authors’ heads. They are always interactive, often intriguing, and especially inspiring.

This event is free. However, registration is required. Please use the form below and the Zoom link will be sent to you upon registration. 

 

**Author Bios**

 
BJ Gallagher (http://www.bjgallagher.com) is an inspirational speaker and prolific author. She writes business books that educate and empower, women’s books that enlighten and entertain, and gift books that inspire and inform. Her business fable, A Peacock in the Land of Penguins is an international best-seller, published in 23 languages worldwide. Her newest book, (co-authored with Sam Beasley) is Your Life is Your Prayer. 
 
 
 
Sam Beasley (mango.bz/sambeasley) is a successful entrepreneur speaker and workshop leader who uses spiritual principles to establish build and run his businesses. His latest book (co-authored with BJ Gallagher), is “Your Life Is YourPrayer.” He has also co-written (with Suzanne Lorenz, LCSW) two books on compulsive spending and debting.
 
 
Sherry Richert Belul (simplycelebrate.net), author of “Say it Now: 33 Creative Ways to Say I Love You to the Most Important People in Your Life,” is founder of Simply Celebrate, a business dedicated to helping people live colorful, connected, creative lives of love and appreciation. 
 
 
 

Register for the Heart Wisdom panel below:

Sorry! Registration is closed, so we can manage the list of attendees.

Heart Wisdom Panel – March 2nd – Journaling as a Discovery Tool

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Wednesday, March 2nd, 2022
Heart Wisdom Panel:
Journaling as a Discovery Tool with Sherry Richert Belul, Lisa McGuinness, and Lily Dulan
12 pm / PT

 

During the pandemic, many people leaned into self-reflection in a brand new way and discovered the importance of getting to know ourselves better and connecting to our values, our spirits, and the people we love. 
 
Journaling is a powerful self-reflection tool to enhance awareness, to bring more mindfulness to our lives, and to spark creativity. It can be a great addition to our self-care practices during this time in the world when so many people are filled with grief, fear, disappointment, and heartbreak. 
 
Join us at this week’s Mango Publishing Author Panel to participate in a conversation about these and other ways to use journaling as a practice for learning more about ourselves, the people we love, and the world we live in. 
 
Our guest authors, Lily Dulan (“Giving Grief Meaning”) and Lisa McGuinness (“Mother Daughter Activity Journal”) will share their own stories and unique ways of using journaling in daily life. Everyone who attends is invited to join the conversation. The panel is facilitated by Sherry Richert Belul (“Say it Now.”) 
 
These author panels are a great way to get a behind-the-scenes look at the publishing world and what goes on in authors’ heads! They are uplifting, fun, and conversational. Almost like a book-lovers’ social club!
 

About the Authors

Lily Dulan, author of “Giving Grief Meaning,” is an MFT Psychotherapist with a master’s degrees in Psychology, Creative Writing and Teaching.  She is a certified Heart of Yoga Teacher and the founder of The Kara Love Project who drew on her studies of both Eastern and Western disciplines to create a heart centered system of healing and moving through trauma that she calls The Name Work®.   
 
 
Lisa McGuinness is the founder of Yellow Pear Press. A veteran of the

 publishing industry she has worked on books for Chronicle Books Running Press Barefoot Books and Accord Publishing as well as custom publications for Starbucks Gap the Exploratorium and more. She is the author of the “Mother Daughter Activity Journal: Connecting Better with Each Other.” She is co-author of several children’s books including the New York Times bestseller “Bee & Me” and “Baby Turtle’s Tale.”
 
 

Sherry Richert Belul, author of “Say it Now: 33 Creative Ways to Say I Love You to the Most Important People in Your Life,” is founder of Simply Celebrate, a business dedicated to helping people live colorful, connected, creative lives of love and appreciation.
 
 

Register for the Heart Wisdom panel here:

Sorry! Registration is closed, so we can manage the list of attendees.

April 15th – Women Writing True Crime

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Friday, April 15th, 2022

Women Writing True Crime with Mitzi Szereto, Joan Renner, and Cathy Pickens

12 pm / PT

FREE Virtual Event

 

A panel discussion featuring Mitzi Szereto, editor of The Best New True Crime Stories series, and her contributors Joan Renner and Cathy Pickens from her new book release, The Best New True Crime Stories: Partners in Crime. 

Topics to be discussed include:

  1. True crime and how writing it is different from other genres.
  2. True crime and its appeal to women writers and readers.
  3. Individual approaches to true crime.
  4. Writing responsibly and ethically.
  5. How to catch the editor’s eye.
  6. Researching and getting the facts right.

***

Mitzi Szereto (mitziszereto.com) is an author and anthology editor whose books encompass multiple genres, including those in her popular true crime franchise The Best New True Crime Stories, to date the volumes Partners in Crime; Crimes of Passion, Obsession & Revenge; Well-Mannered Crooks, Rogues & Criminals; Small Towns; and Serial Killers. She has the added distinction of being the editor of the first anthology of erotic fiction to include a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. She’s appeared internationally on radio and television and at literature festivals, and has taught creative writing around the world. In addition to having produced and presented the London-based web TV channel Mitzi TV, she portrays herself in the pseudo-documentary British film, Lint: The Movie. The sixth volume in her true crime series, The Best New True Crime Stories: Unsolved Crimes & Mysteries, will be published in September 2022. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @MitziSzereto.

 

Joan Renner (www.derangedlacrimes.com), writer, social historian, and true crime expert, is the author of The First with the latest: Aggie Underwood, the Los Angeles Herald, and the Sordid Crimes of a City. She contributed to the Los Angeles Times bestseller LAPD ’53, written by James Ellroy and Glynn Martin. She has appeared in a previous volume of The Best New True Crime Stories. Joan lectures on historic Los Angeles crime and appears on true crime TV shows and podcasts. She is currently writing a book for University Press of Kentucky about Los Angeles during the Prohibition era.

 

Cathy Pickens (cathypickens.com) has written crime fiction, starting with the award-winning Southern Fried (St. Martin’s), and a regional historic true crime series, starting with Charlotte True Crime Stories (History Press). The latest is Upstate South Carolina True Crime Stories. She’s served as national president of Sisters in Crime, on Mystery Writers of America’s national board, and as true crime columnist for Mystery Readers Journal. A lawyer and former college professor, she also wrote CREATE! Developing Your Creative Process (create-update.com), works with prison inmates, and coaches writers and others in creativity workshops. Her work has appeared in a previous volume of The Best New True Crime Stories.

 

Register for event here:

January 14 – Set Yourself Up for Success in 2022: Goal Setting Simplified for Writers

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Friday, January 14th, 2022
Set Yourself Up for Success in 2022:
Goal Setting Simplified for Writers
12 pm / PT

Free Virtual Event!

 

 

Are you ready to write the next chapter of your life? 

Whether you are a planner or a pantser, there’s lots to learn from award-winning author Debra Eckerling, Your Goal Guide: A Roadmap for Setting, Planning, and Achieving Your Goals.

During this Lunch N Learn for the Women’s National Book Association – San Francisco Chapter, on January 14 at 12pm PT, Debra will take you through the D*E*B METHOD®, which is her system of Goal-Setting Simplified. DEB stands for Determine Your Mission, Explore Your Options, Brainstorm Your Path

You will:

  • Visualize a successful 2022
  • Take stock of where you are and what you want
  • Create a mission and motto
  • Set personal, professional, and writing goals 
  • And set your planner or pantser self up for success

Start 2022 right! 

Bring your writing dreams and your enthusiasm … And get ready have some fun!

* * *

Ready to reboot your goals now? Grab your copy of Your Goal Guide: A Roadmap for Setting, Planning and Achieving Your Goals and join the Your Goal Guide Facebook group to ask questions and share your journey.

 

About Deb: Goal-Setting expert Debra Eckerling is the author of the award-winning Your Goal Guide: A Roadmap for Setting, Planning, and Achieving Your Goals and creator of the D*E*B METHOD® system of goal-setting simplified. Deb is on a mission to change goal-culture! A workshop leader and corporate consultant, she helps entrepreneurs, executives, and individuals figure out what they want and how to get it. 

Debra is also the founder of Write On Online, a website and community for writers, creatives, and entrepreneurs, as well as host of the #GoalChat Twitter chat (Sundays at 7pm PT @TheDEBMethod), #GoalChat Live on Facebook and LinkedIn (Mondays at 4pm PT), and The DEB Show podcast. Learn more at TheDEBMethod.com, follow @TheDEBMethod on social media, and reach out to Info@TheDEBMethod.com.


About the Book: One of the biggest reasons goals fail is that people often don’t put enough thought into what they really want before diving in. Your Goal Guide by Debra Eckerling starts with that first, crucial step: figuring out your goals and putting a plan in place. Eckerling presents readers with her own tested and proven method: the D*E*B METHOD®, a brainstorming and task-based system, which stands for: Determine Your Mission, Explore Your Options, Brainstorm Your Path. Through a combination of writing exercises and systems, Eckerling provides readers with a process for making and setting goals that is stress-free, easy-to-manage, and even fun.

 

Register for the event now:

Sorry! Registration is closed, so we can manage the list of attendees.