Calendar
Northern
California
Northern
California Workshops &
Classes
Updated
January 6, 2008--check back for more
listings
To
update or add a listing, please e-mail
calendar@poetryflash.org
SAN
FRANCISCO
•
SFSU Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
Writing Program, San Francisco State
University Downtown Campus, Westfield
Centre, 835 Market Street, Sixth Floor,
SF. Call (415) 405-7711 or visit
www.cel.sfsu.edu/olli.
•
Círculo de Lectores de Literatura
en Español presents its Spanish
Language Book Club the fourth
Tuesday of each month, Modern Times
Bookstore, 888 Valencia Street, SF, 7:00
(415) 282-9246, www.mtbs.com.
•
Transformative Writing Workshops
with Jen Cross. Monday evening
workshop for survivors of sexual trauma;
Also erotic/sexuality writing workshops
for mixed gender and for women. Winter
sessions begin January 2008;
registration is ongoing and continues
until workshops are filled. Eight-week
workshops based in SF, $200; weekend-day
intensives are scheduled around the Bay
Area. See
www.writingourselveswhole.org.
•
Monthly Erotic Reading Circle, with
Carol Queen and Jen Cross, meets the
fourth Wednesday of every month. Bring
whatever you're working on. Non-judgmental
listening guaranteed, all orientations and
levels of writing welcome. $5-up sliding
scale donation to the Center, no one
turned away for lack of funds. Center for
Sex and Culture, 290 Division, at 10th,
Suite 405, SF. Visit
www.centerforsexandculture.org,
www.writingourselves whole.org.
• The
project of writer Dave Eggers and
friends, 826 Valencia offers
tutoring drop-in hours for students, ages
eight to eighteen, in creative writing,
expository writing, or English as a second
language. Classes are led by volunteers at
826 Valencia, SF, a storefront with a
"pirate shop." All proceeds from flags and
eye patches support the writing center.
See www.826Valencia.org.
•
826 Valencia seminars for adults
benefit tutoring programs for students.
Sign up in person at 826 Valencia, mail a
check made out to "826 Valencia" to 826
Valencia, San Francisco, CA 94110, or
register online:
www.826valencia.org/workshops/adult;
e-mail: seminars@826valencia.com.
•
Chinatown Teen Zine bilingual
online teen activity includes a workshop
on computer skills, digital photography,
writing, editing, and web page design for
ages thirteen to eighteen, Fridays,
December 7 and 14, 3:30-5:30, and
Saturdays, December 1, 8, 15,
1:00-3:00, Chinatown Branch Library, 1135
Powell Street, SF, (415) 557-4277,
www.sfpl.org. For information call Jewel
Chen, (415) 355-2888.
•
Beyond Journal Writing for Teens,
eight-week class for ages thirteen to
eighteen, November 16, 30, and into
December. Write poetry, memoir, and more
led by a WritersCorps teacher. Main
Library, Third Floor Conference Room, 100
Larkin, SF, 4:00-5:30. For information
call Betsy Levine, Teen Librarian, (415)
557-4497, or e-mail blevine@sfpl.org.
•
Sunset Branch Book Club, meets
monthly. December 5: The
Orientalist by Tom Reiss. Sunset
Library, 1305 18th Avenue at Irving, SF,
(415) 557-4277, www.sfpl.org.
•
Rincon Literario Book Discussion in
Spanish, last Wednesdays
monthly, November 28, 6:00-7:30. Main
Library, Third Floor Conference Room, 100
Larkin, SF,
http://sfpl.org/spanish/news/rinconlit.htm.
•
Bernal Heights Book Club meets
monthly. November 29: The Kite
Runner by Khaled Hosseini. December
27: Discussion of any poem by Mary
Oliver. Bernal Heights Branch Library, 500
Cortland Avenue, SF; (415) 557-4277,
www.sfpl.org.
•
Glen Park Book Club meets monthly.
December 19: Gilead by
Marilynne Robinson, 6:30. Glen Park Branch
Library, 2825 Diamond Street, SF; (415)
557-4277, www.sfpl.org.
•
Book Discussion Group meets
monthly, all welcome. November 28,
December 26, 7:30. Eureka
Valley/Harvey Milk Memorial Library, 1
José Sarria Court, SF; (415)
557-4277, www.sfpl.org.
•
Ocean View Branch Urban Fiction Book
Club, November 28, December 26,
6:00. Call (415) 355-5615 for current
selection. Ocean View Library, 345
Randolph Street, SF; (415) 557-4277,
www.sfpl.org.
•
Ripe Fruit School of Creative
Writing presents Saturday one-day
intensive workshops. November 17:
The Writing Faith: Finding & Expanding
Your Voice, 9:30 a.m.-5:30, $95.
December 8: Keeping the Writing
Faith, 9:30 a.m.-5:30, $95. Greenhouse of
the Imagination, Noe Valley, SF. Call
(415) 337-4369 to register, or visit
www.ripefruitwriting.com.
•
Ripe Fruit School of Creative
Writing offers a nine-week class,
Prose and Poetry Critique Group,
for fiction, memoir, creative nonfiction,
poetry, Thursdays, spring
2008, 7:00-10:00, $350. Greenhouse of
the Imagination, Noe Valley, SF. Call
(415) 337-4369 to register, or visit
www.ripefruitwriting.com.
•
Ripe Fruit School of Creative
Writing offers a five-class monthly
series, Craft of Fiction Workshop,
Saturdays, spring 2008, 10:00
a.m.-1:00, $250. Greenhouse of the
Imagination, Noe Valley, SF. Call (415)
337-4369 to register, or visit
www.ripefruitwriting.com.
•
San Francisco Writers' Workshop,
oldest free continuous writing workshop in
America (since 1945), meets every
Tuesday, 7:00-9:00. Call Tamim
Ansary at (415) 648-8370.
•
San Francisco Creative Writing
Workshops, "Community Cultivating
Creativity," with Peggy Simmons. Develop
your unique writer's voice, get started,
experiment. Downtown SF; new session
starts January 23, 2008, nine-weekly
workshops $270. One-day workshops
December 15, January 19, $85.
Workshops for young adults; introductory
workshops for youth workers and teachers.
For information: www.peggysimmons.net.
•
San Francisco Center for the
Book presents scores of book arts
classes. Weeklong Letterpress Intensive
with Mary Laird, Letterpress Basics and
Printing Poetry with Lisa Rappoport,
Bookbinding, and much more. BUG: Book Arts
Users Group meets monthly, to brainstorm
and swap materials and information,
first Tuesdays, 7:00-9:00. San
Francisco Center for the Book, 300 De
Haro, SF, (415) 565-0545,
www.sfcb.org.
•
Writer's Workout, with David Ford
and Charlie Varon, for monologue, play, or
comic sketch writing, The Marsh, SF.
Exercises to develop your creative muscles
and passion for the craft of writing for
the stage. Good for beginners and
experienced playwrights, monologists who
need a creative jolt, or the artistically
adventurous. For next session, visit:
www.charlievaron.com; The Marsh, (415)
826-5750x3, www.themarsh.org.
•
San Francisco Russian Bibliophiles
book discussion in Russian, last
Saturday monthly, 2:00-4:00,
Latino/Hispanic Meeting Room, Main
Library, 100 Larkin, SF, www.sfpl.org.
•
SF Great Books Council discussion
groups meet at libraries, homes, and art
centers from SF to Fresno. Great Books
Foundation publishes book lists,
guidelines, How to Discuss a Book
using the "shared inquiry" method.
Retreats and poetry weekends. Schedule on
Web site: www.greatbooks-sf.com.
•
Water Wheel Women's Poetry Group
with Betsy Ford in SF. Supportive, read
your work aloud, study poetry as a healing
art. Call (415) 661-4324.
•
Haiku Poets of Northern
California meet quarterly, usually on
a Sunday of every third month,
1:00-5:00. Presentations, haiku workshop,
and open readings of haiku and tanka,
refreshments, book sales. All welcome,
free. Fort Mason, SF, (415) 359-4946,
www.fortmason.org,
www.haiku-poets-northern-california.com.
•
Writing Salon Classes and
Workshops. November 10-December
15: Fearless Poetry Workshop, with
Julie Bruck, 195/$165 member, five
Saturdays, 2:00-4:30. November
11-December 9: How to Write a
10-Minute Play: For Beginners or Veterans,
with Erin Blackwell, 195/$165 member, five
Sundays, 3:00-5:30. November
12-December 10: Starting Your Novel;
Get a Foothold on Your Project, with Karen
Bjornby, 195/$165 member, five Mondays,
7:00-9:30. To register, call The Writing
Salon at (415) 642-9793, or see
www.writingsalons.com for many more
classes.
•
Poets' Group, self-run, meets
Thursday evenings every few weeks
in SF. The group has been meeting
long-term and offers serious discussion of
your work as well as a sense of humor.
Acceptance based on submission of a few
poems. E-mail: stewjay@pacbell.net.
•
Youth Speaks free After-School
Creative Writing, Poetry & Spoken Word
Workshops for young people thirteen to
nineteen, SF, Oakland, and Berkeley. For
more information, see www.youthspeaks.org.
Youth Speaks, 290 Division Street, Suite
302, SF; (415) 255-9035x12.
•
Committed to Poetry? Monthly group
offers feedback and support, Sunday
afternoons in downtown SF, with Jeanne
Powell, poet and publisher; (415)
928-8904, www.jeanne-powell.com.
•
Bird & Beckett Books & Records
book group meets on the first
Wednesday monthly, 7:00, to discuss
fiction, nonfiction, contemporary and
classics. Political Book discussion group
meets on the third Thursday
monthly, 7:00. Bird & Beckett, 653
Chenery Street, SF, (415) 586-3733,
www.birdbeckett.com.
•
Mechanics' Institute has launched
two new Writers' Groups, one for long
projects, such as novels, and another for
shorter projects including poetry. Ongoing
participation in the groups is free with
membership in the Institute ($95 per
year), which features space for writers to
work, reading rooms, and an extensive
library. Reservations required, contact
Inez Cohen, Library Director, at
icohen@milibrary.org or (415) 393-0103.
Mystery Readers' Book Groups, meets once a
month, Tuesdays, noon. Fiction You Wish
You Had Read Group meets once a month,
1:30. Proust Societ of America meets on
the second and fourth Wednesdays of
the month. Mechanics' Institute, 57 Post
Street, SF, www.milibrary.org.
•
Writers Studio offers
workshops in fiction and poetry in San
Francisco with Mark Peterson, (415)
738-2452, mark@writersstudio.com. Classes
meet once a week for ten weeks, Fort Mason
Center, SF, $400. To add your name to the
waiting list, or get more information, see
writerstudio.com.
•
Writing and Your Health writing
workshop with Dr. Abby Caplin meets on
Sunday evenings, 7:00-8:30, five sessions
$125. Next session begins January
13. Limited to eight people. Contact
Dr. Caplin: (415) 255-9981. Designed for
those with healthcare concerns who would
like to share their experience through
writing. Participants are guided through a
process of reflection, with time for
writing and sharing if desired. No writing
experience necessary. BookshopWest Portal,
80 West Portal, SF,
www.bookshopwestportal.com.
back
to index
BERKELEY
& ALBANY
•
Travel Writing Class, Monday
evenings beginning January 21,
7:00-9:00. Write about your travels and
learn how to publish. Tuition: $60 for
California residents. Guest speakers
Georgia Hesse, founder of the San
Francisco Chronicle Travel Section,
Brice Gosnell, Lonely Planet Guidebooks,
freelance travel writer Don George.
Berkeley City College, 2050 Center Street,
Berkeley, (510) 981-2800. For details
contact Marty de Souto at
josemarty@yahoo.com, or Sharon Coleman at
scoleman@peralta.edu, or register online
at www.peralta.edu or in person at
Berkeley City College.
•
Poetry Writing for Women: Focusing on
Effective Feedback, led by Sue Ellen
Pector. Write from your heart for pleasure
or healing. Ongoing small group,
Tuesdays, 7:00-9:00, $25 per
meeting. Eight blocks from North Berkeley
BART, on the 9 bus line. For more
information call Sue Pector, (510)
558-7271, rsvp necessary.
•
Memoir Class for writers and
non-writers, set down your memories for
your family or for publication, work with
voice, point of view, and verb tense
variations. Classes in private home with
memorist Nancy Heileman. Ongoing
eight-week classes $175, Mondays,
7:00-10:00, Saturdays, 3:00-6:00.
Fall and spring classes. Call (510)
848-6448, or (510) 917-7941 (cell).
•
Berkeley-based Lehrhaus Judaica, The
Adult School for Jewish Studies,
offers non-denominational classes of
philosophical, literary, and scholarly
interest, in San Francisco, Berkeley,
Oakland, Marin, Sonoma, Contra Costa, and
the Peninsula. See www.lehrhaus.org, or
call (510) 845-6420.
•
Writing Salon Classes and
Workshops: November 11-December
9: Starting Your Novel: Get a Foothold
on Your Project, with Karen Bjornby,
195/$165 member, five Sundays, 2:00-4:30.
November 20-December 18: The Truth
About Poetry: Rhyme, Rhythm & Play,
with Jesse Loesberg, 195/$165 member, five
Tuesdays, 7:00-9:30. (See special combo
offer on Web site registration form.) To
register, call The Writing Salon at (415)
642-9793, or see www.writingsalons.com for
many more classes.
•
Consultation and manuscript analysis with
Thaisa Frank. Find your voice, work
with craft, assemble a collection of short
stories, flash fiction, or poetry.
Consultations with novelists, poets,
writers of short fiction, prose poets,
writers of creative non-fiction and
writers who work across genres; intensive
editing to helping writers mine new
materials and discover new forms. Also,
seminars for seasoned writers, special
consultations for therapists who write.
Visit www.thaisafrank.com.
•
Clive Matson, author of Let the
Crazy Child Write! offers ten-week
workshops for poetry, prose, plays,
creative nonfiction; Wednesdays,
7:00-10:00, and Thursdays, 11:00
a.m.-2:00, and 7:00-10:00, $400, Temescal
District, Oakland. To register, call (510)
654-6495, http://matson-ford.com.
•
Clive Matson offers five-session
workshops for novel writing-in-progress;
meets bi-weekly, ongoing, $350,
East Bay and Marin. To register, call
(510) 654-6495,
http://matson-ford.com.
•
Richard Silberg, Poetry
Flash Associate Editor, author of
Deconstruction of the Blues, offers
individual critique and editorial
consultation. Call (510) 848-5156, 9:00
a.m.-11:00 a.m., or leave a message at
Poetry Flash, (510) 525-5476.
•
Creative Writing Workshops in a
supportive atmosphere with playwright,
novelist, and screenwriter Mary Webb,
The God Hustlers. Meets in two
separate sessions: Tuesday evenings or
Thursday evenings, 7:30-10:00,
Berkeley. Any level of poetry, plays,
fiction, screenwriting, limited to fifteen
participants, $19 per week. To get on the
list for classes to begin in January, call
Mary, (510) 548-6476.
•
UC Berkeley Extension offers
writing courses in poetry, fiction,
memoir, journalism. Classes are tailored
to different levels of experience, from
beginning to advanced. For information,
visit www.unex.berkeley.edu/writing.
•
Drop-in Poetry Workshop with
experienced poet and teacher Alison
Seevak, second Wednesdays monthly,
7:00-9:00, free, all ages. Albany Public
Library, Edith Stone Room, 1247 Marin
Avenue, Albany, (510) 526-3720x17.
•
Editcetera offers classes in all
aspects of professional editing in
Berkeley: Lessons in Punctuation from the
Comma Queen, Pesky Critters and Bugaboos
of English Grammar, Proofreading A to Z,
Basic Copyediting, So You Want to Be an
Editor? What Editors Do, from Entry Level
to Top Management, Copyediting Fiction,
Building Your Editorial Career:
Opportunities and Strategies. Workshops
are held at the First Presbyterian Church,
2407 Dana Street, between Haste Street and
Channing Way. Editcetera also offers a
correspondence program; proofreading and
copyediting classes can be started at any
time. Editorial, proofreading, and project
manager referral service. Call (510)
849-1110, or see www.editcetera.com.
•
Writer Cecile Moochnek teaches an
ongoing eight-week class in Berkeley in
two separate sessions, "Taste Your Life
Through Writing Practice," ongoing, eight
Wednesdays, 7:30-9:30, for women and men,
beginners and professionals, poets,
fiction writers, and essayists. Small
supportive groups based on Natalie
Goldberg's Writing Down the Bones.
Individual consultations available. Call
(510) 549-1018,
art@cecilemoochnek.com.
•
Linda Joy Myers, Don't Call Me
Mother, author and therapist for
twenty-six years, offers classes,
coaching, editing, and manuscript
critiques for your memoir or
autobiographical fiction project.
Transform your life through memoir
writing, Thursday Night Women's Circle,
Write Your Book monthly workshop. Visit
www.memoriesandmemoirs.com, or call (510)
524-3898, lindajoymyers@comcast.net.
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to index
OAKLAND
& ALAMEDA
•
Temescal Writers Workshop with Joan
Marie Wood, M.A., using the Amherst
Writers method, all levels and genres,
north Oakland. Women's Workshop,
Tuesdays, 10:00 a.m.-1:00. Workshop
open to all, Wednesdays,
7:00-10:00. Call (510) 653-4576.
•
Friday Nite Write with Jeanne
Lupton, most Friday nights, in a studio on
Telegraph Avenue in Oakland. Timed writes
on topics, read your work aloud. Donation,
$10. For more information, e-mail
jeany98@aol.com.
•
Lakeview Writers, led by Jeanne
Lupton, free, Lakeview Library, 550 El
Embarcadero, Oakland. Timed writes on
topics, read your work aloud. No rsvp
required. Mondays, 6:00-8:00; November
26, December 31, ongoing. For more
information, e-mail jeany98@aol.com.
•
Kim Addonizio, finalist for the
National Book Award, Guggenheim/NEA
recipient, offers poetry workshops in
Oakland, small groups, serious, supportive
critique, focus on craft and revision.
Poetry workshop, not for beginners,
Saturday mornings, $375, eight weeks,
ongoing. Tuesday and Monday evenings,
eight meetings, $375. Online workshops,
$400, limited to ten. If interested in the
next session, e-mail some information
about yourself and one or two poems. Check
Web site for updates; e-mail:
kimaddonizio@comcast.net,
www.kimaddonizio.com.
•
Lakeshore Writers offers Creative
Writing Workshops with Teresa Burns
Gunther, MFA, Amherst Writers and Artists
method certified. December 9:
One-day workshop, A Feast of Rites,
explore ritual and tradition through
writing, 10:00 a.m.-3:00. January
10-March 5, 2008: Thursday Women's
Workshop, 10:00 a.m.-12:30. January
9-March 5, 2008: Wednesday evening
Workshop for Men and Women, 7:00-9:30. All
skill levels, ages, genres; write in
response to prompts and share your
writing. Deposit of $75 will hold your
spot, sliding scale available. Lakeshore
Writers Workshop, 110 Eleventh Street,
near Lake Merritt. Oakland; (510)
465-2535, www.lakeshorewriters.net.
•
California Writers Club is a
workshop open to all writers, meets third
Saturday of each month, November
17, Rockridge Branch Library, 5366
College Avenue, Oakland, 1:00-5:00. For
information: Anne Fox, (510) 420-8775.
•
Free Write Group, every last
Sunday of the month, 6:00-9:00, with
poet Patricia Edith, free. "Island Women
Write!" Women's Writing Group, every
third Saturday of the month,
1:00-4:00, hosted by Roberta Tennant.
Support, constructive feedback, for all
genres. You don't have to live in Alameda
to attend. E-mail:
islandwomenwrite@hotmail.com. Frank Bette
Center for the Arts, 1601 Paru Street,
Alameda, (510) 523-6957,
www.frankbettecenter.org.
•
Beth Barany offers consulting,
creativity coaching for writers, and
workshops to your group. See
www.bethbarany.com.
•
Poets at Walden Pond Salon: read a
poem of your own and/or one of an
established poet, first and third
Wednesdays of the month, Walden Pond
Books, 3316 Grand Avenue, Oakland, free,
7:00. Call Mickey Frykdahl, (510)
530-9599.
•
Clive Matson leads "Let the Crazy
Child Write!" One Day Writing Workshops,
10:00 a.m.-5:00, $80. Discover, develop
your talent for creative writing.
Saturday, December 8, 2007:
Oakland. Information:
http://matson-ford.com, (510)
654-6495.
•
Clive Matson offers writing
workshops for poetry, plays and
nonfiction; Wednesdays, 7:00 and
Thursdays, 11:00 a.m.-2:00,
ten-week sessions, $400, North Oakland. To
register, or to find out when the next
session begins, call (510) 654-6495,
http://matson-ford.com.
•
Poetry Saloon (drunk on poetry!)
meets on the second Friday of the
month, 7:30; December 14 (with
workshop party), January 11, 2008.
Hosted by Kayla Sussell, conceived by Gail
Ford. Dessert, coffee and tea provided;
472 44th Street, Oakland. Information:
Clive Matson, (510) 654-6495.
•
Diesel, A Bookstore offers lively
book clubs, usually on the first and
second Tuesdays monthly, 7:00. Diesel,
A Bookstore, 5433 College Avenue, Oakland,
(510) 653-9965, diesel.booksense.com.
•
East Side Readers Book Club, for
teens and middle school students, meets
every third Wednesday of the month,
2:00-3:00. Martin Luther King Jr. Branch
Library, 6833 International Blvd.,
Oakland. Call Michael for the book title
at (510) 615-5728.
•
Poet Andrena Zawinski teaches
Creative Writing at Laney College,
downtown Oakland. Poetry, flash fiction,
and dramatic monologues. January 17-May
30, $60. Tuesdays and Thursdays from
9:00-10:30 a.m. For questions, contact
azawinski@peralta.edu. For more about the
instructor, see
www.poetrymagazine.com/zawinski.
•
Writing from Your Inner Wilderness
Playshops, exercises to spark your
creative juices and positive feedback with
Selene Steese, at private homes in the Bay
Area. Playshops, 2:00-5:00, $25. One-day
sessions, 11:00 a.m.-5:00. Saturdays,
January 26, February 23, and April 26,
2008. For information, leave a message
at (510) 872-0928, or visit
www.matchlessgoddess.com.
•
Oakland Public Library Book Clubs:
Second Monday, 6:30, at the Dimond
Branch Library, 3565 Fruitvale Avenue,
Oakland, call (510) 482-7844 for title.
Third Monday, 6:45 at Lakeview
Branch Library, 550 El Embarcadero,
Oakland, call (510) 238-7344 for title.
Fourth Monday, 6:00, Melrose
Branch, 4805 Foothill Boulevard, Oakland,
call (510) 535-5635 for title. Fourth
Saturday, 3:00, Golden Gate Branch,
5606 San Pablo Avenue, Oakland, call (510)
597-5023 for title. Dimond Children's Book
Club meets the first Friday each month,
for ages nine to twelve, refreshments,
(510) 482-7844. Visit
www.oaklandlibrary.org.
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to index
OTHER
EAST BAY
•
Elaine Starkman, published poet/prose
writer, thirty years experience in
writing, teaching, editing, teaches
Experimental Writing in New Forms,
Acalanes Adult School, Walnut Creek,
Mondays, 1:30-3:00. Also, Memoir
Writing and Short Story, at Mt. Diablo
Adult School, Pleasant Hill,
Thursdays, 11:00 a.m.-12:30, $10.
For information, contact:
elaine.starkman@gmail.com, (925)
932-1144.
•
Towne Center Book Club for adults,
second Wednesday of each month, at
Coffee Beans and Bistro, 401 Main Street,
Pleasanton. For details, call (925)
846-8826.
•
The Ila and Mel Writing Workshop
meets on the fourth Saturday of
each month, poetry and prose welcome.
Bring five copies of the piece you want to
work on. Free. Ygnacio Valley Library,
2661 Oak Grove Road, Walnut Creek, 10:30
a.m.-12:30. For more information, call
(925) 459-0472 or e-mail
sgrose8411@aol.com.
•
Great Books of Pleasanton meets
fourth Monday of each month, Towne
Center Books, 555 Main Street, at
Division, Pleasanton. Discussion
guidelines from The Great Books
Foundation. For details, e-mail Brian
Mahoney, brianmahoney55@comcast.net.
•
Orinda Books host four book groups
that welcome new members. Orinda Books
Group meets second Wednesdays
monthly at 3:00. Orinda Owls and Page by
Page Book Group meet on third
Tuesdays monthly at 7:00. November
20: Sister Mine by Tawni
O'Dell. November 20: The
Whistling Season by Ivan Doig. World
Affairs Book Group meets on third
Tuesdays at 3:00, every other month.
Orinda Books, 276 Village Square, Orinda,
For current titles: (925) 254-7606,
www.orindabooks.com.
•
Word Garden East, a community of
women writers, offers Women's Writing
Groups for beginning and experienced
writers of memoir, fiction, and poetry,
with Laura Wine Paster, a writer and
licensed psychotherapist. Write in
response to exercises that stimulate the
senses, memories, and creativity using the
Amherst Writers Method. Current classes
Wednesday evenings, 6:45-9:45; Thursday
mornings, 10:00 a.m.-1:00. Walnut Creek;
$300 per ten sessions. For next dates,
contact: wordgarden.east@gmail.com, or
(925) 708-1630.
•
Clive Matson offers workshops for
novels and creative nonfiction;
Wednesdays, ongoing five-week
sessions, $350, East Bay and Marin. To
register, call (510) 654-6495,
http://matson-ford.com..
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NORTH
BAY & MARIN COUNTY
•
Marin Poetry Center Poetry Book Group,
meets on Wednesday, 7:00. For
information, contact: Roy Mash (415)
472-3504, rmash@saber.net. Visit
www.marinpoetrycenter.org.
•
Rilke Workshops with poet and
scholar Daniel Polikoff, Ph.D. in
Comparative Literature, held at a private
home in Kentfield, Thursdays, 9:30
a.m.-1:30; next meeting December 6.
Rilke's Paris experience will be a major
focus. Part of an ongoing series. For
information, call Rose Black, (510)
633-1888.
•
Writers Forum presents: November
15: Prose Poetry Workshop with poet
Terry Ehret, bring a notebook; for
information: tehret99@comcast.net.
Workshops 2008: February 21, 2008:
poet and prose writer Clara Rosemarda,
Steeped in the World of Tea. March 20,
2008: Freelance writer Elizabeth
Crane. April 17, 2008: to be
announced. May 15, 2008: Kemble
Scott. June 19, 2008: Nonfiction
book editor Georgia Hughes. July 17,
2008: Lizzie Hannon. August 21,
2008: Bobbin Tobin, Writing the
Natural Way. September 18, 2008:
Poet Dorianne Laux. October 16,
2008: Rob Loughran, How to Write a
Novel and Still Have Time for Sex, how
to manage your writing time for any
project. November 20, 2008: Colin
Berry. Petaluma Community Center, 320
North McDowell Blvd., Petaluma. 7:00-9:00,
$10 each workshop at the door. For
information about Writers Forum, e-mail
mcullen@comcast.net or
www.thewritespot.us.
•
Sitting Room Book Discussion Group
meets the third Wednesday monthly,
2:00-4:00; no fee, all welcome. The
Sitting Room, 170 East Cotati Avenue,
Cotati. For updates: Rosemary Manchester:
(707) 823-3477, Joanne,
jpage@sonic.net.
•
Marin Poetry Center sponsors an
open mike/workshop, fourth or last
Thursdays monthly. Bring ten copies of
one poem. Falkirk Cultural Center, 1408
Mission Street, at C Street, San Rafael,
7:00, (415) 454-7644, shabels@msn.com,
www.marinpoetrycenter.com.
•
Quick Start, Write from the
Heart Writing Workshops with Pat
Tyler, M.A. Tuesdays, November 13, 20,
27, 7:00-9:00 at The Sitting Room, 170
East Cotati Avenue, Cotati, Thursdays,
9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Cost: $60 for
six-week series, $10 per class, drop-ins
welcome as space allows, $12 at the door.
Critique & Revising, Preparing
Manuscripts for Market, second and fourth
Thursdays at the Sitting Room, Cotati, is
currently closed, call about the waiting
list. No December classes. Call (707)
696-9640, e-mail pattyler@cds1.net;
www.writetoday.net.
•
Marin Poetry Center and Book Passage
present an in-depth poetry writing
workshop with Ellen Bass, The Human
Line, and Douglas Goetsch, The Job
of Being Everybody, Sunday,
November 18, 1:00-5:30. Fee: $100,
limited to fifteen. Contact Roy Mash,
rmash@saber.net, (415) 472-3504. Book
Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte
Madera, (415) 927-0960,
www.bookpassage.com.
•
Book Passage one-day classes 2007:
November 24: Short Story Repair
Workshop with master short story author
Molly Giles, $120, 10:00 a.m.-4:00.
December 1: How to Write the Personal
Essay, with San Francisco Chronicle
columnist Jon Carroll, $95, 10:00
a.m.-4:00. December 8: Undoing the
Silence: Writing for Social Change with
Louise Dunlap, $95, 10:00 a.m.-4:00. Book
Passage, Corte Madera, (415) 927-0960,
www.bookpassage.com.
•
November 17-18: Writing the
Memoir, with Adair Lara, $175, 10:00
a.m.-4:00. Book Passage, Corte Madera,
(415) 927-0960. For many more workshops
see www.bookpassage.com.
•
California Writers Club Redwood
Writers meetings with speakers on the
first Sunday each month, Marvin's
Restaurant, 7991 Old Redwood Highway, at
William Street, Cotati, 3:00-5:00. Visit
www.redwoodwriters.org.
•
Author/teacher Linda Watanabe McFerrin
facilitates Left Coast Writers Literary
Salon, usually first Monday,
7:00. Speakers, networking, encouraging
monthly discussions on the nuts and bolts
of writing and publishing, with literary
guests. One-time complimentary admission
available by e-mailing
leftcoastwriters@aol.com, otherwise $120
per year. Information:
www.leftcoastwriters.com. Book Passage, 51
Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera, (415)
927-0960, www.bookpassage.com.
•
O'Hanlon Center for the Arts offers
writing workshops. Creative Writing Circle
with Karen Benke, November 26, December
17, Mondays, 7:00-9:00. Drop-in,
$12/$10 members. Free writing to generate
new material. Thursday Writing groups with
freelance journalist, fiction writer, and
editor Abby Wasserman, November 15, 29,
December 6, 13, 20, 10:00 a.m.-noon or
2:00-4:00. Eight-session fee: $160/$144
members; single sessions $22 by
pre-registration only. A supportive and
challenging environment for all kinds of
prose writing, journal, essay, memoir,
fiction, nonfiction. Participating writers
share their works at a public reading.
Wednesday Evening Writing Group with Abby
Wasserman, 6:30-8:30, November 28,
December 5, 12. Six-session fee:
$120.$108 members. Single sessions $22 by
pre-registration only. For writers working
on long-term projects, such as memoirs and
novels. O'Hanlon Center for the Arts, 616
Throckmorton Avenue, Mill Valley. For
information call (415) 388-4331, or visit
www.ohanloncenter.org.
•
Napa Writing Retreats with Jill
Winkelstein offers one-day creative
writing retreats in Napa following the
Amherst Writers and Artists method,
stressing a supportive group. November
17: Harvest: Cultivate Your Story,
10:30 a.m.-5:00, includes lunch and a
light breakfast. Fee: $400. For more
information:
www.napawritingretreats.com.
•
Ripe Fruit School of Creative
Writing offers weekend writing
retreats. February 8-10, 2008:
Winter Memoir Writing & Improv
Retreat, "Soulfood." April 18-20,
2008: Spring Renewal Writing &
Yoga Retreat, "Entering the Garden."
July 18-20, 2008: Summer Retreat,
"Out of Fury into Grace." A weekend of
writing in the wine country, Isis Oasis
Retreat Center, Geyserville, $385/$365
includes lodging (shared room) meals, pool
and jacuzzi. Call (415) 337-4369, or see
www.ripefruitwriting.com.
•
Ripe Fruit School of Creative
Writing offers weekend writing
retreats. September 12-15, 2008: "A
Room of Your Own." San Rafael, Marin
County, $410/$380. Call (415) 337-4369, or
visit www.ripefruitwriting.com.
•
Clive Matson leads "Let the Crazy
Child Write!" on Saturdays, 10:00
a.m.-5:00, $80. One-day writing workshops
to discover, develop your talent for
creative writing. January 12, 2008: San
Rafael. Information:
http://matson-ford.com,
clive@matson-ford.com, (510) 654-6495.
•
Clive Matson offers five-session
workshops for novel writing-in-progress;
meets bi-weekly, ongoing, $350,
East Bay and Marin. To register, call
(510) 654-6495,
http://matson-ford.com.
•
Bust Out with Low Fat Fiction, with
Guy Biederman. Ongoing writing
classes and workshops, from the very short
story to novels to plays. Read your work
in public or be published on Bust Out
Stories online. Visit
www.lowfatfiction.com.
•
Voices and Visions: Books that
Transform, a free bilingual reading
and discussion series with Dr. Elizabeth
Coonrod Martínez, read the book in
Spanish or English, discussion in both
languages, books available at the branch
library. Registration requested, call
(707) 545-0831x578.
•
Brown Bag Book Discussion Groups
meet fourth Tuesday monthly, at
noon or at 1:00. Bring your lunch, library
serves cookies and a beverage. November
27: The Professor and The Madman
by Simon Winchester. Mystery Book
Group meets at noon, second Tuesday
monthly, Central Library Forum Room.
November 13: Evan Blessed by
Rhys Bowen. Santa Rosa Central Library,
3rd at E Street, Santa Rosa, (707)
545-0831, www.sonomalibrary.org.
•
Cloverdale Book Group, first
Friday monthly, 1:00. Cloverdale
Regional Library, 401 N. Cloverdale Blvd.,
Cloverdale, (707) 894-5271,
www.sonomalibrary.org.
•
Guerneville Book Group, second
Thursday monthly, 12:30. Guerneville
Regional Library, 14107 Armstrong Woods
Road, Guerneville, (707) 869-9004,
www.sonomalibrary.org.
•
Healdsburg Great Books Discussion
Group meets Wednesdays, 7:00,
Forum Room. Healdsburg Regional Library,
Piper at Center Streets, Healdsburg, (707)
433-3772, www.sonomalibrary.org.
•
Rincon Valley Book Group, first
Tuesday monthly, 1:30. December
4: Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline
Winspear. No January meeting. Rincon
Valley Regional Library, 6959 Montecito
Blvd., Santa Rosa, (707) 537-0162,
www.sonomalibrary.org.
•
Rohnert Park-Cotati Book Group,
third Wednesday monthly, 11:30 a.m.
Rohnert Park-Cotati Regional Library, 6250
Lynne Conde Way, Rohnert Park, (707)
584-9121, www.sonomalibrary.org.
•
Windsor Book Group,
monthly meetings at 1:30 and 7:00. Windsor
Regional Library, 9291 Old Redwood
Highway, Building 100, Windsor, (707)
838-1020, www.sonomalibrary.org..
back
to index
NORTH
COAST & INLAND
•
Poet, writer, and experienced teacher
Clive Matson leads the Clear Lake
Workshop, "Flash Fiction," a session on
short fiction writing, Lakeport, October
13-14, 2007, $55. To register call the
Lake County Arts Council at (707)
263-6658. Information:
http://matson-ford.com.
•
Poet, writer, and experienced teacher
Clive Matson leads the Wilbur Hot Springs
Workshop, "Writing & Spiritual
Awakening." November 2-4, 2007, average
contribution for the workshop only is
$150. To register call Meg at (530)
473-2306. Information:
http://matson-ford.com.
•
Poemcrazy Workshop with Susan G.
Wooldridge, author of Poemcrazy:
Freeing Your Life with Words and
Foolsgold: Making Something from
Nothing (and freeing your creative
process), September 28-30, Stewart Mineral
Springs, in Weed. Cost: $275, covers two
nights shared lodging, five organic meals,
one mineral bath and workshop fee. To
register, contact: Rowena Pantaleon, (530)
938-2222, or e-mail:
rowena@rowenapantaleon.com. See
www.susanwooldridge.com.
back
to index
CENTRAL
VALLEY
INCLUDES SACRAMENTO
•
Sacramento Poetry Workshop, all ages,
meets every Tuesday, free,
7:30-9:00, Hart Senior Center, 916 27th
Street at J Street. Bring fifteen to
twenty copies of your one-page poem.
Danyen Powell: (530) 756-6228,
www.sacramentopoetrycenter.org.
•
Writers of the New Sun/Escritores del
Nuevo Sol writing workshop and
potluck first Saturday of every
month, 11:00 a.m. Write in Spanish,
English, or both, poetry or prose. La Raza
Galería Posada, 1024 22nd Street,
Sacramento. Graciela Ramirez, (916)
456-5323, joannpen@comcast.net,
escritoresdelnuevo.com.
•
T-Mo Youth Talent Workshop, poetry,
dance, and music, all ages to eighteen,
with spoken word poet Terry Moore. Free,
but you must reserve a spot, e-mail
tpoet3000@aol.com. Saturday, December
22: Wo'se Community Center, 2863 35th
Street, Sacramento. Sponsored by Dr. Scott
Snyder, DDS, www.sacfamilydental.com. For
more information, call Terry Moore, (916)
208-POET.
•
UC Davis Extension creative writing
classes are usually held at Sutter Square
Galleria, 2901 K Street, Sacramento.
Information: www.extension.ucdavis.edu,
1-800-752-0881; from Davis or Woodland
call (530) 757-8777.
•
Poet and teacher Ellen Bass, The
Human Line, presents two days of
poetry readings and workshops, April
4-5, 2008, Sacramento Poetry Center
Poetry Conference, Headquarters for the
Arts. 25th and R Streets, Sacramento. For
details, contact: Indigo Moor,
indigomoor@yahoo.com.
•
A private
poetry workshop with Ellen Bass
will be held in Sacramento on April 6,
2008. For details contact: Billie
Custock, bcustock@comcast.net.
back
to index
SIERRA
NEVADA
•
Donna Hanlin offers an ongoing
writing workshops in Nevada City,
sometimes in Sacramento. Open Door Writing
Practice, through December 11, $95;
drop-in, $21 per class. Saturday
Workshops: November 17: Another
Draft. December 1: Personal
Writing. For details, see
www.creativewritingclasses.us/Classes.html.
back
to index
PENINSULA
BURLINGAME TO PALO ALTO
•
Kepler's Books Spanish Book Group
meets monthly, on Mondays,
7:00. Kepler's Books, 1010 El Camino Real,
Menlo Park, (650) 324-4321,
www.keplers.com.
•
Kepler's Books Fiction Book Group
meets monthly, on Mondays, 7:00.
November 19: The Go-Between
by L.P. Hartley. January 14:
Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin.
Kepler's Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo
Park, www.keplers.com, (650) 324-4321.
•
Kepler's Books Speculative Fiction Book
Group meets monthly, on
Sundays, 6:00. January 13:
The Steerswoman's Road by Rosemary
Kirstein. February 10: Kafka
on the Shore by Haruki Murakami. Kepler's
Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park,
www.keplers.com, (650) 324-4321.
•
Robert Funge, author
of The Passage, leads ongoing
writing workshops, for published poets and
beginners. Contact: Robert Funge, P.O. Box
1225, San Carlos, CA 94070, or (650)
592-7720.
back
to index
SOUTH
BAY
INCLUDES SAN JOSE
•
Santa Clara Adult Education offers
Creative Writing Workshops for
fiction, memoirs, mysteries, any kind of
writing, with Edie Matthews. Ongoing, free
class. Mondays, 10:00 a.m.-noon,
Westmont, 1675 Scott Blvd., $3 lab fee;
and Mondays, 1:30-3:30, Valley Village,
390 N. Winchester Blvd., $3 lab fee; Santa
Clara. Contact: EdeeeMatt@aol.com, (408)
423-3500, or visit www.scae.org.
•
Poet and essayist Phyllis
Koestenbaum will help you understand
your process and find your real material,
working on craft and revision of
individual pieces and manuscripts.
Publication can result, if that is
desired. All styles and forms, including
prose poems, short-short stories, lyric
essays and writing at and across
boundaries. Private home, or by phone or
online: (408) 732-2756, or e-mail:
phyllisk@stanford.edu.
•
Poetry and Meditation, connecting
the mind, body, and spirit through
creativity, with Shaila Catherine and
Phyllis Klein. Sunday, February 10,
2008, 9:30 a.m.-4:00, $50-$80, no one
turned away. Held at 3803 S. Bascom
Avenue, Suite 200, Campbell. No experience
needed. CE credits for therapists. Call
Phyllis Klein, (415) 273-1036.
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