Past Meetings
February 27 – Janet Periat: Power up Your Presentation!
SV-RWA chapter member Janet Periat will lead this fun, interactive workshop designed to help Magic Bulldozer presenters, speakers and writers add punch to their presentations and readings. Using her theatre background, Janet will teach basic performance essentials to help writers overcome their anxiety and give dynamic presentations. Bring a first page to read and Janet will show you how to knock ‘em dead with your next reading.
Bio:
After achieving a BA in theatre from UC Santa Cruz, Janet Periat became a writer. She has five erotic romance novels published under the penname Michelle Carlyle. Under her own name, she writes a monthly humor column for CoastViews magazine and sells reprints to Funny Times, a national humor magazine. When she’s not writing, Janet sculpts strange creatures and hikes. She’s been married since the dawn of civilization to Frank and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. For more about her work, go to www.janetperiat.com.
January 23rd – Donald Maass (All Day Workshop)
The Silicon Valley, Sacramento Valley Rose, Black Diamond and Monterey Chapters of RWA® present:
THE FIRE IN FICTION – passion, purpose and techniques to make your novel great.
Where: Sunnyvale Sheraton Hotel, 1100 North Mathilda Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94089 (if you’d like to stay at the hotel, see group rate and instructions below, or click on hotel)
Cost for members*: $100
Cost for non-members: $150 (registration begins November 1st for non-members)
* must be a member of Silicon Valley, Sacramento Valley Rose, Black Diamond, or Monterey chapters of the Romance Writers of America®
About the workshop: In this intensive 8 hour-workshop, New York literary agent Don Maass reveals the techniques of master novelists.
• How do powerful storytellers consistently make their protagonists, plots and passion irresistible?
• How do the worlds of their stories become places you hate to leave?
• How do they compel you to read EVERY word?
This hands-on workshop teaches you how to apply master techniques to your fiction. Through lively discussion and structured writing exercises on your work-in-progress, you’ll learn to identify and harness your passions, tap into your emotions and personal experiences, all while best serving your story and your reader.
– Based on Mr. Maass’s latest book THE FIRE IN FICTION from Writers Digest Books (May 2009).
Attendees should bring a WIP, writing instruments and a lot of energy.
Conference Fee includes:
• 8-Hour Workshop by Donald Maass
• Continental Breakfast w/coffee
• Buffet Lunch
• Afternoon coffee and snacks
• PLUS…attendees will be given a special opportunity to submit the first 50 pages of their manuscript to the Maass Agency.
2009
December 12 – Holiday Party
November 21 – Shelley Bates w/a Shelley Adina – Split Personality: Writing for More Than One Market
Thinking about using a pseudonym? Writing for more than one publisher? Or writing in two different markets? Shelley Bates, who writes YA fiction as Shelley Adina, discusses the pros and cons of the dual identity, how it affects your marketing budget, and how to manage your time in order to satisfy the demands of two readerships.
Bio:
RITA Award winning author Shelley Bates has published 17 novels with Harlequin and Warner/Hachette since 2003. Her most recent release as Shelley Adina was Tidings of Great Boys, a YA novel, in September 2009. In her day job, she is a freelance editor and when she’s not writing, she enjoys music, making period costumes, and catering to her flock of rescue chickens.
October 24 – Sophie Littlefield and Tim Maleeny: Action for Every Scene: Keep Them Turning the Pages
The workshop will be interactive and participants will be completing exercises based on the manuscript they are currently working on. No stress though! The ideas work for those who are just beginning a novel as well as those who are revising a completed work. All that’s required is a pen or pencil – Sophie and Tim will bring the rest!
SOPHIE LITTLEFIELD’s first novel, A Bad Day for Sorry (St. Martins Minotaur, August 2009) features a rural Missouri housewife-turned-vigilante. Banished, a paranormal young adult novel, will be published by Delacorte in 2010. Sophie’s award-winning short stories have appeared in a variety of ‘zines and anthologies. She lives in Northern California with her family. Find out more at www.sophielittlefield.com.
“TIM MALEENY gives readers a fresh and fast take that enthralls,” says Crimespree Magazine. He is the award-winning author of a series of books known for their twisted plots and mysterious titles, including Stealing The Dragon, Beating The Babushka, and Greasing The Piñata. Publishers Weekly declares, “Maleeny smoothly mixes wry humor and a serious plot without sacrificing either.” A standalone novel called Jump came out in June 2009. Tim lives in San Francisco and can be found online at www.timmaleeny.com.
September 26 – Beth Barany, Creative Consultant to Writers: Social Networking for Authors: A Marketing Tool or a Waste of Time
August 22 – Recapping Nationals
Join us to talk about the national conference!
June 27 – Ellen Higuchi, Michelle Walker and more!
The Care and Feeding of Booksellers – Join these romance-loving Borders booksellers to hear what they and faithful readers love, hate, etc.
May 1-3: Writers Weekend Conference
The Conference was a success! Thank you to all of our speakers, agents and keynotes! And to the wonderful volunteers who made the conference possible!
March 28th: Goals, Groups and Going Forward
There is power in numbers. Silicon Valley Chapter is growing, which means we have lots more creative talent concentrated in one great place. But as we’re growing, maybe we haven’t had the chance to connect with all the new faces around us. For our first spring meeting, let’s get together, get to know each other and get a head start on making and meeting our writing goals. Looking to find brainstorming buddies or critique partners or both? Here’s the perfect chance to organize. Whether you’re one of our oldies but goodies or a complete newbie, come and share your unique voice and talents to make us all greater.
Contests and prizes will also be held. Come join us!
Febuary 28th: Robin Perini and Laura Baker – Discovering Story Magic Plotting Workshop
Registration ended Monday, February 23rd. No registrations at the door, sorry!
Fee includes:
AM Beverage Break
* Regular and Decafe Coffee
* Hot Tea
* Orange juice
AM Break
* Sliced Fresh Fruit
* Coffee and Tea refreshed
Lunch
* Bread and butter
* Green Salad with choice of dressing
* Two options:
o Grilled Vegetable Pasta – seasonal grilled vegetables tossed with penne pasta in a roasted garlic tomato basil sauce and romano cheese.
o Rosemary Garlic Chicken- grilled breast of chicken served with herb reduction, oven- roasted red potatoes and fresh vegetables.
* Coffee, Hot tea and Iced Tea
PM Break
* (Dessert from Lunch) Dessert – Carrot Cake or chocolate fudge cake
* Whole Fresh Fruit
* Coffee and Hot Tea refreshed.
Schedule of Events: Robin asks that you please watch the movie Jerry McGuire before you come!
8:00 Check-in, coffee/juice (no breakfast), brief business meeting
8:30 Session 1
10:00 Break, snack
10:30 Session 2
12:00 Lunch
12:45 Book raffle
1:00 Session 3
2::45 Break and dessert
3:00-5:00 Overview and Q/A
January 24th: Jami Alden and Bella Andre – The Care and Feeding of Critique Partners
Jami Alden and Bella Andre have worked together as critique partners for five years. During that time, they’ve sold 20 books. In this workshop, they talk about how their CP relationship began, what it was like in the beginning years/books, and how it’s changed over the years. They also discuss how to figure out whether it’s right for you. They will cover:
• The definition of a CP relationship
• How to find compatible CPs
• What it was like for Jami, Bella (& their third CP Monica McCarty) in the beginning
• How their CP relationship has changed over the year/ The benefits of having CPs?
• The downsides of having CPs?
As a bonus, Jami and Bella will also talk about the current state of the romance market – and will share what their agents, editors and multi-published friends have told them about selling books and getting noticed.
BIO’S
Jami Alden is the Holt Medallion nominated author of Delicious, Private Party, and A Taste of Honey, as well as several novellas under Kensington’s Aphrodisia imprint. Private Party was chosen by Cosmopolitan Magazine as a Red Hot Read for their November 2007 issue. Jami is currently working on a sexy romantic suspense series for Kensington Brava. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her socially well adjusted alpha male husband, her sons, and two dogs that patiently listen to dialog and help her work out plot points. www.JamiAlden.com
Since getting “the call” in 2004, Bella Andre has sold twelve books. The first book in her Bad Boys of Football series from Pocket, GAME FOR ANYTHING, was the August 2008 Red Hot Read for Cosmopolitan Magazine. The first two books in her MEN OF FIRE romantic suspense series from Bantam Dell about elite firefighters who are the Navy SEALS of firefighters will be out in May 2009 (WILD HEAT) and December 2009 (HOT AS SIN). Before writing romance, Bella got an Econ degree from Stanford and was a Feng Shui consultant. www.BellaAndre.com
2008
December 20th: Holiday Party
The annual SVRWA Holiday Party!!!
November 15th: SVRWA Author hosted “Plotting Brainstorm” session.
Come prepared to brainstorm your current WIP and or plot an entirely new story! Plotting session will be lead by published authors in the chapter, and anyone who has completed a whole book. Tell us how you do it!
SEX ON THE PAGE – Understanding and Crafting Sexual Tension
How do you write great sexual tension whether you write Regencies or Erotica or somewhere in between? Why is it some authors can make you cheer and commiserate and ache as their characters take their perilous journeys toward intimacy and others leave you feeling ho hum? Mary Buckham combines examples from outstanding Romance authors with an in depth analysis of the 12 stages of intimacy, findings in behavioral science and the power of biology to better understand and incorporate sexual tension in your own writing.
PACING – How to create page-turning manuscripts
What keeps a book intriguing enough to have fans turn the pages and not set it down? How can one author’s books have you riveted and another’s leave you feeling ho-hum? Ever wondered if there are key craft tips and techniques to balance fast-paced conflict, tension, suspense or mystery, action and emotion? In this course you will learn:
* The ingredients of a page-turner
* What hooks are and how to maximise them
* The power of effective scenes
* Common pacing pitfalls to avoid
* The ten elements of strong pacing
* How to use subplots and secondary characters
* How to avoid a sagging middle
* Great beginnings and endings that have your readers wanting more!
Bio:
Mary Buckham’s latest release, INVISIBLE RECRUIT, was a May 2006 Silhouette Bombshell, that earned reviews such as “sizzling”, “page-turning tension” and “Can’t put it down”. Currently Mary is working on a Thriller series set in Seattle’s Pike Place Market. She has hundreds of free-lance articles to her credit, a non-fiction book and is a former Magazine Editor. Mary offers a one-on-one synopsis service to help writers, both published and unpublished creating selling synopses and query letters. She is also a national writer workshop presenter both on-line and at workshops around the country. In her spare time Mary is one of the co-founders and driving force behind www.WriterUniv.com, an online workshop venue offering aspiring writers courses taught by authors and industry professionals. Mary encourages you to visit her website at www.MaryBuckham.com for more information about her, her appearances and workshops and her current writing projects.
September 27th: Lynna Banning – First Paragraph Reads
Bring your first three pages for a chapter-wide critique led by Lynna Banning!
Also – bring in an EXTRA copy of just page 1, plus a highlighter of some sort…Lynna has a special exercise planned!
August 23rd: Kathrynn Dennis – A Writer’s Collaging Workshop
In August, we’ll have our usual member report on events and happenings from nationals, and then move into our regular program. Chapter president Kathrynn Dennis has volunteered to lead a Writer’s Collaging Workshop.
What’s a collaging workshop? Collaging is a way for writers to inspire our muse, to use visual cues to hone in on the theme of our latest WIP’s. In the tradition of Barbara Hannay, Jenny Crusie, Susan Wiggs and Jo Beverly, we will explore the art of collage as an effective pre-writing tool.
Bring a pile of old magazines to share, a glue stick, scissors and poster board or paper backing. We’ll build our collages, gab and get to know each other. Anne Lum is working on getting us a room with more table space. If you have an example of a writer’s collage, please bring it to the meeting and show it off!
June 28: Kay Kostopoulos – getting into character – learning how to do it!
Have you ever had trouble getting “into your character” so that you could write a more realistic hero/heroine? I sure have. It’s easy to picture your character from a distance like watching actors on a movie screen, but that doesn’t take us into deep POV and can often lead to the problem of making all your characters sound the same—like you. I’ve often wondered how actors “get into character”. For example, how does Johnny Depp become Captain Jack Sparrow ?
On June 28th, Kay Kostopoulos Amarotico, a drama instructor at Stanford University will give take us into the world of acting.
In this workshop, writers will examine and participate in the actors’ process in creation of a role for the theatre, and learn how acting techniques may be applied for the writer.
We will work on character exploration, with a focus on objective, obstacle and action; becoming familiar with such acting terms as: Given Circumstances, Personalization, Empathy, Secondary Activity, and Specificity. In-class activities will include acting games and exercises, some of which are designed to prepare the voice, the body, and the mind to take unfamiliar forms.
Bio:
Please see Kay’s bio here!
May 17: Laurie Schnebly Campbell – Q is for Query AND Mix and Match Motivation
Q Is For Query, A Is For Aaaack!
No writer can get far without the most fundamental tool of selling their work: an effective query letter. Yet it’s frequently a source of dread for writers who create lyrical fiction, yet panic at the idea of creating a sales pitch. Laurie Schnebly Campbell brings 25 years of advertising experience to identifying what makes people want a product — any product — and how to convince them YOURS is the one they want.
Mix & Match Motivation
The heart of GMC is motivation, and all too often it’s underrated. The deeper you go for a character’s motivation, the more interesting the character becomes. So what’ll make your characters do plausible, interesting things that keep the story moving? That’s what this class is about — developing a hero & heroine who’ll create a plot from WHATEVER happens, because their motivation is built in right from the start.
Bio:
Laurie Schnebly Campbell loves speaking to writers about issues that draw on her background as a counseling therapist, advertising copywriter, and romance novelist who beat out Nora Roberts for “Best Special Edition of the Year.” 
Along with how-to books for authors, Laurie writes scripts for commercials (some featuring her voice) at a Phoenix ad agency. She also enjoys teaching a catechism class, playing with her husband and son, and counseling at a mental health center. “People ask how I find time to do all that,” Laurie says, “and I tell them it’s easy. I never clean my house!”
April 26: Jenn Stark – Branding
Ever wonder how best to describe you and your writing in a short, snappy way that will quickly catch the attention of agents, editors, and readers? Jenn makes finding your brand easy and fun. Scroll down to see all of the workshop details below!
Workshop Fee: $65 for members and $75 for guests. Sign up to be an SVRWA member on the day of the workshop and the $10 difference for the guest rate will be applied toward the membership dues.
In order to give a headcount to the Sheraton Hotel for the room size and the lunches, payment, accompanied by your lunch choice and email address, must be POSTMARKED by Friday, April 18th and mailed to the address below. Sorry, we cannot accept walk-in registrations at the door. If you would like confirmation of your check and attendance send an e-mail to mottahary@yahoo.com and Christine will let you know when she receives payment. If you do not e-mail Christine, you will not receive active confirmation.
Send your check to:
SVRWA
Attn: Christine Grissom
3667 Mona Way
San Jose, CA 95130
No reservations at the door.
Fee includes a special packet for each attendee and the following:
AM — coffee/decaf/tea and juice service only —- please eat breakfast before coming to the workshop!
AM Snack — granola bars, protein bars, and cut fruit
Lunch (RSVP must include an option otherwise the default will be the chicken caesar salad)
Option 1: Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad — crisp lettuce topped with a grilled boneless breast of chicken, parmesan cheese, and home-style croutons in a creamy homemade caesar dressing.
Option 2: Penne Pasta with Tomato Sauce (Vegetarian Option)
Above meal will be served with rolls and butter. Paradise Iced Tea will be the lunch beverage.
PM Snack — brownies, lemon bars, and whole fruit
Schedule of Events:
8:00 Check-in, coffee/juice (no breakfast), brief business meeting
8:30 Session 1: Branding Overview, Core Brand, Shadow Brand
10:00 Break, snack (granola bars)
10:30 Session 2: Industry Brand and Using your Industry Brand as a writer
12:00 Lunch
12:45 Book raffle
1:00 Session 3 Writing Brand, Slogan
2::45 Break and dessert
3:00-5:00 Writing Brand/Slogan, continued, Brand Strategy overview and Q/A
PRE-SESSION EXERCISE: Research writer/author websites and note what you like and dislike about those sites.
WORKSHOP DETAILS:
Personal Branding Power Pack: Understanding, Creating, and Capitalizing on YOUR Personal Brands
Ever wonder how best to describe you and your writing in a short, snappy way that will quickly catch the attention of agents, editors, and readers?
Join Personal Branding Expert Jenn Stark as she presents a full-day seminar that’s all about YOU. With step by step guidance to help you identify your Core Brand, Shadow Brand and the all important Writing and Industry Brands, you’ll take away an action plan to help you make the most of your marketing efforts as a professional author.
What is a Personal Brand and why should I care about mine?
• How can I maximize the impact of my Personal Brand?
• When do I need a Personal Brand?
• How can my Personal Brand assist me in working with the media?
• What should I keep in mind when I consider changing my Personal Brand?
• How can I present my Personal Brand effectively with my marketing materials?
• Is my Personal Brand about me… my books… or both?
• What are the elements of a Personal Brand?
• How can I use my Personal Brand when I pitch or query my book?
• Why is a Personal Brand disconnect potentially deadly to my career?
The Personal Branding Power Pack supercharges your Branding work with these interactive sessions:
Session 1: Branding Overview, Your Core Brand and Your Shadow Brand
Session 2: Your Industry Brand and Using your Industry Brand as a writer
Session 3: Developing your Writing Brand and Slogan
Session 4: Developing your Writing Brand/Slogan, cont. + Creating a Customized Brand Strategy for You
A.M. Branding Overview, Development of Core Brand, Shadow Brand and Brand Goals. This is a more personalized process, where folks will be working individually to hone their Brand Decisioning skills.
P.M. Brand Development: Writing and Industry Brands, Slogans and Brand Strategy. This will be done in both full group and small breakout-group formats, with Jenn walking around and working with each of the sub groups after an explanation is given for each section.
Bio:
Jenn Stark brings a practical, accessible approach to Personal Branding to help authors at every level present themselves for maximum impact. A vice president of marketing and communications with fourteen years’ experience and a published freelance business writer, Jenn now serves as president of the Ohio Valley Romance Writers of America, and has also served as the chapter’s publicity director, promoting chapter and author events. She is an invited speaker and instructor on Personal Branding and public relations topics, and has worked with several authors one-on-one to help develop their Personal Brands and publicity materials. Her articles on Personal Branding have been featured in the newsletters and online loops of 29 writing chapters in the U.S. and Canada. She can be reached at jenn@knowyourbrand.com
March 29: Rae Monet – Characterization of your true live FBI hero/heroine
Do you wonder what your FBI law enforcement hero/heroine should act like? What type of equipment they wear? What type of gun they carry? What type of regulations, laws and procedures bind them?
Bio:
Rae Monet is a multi-published, national award winning, sensual romance author, former Air Force Office of Special Investigations, former FBI Agent, who worked Violent Crimes Major Offenders and the Cyber Squad. Rae has done her homework. She has a BA, MA in business. Rae is also a member of www.RomVets.com, (former military authors who now write romance). To top it all off, Rae is a licensed PI in the state of California. Rae speaks frequently at national conferences and workshops about the characterization of the FBI law-enforcement hero/heroine.
February 23: Teresa Bodwell – Legal Issues for Writers
Legal Issues for Writers: An author’s guide to protecting your rights and avoiding liability
Disclaimer: This workshop is not intended as legal advice, nor is it intended to create an attorney-client relationship between Teresa and any participant.
Topics:
Copyright Basics:
• The Bouquet of Rights. What are you really selling when you sell your book?
• Great idea! Are you infringing if you use it? When is a work protected?
• Infringement – what’s the difference between plagiarism and infringement? When is copying permitted?
• The Internet. Infringement at the speed of light. What is fair to use on your website? What is the copyright status of your posts on message boards?
Trademark:
What about using product names in fiction? Get ready to strap on those inline skates and don’t forget to bring your portable music device for some tunes while you roll down the street. Runny nose? Use some facial tissues. And when you’re thirsty, have a nice cold soda.
Defamation, privacy and the right of publicity:
How a fiction writer can get in trouble by making her story ring true.
The warranty clause: Or, I’m promising what?
The work is:
• Original
• Does not infringe
• The Publisher may rely upon the representations in dealings with any third party
January 26: Linda Wisdom – How to survive in this business over the years.
Laurie McLean, Linda Wisdom’s agent from San Francisco’s Larsen Pomada Literary Agency will also attend and take pitches!
Bios:
Linda Wisdom is a native Californian. She majored in Journalism in college then switched her major to Fashion Merchandising when she was told there was no future for her in fiction writing. She held a variety of positions ranging from retail sales to executive secretary in advertising and working as a corporate recruiter.
Her career began when she sold her first two novels to Silhouette Romance on her wedding anniversary in 1979. Since then she has sold more than seventy novels and two novellas to six different publishers. Her books have appeared on various romance and mass market bestsell
