California Writers Club - Berkeley Branch

Join California's oldest writing club for a monthly 6-hour write-in with camaraderie and accountability!

WHERE: The Oakland Museum of California. The big beautiful building has a bigger and more beautiful garden with lots of seats and tables and places to write. Please choose any publicly accessible spot in the garden or in the Cafe. The host is usually in the cafe or the picnic benches by the water lilies pond. Check in with the host, who will likely have a CWC sign on the table.

HOW MUCH: This is a free event. While the museum charges a price for admission to the exhibits, there is no charge to use the Café or the gardens. Do buy lunch, drink, or something nice at the gift shop. We love OMCA!

WHEN: Second Saturdays, 12-5pm. Come for as little or as much of that time as you like. Find a space and write! Socialize respectfully! If someone is too busy to talk, no worries, shut up and write!

At 3:30 pm, we gather together so we can share what we have written. We usually meet behind the cafe, and the host will always check that spot if for some reason the reading location moves.

BRING: 1) your favorite writing tools, such as a pen and paper or a laptop, whatever is portable. 2) a warm jacket, blanket, or hoodie, if you chose to write outside in the spacious and glorious gardens in winter, or a hat and sunscreen in the summer. 3) a pillow or cushion, if that will make you more comfortable to sit and write, and 4) lunch money or a bag lunch/snacks to help you power through.

Join us for a mid-month writing retreat at the birthplace of the California Writers Club. The Ranger Station is open from 9am to 3:30pm, but you can come any time during the day. The park opens at dawn and closes at dusk and there are dozens of contemplative spaces to write in the park, surrounded by nature.

Look for other writers at the Ranger Station – inside or outside – at 9am, 12pm, and 3pm to make connections and share your work.

This event is sponsored by the California Writers Club. We offer a monthly speaker series on the craft and business of writing, numerous support and critique groups, and social events for networking and fellowship. We are made up of writers at all stages of our careers, writing in all genres and media, embracing the rich diversity of California Writers.

Poetrope meets online on the LAST MONDAY of every month for inspiration, perspiration, and association. We kick off the session by reading and discussing a published poem by a renowned author (but are open to considering lesser known poets). Then we write a poem or two. If there’s time, we talk about our experience during the writing.

Agenda:
8:30 - 9:00 - Read and Discuss a poem selected by the group
9:00 - 9:20 - Write a poem or poems
9:20 - 9:30 - Wrap-up, pick a poet/poem for next meeting

Poetrope meets online on the LAST MONDAY of every month for inspiration, perspiration, and association. We kick off the session by reading and discussing a published poem by a renowned author (but are open to considering lesser known poets). Then we write a poem or two. If there’s time, we talk about our experience during the writing.

7:00 - 7:30 - Read and Discuss published poem
7:30 - 7:50 - Write a poem or poems
7:50 - 8:00 - Wrap-up, pick a poet/poem for next meeting