Southern California Daily Calendar

Southern California Workshops & Classes

Updated January 6, 2008--check back for more listings

To update or add a listing, please e-mail calendar@poetryflash.org

LOS ANGELES & ORANGE COUNTIES V	SAN DIEGO COUNTY & RIVERSIDE COUNTY V
SAN LUIS OBISPO SANTA BARBARA/VENTURA V	ONLINE WORKSHOPS V

LOS ANGELES & ORANGE COUNTIES

• Beyond Baroque Literary/Arts Center in Venice hosts ongoing workshops, since 1969, bring copies of your work. Tuesday Night Creative Nonfiction Workshop, bring works of creative nonfiction, memoir, and prose, with Willie Marquez, free, 8:00. Wednesday Night Poetry Workshop, free, with Brendan Constantine, 8:00. Thursday Alternative Screenplay Workshop, documentary, narrative, art film scripts, actor readings, independent projects only, with Peter Coogan, free, 8:00. Saturday Afternoon Poetry Workshop, bring a poem and ten copies, with Bob Foster, free, 1:30. 4th Saturday Morning Prose & Poetry Workshop, workshop for publication, bring ten copies, with Annette Robinson, free, 11:00 a.m. Beyond Baroque Literary/Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice, (310) 822-3006, www.beyondbaroque.org.

• Terrie Silverman, MFA in Creative Writing, performer, poet, and playwright, offers Creative Rites: Workshops for Writing, Performance, and Creative Expression. Truth, Lies, & Memory: Creating The One-Person Show, Life Stories Workshop, ten-week sessions. Play! five-week session. Monday: Play!, West LA, 7:00; Tuesday: Life Stories, LA, noon; Wednesday: Life Stories, West LA, 7:00; Thursday: Life Stories, Pasadena, noon. Saturday, ten-week session: Life Stories, Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center, Venice, 10:30 a.m.-1:30; Sunday, ten-week session: Life Stories, Beyond Baroque, Venice, 11:00 a.m.-2:00, $375. Life Stories Performance Workshop at Beyond Baroque culminates in a work-in-progress performance. Information: www.creativerites.com, (310) 281-3175.

• Writers At Work, a creative writing community in Silverlake, LA, offers workshops with poet, novelist, and memoirist Terry Wolverton. Poets At Work, all levels, ongoing, Saturdays, 10:00 a.m.-noon. The workshop will provide participants with a deeper grounding in the craft of poetry, opportunities to create new work, encouragement and feedback. Cost: $100 per month. Crafting the Story, intermediate, ongoing, Saturdays, noon-2:00, $120 per month. One Page at a Time: Writing the Book-Length Work, intermediate to advanced, ongoing, Tuesdays, 7:00-9:00, $120 per month. Women at Work, intermediate, ongoing, Thursdays, 7:00-10:00, $120 per month. Meditation for Transformation, Wednesdays, 8:15 a.m.-9:00 a.m., Silverlake Yoga, 2810-1/2 Glendale Blvd., LA, $5 donation, meditation for clarity, stress reduction, and keeping the creative channel open. Plus, December 30: One-session workshop, Setting Your Writing Goals for 2008, with Terry Wolverton, 2:00-5:00, pre-registration required, $35. For all classes, send a sample of your work and a check for the first month's tuition (the check will not be cashed until you officially join) to: Writers At Work, 4022 Fountain Avenue, Suite 202, Los Angeles, CA 90029, (323) 661-5954, wtrsatwork@aol.com, www.writersatwork.com.

• Skylight Books Discussion Groups welcome new members. For details about Skylight book groups and groups in the area, e-mail emily@skylightbooks.com,, or see www.skylightbooks.com. Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Avenue, LA, (323) 660-1175.

• Poet and long-time poetry teacher Laurel Ann Bogen leads a Master Class in Poetry, Sundays, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 in West Los Angeles. These workshops have been meeting weekly since 1989, and its alumni have won national contests and fellowships. You must make a three month commitment; $25 a class. Submit a manuscript of no more than six poems to labogen@verizon.net. E-mail is preferable, or mail to: 1221 Amherst Ave. #7, Los Angeles, CA 90025. Private students and individual consultations are also welcome, please inquire.

• Poetry Group: Poetry & Verse, with Bill Robertson of Santa Monica's Emeritus College, bring copies of your poems, ongoing, every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m., free. Writing Group: Write On! with writer Debra L. Eckerling, free, ongoing, meets monthly, November 14, Wednesday, 7:00. Insight and tips for writers of all genres. Screenwriting meets bi-monthly, support for work in progress, November 18, 10:00 a.m. Barnes & Noble, 1201 Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica, (310) 260-9110.

• Poet and performance artist Kelly Morgan, facilitator for the Los Angeles Artist's Way Workshop, offers groups based on the best-selling book by Julia Cameron. Improvisational Workshop, 7:00, eleven Thursdays, $345. CreativeQuest, 7:00, ten Tuesdays, $355. Story Power begins winter 2008, ten Tuesdays, $355 (The Artist's Way is a prerequisite for this class.) For information: (310) 839-3424, www.creativelife.com.

• Poetry Workshop with Carine Topal, private home in Redondo Beach. Ongoing, Mondays evenings, 6:30-8:30. Writing exercises, discussions, critiquing in a small, supportive setting. Call (310) 809-8578.

• Mount Washington Writers' Workshop offers ongoing weekly writing workshops for fiction, literary nonfiction, and poetry. Writers of all levels on Monday or Tuesday evenings, 7:00-9:30. Fee: $325 for eight weeks. Class is limited to ten participants. There are also Writers' Marathons and one-day events. Mount Washington is ten minutes south of Pasadena and east of Silverlake in the mountains. Information: (323) 225-5633, or jdancova@sbcglobal.net.

• Marshall McLuhan-Finnegans Wake Reading Club meets first Monday of every month, free, 6:00-8:00. Media ecologist Gerry Fialka leads discussion on the insights of Marshall McLuhan, cultural critic, media theorist, and James Joyce, whose Finnegans Wake is read in the group. Discussions on Eric McLuhan, Joseph Campbell, Roland McHugh, others. Venice-Abbot Kinney Memorial Branch Library, 501 S. Venice Blvd., Venice, (310) 821-1769. Gerry Fialka, (310) 306-7330.

• Westside Writers usually meet every second Saturday, 11:00 a.m.-1:00. Venice Abbot Kinney Branch Library, 501 S. Venice Blvd., Venice. Everyone welcome. For information, call (310) 821-1769.

• Wordsmith Creative Writing Workshop presents Finding the Words in the Writer and the Writer in the Words, with poet, writer, fiction editor Lisa Marguerite Mora, Thursdays, January 10 to February 28, 2008. Cost $220 for eight weeks, 7:00-9:30, Electric Lodge, Venice. Improvisational writing exercises and critique. Contact: lisa@barringtoneditorial.com, www.barringtoneditorial.com.

• Creative Writing workshop: McGroaty Writer's Circle, for writers, editors, and wannabees, ongoing second and fourth Wednesdays, November 14 and 28, 7:00, Sunland-Tujunga Branch Library, 7771 Foothill Blvd., Tujunga (818) 352-4481, www.lapl.org/events.

• Mystery Book Club meets Mondays, 6:30, Playa Vista Branch Library, 6400 Playa Vista Drive, LA. Call for title and more dates, (310) 437-6680, www.lapl.org.

• Book Club meets first Tuesdays monthly, December 4, 10:30 a.m. Fairfax Branch Library, 161 S. Gardner Street, LA. Call for titles, (323) 936-6191, www.lapl.org.

• Mystery Book Club meets first Tuesdays, 6:30. Morning Book Club meets first Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m. Baldwin Hills Branch Library, 2906 S. La Brea Blvd., LA. Call for titles, (323) 733-1196.

• Book Discussion meets monthly, Saturday, 3:00-4:00. Mystery Book Club Book meets third Tuesdays, November 20, 6:30. Palms-Rancho Park Branch Library, 2920 Overland Avenue, LA. Call for dates and titles: (310) 840-2142, www.lapl.org.

• Robertson's Readers Book Club meets Wednesdays, 6:30. Robertson Branch Library, 1719 S. Robertson LA. Call for dates, titles: (310) 840-2147, www.lapl.org.

• Palisades Book Club meets fourth Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m., Palisades Branch Library, 861 Alma Real Drive, LA. Call for titles, (310) 459-2754, www.lapl.org.

• Los Feliz Book Group meets Saturdays, 11:00 a.m. Book Gossip, discussion, librarian suggestions and reviews, Wednesdays, 12:30-1:30. Los Feliz Branch Library, 1874 Hillhurst Avenue, LA. Call for titles, (323) 913-4710, www.lapl.org.

• Granada Hills Book Discussion meets Wednesdays, 1:30-3:00. Granada Hills Branch Library, 10640 Petit Avenue, Granada Hills. Call for titles, dates: (818) 368-5687, www.lapl.org.

• Mystery Book Club meets last Saturdays monthly, 11:00 a.m.-noon. November 24: Echo Park, by Michael Connelly. Book Club meets Saturdays, monthly, 11:00 a.m.-noon. Westwood Branch Library, 1246 Glendon Avenue, LA, (310) 474-1739, www.lapl.org.

• GetLit: Teen Poetry and Drama, just for teens, join the group and perform poetry and spoken word, Mondays, November 19, 26, December 3, 10, and 17, 4:00-6:00. Fairfax Branch Library, 161 S. Gardner Street, LA, (323) 936-6191, www.lapl.org.

• Atwater Book Club meets monthly, Tuesdays, November 13, December 11, 1:00-3:00. Atwater Village Branch Library, 3379 Glendale Blvd., LA. Call for titles: (323) 664-1353.

• Washington Irving Book Club meets monthly, Saturdays, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Washington Irving Branch Library, 4117 W. Washington Blvd., LA. For titles: (323) 734-6303, www.lapl.org.

• Felipe de Neve ALOUD Book Group meets fourth Wednesdays, November 28, 5:30-6:30. All welcome. Felipe de Neve Branch Library, 2820 West Sixth Street, LA. Call for titles: (213) 384-7676, www.lapl.org.

• World Stage Literary Series: Anansi Writers Workshop coordinated by Jawanza Dumisani, every Wednesday, $5, free parking. Workshop, 7:30, followed by a featured reader at 8:30 and open reading. Bring ten copies of your new or unfinished poems for feedback and your polished ones for the open reading; usually the work is poetry but other writing is welcome. World Stage, 4344 Degnan Blvd., LA, (323) 293-2451, www.theworldstage.org.

• UCLA Extension offers almost four hundred classes on Creative Writing (Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Playwriting, Screenwriting, Writing for Young People, Travel Writing, Publicity, Reporting, and Grant Writing), Writers Studio, and Screenwriting. Writers' Program information: (310) 825-9415, writers@uclaextension.edu, or visit www.uclaextension.edu/writers.

• Los Angeles Book Arts Center presents classes on book arts, artists books, 2265 Westwood Blvd., #274, LA, (310) 657-2626, www.labookarts.com.

• Writer's Arc is a nonprofit organization focused on promoting screenwriting as an art form by seeking out undiscovered talent and providing the assistance and practical experience they need to become successful screenwriters. The Writer's Arc, 8332 Melrose Avenue, Second Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90069, www.writersarc.org.

• Writing Pad, Silverlake Hills, offers ongoing free writing workshops to help with writer's block and set your pen free; all levels. Amherst Writers and Artists method, taught by Marilyn Friedman. Sample classes, $40, nine weekday evening sessions, $300, 7:30. Includes gourmet tasting plates and desserts. Contact: (323) 644-0779, www.writingpad.com.

• Wordspace writing workshops, create innovative new works for the page and stage at Wordspace, LA. Director: Brenda Varda, co-director: Aaron Henne; he returns in 2008 with a series of one-day seminars; e-mail wordstrut@hotmail.com. Call (213) 399-2006, or visit www.wordspace.net.

• The Writer's Workshop presents Saturday Writing Class, an ongoing workshop focusing on the fundamentals of creating great stories, with Allen Zadoff, television writer, filmmaker, and author of Hungry, a memoir. Saturdays, 9:00 a.m.-noon, at Writer's Workshop in Hollywood. Ongoing registration, $250 per month. For information, see www.allenzadoff.com. To register, call (310) 712-1290, or visit www.alanwatt.com.

• Diesel, A Bookstore offers a lively book club, meets monthly, Wednesday, 7:00. Diesel, A Bookstore, 53890 Cross Creek Road, Malibu, (310) 456-9961, diesel.booksense.com.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY & RIVERSIDE COUNTY

• Experimental Writing Workshop with April Durham, explores form, subject, voice, presentation, themes. New exercises, critique, in-class and outside reading. Four-week session, January 8-29, 2008, 7:00-9:00, $45. All levels, Small Wonder Foundation, 7101 Jurupa Avenue, #20, Riverside, www.smallwonderfound.org. To register, call (951) 687-4879.

• San Diego Writers Ink celebrates NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month, write a 50,000 novel in thirty days. NaNoWriMo Community Writing Time, November 18, 25, 1:00-5:00. End celebration and potluck, December 1, 7:30. Free. The Ink Spot, 710 13th Street, Studio 210. San Diego, www.sandiegowriters.org.

• San Diego Writers Ink one-day workshops. The Ink Spot, 710 13th Street, Studio 210, San Diego, www.sandiegowriters.org.

• San Diego Writers Ink presents Brown Bag Writing Group, Tuesdays, noon-1:00, $5, with novelist Amy Wallen, and writer/creativity consultant Jill Hall, at The Grove, Juniper and 30th, South Park, San Diego. Thursday Writers meet once a week, 5:10-6:00, $5, with writing teacher Judy Reeves and memoirist and fiction writer Steve Montgomery; Lestat's, 3343 Adams Avenue, Normal Heights, San Diego. Prose Read & Critique meets on first Mondays, 7:00-9:00. December 3: Amy Wallen leads; $10 per session, at The Ink Spot, 710 13th Street, Studio 210, San Diego. Poetry Read & Critique meets on second Mondays, 7:00-9:00, $10 per session, The Ink Spot, 710 13th Street, Studio 210, San Diego. The Ink Spot Cafe Writers Salon meets monthly, 7:00, at The Ink Spot. No registration required for these drop-in groups, www.sandiegowriters.org.

• San Diego Writers Ink presents Reeling and Writhing, Tuesdays, 1:15-3:15, $10 per session, with Jeanne Peterson. Small, ongoing peer group, not drop-in, submit five pages of your fiction, creative nonfiction or memoir to Jeanne Peterson, drjpmg@msn.com, (619) 952-8076. The Grove, Juniper and 30th, South Park, San Diego. www.sandiegowriters.org.

• Book Works Workshops: No Resolutions Writing Group with humorist/creativity coach Jill Badonsky, third Thursdays monthly, 7:00-9:00, $13 per class, call to reserve a seat at (760) 434-3436. Book Works, Flower Hill Promenade, 2670 Via De La Valle, Suite A230, Del Mar, (858)755-3735, www.book-works.com.

• Book Works reading groups meet monthly, free: Last Monday Nonfiction Book Group, 7:00. Third Friday Square Table International Group, 11:00 a.m. Third Saturday Meet-Up Group, 10:00 a.m. November 17: Candide by Voltaire. December 15: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. Fourth Tuesday Group, 7:00. Book Works, Flower Hill Promenade, 2670 Via De La Valle, Suite A230, Del Mar, (858)755-3735, www.book-works.com.

• Reading group with blog to read War and Peace by Tolstoy, the new paperback edition was released in October, read it and take part in the Book Soup party and discussion group on Sunday, December 16. Book Club also discusses: November 26: The Invention of Morel by Adolfo Bioy Casares. Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 7:00 (310) 659-3110, www.booksoup.com.

SAN LUIS OBISPO/SANTA BARBARA/VENTURA

• Poetry Workshops on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at Barnes & Noble, 4360 E. Main Street, Ventura, 7:00-9:00. Visit thetuesdaynightpoets.com. Information: e-mail: Estepr67@aol.com, (805) 320-3524.

• Ventura County Writers Club meets on the third Wednesday of each month. Participants may be asked to become Club members. E-mail: joylam@aol.com or elnomac@aol.com.

• Poemcrafters Guild, for more information send bio and sample of work to: 807 Camino Concordia, Camarillo, CA 93010. For information: (805) 491-3242.

ONLINE & INTERNET WORKSHOPS

• Experience annual National Novel Writing Month, November, write a 50,000 word novel in thirty days, online support, www.nanowritmo.org.

• Molly Fisk, Listening to Winter, winner of the 2005 Robinson Jeffers Tor House Prize, leads Poetry Boot Camp, an Internet writing workshop, $175. Write six poems, one each day for six days, and e-mail it to Molly Fisk and nine other participants for critique. Each day, participants write one poem, critique one poem, and receive two critiques. Boot Camps run Sunday to Friday, December 2-7, 2007. 2008 dates include: January 20-25, February 17-22, March 16-21, April 13-18, May 18-23, June 15-20. Visit: www.poetrybootcamp.com. E-mail molly@mollyfisk.com.

• UC Berkeley Extension Online writing workshops, with fiction writer Mimi Albert: Exploring Your Creative Writing Potential X70, Writing and Revising the Short Story X35, and Developing the Novel X125.1. Information: www.unex.berkeley.edu/online.

• UCLA Extension Writers' Program offers online courses in screenwriting and creative writing. Because the format is asynchronous, you can log on to participate at any time. Online certificate programs available. Writers' Program: (310) 825-9415, writers@uclaextension.edu, or visit www.uclaextension.edu/writers.

• Linda Joy Myers, Don't Call Me Mother, teaches Memories and Memoirs, an online class, four sessions $189, six sessions $249; www.memoriesand memoirs.com, lindajoymyers@comcast.net.

• Writers Studio online workshops in fiction and poetry, $435-$455. To add your name to the waiting list, or see which classes are now open, visit writerstudio.com.

• WRITERS WORKSHOP: Seattle-based online writing program. Introduction to Nonfiction Writing, with Jessica Murphy. Introduction to Magazine Writing, with Doug Gantenbein. Introduction to Creative Nonfiction, with Doug Gantenbein. Advanced Creative Nonfiction, with Doug Gantenbein. Introduction to Writing a Nonfiction Book, with Jessica Murphy. Advanced Nonfiction Book: Writing, Editing and Publishing, with Jessica Murphy. Individual Tutorial, $600. Novel Writing Tutorial, with Jana Harris. Introduction to Travel Writing, with Nicholas O'Connell. Introduction to Fiction Writing, with Scott Driscoll. Advanced Fiction Writing, with Scott Driscoll. Cost: $500 unless otherwise noted. Call (206) 284-7121; visit www.thewritersworkshop.net.