past Events
THE BOOK ARCHITECTURE WORKSHOP
Finish Your Book in Three Drafts: Crafting Fiction and Creative Non-Fiction with
the Book Architecture Method
presented by Stuart Horwitz
September 30, 2023
It’s the age-old battle between the outliners and the pantsers – those who meticulously script every writing session, and those who plot solely by feel. Finding your unique approach requires a method rather than a formula. The Book Architecture Method has helped bestselling writers transform their messy manuscripts into polished books. Accomplished and aspiring writers alike will learn the secrets of how to painlessly create a complex narrative such as:
- what “plotting” actually means, and why there isn’t one narrative arc but several
- how to make sure your book has one “theme” – and one theme only
- how to separate your work into scenes and use this disassembly to diagnose what’s going wrong with your manuscript
- the secret to why some narratives feel like they are all coming together at an emotional pay-off while others do not
Bio: Stuart Horwitz is a ghostwriter, independent editor, and founder of Book Architecture (www.bookarchitecture.com). His clients have reached the best-seller list in both fiction and non-fiction, and have appeared on Oprah!, The Today Show, and in the most prestigious journals in their fields. He is the author of three acclaimed books on writing: Blueprint Your Bestseller: Organize and Revise Any Manuscript with the Book Architecture Method (Penguin/Perigee), which was named one of the year’s best books about writing by The Writer magazine, Book Architecture: How to Plot and Outline Without Using a Formula, which became an Amazon bestseller, and Finish Your Book in Three Drafts: How to Write a Book, Revise a Book, and Complete a Book While You Still Love It.
Horwitz holds degrees in literary aesthetics from New York University and East Asian studies from Harvard University. He is also an award-winning poet and essayist. He recently relocated to California with his family from New England, something he should have done years ago.
7th Howl at the Moon conference
DATING YOUR CHARACTER: A FUN BUT EFFECTIVE APPROACH TO CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT FOR WRITERS
presented by MARILYN ATLAS
presented by MARILYN ATLAS
Marilyn R. Atlas is a talent and literary manager and award-winning producer. Among her credits as film producer are “Real Women Have Curves” for HBO, which won the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival; “A Certain Desire,” starring Sam Waterston; and “Echoes,” which won the Gold Award at the Texas International Film Festival. In addition to producing a variety of programming for the cable/ pay TV market. In live theater, Marilyn co-produced the West Coast premiere of the musical “God Bless You Mr. Rosewater” by Ashman and Menken (the writers of “Enchanted” and “Tangled”). She also co-produced the award-winning play “To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday,” which was made into a film starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Peter Gallagher. In 2014, she co-produced the play “Detained in the Desert” at the Guadalupe Theater in San Antonio, TX. Her additional credits as a producer in live theater include “Today’s Special” and “As I Sing.”
Marilyn has long been committed to issues surrounding diversity in Hollywood. As a member of the National Association of Latino Independent Producers, she spoke at many of their writers’ and producers’ retreats. She also has lectured at the DGA-sponsored LA Asian Film Festival, as well as various other symposia for the Sherman Oaks Experimental College. She is a founding member of Women in Film’s Luminas Committee, which supports the portrayal of women in non-stereotypical roles in film and television. She has spoken at events such as The San Francisco Writers Conference, the Santa Fe Screenwriters Conference and Richard Krevolin’s USC Screenwriting Retreat. Marilyn has also taught several actor workshops. Additionally, she was a guest lecturer in the Writing Program at USC, where she previously taught a class every year on creating three-dimensional, non-stereotypical characters.
Marilyn has been a guest speaker at various colleges and writers’ colleges all over the country. she has been a guest at various colleges all over the country, including Harvardwood, UCLA, USC, Emerson, University of Redlands, and the University of Wisconsin. She has spoken at the Texas Bar Association and was a guest lecturer at Whittier Law School. She has served as the professional-in residence (in theater and film) at Ball State University, and was the speaker at the International Writer’s Conference at Hollins University (2010). She structured an intensive course at Skyline College in San Francisco covering the inception, development and promotion of a script in “The Business of Screenwriting: The Idea – and its Execution.” She was also a speaker at the International Women’s Writer Conference in Italy in 2014.
In addition to Marilyn’s film/TV credits, she has sold (first time) novels “Chasing the Jaguar” to
HarperCollins, “Hungry Woman in Paris” to Grand Central Publishing, and the “Ave Maria Bed & Breakfast” to Hachette Publishing, and the “Last Ride of Caleb O’Toole” to Source Books. Her Lifetime movie “The Choking Game” based on the YA book by Diana Lopez aired in summer 2014.
Previously, Marilyn developed the “Brides’ March” for Lifetime Television as well as a
limited television series. She previously produced the short musical version of “Real Women Have Curves” in Los Angeles in 2009 and is involved in the current development of a full-length production for 2018.
Marilyn is currently developing a TV pilot based on the Gary Phillips series of novels “High Hand” and “Shooter’s Point” featuring strong-willed African-American protagonist Martha Chainey. She is also developing a Chinese historical epic with the Metan Development Group and “Codebusters,” a children’s show for TV based on a series of best-selling books.
Marilyn has long been committed to issues surrounding diversity in Hollywood. As a member of the National Association of Latino Independent Producers, she spoke at many of their writers’ and producers’ retreats. She also has lectured at the DGA-sponsored LA Asian Film Festival, as well as various other symposia for the Sherman Oaks Experimental College. She is a founding member of Women in Film’s Luminas Committee, which supports the portrayal of women in non-stereotypical roles in film and television. She has spoken at events such as The San Francisco Writers Conference, the Santa Fe Screenwriters Conference and Richard Krevolin’s USC Screenwriting Retreat. Marilyn has also taught several actor workshops. Additionally, she was a guest lecturer in the Writing Program at USC, where she previously taught a class every year on creating three-dimensional, non-stereotypical characters.
Marilyn has been a guest speaker at various colleges and writers’ colleges all over the country. she has been a guest at various colleges all over the country, including Harvardwood, UCLA, USC, Emerson, University of Redlands, and the University of Wisconsin. She has spoken at the Texas Bar Association and was a guest lecturer at Whittier Law School. She has served as the professional-in residence (in theater and film) at Ball State University, and was the speaker at the International Writer’s Conference at Hollins University (2010). She structured an intensive course at Skyline College in San Francisco covering the inception, development and promotion of a script in “The Business of Screenwriting: The Idea – and its Execution.” She was also a speaker at the International Women’s Writer Conference in Italy in 2014.
In addition to Marilyn’s film/TV credits, she has sold (first time) novels “Chasing the Jaguar” to
HarperCollins, “Hungry Woman in Paris” to Grand Central Publishing, and the “Ave Maria Bed & Breakfast” to Hachette Publishing, and the “Last Ride of Caleb O’Toole” to Source Books. Her Lifetime movie “The Choking Game” based on the YA book by Diana Lopez aired in summer 2014.
Previously, Marilyn developed the “Brides’ March” for Lifetime Television as well as a
limited television series. She previously produced the short musical version of “Real Women Have Curves” in Los Angeles in 2009 and is involved in the current development of a full-length production for 2018.
Marilyn is currently developing a TV pilot based on the Gary Phillips series of novels “High Hand” and “Shooter’s Point” featuring strong-willed African-American protagonist Martha Chainey. She is also developing a Chinese historical epic with the Metan Development Group and “Codebusters,” a children’s show for TV based on a series of best-selling books.
HIGH DESERT ARTS AND LITERARY FESTIVAL (HDALF)
FABULOUS AND FUN FESTIVAL OF AUTHORS AND FINE ARTISTS WILL SUPPORT STUDENTS
The area’s grandest display of fine art and most stellar gathering of award-winning authors will be available for everyone to enjoy during the first annual High Desert Arts and Literary Festival (HDALF). Free to the public with proceeds to benefit local STEM programs and scholarships, the year’s premiere event will take place 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., September 9, at the San Bernardino County Victor Valley Museum, 11873 Apple Valley Road, Apple Valley. CA.
Acclaimed author and member of the High Desert chapter of the California Writer’s Club Roberta Smith, who is also the Grand Prize winner of this year’s Hollywood Book Festival, will be among some 20 authors who will lead workshops on writing and publishing during the HDALF. High Desert resident and celebrated artist Theresa D. Polley-Shellcroft, will be among nearly 40 artists who will exhibit and sell their extraordinary works.
Additionally, there will be an interactive children’s exhibit, Curiosity, and a family-friendly Children’s Creative Corner sponsored by Turpentine Moan Studio and conducted by award-winning Seaside Monterey artist Sandra Gray, where children may create their own masterpieces.
The lead sponsor for the HDALF is Mitsubishi Cement Co., and additional major sponsors include Shear Realty, Edible Arrangements, and Desert Valley Hospital.
Presenting the festival is a unique collaboration of outstanding cultural organizations. They are the American Association of University Women (AAUW), the San Bernardino County Museum, the High Desert Chapter of the California Writers Club, and the San Bernardino County Library.
Proceeds will benefit the STEM (Science Engineering & Math) education programs and also provide scholarships to non-traditional-aged women returning to Victor Valley College.
Music will be provided by students from Paul Starks’ Parade of Pianos, and there will be a variety of food trucks selling delectable dishes to the public.
More information is available at [email protected] or by calling 760-646-6961.
AUGUST 26TH, OPEN "MIC"
At the Hesperia Library, featured local authors as well as club members.
July 29th
A special seminar on resources and tools for writers was led by local editor and author, Jenny Margotta. Margotta, who has edited more than sixty books, discussed what writers should do before they hire an editor, available free and low-cost software, research resources, and why in these times, there has never been a better time to be a writer.
June 24,2017 - HDCWC PRESENTED A PANEL OF NEWLY PUBLISHED AUTHORS
Spring Book Fair
May 20, 2017
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Twenty authors from the club sold 73 books in total. It was a great day, with free drawings to win free books, watercolor demonstrations by Barbara Parish, and a special guest mermaid, Meridian Mer-Gyver.
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Our golden girls
March 25, 2017
A panel of four authors in their nineties, and one youngster of eighty related their pathway (which could also be yours) to putting in writing both fiction and non-fiction.
June Langer, age 90-ish, is working on her first novel. She has published magazine articles, poetry, and a short story and one of her poems is in the 2016 “For The Love of Writing” HDCWC anthology; Evelyn Blocker, a wonderfully young 96, has written and published seven books and many other works; Amy Jo Burnett, active member of the HDCWC at age 94, is a versatile story writer who also just completed participating as a judge in the Scholastic Arts and Writing Awards contest; Winnie Rueff, 92, has written and published a memoir of her days as a young nurse in 1943, “Calling Nurse Mearns. A Nurse's Story” is a poignant but fun-filled life of a young woman in some scary times.
Diane Neil, age 80, is granddaughter of Jack London's best boyhood friend, Frank Irving Atherton. Diane Neil had an unpublished manuscript written as a memoir, which was stored unprinted for decades until she joined the California Writers Club. After telling president Dwight Norris about the book, he helped get the manuscript published as “Jack London In Boyhood Adventures.” It is now on Amazon.com and available at http://www.jacklondoninboyhoodadventures.com/
June Langer, age 90-ish, is working on her first novel. She has published magazine articles, poetry, and a short story and one of her poems is in the 2016 “For The Love of Writing” HDCWC anthology; Evelyn Blocker, a wonderfully young 96, has written and published seven books and many other works; Amy Jo Burnett, active member of the HDCWC at age 94, is a versatile story writer who also just completed participating as a judge in the Scholastic Arts and Writing Awards contest; Winnie Rueff, 92, has written and published a memoir of her days as a young nurse in 1943, “Calling Nurse Mearns. A Nurse's Story” is a poignant but fun-filled life of a young woman in some scary times.
Diane Neil, age 80, is granddaughter of Jack London's best boyhood friend, Frank Irving Atherton. Diane Neil had an unpublished manuscript written as a memoir, which was stored unprinted for decades until she joined the California Writers Club. After telling president Dwight Norris about the book, he helped get the manuscript published as “Jack London In Boyhood Adventures.” It is now on Amazon.com and available at http://www.jacklondoninboyhoodadventures.com/
HOWL AT THE MOON CONFERENCE 2016
OCTOBER 29, 2016
The Writing Life
Here’s the secret about writing: survival (and also success) has little to do with talent or technique; it’s all about mindset and attitude. This is true whether you are just starting out or have been writing for decades, and the most effective way to up your game is to understand yourself more fully, both as a writer and as a human being. That’s where this Howl at the Moon conference comes in.
During this full-day event, author and writing teacher Gabriela Pereira will show you how to reframe your mindset so you can improve your skills as a writer and conquer your professional goals. In the morning, she’ll walk you through a technique often used by tech innovators, and she’ll show you how to apply it to make your creative process more efficient and effective.
Next, Gabriela will teach her “secret sauce” outline formula, so you can create a strong foundation for your story. While some writers might think outlines are daunting or stifling, when done right an outline can actually make your book better and make your writing life easier. In this workshop you will learn a flexible approach to story structure that will help you perfect your plot, deepen your characters, and get your book from draft to done.
In the afternoon, Gabriela will shift gears and show you how to build your author platform. It’s hard enough to write a book, but when you finally type those words “THE END” the work of marketing your book and building an audience has only just begun. With all the social media platforms and marketing gimmicks out there, it might feel like you’re being pulled in a million directions.
But building your author platform doesn’t have to be painful. In this afternoon session, you’ll learn concrete steps for building your brand and establishing an effective online “hub” for your creative work. You’ll also learn how to find those ideal readers who will love your book, and how to connect with them in a meaningful, authentic way.
This Howl at the Moon conference is designed to help you grow both the craft and career aspects of your writing life. By the end of this full-day intensive, you will have tools and techniques at the ready so you can write the best book possible and get it in the hands of your readers.
Gabriela Pereira is a writer, teacher, and self-proclaimed word nerd who wants to challenge the status quo of higher education. As the founder and instigator of DIYMFA.com, her mission is to empower writers to take an entrepreneurial approach to their education and professional growth. Gabriela earned her MFA in creative writing from The New School and teaches at national conferences, local workshops, and online. She is also the host of DIY MFA Radio, a popular podcast where she interviews bestselling authors and offers short audio master classes. Her book DIY MFA: Write with Focus, Read with Purpose, Build Your Community is out now from Writer’s Digest Books. To join the word nerd community, go to: DIYMFA.com/join.
Here’s the secret about writing: survival (and also success) has little to do with talent or technique; it’s all about mindset and attitude. This is true whether you are just starting out or have been writing for decades, and the most effective way to up your game is to understand yourself more fully, both as a writer and as a human being. That’s where this Howl at the Moon conference comes in.
During this full-day event, author and writing teacher Gabriela Pereira will show you how to reframe your mindset so you can improve your skills as a writer and conquer your professional goals. In the morning, she’ll walk you through a technique often used by tech innovators, and she’ll show you how to apply it to make your creative process more efficient and effective.
Next, Gabriela will teach her “secret sauce” outline formula, so you can create a strong foundation for your story. While some writers might think outlines are daunting or stifling, when done right an outline can actually make your book better and make your writing life easier. In this workshop you will learn a flexible approach to story structure that will help you perfect your plot, deepen your characters, and get your book from draft to done.
In the afternoon, Gabriela will shift gears and show you how to build your author platform. It’s hard enough to write a book, but when you finally type those words “THE END” the work of marketing your book and building an audience has only just begun. With all the social media platforms and marketing gimmicks out there, it might feel like you’re being pulled in a million directions.
But building your author platform doesn’t have to be painful. In this afternoon session, you’ll learn concrete steps for building your brand and establishing an effective online “hub” for your creative work. You’ll also learn how to find those ideal readers who will love your book, and how to connect with them in a meaningful, authentic way.
This Howl at the Moon conference is designed to help you grow both the craft and career aspects of your writing life. By the end of this full-day intensive, you will have tools and techniques at the ready so you can write the best book possible and get it in the hands of your readers.
Gabriela Pereira is a writer, teacher, and self-proclaimed word nerd who wants to challenge the status quo of higher education. As the founder and instigator of DIYMFA.com, her mission is to empower writers to take an entrepreneurial approach to their education and professional growth. Gabriela earned her MFA in creative writing from The New School and teaches at national conferences, local workshops, and online. She is also the host of DIY MFA Radio, a popular podcast where she interviews bestselling authors and offers short audio master classes. Her book DIY MFA: Write with Focus, Read with Purpose, Build Your Community is out now from Writer’s Digest Books. To join the word nerd community, go to: DIYMFA.com/join.
"HDCWC TO PRESENT “IN LIVING COLOR” WRITER
T. FAYE GRIFFIN
FINDING YOUR FUNNY"ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 17 , 2016
The High Desert Branch of the California Writers Club (HDCWC) will have a special presentation featuring award-winning writer-producer-performer T. Faye Griffin on humor writing called "Finding Your Funny"on Monday, October 17 at the Community Room of the Hesperia Library 9650 Seventh Avenue in Hesperia from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. The program is free and the public is welcome to attend.
From A&E to BET to PBS, Griffin has amassed an impressive list of television credits which include the Emmy Award-winning comedy series In Living Color, Black Girls Rock!, The Parent 'Hood, Steve Harvey's Big Time, The Gracie Awards, and NBC's daily lifestyle magazine program, YourLA. IMBD credits her as actress, writer, director, script consultant, story editor and producer. Her devotional "Morning Manna: Wisdom Served With Humor and Heart" is an Amazon bestseller.
As a divorced mother of three, welfare recipient T. Faye Griffin was an anomaly in Hollywood unskilled and unconnected. Yet she parlayed her indomitable spirit, uncompromising work ethic and passion for communicating into a successful career.
For more than 25 years she has earned the moniker "The Humorista" and a
reputation as one of the entertainment industry's most diversified players with impressive television, publication and public appearance credits.
A delightful humorist, skilled seminar leader, conference speaker and bible teacher with universal appeal, T. Faye's memorable presentations erase the dividing lines of color, class, and creed to empower audiences with do-able solutions for everyday issues. Deftly combining keen knowledge, street smarts, humor, and heart, she inspires corporate leaders, church congregations, women's groups, students, and the general public alike to embrace their uniqueness and make it work for them.
From A&E to BET to PBS, Griffin has amassed an impressive list of television credits which include the Emmy Award-winning comedy series In Living Color, Black Girls Rock!, The Parent 'Hood, Steve Harvey's Big Time, The Gracie Awards, and NBC's daily lifestyle magazine program, YourLA. IMBD credits her as actress, writer, director, script consultant, story editor and producer. Her devotional "Morning Manna: Wisdom Served With Humor and Heart" is an Amazon bestseller.
As a divorced mother of three, welfare recipient T. Faye Griffin was an anomaly in Hollywood unskilled and unconnected. Yet she parlayed her indomitable spirit, uncompromising work ethic and passion for communicating into a successful career.
For more than 25 years she has earned the moniker "The Humorista" and a
reputation as one of the entertainment industry's most diversified players with impressive television, publication and public appearance credits.
A delightful humorist, skilled seminar leader, conference speaker and bible teacher with universal appeal, T. Faye's memorable presentations erase the dividing lines of color, class, and creed to empower audiences with do-able solutions for everyday issues. Deftly combining keen knowledge, street smarts, humor, and heart, she inspires corporate leaders, church congregations, women's groups, students, and the general public alike to embrace their uniqueness and make it work for them.
Panel on Writing, Editing, Publishing
Was held at the Hesperia Library, Wednesday evening, September 28, 2016. The panel was Made up of club members Loralie Kay, Jenny Margotta, and Roberta Smith.
Spring Book Fair
On April 30, 2016 the HDCWC held its first club-sponsored Spring Book Fair. It was a big hit. Authors sold a lot of books. The club looks forward to holding the event again next year.
NOVEMBER 16
JOSHUA ADDANTE
SCREENWRITING 101
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November 16th
from 6 to 7:30 pm The Hesperia Library |
The High Desert Branch of the California Writers Club's TV and screenwriting group, the Reel Writers, hosted the co-chairman of the High Desert Film Alliance, Joshua Addante. He is a cinematographer graduate of the New York Film Academy in Hollywooywood, California, and also holds an Associate of Fine Arts in Film Making. His topic was “Screenwriting 101.”
Addante and his wife, Tiffany, opened their own production company, Puddle Pirate Productions, a name that comes from his time serving in the United States Coast Guard. Addante wrote and directed his first feature film, “SuperFans,” in 2012. He did a pitch to NBC with his TV pilot, “Doctor K.” “Dry Well” is the first movie Addante will write with his wife. Tiffany and Josh Addante share a passion for movie-making, and co-chair the High Desert Film Alliance. One of their goals is to bring more filming to the region. The group is a volunteer association of professional and aspiring crew members and filmmakers located in the Victor Valley and San Bernardino areas, and is affiliated with the Inland Empire Film Commission. |
NOVEMBER 7
“HOWL AT THE MOON” WRITERS’ CONFERENCE #5
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Time: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM James Woody Community Center, 13467 Navajo Rd. Apple
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If you missed the April meeting, you have no idea how well-received Chris Lynch was by our branch members and guests attending. One thing he said was, “I teach a self-publishing seminar but unfortunately, they are all taught down the hill.”
Well, not anymore! We have invited Chris to do his intensive 3 1/2 hour seminar on self-publishing as part of our program on Saturday, November 7, 2015 right here in Apple Valley. No traffic, no driving hassles, free parking, and brought to your doorstep by the HDCWC! Here, in part, is what Christopher Lynch’s self-publishing program will include: With the e-book and self-publishing revolution here to stay, it’s one of the best times for a writer to be able to ride the wave of opportunity and to see their works published. But what are the pros and cons of self-publishing? What about these services that charge thousands of dollars to publish a book? Are they legit? How does one go about self-publishing their book? How does one understand the confusing labyrinth of ISBNs, and copyright laws? Is publishing your book only half of the battle, or does the real work begin with promotion? For these and many other questions, please attend the self-publishing seminar given by author Christopher J. Lynch. Christopher has self-published numerous short stories, novels, and even a celebrity biography, in both e-format and print on demand. Throughout, he’s enjoyed great success, and has recently optioned his first self-published novel to a production company associated with Lionsgate Films! In this intense three and a half-hour program, Christopher will guide us through the self-publishing process from start to finish, and will demystify the many aspects and misnomers about self-publishing. The workshop will include: • The pros and cons of self-publishing versus traditional • Editing • How to format your manuscript as an E-Book or POD (print on demand) • Cover design • ISBNs and barcodes • Costs of services • Pricing • Sales channels • Promotion • PLUS, A live, step by step, demonstration of an e-book being uploaded and created on Amazon! 
Aaron Gansky: Learning From the Masters
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REJECTION PROOF
Jia Jiang
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Thursday, May 14 from 6:00 to 7:30 pm at the Hesperia Branch Library 9560 7th Avenue in Hesperia.
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Several years after Jia Jiang’s career in the corporate world, he took a life altering risk and stepped into the unknown world of entrepreneurship, which resulted in everyone's biggest fear… rejection.
This catalyst set Jiang on the path to an historic calling. To conquer the fear of rejection Jiang embarked on a personal quest and started a blog to face 100 days of rejection. His journey revealed a world that was hidden in plain sight, a world where people are much kinder then we imagine, discovering that rejection can be much less painful than we believe, and that it is the fear of rejection that is much more destructive than we know.
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L.A. WRITERS’ LAB PRESENTS
THE 90-DAY SCREENPLAY WORKSHOP
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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28TH, 2015
10 A.M. TO 4 P.M. APPLE VALLEY SPIRIT RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 16010 APPLE VALLEY ROAD, APPLE VALLEY, CA |
A ONE-DAY WORKSHOP WITH
INSTRUCTOR ALAN WATT (AUTHOR OF THE 90-DAY SCREENPLAY) THIS ONE-DAY WORKSHOP COVERED THE FUNDAMENTAL TOOLS NECESSARY TO TAKE YOUR SCREENWRITING TO THE NEXT LEVEL. IF YOU HAVE STRUGGLED WITH INTEGRATING THEME, CHARACTER, STRUCTURE AND DIALOGUE INTO A STORY WHERE THE WHOLE AMOUNTS TO SOMETHING GREATER THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS, THIS WORKSHOP WILL PROVIDE FOR YOU A PROCESS THAT WORKS. ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR: FOUNDER OF L.A. WRITERS’ LAB, screenwriter and bestselling novelist Alan Watt is the author of The 90-Day Screenplay and The 90-Day Novel, Amazon’s #1 book on writing. He has won many awards for his writing, including the American Library Association's Alex Award, Barnes and Noble’s Discover Great New Writers, New York Times New and Noteworthy Books, and France'sPrix Printemps (best foreign novel). He consults for many top Hollywood screenwriters and film companies, and has sold numerous screenplays and treatments. A number of his students have gone on to successful careers as writers, producers and directors in television and film. Watt has been teaching writing since 1997, and lectures regularly on creativity everywhere from Maximum Security prisons to USC’s MBA program. In summer 2015 he will direct his first indie feature based on his screenplay, Control, starring Aaron Staton from Mad Men. |
Screenwriting Video at Hesperia Library
The Robert Flaxman video, “Seducing the Studio Reader”, was shown at the Hesperia Library Community Room, 9560 7th Avenue, in Hesperia on Wednesday, January 7 in a special free meeting from 6 to 8 pm, The public was welcome and invited to attend this presentation at no charge.
This highly praised video featuring Robert Flaxman, the #1 rated Script Analyst by Creative Screenwriting Magazine, has been called “One of the best DVD’s in the entire (Creative Screenwriting) Expo collection.” Learn the multiple techniques that will keep the reader in your “created reality” throughout your script. Study the most common mistakes made by professional and advanced screenwriters.
The Robert Flaxman video, “Seducing the Studio Reader”, was shown at the Hesperia Library Community Room, 9560 7th Avenue, in Hesperia on Wednesday, January 7 in a special free meeting from 6 to 8 pm, The public was welcome and invited to attend this presentation at no charge.
This highly praised video featuring Robert Flaxman, the #1 rated Script Analyst by Creative Screenwriting Magazine, has been called “One of the best DVD’s in the entire (Creative Screenwriting) Expo collection.” Learn the multiple techniques that will keep the reader in your “created reality” throughout your script. Study the most common mistakes made by professional and advanced screenwriters.
Howl at the Moon
Writers' Conference 2014
November 1, 2014
Horror Book Festival
October 4, 2014
Mike Raff and Roberta Smith’s very first “Horror Book Festival,” hosted by Fright Master of Ceremonies, Dwight Norris. Michael Raff, Roberta Smith and special guest speaker, Martin Lastrapes, presented their takes on topics of horror. Roberta's power point presentation delved into "Ghosts in Literature," Michael's presentation on "Karloff and Company - The Classic Universal Monsters." And Martin's on everything you ever wanted to know about "Vampires," but were afraid to be bitten in the neck to ask. Pretty scary stuff!
Grant Writing
April 30, 2014
Debbie Cannon, the grant writing expert from the High Desert Resource Network (a program of the Academy for Grassroots Organizations), answered questions such as: Have you ever thought about what it takes to write a grant request? What career opportunities are available? What type of education is required to write grants? How could you build a business doing it? Is it an art or a skill? Is a license required? Are grant writers needed today or is it a dying field?
Some of Debbie's awards include:
There was no admission fee for this meeting, and the public was welcome.
Some of Debbie's awards include:
- "An Inspiring Woman" awarded by Daily Press readers, March 2009
- 2009 Leaping Leader awarded by Azusa Pacific University and KFROG radio
- 2010 Fundraising Professional of the Year
There was no admission fee for this meeting, and the public was welcome.
PERRY & ZACKHEIM
APRIL 5, 2014
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James Scott Bell was our featured speaker. He is the author of three bestselling books on the craft of writing: Plot & Structure, Revision & Self-Editing and The Art of War for Writers, all from Writer's Digest Books. Formerly the fiction columnist for Writer's Digest, his teachings have traveled worldwide, and many of his students have gone on to publication.
http://www.jamesscottbell.com
Alan Watt
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Ken Rotcop
In 2002, Ken Rotcop, the master of story pitching, was the subject of an award winning documentary (Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Chicago film festivals first place awards for Independent Documentary), called "Talk Fast". It is the story of 5 hopeful screenwriters going through his famous Hollywood Pitchmart, trying to sell their movie to top executives of the film industry.
On Wednesday, December 5, 2012, the HDCWC presented this 2 hour documentary admission free at the Apple Valley Library, followed by Q&A from Ken Rotcop in person to answer any and all questions about writing, researching, pitching and selling your story. |
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Saturday, October 13, 2012
Newton T. Bass Apple Valley Library Over two dozen local High Desert authors were available to autograph and sell their books. 
Photo by Mary Scott
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Photo by Mary Scott
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"howl at the moon" 2011 Writers Conference
Held Saturday, October 1, 2011
What a success! Thanks to our AWESOME Guest Speakers and to the GREAT crew of HD CWC volunteers.
If you couldn't make it, here is what you missed:
What a success! Thanks to our AWESOME Guest Speakers and to the GREAT crew of HD CWC volunteers.
If you couldn't make it, here is what you missed:
Jen Grisanti
"Adding Fiction To Your Truth In Your Writing"
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Jen Grisanti is a Story Consultant, Independent Producer, Writing Instructor for Writers on the Verge at NBC, Blogger for The Huffington Post and author of the new books, Story Line: Finding Gold In Your Life Story and TV Writing Tool Kit: How To Write a Script That Sells.
Grisanti started her career as an assistant to Aaron Spelling 18 years ago. Aaron was her mentor for the next 12 years as she climbed the ranks and eventually ran Current Programs at Spelling Television Inc., covering all of Spelling’s shows including Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place and Charmed. In 2004, Jen was promoted to Vice President of Current Programs at CBS/Paramount where she covered shows including Medium, Numbers, NCIS, 4400 and Girlfriends. While at CBS/Paramount, she served as a mentor in the CBS Diversity Program, which seeks out and nurtures young writers and directors. In January 2008, Jen launched Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc., a consulting firm dedicated to helping talented writers break into the industry. By drawing on her 12-year experience as a studio executive where she gave daily notes to executive producers/showrunners, Jen personally guides writers to shape their material, hone their pitches, and focus their careers.Since launching, Jen has worked with over 350 writers working in television, features and novels. Twenty-Two of her clients have staffed as writers on television shows and two have sold pilots that went to series. In 2008, Jen was hired to be the Writing Instructor for NBC’s Writers on the Verge. Jen is also a blogger for The Huffington Post. Jen wrote Story Line: Finding The Gold In Your Life Story in 2010. It is being published by Michael Wiese Productions and will be out in March of 2011 Jen also wroteTV Writing Tool Kit: How To Write A Script That Sells. It is a compilation of her 5 top selling workbooks. jengrisanticonsultancy.com |
Linda Cowgill
"The Emotional Pattern of Plot"
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Linda Cowgill presents THE ART OF PLOTTING & WRITING THE GREAT SHORT seminars, and has written feature films and television. Currently, she heads the screenwriting department at the Los Angeles Film School. She has taught classes at the American Film Institute, the Kennedy Center, the Boston Film Institute, and Loyola Marymount University. Her books include The Art of Plotting, Secrets of Screenplay Structure and Writing Short Films.
Books, by Linda Cowgill The Art Of Plotting Writing Short Films Secrets of Screenplay Structure Articles, by Linda Cowgill Preparations & Consequences: Ways to Incorporate Emotion into the Plot Expert Article: The Art of Plotting The Emotional Pattern of Plot Plotting Along http://www.storylink.com/profile/ljcowgill |
Devorah Cutler Rubenstein
"How to Avoid Cliches in Novels, Screenplays and Other Writing: Crafting Non-Sterotypical Characters That Sell"
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Great stories may come from the heart but sometimes they must first go through hell in order to get made. With that in mind, Devorah Cutler and husband Scott Rubenstein started Noble House Entertainment with the express purpose of keeping those stories from getting stuck somewhere in between. Since founding the company in 1992, they’ve been splitting their time equally between developing great scripts for both indie and major markets and coaching a whole new generation of storytellers in the craft.
“Devo” Cutler-Rubenstein was Director of Literary Affairs for Columbia Pictures Television and Exec Produced the feature film THE SUBSTITUTE starring Tom Berenger and HBO’S SUBSTITUTE 2 starring Treat Williams. She’s currently in negotiations to reboot the franchise for Sub 5. She co-wrote and directed PEACOCK BLUES for Showtime Entertainment. Starring Bill Forsythe and Poppy Montgomery, it won best short and Audience Favorite at Moon dance Int’l Film Festival. Her doc NOT ARFAID TO LAUGH, about using humor to heal, was nominated for aPeabody and won the Award of Distinction from the Communicator Awards and was selected to be archived in the Museum of Broadcasting. A member of WGAw, her material has been optioned and/or produced by Columbia Pictures, ABC, PBS, Showtime, Interscope among others. Most recently, she was hired to co-write and direct the feature e-Bride and created the reality pilot, Tattoo U, for FX Channel. As an adjunct professor at USC, she coaches writer-directors from around the world on short films. Her book WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA? WRITING SHORT FILMS is a university textbook, and her DVD, “The Insiders Guide to Film Financing” and her “Reality Presentation Development Packet” is sold through The Writers Store. Devo’s “Dating Your Character… Eight Steps to Writing Screenplays that Sell! The “edu-blog” features eight empowering steps to connecting with your character on the way to a marketable script or novel. It is featured on NATPE’s website – www/natpe.tv/blog/ The producer/writer/director is a committed writers coach who also conducts workshops around the world to help writers create career strategies through branding, marketing and brokering. www.thescriptbroker.com |
Marilyn R. Atlas
"Mastering the Art of Pitching Novels, Books, Teleplays and Screenplays"
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An award-winning producer and personal manager, Marilyn R. Atlas is equally at home in the worlds of film, television, and live theater. Among her credits as film producer are “Real Women Have Curves” for HBO, which won the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival, “A Certain Desire,” starring Sam Waterston, and “Echoes,” which won the Gold Award at the Texas International Film Festival. In addition to producing a variety of programming for the cable/ pay TV market, Marilyn has served as a production consultant on the film “CallMe.” She was also involved as a producer in the development of the MOW “Nightwalker” and “Playing for Keeps.”
In live theater, Marilyn co-produced the West Coast premiere of the musical “God Bless You Mr. Rosewater” by Ashman and Menken (the writers of both “Enchanted” and “Tangled”). She also co-produced the award-winning play “To Gillian on Her 37thBirthday,” which was made into a film starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Peter Gallagher. Her additional credits as a producer in live theater include “Today’s Special” and “As I Sing.” Earlier in her career, Marilyn served as Casting Director for feature films, including John Frankenheimer’s “The Equals” and “The Whiz.” She is a founding member of Women in Film’s Luminas Committee which supports the portrayal of women in non-stereotypical roles in film and television. Along with director and actress Dorothy Lyman, Marilyn founded ADT, a director’s theatre, and served on its advisory board. She has been a longtime member of NALIP, the National Association of Latino Independent Producers. Marilyn is working on a development slate (2010) that includes the pilot “MacArthurPark,” first developed for Showtime, and the sold pilot “Untitled Posse Project” to ABC Family. She set up the MOW “Bitterroot” at the Hallmark Channel and Starz. In addition to Marilyn’s film/TV credits, she has sold (first time) novels “Chasing the Jaguar” to HarperCollins, “Hungry Woman in Paris” to Grand Central Publishing, and the “Ave Maria Bed & Breakfast” to Hachette Publishing. Atlas is presently developing the feature “Lucy Luna” and the cable movie “Brides’ March” for Lifetime Television. Atlas is partnering with Broadway producer Chris Bensinger for the musical version of “Real Women.” She is also featured in the book “Write Now!” by Penguin/Tarcher Press. |