Typically conducted on the 1st Saturday of each month, the South Bay Local Writers Group meets at the Redondo Beach Main Library from 10:30am to Noon. It is free and open to the public, constrained only by room size.
RSPV requested: meetup.com/South-Bay-Creative-Writers-Group/
This is an opportunity to get together with like-minded others in a casual setting to maintain motivation and productivity. Explore writing topics that would help further your efforts as an author. Have thoughts on what you’d like addressed during 2016? Feel free to contact the organizer directly: Bo@SouthBayHQ.com.
Past meetings have included both self-published guest authors (Christopher Lynch, Ildy Lee, Stanton Swafford) and traditionally-published authors (Shannon Hammer, Robert Downs, Katharine Blossom Lowrie); editor extraordinaire Stacy Aaronson (thebookdoctorisin.com); round-table discussions on “Social Media Marketing for Independent Writers” and “Local Authors Share the Real-World Stories of Their Path to Publication”; and presentations on developing an online author platform.
Event Information:
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Sat06Aug201610:30 am - NoonRedondo Beach Main Library
South Bay Local Writers Group: "PitchFest!" Roundtable Discussion and Workshop
PitchFest! or, "Selling Yourself to Sell Your Story,"
or, "How to Tell Your Story to Sell Your Story"
The August main group meeting combines a roundtable discussion featuring published authors Robert Downs ("LaCour’s Destiny," "Graceful Immortality," and "Falling Immortality") and Bo Folsom ("20 Years Ago") – sharing their experience on the value of "the elevator pitch" – and an interactive workshop in which participants will be coached in developing (and enhancing) their own concise pitch.
Whether you are looking to land a literary agent, sell the movie rights to your book, or simply tell a friend about the project that's been consuming your time, your ability to quickly convey the essentials of your story will be critical to your success as an author.
This session will give you the tools needed to effectively answer the two fundamental questions posed to writers:
• Why this book?
• Why are you the right author for this book?
For a preview of one aspect of the topic to be covered, visit group organizer Bo Folsom's blog:
writing.southbayhq.com/the-20-second-elevator-pitch/
With three traditionally-published fiction books to his credit, author Robert Downs is working to complete three more. Self-published author and editor Bo Folsom anticipates releasing three new books by the end of the year, ranging from a historical non-fiction collaboration with Akira Tsurukame ("The Enemy Was War") to a comedic memoir to a collection of short stories.
Our monthly large-group meeting typically convenes on the 1st Saturday morning of each month at the Redondo Beach Main Library. It is free and open to the public, constrained only by room size.
Creative Writers Workshop
In addition to the monthly South Bay Local Writers Group meeting, smaller groups focused on supportive critique of members’ work are conducted on all remaining Saturdays, from 10:30am to 12:30pm. These are conducted at a private residence and require their own RSVP from the South Bay Creative Writers Group meet-up site.
Creative Screenwriters Workshop
For screenwriters, a companion workshop has been added on Sunday afternoons (currently 1:30-3:30 pm) for members developing screenplays intended for film or television. The Screenwriters Workshop shares similar core values of its Saturday namesake (supportive feedback and small group setting). These are conducted at a private residence and require their own RSVP from the South Bay Creative Writers Group meet-up site.
Also available, “South Bay Screenwriters” is a separate meet-up (distinct from the South Bay Creative Writers Group) whose members share and provide feedback on each other’s screenplays. The format is similar to the Creative Screenwriters Workshop. Conducted weekly on Wednesdays (7:00-9:30pm) near South Bay Galleria at commercial establishments (such as Carrow’s or Total Wine). Requires a separate RSVP from the South Bay Screenwriters meet-up site.
Hello Mr. Folsom,
Are you having any writers groups in July or August?
Is there a fee for the South Bay Screenwriters group or the Creative Screenwriter group?
Thank you.
Hi Diane,
Yes, we’ll have our monthly Main Group meetings at the Redondo Beach Main Library on July 2nd and August 6th, but the topics haven’t been posted yet (July 2nd will essentially be “The Author as Small Business”). Weekly writers workshops will continue through the Summer.
There is no fee for the monthly meetings at the library. The weekly workshops hosted by South Bay Creative Writers Group have a suggested donation of $5/session (less on a monthly or multi-session package plan), while the South Bay Screenwriters group has no fees.