Nina Schuyler, Author, November 18, 2023

Past Meetings / By

Nina Schuyler, award-winning novelist and short story writer, will present “Making Metaphors and Other Stylish Moves” at the Tri-Valley Writers November 18, 2023, meeting. Metaphors are like magical pleasure pills that help the reader see the world anew. The critic James Wood said metaphors float a rival reality; it’s the entire imaginative process in one move. The philosopher José Ortega y Gasset called them tools for creation which God forgot inside one of His creations.

To create metaphors, we need a different way to view the world, moving away from either/or, the binary, and finding connections and similarities between seemingly disparate things. In this meeting, you’ll do in-class writing, creating metaphors that are original, powerful, vivid, and even funny.

To augment this exploration, we’ll also consider three ways to grow sentences so they can contain metaphors and much more style.  By the end, you’ll have a much firmer grasp on how to make compelling, fresh metaphors and sentences that contain them.

Member Success

Member News / By

Constance Hanstedt’s entry, “Florian,” was awarded Honorable Mention in the Non-rhyming Poetry category of the 92nd Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition.

Chris Hennessy, Independent Filmmaker & Motivational Speaker, October 21, 2023

Past Meetings / By

Chris Hennessy will present “How to Build Your Writer’s Platform Using Storytelling Crossover Tips” at the Tri-Valley Writers October 21 meeting . Chris has been a full-time independent filmmaker, author, and speaker in Northern California since 1990. He serves on the board of directors at California Writers Club Sacramento Branch. In the presentation, attendees will learn

How to promote your book before, during, or after writing to create buzz.
Unique, simple, stand-out social media marketing tips to get known.
How and why to incorporate film/video into your writing projects.
How to make your book into a feature film (big screen, Netflix, etc.).
How to motivate yourself and others to create, write, and perform happily at your highest ability.

A. L. Kucherenko, Author, September 16, 2023

Past Meetings / By

A. L. Kucherenko will present “Crotches, Crucks, and Crutches” at the Tri-Valley Writers September 16, 2023, meeting. Learn how to entice readers to linger in your fictional world with your imaginary characters. Most authors face the convergence of characters and readers. Characters inhabit their own skins and are shaped by their environment. They make choices, express attitudes, and bear certain responsibilities consistent with their cosmos. So do readers, who bring their experiences and expectations into our stories.

A. L. Kucherenko uses examples from her work to illustrate the delicate balance between authenticity and accuracy and how character and reader worldviews mesh to create an environment for her characters that her readers can embrace.

Member Success

Member News / By

Pamela Pan has several successes: Her two poems, “A Song for a Strong Soul” and “My Home City,” have been accepted for publication in the Tuleburg Poetry Anthology. Her short story, “Baba’s Accordion” and poem, “Farmer’s Market,” have been accepted for publication in the Great Valley Stories anthology. Her flash memoir, “Not a Soft Persimmon,” won Honorable Mention in the Flash Memoir Contest by Writer Advice. And her poem “Summer Nights” has been accepted for publication in Redwood 2023 Poetry Anthology, Phases.

Members Published in LPC 2023 Havik

Member News / By

Six TVW members were published in Las Positas College’s 2023 anthology, Havik Cacophony.

Ida Marie Beck with 3 poems: “The Butterfly Effect,” “Not So Lonely,” and “Pacific Sunset.”

Patricia Boyle with 3 poems: “Musings Amidst a Drought”, “Soap Bubble,” and “Chance Encounter.”

Linda Drattell with 1 poem; “Respite From an Unmade Bed.”

James Morehead with 2 poems: “The caption doesn’t mention her gilded frame” and “The Tock Beneath My Scalp.”

Monique Richardson with 2 poems: “Winter Moon” and “What She Did in Her Room When No One Was Looking” 4and 4 art pieces: “Lyrical Leaves,” “Rainbow Valley,” “Sapphire Sky,” and “Rose of Blue.”

Eunhee Soh with 1 poem: “Still Under the Fig Tree,” which won First Place in the poem category.

Congratulations to all our members who submitted and were published.

Member Success

Member News / By

Monique Rardin Richardson’s  poem “We’ll Always Have The Moon” was published in Wingless Dreamer’s Dulce Poetica anthology. Her poem “Now She Knows” will be published in the Wingless Dreamer’s Poetry on Life anthology.