Membership Meetings

In 2008, the San Diego Writers / Editors Guild meets on the fourth Monday of every month (except Septermber, which is the 5th Monday) at the Joyce Beers Community Center located in the Uptown Shopping Center in Hillcrest. Networking begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by our business meeting at 7, then guest speaker at 7:15. Admission is free to SDW/EG members. A $5 donation is required from non-members.

Mark your calendars: 7/28, 8/25, 9/29, 10/27, 11/24, 12/22.

Please send suggestions for speakers for our meetings to Peggy Lipscomb-Kazwara, Programs, at pslips@cox.net

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Monday, July 28

Dr. Harry Polkinhorn — Director of SDSU's University Press (since 1989).

Dr. Polkinhorn will provide us with an interesting evening, and share information for authors about the process of getting published, including editing advice. Bring your questions and come for an interesting evening. There will be handouts/publications.

SDSU Press is the oldest university press in the California State University system. The student-run publishing house has produced numerous first-rate books, including many well-known titles on the American Southwest and Mexican border arts, culture, issues and more.

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Monday, August 25

Jean Jenkins — "Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Writers Conferences But Didn't Know Who To Ask"

This talk will cover:

• Things to think about before you sign up
• The proper etiquette of conference-going
• What to bring to a conference
• How to approach agents and editors
• What agents and editors like to take away about you
• How to accept criticism gracefully
• Can I bring a tape recorder? A computer?
• How to pace yourself to get the most out of your experience
• Conference buddies are important
•       . . . and then we'll throw it open to questions

Jean Jenkins was a co-director of the Southern California Writers Conference-San Diego for nine years, helping to book agents, editors and authors, and has taught workshops at the conference for the past 10 years. She has also taught the Art of Rewrite at the Southern California Writers Conferences in Los Angeles and Palm Springs. She was a guest lecturer at the Sacramento Writers Conference in 2007 at Sacramento State University. She served on the Planning & Host Committee for Bouchercon, the world mystery convention, when it came to San Diego in 1988. For three years, she was on staff at the SDSU Writers Conference, one year at the Long Beach Writers Conference, and over the years has attended various conferences as 'just one of the writers.' In addition to also doing advance submission critiques at the conferences, she is a freelance editor who helps writers shape their manuscripts into commercial material. Her website address is www.MsRewrite.com

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Monday, September 29

Please note: this is the 5th Monday.

Dean Nelson, PhD — "A day in the life of a Christian Writer, or did you ever wonder about Inspirational writing?"

Dr. Nelson will update us on this growing market for writers. He has been in charge of a writers' conference for many years, teaches, and will have just returned from a huge Christian writers' conference. His information will be the newest and best in this field.

Dean Nelson is the founder and director of the journalism program at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego. He writes occasionally for the New York Times, the Boston Globe, Christianity Today, Sojourners, and several other national publications. He has won several awards from the Society of Professional Journalists for his reporting, and has written or co-written 11 books, mostly on spirituality themes. Nelson is a frequent speaker at writing workshops and conducts retreats that focus on spiritual depth. For more information, visit: Dean E. Nelson, PhD

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Monday, October 27

Larry M Edwards — "20 Rules for Improving Your Writing and Getting Your Book Published"

During his entertaining as well as informative presentation, Larry will discuss his "20 Rules," followed by question-and-answer, and he will have a handout or two.

Larry Edwards is an award-winning author, journalist, freelance book editor and writing coach. He is the author of two published books (and several "prepublished" books) and has written thousands of newspaper and magazine articles. He won Best of Show honors from the San Diego Press Club in 1994, 1997, 2004 and 2005. He also has served as a judge for the annual San Diego Book Awards. His current projects include editing a novel and nonfiction work on psychotherapy; and he is writing a memoir, "Shattered Dreams: A Memoir of Murder," as well as a historical novel set in the American frontier. For more information, visit his website: LarryEdwards.com

Writing Clinics

None scheduled at this time.