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Open Readings in California

California Workshops & Classes

Festivals, Conferences, & Out-of-California Events

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Northern California

Southern California

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California Workshops & Classes

Northern California

San Francisco Bay Area:

Drop-in Poetry Writing Workshops at the Albany Library, every second Wednesday monthly, 7:00–9:00, led by Alison Seevak. Free, all ages welcome. Albany Library, 1247 Marin Avenue, Albany, (510) 526-3720.
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Book Passage one-day, weekend, and longer classes on writing, publishing, and marketing. Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera, (415) 927-0960. For more information and to register, visit: www.bookpassage.com.
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Bookshop West Portal presents Mind-Body Health Writing, a writing workshop for people with chronic illnesses or health conditions. Dr. Abby Caplin guides a process of reflection, writing and optional sharing. To register, contact Dr. Caplin, (415) 255-9981, or abby @ abbycaplinmd.com.
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Workshops with Clive Matson include Novel Workshops for writers with novels in progress, every other Monday in both Berkeley and Oakland, limited to four writers meeting five times over ten weeks. "Crazy Child" as in "let that crazy child write," see website for dates, $80. Ten-week workshops for any genre, journal, story, poem, novel, play, or essay, $400 in Oakland. Contact Clive Matson at clive @ matsonpoet.com, or (510) 654-6495. For dates and to register, see www.matsonpoet.com.
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Jannie Dresser publisher of Bay Area Poets Seasonal Review and SF Poetry Examiner at www.examiner.com, teaches four poetry workshops fall and winter 2010-2011: September 29-October 27, Berkeley, "Poetry Soul-Diving," 7:15-9:30. October 3-November 21 Berkeley/Albany, "Let a Formal Feeling Come, a Forms & Music Workshop," noon-3:00. October 1-December 17, East Bay, "Complete-Your-Chapbook" group, noon-4:00. For further information, contact: (510) 290-6254, janniedres @ att.net, or visit sites.google.com/site/jdresserpoetryteacher/workshops-retreats.
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Kepler's Book Groups meet monthly. First Friday Book Club meets every first Friday of the month, 7:30. Speculative Fiction Book Group meets on Sundays, 4:00. Fiction Book Group meets every fourth Monday monthly, 7:00.Kepler's Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, (650) 324-4321. Visit: www.keplers.com.
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Kim Addonizio, Ordinary Genius, offers poetry workshops in Oakland. Workshops focus on craft and revision in small groups, poetry workshop not for beginners. E-mail some information about yourself as a writer and no more than one or two poems to: kimaddonizio @ comcast.net. For updates, visit: www.kimaddonizio.com.
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Lakeshore Writers offers Creative Writing Workshops and one-on-one coaching and editing services with Teresa Burns Gunther, MFA, Amherst Writers and Artists method certified. All skill levels, ages, genres; write in response to prompts and share your writing. Lakeshore Writers Workshop, 525 Bellevue Avenue, on the shores of Lake Merritt, Oakland. Contact: Teresa Burns Gunther, (510) 451-1000x13, or teresa @ lakeshorewriters.net. Visit: www.lakeshorewriters.net.
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Marin Poetry Center Poetry Book Group meets every second Wednesday monthly, 7:00. Meeting rotates among living rooms to discuss great poetry books.For information, contact: Roy Mash (415) 472-3504, rmash @ saber.net. Visit www.marinpoetrycenter.org.
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Marin Poetry Center sponsors an open, drop-in workshop, fourth Thursday monthly. Bring ten copies of one poem. Falkirk Cultural Center, 1408 Mission Street, at C Street, San Rafael, free, 7:00. For information, contact Calvin Ahlgren, (415) 497-2495, calvinahlgren @ att.net. Information on the web at: www.marinpoetrycenter.com.
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Ripe Fruit Writing presents workshops and courses. Art of Languaging: Finding and Expanding Your Voice is a course in perception, imagination, compassion, and commitment. To register, visit www.ripefruitwriting.com/registration.html. All other Ripe Fruit courses require completion of an Art of Languaging course or writing experience. To see a complete listing of courses, visit: www.ripefruitwriting.com. For information, call (415) 337-4369.
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San Francisco Center for the Book presents bookbinding, letterpress printing, and printmaking workshops. These courses range from Western and Eastern traditions to contemporary approaches. After you take a class that involves the Center's binding and cutting equipment, you'll be qualified to rent studio time for personal work. For complete descriptions and registration, visit: www.sfcb.org.
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The Write Spot presents Writers Forum, a monthly series of workshops that explores many aspects of writing. Led by Marlene Cullen, founder of Writers Forum of Petaluma and Affiliate member of Amherst Writers & Artists. Writers Forum meets every third Thursday of the month, February through November. For information about Writers Forum, e-mail Marlene: mcullen @ comcast.net. Petaluma Community Center, 320 North McDowell Blvd., Petaluma. More information at: www.thewritespot.us.
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UC Berkeley Extension offers writing courses in poetry, fiction, memoir, and journalism. Classes are tailored to different levels of experience, from beginning to advanced. For information, visit www.unex.berkeley.edu/writing.
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The Writing Salon is a school of creative writing for adults, with classes held in Berkeley and San Francisco. For course listings and to register for classes, visit: www.writingsalons.com.
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Other Northern California:

Point Reyes Books presents a fiction-writing group led by local author Catherine Lucas, to discuss plot, dialogue, scene construction, and narrative style. All levels of writing experience are welcome. Meets bi-weekly in the Inverness/Point Reyes area, a small attendance fee applys. For more information, contact Catherine Lucas directly: celnd2003 @ yahoo.com, or www.catherinelucas.co.uk.
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Redwood Writers presents a writing and editing workshops. Workshops held at the Petaluma Senior Center, 211 Novak Circle, Petaluma. For information and to register, visit: www.redwoodwriters.org.
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Sacramento Poetry Center Workshop meets every Tuesday from 7:30–9:00. Free, all ages, sit in for one session to observe the process. To participate, bring fifteen copies of a poem. The Hart Senior Center, 916 27th Street at J Street. For information, contact facilitator Danyen Powell, (530) 756-6228 or visit www.sacramentopoetrycenter.org.
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Jannie Dresser publisher of Bay Area Poets Seasonal Review and SF Poetry Examiner at www.examiner.com, teaches poetry workshops fall and winter 2010-2011. In January, 2011, she leads a two-night poetry retreat on the Sonoma Coast, January 14-17. For further information, contact: (510) 290-6254, janniedres @ att.net, or visit sites.google.com/site/jdresserpoetryteacher/workshops-retreats.
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University of California Davis Extension presents writing courses. To enroll, visit: www.extension.ucdavis.edu/writing. All courses meet at the Sacramento Sutter Square Galleria, 2901 K Street, Sacramento.
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Southern California

Los Angeles/Orange County Area:

World Stage Literary Series: Anansi Writers Workshop coordinated by Jawanza Dumisani, every Wednesday, $5 donation, free parking. Workshop, 7:30, followed by a featured reader at 8:30 and open reading at 9:05. Bring ten copies of your new or unfinished poems for feedback and your polished ones for the open reading; usually the work is poetry but other writing is welcome. World Stage, 4344 Degnan Blvd., LA, (323) 293-2451, www.theworldstage.org.
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Beyond Baroque Literary/Arts Center in Venice hosts ongoing workshops. Monday Night Literary and Experimental Fiction Workshop, bring copies of short pieces or sections of longer work, with Angie Kirk, free, 8:00. Tuesday Night Creative Nonfiction Workshop, bring works of creative nonfiction, memoir, and prose, with To Nga Nguyen and Joe Edwards, free, 8:00. Wednesday Night Poetry Workshop with poet Ellyn Maybe, free, 8:00. Thursday Alternative Screenplay Workshop, independent projects only including documentary, narrative, art film scripts, feature films in standard screenplay format, bring one to ten pages, with Matt Byrnes, free, 7:00. Saturday Afternoon Poetry Workshop, bring ten copies of poem, with Bob Foster, free, 1:30. Second and fourth Saturday Morning Prose & Poetry Workshop, workshop for publication, bring ten copies, with Annette Robinson, free, 11:00 a.m. Beyond Baroque Literary/Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice, (310) 822-3006, www.beyondbaroque.org.
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Cecilia Woloch presents the Saturday Poetry Workshop, a weekly group that discusses craft and participates in exercises and critiques. Workshop meets for six sessions, starting January 30, $250 for six sessions, workshops are held at 5921 Whitworth Drive, Los Angeles. For information, contact ceciwo@aol.com, (323) 933-8718. Visit: www.ceciliawoloch.com. back to top
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"Historical Material Inside the Lyric Poem" workshop with poet David Baker, February 27, 9:30 a.m.–4:30. Bring twenty copies of your poem, Ruskin Art Club, 800 S. Plymouth Blvd., LA, $95 all day/$55 audit/$35 non-refundable deposit; both include lunch and breakfast; morning session lecture and discussion, afternoon workshop of your poems. To register: payment must be received one week prior to workshop, verbal agreements binding eight days prior, payable to Ruskin Art Club; e-mail notification of payment is also required: Elena Karina Byrne, P.O. Box 3761, Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA 90274. Other one-day Ruskin Art Club workshops will be announced throughout 2010. For information: (310) 936-7484, Ekduende @ gmail.com.
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Creative Writing Workshops in poetry, prose-poetry, creative nonfiction, nonfiction, memoir, fiction, and playwriting with poet and teacher Holly Prado. Tuesday mornings weekly, 10:00 a.m.–1:00, $160 for four meetings. Tuesday evenings, every other week, 7:00–10:00, $100 for two meetings. Wednesday evenings, every other week, 7:00–9:30, $100 for two meetings. For more information, contact Holly Prado: (323) 664-3640, or hollyprado @ earthlink.net.
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Poet and long-time poetry teacher Laurel Ann Bogen leads a Master Class in Poetry, Sundays, 11:30 a.m.–1:30 in West Los Angeles. These workshops have been meeting since 1989; its alumni have won national contests and fellowships. You must make a three-month commitment, reasonable rates. Submit a manuscript of no more than six poems to labogen @ verizon.net. E-mail is preferable, or mail to: 1221 Amherst Ave. #6, Los Angeles, CA 90025. Private students and individual consultations are also welcome, please inquire.
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Los Angeles Writers Lab presents the 90-Day Screenplay Online workshop designed for the serious-minded screenwriter willing to commit to writing a minimum of two hours per day. Workshop begins March 22 and takes place on a teleconference call, Mondays, 6:00–7:30. Full price $445, $385 if you sign up by March 15. In person, the 90-Day Novel offers serious novelists a three-hour class once a week to receive the practical tools needed to complete a novel in a sane and reasonable manner. Saturdays, beginning July 10, 9:00 a.m.–noon at SFS Theater, 5636 Melrose Avenue, $998 if you sign up by June 30, $1,200 full price. A brief telephone interview with instructor Al Watt is required for all candidates. For more information and to register, visit: www.lawriterslab.com, or call (310) 712-1290.
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Life Stories Performance Workshop offers five and ten-week workshops with performer, poet, and playwright Terrie Silverman. Truth, Lies & Memory: Creating the one-person show features writing exercises designed to transform your ideas/stories into performance. Culminates with Work-In-Progress performance at Beyond Baroque. Life Stories Workshop focuses on spontaneous writing, music, movement, and drawing to create autobiographical stories for memoir or performance. All levels welcome. Tuition: $200/$400, classes on Saturday 10:30 a.m.–1:30 or Sunday 11:00 a.m.–2:00. Play Workshop focuses on reconnecting with the creative spirit. Tuition $200, classes on Monday 7:00–9:30. Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice, (310) 822-3006. To register, call (310) 281-3175. For information: www.creativerites.com, www.beyondbaroque.org.
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Barnes & Noble Poetry and Verse with Bill Robertson every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m., open workshop/reading, 1201 Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica, (310) 260-9110.
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Southern California Haiku Study Group hosts a monthly haiku poetry workshop on the third Saturday monthly, 2:00–4:00, free, newcomers welcome. Pacific Asia Museum, 46 North Los Robles Avenue, Pasadena. For more information, visit: www.socalhaiku.org.
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Writers at Work on-going classes taught by poet and prose writer Terry Wolverton, founder of Writers at Work. All classes meet weekly. Saturdays, noon–2:00: Crafting the Story, an intermediate level workshop focusing on techniques required to tell a compelling story, $140 per month. Saturdays, 10:00 a.m.–noon: Poets at Work, open to all levels, this workshop focuses on craft-based exercises, readings, and constructive feedback on participants' work, $120 per month. Tuesdays, 7:00–9:00: One Page at a Time: Writing the Book-Length Work, an intermediate to advanced workshop designed to provide a supportive community, constructive feedback, and guidance to full-length book authors, $140 per month. Thursdays, 7:30–9:30: Working from Life: Writing Creative Nonfiction, open to all levels, this workshop explores memoir, personal and lyric essays, and new journalism. To apply: download an application, send with a three to five-page work sample and check for the first month's tuition made payable to Terry Wolverton to: Writers at Work, 4022 Fountain Avenue, Suite 202, Los Angeles, CA 90029. Checks will not be cashed until you have attended a workshop session and signed a participation agreement. For information and application: www.writersatwork.com, or call (323) 661-5954.
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San Diego Area:

San Diego Writers, Ink presents workshops on Saturdays. February 6: 10:00 a.m.–1:00: Bring Your Characters to Life with fiction writer Leslie Larson, $45/$36 members. February 7, 10:00 a.m.–1:00: Editing Your Work: Vision and Revision with Leslie Larson, $45/$36 members. February 13, 10:00 a.m.–4:00: The Heart of the Art: Writing the Personal Story with Christopher Canaan, $90/$72 members. February 14, 1:00–4:00: Setting the Scene with Midge Raymond, $45/$36 members. February 20, 10:00 a.m.–1:00: Writers Boot Camp with Beth Goldner, $45/$36 members. March 6, 10:00 a.m.–1:00: Choosing & Working With an Editor with Jennifer Silva Redmond, $45/36 members. The Ink Spot, Art Center Lofts, 710 13th Street, Studio 210, San Diego. For more information and to register, visit: www.sandiegowriters.org.
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Other Southern California:

No workshops or classes listed for this region

Online:

Kim Addonizio, Ordinary Genius, offers online poetry workshops focusing on craft and revision, poetry workshop not for beginners. During the session time, you can work anytime from anywhere, $450. To find out the next round of workshops, e-mail some information about yourself as a writer and no more than one or two poems to: kimaddonizio @ comcast.net. Visit: www.kimaddonizio.com.
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Poetry Boot Camp online workshops with poet Molly Fisk. Draft six poems in six days during this online writing intensive. Visit www.poetrybookcamp.com for information and to register. For other workshops, visit www.voiceofyourown.com for more information and to register.
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