see home page for the upcoming lineup

 

2023

January - Ash Bishop - "How To Write A Good Antagonist”

February - Lisi Harrison - “Author’s Journey Series”

March - R.D. Kardon - “Writing A Page-Turner”

April - Tina Mai, Poet - “Storytelling: The Power of Words, Initiative, and Community”

May - Lisa Cupolo - “Building Tension and Surprise in Short Stories”

 

 

2022

January - Matt Coyle - "The Right Way to Write a Series”

February - Sheila Lowe - "Reading Between The Lines on Your Path to Publication"

March - Sheri Fink - "Adventures in Independent Children’s Book Publishing for Fun and Profit"

April - Joe Ide - "Writing The Killer Crime Novel"

May - Joe Donnelly - "Writing Sucks, but to Have Written is the Best: Navigating the Long Road to Have Written"

June - Alicia Doyle - "Author's Journey Series"

July - Jennifer J Chow - "Writing Cozy Mysteries for Modern Readers"

August - Gustavo Hernandez - "How Setting Amplifies Writing"

September - Kaira Rouda - "Author's Journey Series (Interview)"

October - Anne Cleeland - "How To Quit Your Day Job"

November - D.J. MacHale - "If You Can't Stand The Heat...Stay In The Kitchen and Write About It"

December - Holiday Special Event - "Member Open Mic 2-Minute Readings"

 


2021

January - Jason Anspach - "Making Your Brand the Star of the Show”

February - Dr. Seth Wagerman - "Using Psychology to Master Character Development"

March -  Pam Sheppard - "What Is A Comp and Why Is It So Important?"

April - PJ Colando - "I Write Funny And So Can You"

May - Deborah A. Lott - "Writing About Trauma"

June - Dennis Crosby - "Marketing In The Covid Era"

July - Jeri Westerson - Author's Journey

August - RD Kardon - "Incorporating Technical Expertise without Losing the Reader"

September - Gayle Carline - "Rhythm, Pace, and Amusement"

October - Jasmin Iolani Hakes - "We Are What Happens to Us"

November - Joy Lanzendorfer - "Writing A Historical Family Saga"


 

2020  

January - Judy Reeves - "Tell Me A Story: Using Fiction Techniques to Craft Compelling Memoir or Nonfiction"

February - Nancy Lynée Woo - "Surprise the Line: Poetry for All Writers"

March - Susie Schaefer - "Finish Your Book: Everything You Need to Know About Self-Publishing”

May - Maddie Margarita - “How to Handle Media Interviews and Book Readings"

June - Kali Wallace - "Writing Effective Description and Atmosphere"

July - Joan Gelfand - "You Can Be A Winning Writer: The 4 C's Approach to Author Sucess"

August - Kim Dwinell - "Creating the Graphic Novel"

September - Cherie Kephart - "Soul Therapy: The Spirit of Writing"

October - Patrick Coleman - "Writing Across Genres"

November - Maggie Downs - "Writing A Memorable Memoir"

December - Our Members - Open Mic 3-Minute Readings

 

 

2019

January - Tom Jordan - “Writing Out Loud: Turning Your Work into an Audiobook”
February - Janet Simcic - “Turning My Travel into Fiction”
March - Gwendolyn Womack - “Intuitive Writing: Strengthening Your Sixth Sense At The Keyboard”
April - Greta Boris - “Choosing Your Characters’ Personality Types”
May - Anne Cleeland - “Have You Found Nemo? Turn Your 1st Draft Into An Engaging & Cohesive Page-Turner”
June - Ara Grigorian - “Story Beats: Your Story’s Heartbeat”
July - Sarah Dupree (Personal Brand Photographer), J.L. Hendricks (USA 
Today Bestselling Author),
                Jynafer Yanez (Marketing Consultant), - “How To Build A Brand And Market Your Work”
August - Glen Erik Hamilton - “First Class Ticket: Your Setting Is Your Hook”
September - Matt Pallamary - “Guerrilla Marketing”
October - Nancy Cole Silverman - “Concept To 1st Draft In 6 Months: Guide To Expediting The Writer’s Process”
November - Christopher Lentz - “Location, Location, Location: Using Iconic Historical Places In Fiction”
 
 
California Writers Club, Orange County Branch was founded in 2001 and has hosted nearly 200 speakers since then. Here are some of the others who have presented to our writers:
 
  ■ Susan Straight
  ■ D. P. Lyle
  ■ Lisa Napoli
  ■ Carolyn See
  ■ Andrew Tonkovich
  ■ Nick Cole
  ■ Denise Hamilton
  ■ J. Ryan Stradal
  ■ Martin J. Smith
  ■ David Putnam
  ■ Diane Vallere
  ■ Claudie Suzanne
  ■ Christopher Lynch
  ■ Laurie Stevens
  ■ Mike Foley
  ■ Jill Amadio
  ■ Lee Ann Krusemark
  ■ Helen Sedwick
  ■ Katie Mayberry
  ■ Larry and Lorna Collins
  ■ Amy Friedman
  ■ David Congalton
  ■ Alison Singh Gee
  ■ Nancy Spiller
  ■ ...and many more

 

 

20 Years of Program History

  

Katie Mayberry

Christina Hoag 

D. P. Lyle, M.D.

Carolyn See 

J. Ryan Stradal

"Kitchens of the Great Midwest"