Mt. Diablo Branch, California Writers Club Meetup

Enjoy a social, in-person event at a local restaurant. Chicken Pie Shop in Walnut Creek has a large, open dining area with distinct areas which can be utilized depending on the size of our group. One area includes a small stage and audio setup.

We will meet for lunch at 12:00, start reading no later than 1:00, and finish around 2:00.

Ordering food or drinks is up to each attendee and is not required. We encourage everyone to support the venue as much as possible.

Readers will have 5 minutes to read, with two minutes for Q&A.

This event is open to the public.

Register online at https://cwcmtdiablo.org/register-for-open-mic-night/

Polishing your Work for Publication
featuring Ally Machate
On screen from New York!

Each year, more than a million new titles are published by traditional and self-publishers. Every writer knows—or soon learns—that it takes multiple revisions to create a piece ready to compete for book buyers’ attention. This talk will introduce you to the most common problems that plague written works and offer simple ways to identify and resolve them in your own draft. You’ll receive tips on improving your work to keep readers’ attention, polishing your manuscript at the technical level, and getting objective feedback before you submit or go to press.

What you will learn:

**Why it’s so crucial that your manuscript be as clean, properly formatted, and well-written as possible before submitting.
**How to identify and resolve some of the most common problems plaguing modern manuscripts, including things like inauthentic dialogue, ineffective use of nouns and verbs, and awkward rhythm, as well as classic advice such as “show, don’t tell” and avoiding passive voice.
**Why it’s so essential that writers, especially beginners, seek out objective feedback and tips on how to get it.

Ally Machate is on a mission to help authors make great books and reach more readers. A bestselling author and expert publishing consultant, Ally has served small and “Big Five” publishers, including Simon & Schuster, where she acquired and edited books on staff. Her clients include authors with such companies as Simon & Schuster, Penguin Random House, Rodale Inc., Chronicle Books, Kaplan Publishing, Sourcebooks, and Hay House, as well as independently published bestsellers. Ally leads a diversified team of professionals who specialize in helping serious authors to write, publish, and sell more high-quality books. Learn more at www.thewritersally.com.

REGISTER ONLINE AT: https://cwcmtdiablo.org/current-cwc-mt-diablo-meeting/

This meeting is both in-person and on Zoom. When registering, you must choose how you want to attend.

Meeting Cost In Person (includes lunch):
$25 CWC Members (any branch)
$35 Non-CWC-Members

Meeting Cost Online (Zoom):
$10 CWC Members
$15 Non-CWC-Members

PayPal or Credit/Debit Card Only

Schedule
11:00 – 11:15 – Check In
11:15 – 11:45 – Writers Table (Craft discussion)
12:00 – 12:45 – Lunch
12:45 – 1:00 – Business Meeting
1:00 – 2:00 – Speaker