Our Next Meeting is Sunday, July 12 - 2:00pm
at the beautiful
44850 Comptche Ukiah Rd. - Mendocino
Our guest speaker is Patti Diener
Patti’s presentation will be:
“Write with Courage: Telling the Truth in Fiction.”
Patti is a retired public-school librarian-turned-author who writes primarily women’s fiction and romance. She’s the author of the best-selling, After the Fire, a novel based on the true events from the 2015 Valley Fire in Lake County, California and Wildflower, a captivating story about a young woman's tenacious journey on finding love, acceptance, and a sense of home, in a world that constantly tries to tear her down.
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]
* 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 writingin 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
This event is for Writers of the Mendocino Coast members in good standing
only. There are 20 slots open from now until July 12: 10 slots for writer initiators (artists will respond to writers) and 10 for art responders (writers responding to
the artwork). Slots are filled on a first-come basis. Email Nona Smith (nonarenee1@gmail.com) stating whether you want to be an initiator or
responder. Please put Ekphrasis in the subject line.
ART INITIATORS
Start now writing your one-page story or poem.
There is no theme, so the world is your oyster.
STRICT MARGINS: 1 ½ inch top and sides so the piece can fit into a frame.
Must be 12 pt. font or larger. Writing can be single or double-spaced.
You can title it and put your name on it. Nona will remove your name
and title when it’s sent to the artist so the pairing remains
anonymous and unnamed until October.
Send your piece to nonarenee1@gmail.com by midnight July 20 th.
Document must be formatted in .doc or .docx. Ensure you edit carefully, as
lots of eyes will be on your work. Once you submit, you can’t revise.
ART RESPONDERS
You can pick up the artwork at the Artists’ Coop in August.
You will not have the title of the piece nor the artist’s name. Those will
be revealed in October. You have until August 31st to write a one-page
story or poem in response to the art.
STRICT MARGINS: 1 ½ inch top and sides.
Must be 12 pt. font or larger. Writing can be single or double-spaced.
You can title it and put your name on it, but the pairing remains
anonymous until the October reveal.
Send your response to nonarenee1@gmail.com by midnight August 31st.
Document must be formatted in .doc or .docx. Ensure you edit carefully,
as lots of eyes will be on this. Once you submit, you can’t revise.
There will be a gala event at the Artist’s Coop, 10400 Kasten Street
in Mendocino, in October for the unveiling of artwork and framed writing,
side-by-side. Details coming later. Also, be ready to read your
part of the ekphratic pairing at our WMC October meeting.
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
