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2022 ANTHOLOGY SUBMISSIONS
Prose/Poetry Submission Dates: Now to August 31 (midnight) Photo/Cover Art Deadline is September 1 (midnight) Check all submission guidelines. The WMC 2021 anthology Erosion is on our bookshelves and now we’re all looking forward to the 2022 anthology with the theme of "Borders," without an "a." As always, the title can be interpreted loosely. Prose, both fiction and nonfiction, drama, memoir and personal essays as well as poetry will be accepted. Also consider submitting photographs and paintings that echo the anthology's theme and translate well into portrait mode, black and white images. Members in good standing of the Mendocino branch of the California Writers Club as of August 31st are encouraged to submit their work. For writers, there is a two piece maximum and a total limit of 4000 words. Please check all submission guidelines and submit! |
There are still a few seats available in many of their workshops. Registration is open until June 30. Until June 30th, registered participants can book individual consultations to meet one-on-one with faculty and agents.
MCWC is also seeking an Operations Manager based on the Mendocino Coast to join their diverse, convivial, and inclusive team. A love of literature and writing is strongly recommended for this position. Details are available at https://mcwc.org/jobs |
SPOTLIGHT ON WRITERS
June 20th, 3:00 p.m. MEMBER INTERVIEWS AND READINGS Spotlights on: Katy Pye, interviewed by Susan Lundgren Norma Watkins, interviewed by Katherine Brown and Nona Smith, interviewed by Ginny Rorby Join us for Zoom readings and talks with writers from the Mendocino Coast Branch of the California Writers Club 
EKPRASIS 2021
WMC and The Artists Co-op of Mendocino join efforts to marry stories and poems to paintings and sculptures. Members will read their work at our October 17th meeting. The Artists Co-op will also have a virtual showing of the artwork beginning on October 1st and be available for on-site viewing during the months following. EKPRASIS 2021 KICKOFF
July 15th READINGS OF 2020 EKPHRASIS ENTRIES "Cabin Fever" by Holly Tannen "Portrait of a Lady" by Nona Smith "Backwords" by Elizabeth Vrenios "On My Way West" by Ginny Rorby "Driven" by Les Cizek "Libation" by Leslie Wahlquist "Dopo la Peste" by Doug Fortier "Where Poets Meet at the Oddest Hours" by Notty Bumbo "The Child and the Crow" by Norma Watkins "The Story of a Farm" by Priscilla Comen "Forests and Families" by Earlene Gleisner Exchange of names, WMC & Artist's Co-op of Mendocino, will happen offline via email 
Presented by the Mendocino Coast Writer's Conference
Hosted through Zoom, the seminar will be two hours and include a presentation, resources, and Q&A. More information and $20 registration at MCWC.org. IN PRAISE OF TERRIBLE IDEAS: REVISION STRATEGIES FOR PROSE With Rachel Yoder SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 12-2 PM PDT 46th Anniversary * 16th Consecutive Revival
Gordon Black's MENDOCINO SPRING POETRY CELEBRATION June 6th's RhythmRunningRiver show was the first of four to feature the poetry submitted to the 46th annual Mendocino Spring Poetry Celebration. Of 120 poems, seventeen poems were chosen from sixty brave poets that included WMC members: Elizabeth Vrenios, Karen Lewis, Karin Uphoff, Lynn Keiswetter, Marylyn Motherbear Scott, Michelle Blackwell, and Priscilla Comen. The readings on June 6th were from poets Jabez Churchill, Devreaux Baker, Bill Bruneau, WMC member Elizabeth Kirkpatrick Vrenois, TS Casey, Jeanine Pfeiffer, Donald Brees, Janet Debar, John Perrill, WMC member Lynn Kiesewetter, Martin Hickel, Kate Dougherty, Joe Smith, Frieda Feen, Steve Derwinski, Riantee, and Kirk Lumpkin. The four shows to be broadcast on the first and third Sunday starting with June 6th. To listen, go to the KZYX Mendocino County Public Broadcasting Archive following each show. Look for "Na Mele O Hawai'i or Rhythm Running River or One Ocean." They will be available for two weeks after any show.
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS TO
DRAMA ANTHOLOGY WMC member Phil Zwerling and his colleague, Robert Moreira, are working on a Drama in the Time of CoVid-19 anthology to be published in 2022 by FlowerSong Press. They seek dramatic works: short plays, performance pieces, monologues, etc. that speak to the deaths, isolation, social, political, and economic upheaval that have followed in the wake of this pandemic. Go to the SUBMISSIONS PAGE for all the details. Send any questions to Philip Zwerling [email protected]. http://www.philipzwerling.com 
GOT A MINUTE?
See the current schedule. Mendocino Theatre Company's One-Minute Radio Theatre is a two-minute spot broadcast bi-weekly on KZYX. Collaborate by submitting an original one-minute radio play. All voices to be heard! Plays can be in English or Spanish. No fee for submission nor cash award if your play is chosen; all actors and directors give their time free of charge. Submit your one-minute play* (app. 150-170 words, for 1-3 actors) in the body of an email (no attachments) to [email protected] with the subject MTC One-Minute Play: [Title of your play]. Include your full name, contact information, and a brief, 50-word bio. You may submit as many one-minute plays as you wish, but only one submission per email, please. *NB: Play may not contain the "seven dirty words", which are prohibited by the FCC. Play must be totally original and the author's own work. Coming soon: I AM FROM THE OCEAN by WMC member windflower Townley with music by Linda Shear Listen now: I COULD NOT STOP FOR COVID A Dickinson–inspired poem for these times… by WMC member Holly Tannen SOMETHING NEW by WMC member Philip Zwerling 
Online Poetry
Workshop for Youth Professional poets from throughout California offer creative poetry writing lessons for youth and families. Lessons are free to everyone and require no prep. This online workshop is growing and lessons will continue to be added throughout the pandemic. Click to start writing! During 2021's National Poetry Month, California Poets in the Schools published poetry broadsides from thirty, K-12 youth. CalPoets published one of these broadsides each day throughout the month of April, and the completed broadsides can be seen here. https://www.californiapoets.org/post/california-poets-in-the-schools-youth-broadsides-2021 POETRY
Point Arena Third Thursday Poetry June 17th, 7 p.m. Lake County Poet Laureate Georgina Marie Guardado with open mic to follow Georgina Marie is a poet from Lakeport, Lake County. She is the 2020-2022 Lake County Poet Laureate, the first Mexican-American, and youngest to serve in this role for Lake County. She was appointed as the eleventh poet laureate of Lake County in March 2020. To watch or participate as an open mic reader, please email [email protected]. Third Thursday Poetry Zoom is made possible by the Arena Theater and continues to be supported by Poets & Writers. POETRY
Rhythm Running River 1st Sunday, 3-4 p.m. and 3rd Sunday 3-5 p.m. on KZYX&Z public radio To listen live: https://www.radiorethink.com/tuner/?stationCode=kzyx For playlists: http://www.outfarpress.com/rrr.html To receive emails from Dan Roberts with links to listen or download, contact Dan at [email protected] POETRY
Cartwheels on the Sky ~ Poets, Poems & Discovery Saturdays 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Live on KGUA FM Gualala and live streaming online KGUA.org with host Blake More Show Archive: https://www.bmoreyou.net/musings/ Highlighting a new poet in conversation each week, the show offers fresh, intelligent, living poetry and lively discussions. To be considered for future shows, contact blake@snakelyone.com FORT BRAGG LIBRARY
FIRST THURSDAY OPEN MIC POETRY 7 P.M. Use this link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9748647159 Readers should limit themselves to eight minutes, for one to four poems. For more information, contact Dan Hesse, Branch Librarian at [email protected] or 707 / 961-2625. And see FortBraggLibrary.org. UKIAH LIBRARY Loba Poetry Series Last Thursday of the month Format: Virtual Open Reading Registration is required. Please email organizer Melissa Carr (she/her/they) at the Ukiah Library, [email protected], to receive a Zoom link WRITING OPPORTUNITY:
VAN DAMME STATE PARK Volunteers at the Little River Museum have collected pictures and historical accounts that augment the rich history of what ultimately became the park. Members of our branch of the California Writers Club have an opportunity to use these source materials to write a nonfiction book and other monographs. Email the [email protected] for details. SEEKING NONFICTION WRITER
PAID ACCOUNT OF AN ARTIST'S LIFE Seeking writer to produce a nonfiction account of an artist’s life, a contemporary and friend of Dorr Bothwell and Emmy Lou Packard. The artist's son has his artwork and tons of organized reference resources, every story that ever appeared in print about him. Everything is in print on paper—nothing has been scanned. Contact retired Gallery Bookshop bookseller, Katy M. Tahja at [email protected] or 937-5854. 
KELLEY HOUSE CALENDAR
Call for Writers There are so many stories yet to tell, and they welcome your voice. Articles are 400 to 700 words and can be paired with photos or illustrations usually discovered in their database of 10,000 images. Call the Kelley House curator, Karen McGrath, at 707/937-5791 or email her at [email protected]. |
ROLLING RECAP OF MONTHLY MEETINGS
Links to recordings of select monthly meetings are below. Go to the YouTube channel for all the videos. COVID-19 UPDATE
Until further notice, WMC meetings will be held via Zoom on the third Sunday of the month at 3 p.m. There are more than two dozen free Xfinity WiFi hotspots in Fort Bragg. At wifi.xfinity.com, type in an address, city, state, or ZIP Code to find where to access the internet. WELCOME TO THE
CALIFORNIA WRITERS CLUB - FOUNDED in 1909 - The Mendocino Coast branch is proud to share in this legacy. Our intention is to expand the network and provide publishing opportunities for writers. 
MENDOCINO WRITERS MEET
ONLINE ON THE THIRD SUNDAY 3:00 Members Receive Invitations Public May Email a Request [email protected]
Writers of the Mendocino Coast
PO Box 762 Fort Bragg, CA 95437 The CALIFORNIA WRITERS CLUB is a 501(c) (3) educational nonprofit dedicated to educating members and the public-at-large in the craft of writing and in the marketing of their work. California Writers Club: https://calwriters.org/ CWC Northern Branches: http://cwcnorcalwriters.org/ NorCal Events: http://cwcnorcalwriters.org/events/ 
SUBSCRIBE TO THE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
Email [email protected] Your email address will never be shared or sold.
MEMBERSHIP
NEW MEMBERS See information on the website's Membership page. YEARLY RENEWAL is $45. $25 for dual memberships when a member of another CWC branch. Membership includes a copy of the club's recent anthology, copies of our state organization's Literary Review magazine, space for member biographies, and opportunities to see your writing in: -The annual anthology -The Literary Review published by our parent, California Writers Club. More info at www.calwriters.org -The yearly collaboration, Ekphrasis, with the Artists Co-op of Mendocino -The annual SmatchUp blind matching of two writers on a theme, each writing a single page. SPONSORED MEMBERSHIPS
Financial aid is available for membership [email protected] INTERESTED IN A WRITERS' GROUP / PARTNER
WMC MEMBER SALLIE REYNOLDS Read Sallie's biography on the Member Bio page. Contact her through [email protected]. 
If you are interested in joining this Monthly Writing Group, send WMC member Earlene Gleisner an email to [email protected]. Write whatever you want to write, based on a monthly prompt, and share it through a group email process. The group can support each other by adhering to a set of guidelines that Earlene will post monthly when she sends out the prompt.
SEEKING A POETRY WRITERS' GROUP
WMC MEMBER JONATHAN PAZER Joining an existing group is his first choice but he is willing to start another group. Jonathan’s photographs and poetry have appeared at the Mendocino Art Center and are currently on display at the Mendocino Coast Photographers’ Gallery, on N. Franklin St. in Fort Bragg. Contact [email protected] if interested M E M B E R N E W S
Writing newly published, receives a nomination or award, or other notable exposure? Please send a short announcement to writersmendocinocoast@gmail.com
WMC member Elizabeth Kirkpatrick-Vrenios' chapbook Empty the Ocean with a Thimble, released in April, is now at Gallery Books. Reviewers have said: There's a strong current of 'Sisu' in Elizabeth Kirkpatrick-Vrenios's Empty the Ocean with a Thimble. 'Sisu,' the streak of madness that blew through her Finnish family, allowed the poet to endure a mother enraptured by its 'dark polar nights.' Despite its focus, this stunning collection shines with light, even wicked humor. Empty the Ocean with a Thimble casts a spell.
WMC member Phil Zwerling and his colleague Lorenzo Pace have recently published a play entitled "Locked."
Just out from Lamar University Press, the full length play tells the story of an African American family caught up in the ongoing legacy of slavey and racism. Read more about it and order at Amazon or your local independent bookstore. 
WMC member Nancy Nelson performed her solo show
"Death and the Braided Hair" at the online venue, TheMarsh.org of San Francisco. Scroll to the YouTube option at the bottom of the page. She also performed "Married to Dogs – for Better or Worse" starting at 1:16:28 at the online venue on Dec. 15th. David Ford Class Student Performances A place for writers and performers to easily develop their performances. 
WMC member Ron Morita's first person news story, "The Old Warrior" appeared in the April 21st issue of the Anderson Valley Advertiser. Written as a two-year history in a letter to the membership, it provides insight into the bitter conflict between Old Timers and permitted cannabis growers in the rural subdivision of 135 ten-acre lots called Rancho Navarro.
ROLLING RECAP OF MONTHLY MEETINGS
See Archives tab above for details. Recordings on YouTube
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Drop in to the library site for the list of recently added books and 217+ reviews by WMC member Priscilla Comen.
Welcome to opportunities to publish your writing, whether or not you live on the Mendocino Coast.
