February 8, 2012

6:30 – 8:30

Madelyn Helling Library

A writer’s life is often considered a solitary one – at least until the book is ready for public consumption.  With book readings, signings, sales pitches and author interviews – public speaking skills become a necessary facet of an author’s life. In this workshop, writers will learn speaking tips and tricks to help them bring their passion from the written page onto the public stage.

Presenter Bio: Emma Santa has worked in marketing for over a decade – including in the book publishing industry. Through her career she has noticed how people who can speak about their writing see dramatically increased sales and awareness of their work. As a member of Toastmasters, a public speaking and leadership organization, she believes that anyone can learn the speaking skills needed to be an effective spokesperson for their work.

More About Emma.

Program is free to the public.

Molly Fisk

Prize-winning poet Molly Fisk is a recognizable voice in our community with frequent public readings and radio essays.  She offers writing workshops and groups that use the creative writing process as a tool for healing. On Wednesday, January 11, 6:30 p.m., Molly will speak at the monthly Sierra Writers meeting held in the Madelyn Helling Library Community Room in Nevada City.  Her topic will be Writing To Heal. The evening is for anyone who would like to use the written word to find their own authentic voice.

With a background and education in business and banking, Fisk did not turn to writing until she was in her 30’s, developing a practice of daily writing that has resulted in an enormous body of work. With hundreds of published essays and poems published in five different collections, she refers to herself as a working poet.   Her works include The More Difficult Beauty, Listening To Winter, Salt Water Poems and a shared collection, Terrain.  Transcripts of her radio essays have also been published.

We hope you will join us for this free and special event.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012     6:30 – 8:00

Madelyn Helling Library

Click here to read the Winter 2012 Sierra Writers Newsletter

Here’s a copy of the Sierra Writers December 2011 Newsletter. Note that Molly Fisk will be our first speaker of 2012.

Our Next Meeting – Crafting Your Author Platform

In the writing industry, there is a great deal of buzz about the importance of the author’s platform. As a writer, your platform is how the world sees you; it is the connection to your readers. With an overwhelming number of tools available to help you build your platform, where do you begin?

At the next Sierra Writers meeting, authors and board members, Babette Donaldson and Lucinda Porter will lead participants through a presentation, discussion, and exercise on organizing an author platform. To get the most out of the evening, participants are encouraged to bring their own short bio (100 to 200 words).

Babette Donaldson is the current president of Sierra Writers and the author of the Emma Lea series of children’s books. Lucinda Porter, RN is the editor of the Sierra Writers newsletter, a freelance writer, and author of Free from Hepatitis C, scheduled to be released December 1^st.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011 6:30 PM
Madelyn Helling Library Community Room
980 Helling Way, Nevada City

Due to circumstances beyond our control, October and November’s programs have been swapped. The October meeting will be an open read.

Click here to read the Sierra Writers October 2011 Newsletter.

Our Next Meeting
October Sierra Writers Meeting – Open Read

Wednesday, October 12, 6:30PM

Madelyn Helling Library Community Room

Guidelines: Only one written work in any form—story, poem, prose, memoir, essay or excerpt—two-to-three pages, may be submitted per person. At the top of the entry, note whether work is fiction or nonfiction and beginning, middle, end or entire piece (such as in a poem), however, beginning pieces usually work best. Do not include author name. Entries must be typed, double-spaced, single-sided and printed in an easy to read font, size 12 point. Word limit is 750 words. The author of any given piece must be present. Attendees at the meeting are asked to be consider-ate in their feedback and to keep comments brief and tactful.

Open to the public.

Click on the link to read the September newsletter, Sept2011news

Our next meeting will be very exciting, so hope to see you there.

Diane Covington ~ Passion Sells Stories; Secrets to Selling to Magazines

Wednesday, Sept. 14, 6:30PM

Madelyn Helling Library Community Room

980 Helling Way, Nevada City

Free and open to the public. Please join us for an exciting evening.

Diane Covington has traveled to far corners of the globe and then written about it for print, the web and radio. She’ll be discussing how to successfully sell to magazines and also some secrets of becoming a travel writer. Her story, ‘Finding Gilbert’ which appeared in Reader’s Digest in June 2009, was included in the anthology ‘Best Women’s Travel Writing 2011’ which is available from Amazon.

Award winning writer and photographer Diane Covington lives in Nevada City when she is not exploring the globe for new adventures. Covington teaches creative writing at her organic apple farm and is currently writing a memoir. www.dianecovington.com

Diane Covington ~ Passion Sells Stories; Secrets to Selling to Magazines

Diane Covington has traveled to far corners of the globe and then written about it for print, the web and radio. She’ll be discussing how to successfully sell to magazines and also some secrets of becoming a travel writer. Her story, ‘Finding Gilbert’ which appeared in Reader’s Digest in June 2009, was included in the anthology ‘Best Women’s Travel Writing 2011’ which is available from Amazon.

Award winning writer and photographer Diane Covington lives in Nevada City when she is not exploring the globe for new adventures. Covington teaches creative writing at her organic apple farm and is currently writing a memoir. www.dianecovington.com

Wednesday, Sept. 14, 6:30PM

Madelyn Helling Library Community Room
980 Helling Way, Nevada City

Free and open to the public. Please join us for an exciting evening.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011 6:30 PM
Madelyn Helling Library Community Room
980 Helling Way, Nevada City

Click here to read the June 2011 Sierra Writers Newsletter

First, second, and third place included cash prizes of $150, $125, and $100 respectively along with gift certificates from The Book Seller.  Honorable mentions received $75 each. All received palpable encouragement, a core reason why Sierra Writers sponsors this contest.

The young writers delivered beyond the words on paper, including engaging answers to interview questions and a satisfying mixture of seriousness and fun at the awards session.

Deciding who would win the top prize and who would turn up second was an especially close call for the four judges. In “Mother,” Kali Hardwick (age 17) captured decades of loving appreciation by mixing a tornado, an orchard, and memories of mom.  She edged out Timothy Martinez (15). His “Legacy” wrapped some serious finger wagging around young warrior surviving in the bleakness of a not-too-distant future.  John Alkire (15), not lacking serious substance, injected fun into his third place “Arnold the Angry Aardvark.”

Alison Dowd won for “Army Greens” and Monica Marsh won for “Was It Worth It.” Both 18 years old,  they seemed pleased and honored with honorable mentions (and the cash).  Sierra Writers and all gathered at the Madelyn Helling Library were pleased and honored to share the awards session.

Look for the 12^th annual Young Writers Contest in March of 2012.