July-August, 2026
Our Next Meeting is Sunday, August 9 - 2:00pm
at the beautiful​​
​​44850 Comptche Ukiah Rd. - Mendocino​
Our guest speaker is Miah Jeffra
​
Crafting Engaging Settings with Playful Prose
We will focus on setting development, which plays a crucial role in situating your reader as well as invigorating and enriching your prose. Participants will leave with a better understanding of the setting's impact on their writing through reading examples, conversation, and generative writing prompts. Exercises and readings will focus on California. This session is designed to help writers of all levels explore how setting can be a powerful element in their storytelling.
WMC meetings are held the second Sunday of every month* at the Stanford Inn and are open to members and non-members.
​
* Exceptions are June [members only meeting] and December [no meeting]
Writers Invited to Participate in Film Project!
​
WMC member Matthew Long is looking for 3-5 page scenes for an indie
film he's shooting later this year. The film is similar to Waking Life or Slacker
in vibe –moving from one conversation, one group of people, to another,
one vignette ata time. Instead of the rotoscoped streets of Austin, Texas,
the film’s setting is the foggy alleyways and murals of Fort Bragg, California.
Everyone who participates will be credited as a writer.
The submission date is August 31.
​
WMC members interested in collaborating contact Matthew Long now for more details:
https://www.5149screenwriting.com/matthew-sidney-long
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edrGozs6W_I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlmfRuXxuXo
​
​
​​* Time For Something New...
* We've added two special features to our meetings. Come by a little early -- say,1:30 --
and see for yourself. We think you'll enjoy these.
Let's Talk About Writing
We'll sip a beverage, enjoy fine Stanford Inn
snacks, get to know one another, and talk
about our writing in a small-group setting.
​​​​​
The Little Free Library
Members, lend a book you've written.
Borrow one,too,then return it
with comments for the author.
​
Can't get to the meeting? Join us live on our
Facebook page! Just Log into Facebook
to Like and Follow. We are also on Instagram! @writersofthemendocinocoast
Members, please check your Bio​ at the top
of this page. ​If you aren’t featured, just jot
down a bit about yourself in 50 (or
thereabouts) words, then email your bio
and (optional) a headshot to Webmaster@writersmendocino.org.
​
If you are already featured, and your
information needs to be changed, please
send necessary updates to writersmendocino@aol.com
Thinking of joining
Writers of the Mendocino Coast?
Please see our Membership tab
at the top of this page.
​​
Writers of the Mendocino Coast Policy Regarding Use of
Artificial Intelligence​
​
The WMC Board of Directors has established an official policy regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in members' writing. It is as follows:
Writers of the Mendocino Coast does not and will never accept work that was written, created, or developed, in whole or in part, using generative AI. This includes prose, poetry, and all mediums of art and photography. The policy extends across
all our activities including our annual anthology, Ekphrasis, Smatchup, and
public readings and workshops.
AI may have its place, but that place is
not within the creative fields. At Writers
of the Mendocino Coast, we value human creativity and expression, abhor plagiarism, and are keenly aware of--and deeply concerned about--the writers, artists, editors, and other creators whose copyrights and livelihoods are increasingly compromised by the use of artificial,
non-human, intelligence.
By submitting your creative work and/or participating in our club activities, you pledge that no AI was, or will be, used.
Ekphrasis 2026
ENTRIES ARE NOW CLOSED
​
Author readings and artist unveilings will be held
October 11
at Matheson Performing Art Center
45096 Cahto St. - Mendocino
​Time to be announced
The Waiting is Over​!
​
The submission period has begun for the ​2027 Writers of the Mendocino Coast Anthology
​The theme, chosen from the dozens of suggestions received, is
Boxes in the Attic
(Loose interpretations accepted)
Prose/Poetry submission deadline: August 31 (midnight)
​
Photo/Cover art deadline: September 15 (midnight)
Who can submit:
Any member of Writers of the Mendocino Coast, in good standing at the time of submission.
​
Submission guidelines for prose and poetry:
Prose (fiction, nonfiction) or poetry, two pieces maximum.
The two pieces, combined, may not exceed 4,000 words.
​
Send only publishing-ready pieces.
Edit yourself for spelling, grammar, punctuation, and development
​
Submit your work to the ​2027 Writers of the Mendocino Coast Anthology
​
2027 Full Submission Guidelines​​
​
Ericka Lutz is the new editor of the anthology. Once the Board of Directors
made its theme selection, Ericka sent members an email. Here's part of it:
"I think [the theme is] evocative: Things stuffed away, old,dusty,but also things to be
revealed. What does it mean to bein the box?What does it mean to be out of the
box? To thinkout of the box? Or, boxes, the verb: Who is boxing in the attic?
Or...What’s in your boxes?"
​
As Ericka takes the helm of Boxes in the Attic, we wish her well in what promises to be a busy several
months. At the same time, we offer our sincere thanks to Elizabeth Vrenios,whose untiring devotion to
editing our anthology for the past three years resulted in three of our most popular publications.We're
pleased that Elizabeth will stay with us as a member of our Board for the upcoming year.
All members receive one complimentary copy of our 2026 anthology; additional books are $12.00. If you need them mailed, contact Elizabeth Vrenios at evrenios1@gmail.com. ​
Listen now to our members read their one-minute plays!
i am from the ocean by windflower Townley
I Could Not Stop for Covid by Holly Tannen
Something New & Murder She Wrote by Philip Zwerling
The CWC website includes a calendar of monthly meetings for all state branches. Any of our members can attend the meetings of any other branch for free or for the same fee as their membership pays. To view their meeting topics (many are still on Zoom), click on
https://calwriters.org/events/.
Writers of the Mendocino Coast is Proud to be a Branch of the California Writers Club
