Announcement: The Next Mixer

In addition to the Synopsis Workshop on 3/23, I've also scheduled a new mixer for 4/23. Shakespeare's birthday. Please RSVP at http://www.meetup.com/OC-Writers/events/166179852, if you're interested.

Thanks!

Synopsis Workshop with NYT Best-selling Author Susan Squires on March 23*

The dreaded synopsis. Agents and publishers demand them, yet we hate writing them, don't we? Here's your chance to learn some tricks and tips from New York Times-bestselling author Susan Squires.

I'll get her bio up soon, but in the meantime you can check her out in all her awesomeness here: http://www.susansquires.com.

Susan's synopsis workshop will begin at 1:30 p.m. at the El Toro Library in Lake Forest. Since she is generously offering to provide handouts to those present, we're asking that only people who are serious about attending sign up (which you can do here: http://www.meetup.com/OC-Writers/events/165779042/. Also, RSVPs will be cut off 3 days before the event to allow her sufficient time to produce the handouts. This workshop is FREE!

(If you do not have a Meetup account and prefer not to create one -- or if you have any questions about the event -- contact me at deanna@deannacameron.com.

* As a bonus -- After the synopsis workshop, anyone who is interested is invited to stick around for an impromptu story brainstorming session. Be prepared to describe your story to the group in a minute or two, and what you want feedback on. If you're stuck on something like plot points or character motivation, this is a great way to hear other ideas that might open up new possibilities in your story for you.

The time we have to devote to each brainstormer will depend on the time remaining after the workshop and the number of brainstormers present. Also, it will help us plan if you could leave a note in the comments section below to let us know if you're planning to stick around for the brainstorming session. There's no pressure at all, so don't feel bad if you aren't interested in staying. If we have a really big group, we might just need to break off into 2 or 3 groups instead of one.

Did you get the February newsletter?

Hi, writers -- the February O.C. Writers newsletter just went out to all the mailing list subscribers with updates from the write-in leaders, info on the next workshop, our next mixer, new opportunities for our published authors, anthology news, and lots more. If you didn't get one, you can join the mailing list by entering your email in the Mailing List spot on the right-side of this page.

Alert: Poll In Progress

I just put up a poll on the Facebook Page to determine the topic of the next one-day O.C. Writers Workshop. It'll happen on a Saturday or Sunday in March or April. Probably at the El Toro Public Library in Lake Forest. 

If you don't have a Facebook account (and prefer not to create one) you can still vote by leaving a note here in the comments section. 

Thank you! 

Here's the link to the Facebook page to see the poll: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OCWriters/

Introducing O.C. Inklings, a New Online Critique Group for O.C. Writers

If you haven't been tuned in to the Facebook Group page at www.facebook.com/group/ocwriters, you might not know that Ryan Stansifer has launched an online critique group for O.C. Writers called O.C. Inklings. It's an incredible opportunity for members who can't make Nyx Goldstone's monthly in-person critique group to get feedback on work in progress, and to be supportive of others with the same goal.
Interested in learning more?
Here's the link:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ocwritersinklings/

New members added to 'Our Members' page

Hi, writers! I want to thank JJ Gow and Katherine Sartori for adding their bios to the "Our Members" page. If your bio isn't there, and you'd like it to be, please send me a 150-word or less bio and a little photo of yourself. You can send them to me as a pm here, or to my direct email (deanna@deannacameron.com). Doesn't matter if you've published, doesn't matter if you just joined. Everyone who is on the OCWriters.org mailing list, the Meetup.com site, and/or our Facebook group is welcome :)

Writing Opportunities for LitCentral | OC

Hi, writers! Lit Central | O.C., a new online magazine for local writers at LitCentralOC.com, will launch on Monday, and I wanted to let you know what kind of writing opportunities there will be for those who might be interested in contributing. 

You can find them here:

We are actively seeking submissions for the following kinds of articles:

* Interviews with Orange County-based authors (750 to 1,500 words)

* Reports on Orange County literary events (Did you attend a local book-signing, author lecture, writing workshop or book fair? We’d love to hear about it — 250 to 500 words)

* Reviews of writing craft books, writing software or other writerly tools. (500 to 1,000 words)

* Essays or articles on the writing life, writing or publishing in general, or something else related to the field. This could be a one-time thing, or developed into a monthly, weekly or occasional column. (500 to 1,500 words)

* A 500- to 1,000-word short or scene from a piece of fiction that has been self-published or still in progress for our Fiction Friday feature.

If you’d like to write something but aren’t sure what, I'm happy to work with you to craft an assignment. Also, if you want to pitch something else entirely, I'm all ears. Let’s talk.

We require that all non-fiction submissions be original and unpublished, and ask that they not be republished elsewhere for at least a month after the posting date on Lit Central | OC.

Fiction submissions must be the intellectual property of the authors submitting them. We ask that it not be republished elsewhere for at least a month after the posting date on Lit Central | OC.

There is no compensation for the use of articles or stories, and all rights to submitted articles and stories remain with the author.

If you're interested, please email DeAnna Cameron at litcentraloc at gmail dot com.