Community Events

Sierra Writers provides information to support our members and others in our writing community. It is our pleasure to list ongoing workshops and classes and to include updates in our newsletter, with the added disclaimer that these listings are not organized by Sierra Writers.

Women’s Writing Salon

Sierra Mountain Coffee Roasters/Tomes at 671 Maltman Drive, Grass Valley

Saturday, January 28th from 4-5:30 or so. Arrive early to get your snacks and beverages and settle in for the 4pm start time.

Patricia Dove Miller will be teaching two creative writing classes at her writing studio in Nevada City.

1) A Writing Practice Group (based on Natalie Goldberg’s book Writing Down the Bones) which is a cumulative series of short easy exercises, that helps you quiet your inner critic, delve into your unconscious, and go deeper into your writing.

2) A Creative Writing Workshop which helps you begin your story or work on a draft-in-progress. Learn specific craft techniques to improve your writing and how to give and receive gentle feedback.  For all genres: memoir, travel writing, fiction, creative nonfiction, short story.

Pat also offers private lessons: coaching, editing, exercises, and/or critique. For more information, dates, prices, please call or email: 530-265-5165; dovepat@oro.net.

Patricia has been leading creative writing classes in Nevada County for the past seven years, including those at the Center for the Arts, Sierra Writers, Wild Mt. Yoga Center, Mt. Stream Meditation Center, and Shambala Center. In the San Diego area, she taught residential retreats at Zen Mountain Center and classes at the San Diego Writing Center. Pat has attended four week-long writing workshops with Natalie Goldberg in Taos, and has participated in the Squaw Valley Community of Writers. Her work has appeared in Tidepools, Fallbrook Haiku Society Anthology, Into the Deep End, and other anthologies. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from Vermont College, and has recently completed her memoir, Bamboo Secrets. She is co-leader of the Women’s Writing Salon and a former member of the Literature Alive Board.

Playwriting: The Artful Dialogue
A workshop series with Sandra Rockman
8 WEDNESDAYS
January 11 – February 29, 2012
2:30 – 4:30 PM
$120
Location: TBA

Skill with dialogue – this workshop will place one of the most useful items in your writer’s toolbox. Whether or not playwriting is your main endeavor, every writer who integrates monologue or dialogue in their journaling, memoir or fiction will benefit from this meaningful focus and enjoyable practice. This class will be tailored to the participants’ interests.

Workshop Goals:

·       Explore Dramatic Structure

·       Learn playwriting fundamentals

·       Create actable monologues

·       Craft sparkling dialogue
Sandra Rockman has been involved with the local theater scene since 1978. She is an actress, playwright and has directed more than 25 productions.  Her plays have been produced in San Francisco, Dallas, Sacramento and Nevada City. She is a member of Dramatists Guild.  Class size will be limited.

For information about this or acting workshops, as well as private consults for all writing and/or theatrical projects, please call 530-265-6514 or email sandrarockman@sbcglobal.net.

Members of Sierra Writers and organizations that serve the writing community of Nevada County may submit announcements to upcoming event. Send information to lucindaporter@yahoo.com