By: Paula Treick DeBoard
Even if we can’t quite taste it yet… fall is almost here. We’re just around the corner from cozy cardigans, cups of tea and curling up to read a book. Or maybe – write a book?
Our Bookish Write Club, led by local writer and business owner Julia Washington, has been meeting every other week for the last few months. The next meeting is Tuesday, September 2 @ 7pm, and then we’ll take a hiatus to prepare for our version of November’s novel writing month, which we fondly call “Novelish.” If you’re a writer (whether seasoned or just dipping your toe into the waters), we’d love to connect with you! Watch Bookish Modesto’s social media and website for more information and let’s get ready for some serious writing in November!
Second Tuesday Poetry, sponsored by Modesto-Stanislaus Poetry Center, continues to be a vibrant community space. After the featured keynote speakers (last month, it was Modesto’s poet laureate Angela Drew and Stanislaus County’s youth poet laureate Valentina Zeff), join us for a lively open mic! We love hearing your new work! The next reading is at Tuesday, September 9 at 7 p.m.
Historical fiction writers, we’re thrilled to announce a three-part workshop series to help you get your idea off the ground and onto paper (or, your computer screen). Facilitated by Paper Lantern Writers, a historical fiction writing group, and sponsored in part by Modesto Artists’ Movement, the series features writers Edie Cay, Vanitha Sankaran, Linda Ulleseit and Anne M. Beggs who will guide you through researching your novel, digging into the historical world of the novel, and expanding on history in your writing. Edie Cay says that the workshops are for all levels of writers – those just getting started, and those who might feel stuck in their project. And for that matter, the material could benefit writers in other genres as well. While writing is often seen as a solitary activity, there’s strength in making connections with other folks who are working on creative projects. “Even having a group of writers to whine about the minutiae of the career–the strangeness of some reviews, the anxiety of the night before a release, or even asking around for the best pen to use for signing books is a necessity for longevity,” Cay says. Looking to dig into your project, sharpen your skills and join a community of writers? Visit www.bookishmodesto.com/events<www.bookishmodesto.com/events> for info on this conference and a link to purchase tickets.
