SLO NightWriters

SLO NightWriters stepped into Fall in great style as a sponsor of the wildly successful Central Coast Writer’s Conference, expertly coordinated by our own Cathe Olson. The faculty was of the highest quality this year, the workshops were chock-full of valuable and vital information. And SLO NightWriters members took a full third of the awards for the Lillian Dean First Page Competition! Congratulations to:

Judythe Guarnera, 3rd Place, Short Story for: Joe, the Genie and the IRS

Debra Davis Hinkle, 3rd Place, Poetry for: Helping Hand

Anne Allen, 1st Place, Children’s/Young Adult for: The Big Ones

Debra Davis Hinkle, 2nd Place, Creative Nonfiction/Memoir for: It’s Not A Dream

Judythe Guarnera, 3rd Place, Creative Nonfiction/Memoir for: Sweet Cravings

Coming up in the next few months:

* October 13, 7:00 pm: The unveiling of our short story/poetry contest winners. The top finalists in both genres will read their winning entries. Come see how different writers interpreted this year’s theme, The Dream. It’s an entertaining and inspiring evening of great writing and mixing with some of the county’s best writers.

*November 10, 7:00 pm: A workshop on Social Media: Creating Internet Connections to Build Your Platform. No writer can afford to ignore today’s technology if they hope to become a successful, well-selling author. Come learn the tricks that will help you create a solid presence in cyberspace that will create a loyal following for whatever you write.

*December 8, 7:00 pm: Our second annual Holiday Party. A fun evening mixing with other writers in a social setting, which enjoying Holiday refreshments and watching our (famous) original entertainment geared especially for writers. This is a great way to explore what SLO NightWriters is all about in a relaxed atmosphere. Come meet the NightWriters and discover what we can offer you in the writing arena.

Writing is a solitary occupation. It’s easy for writers to drop into what I call “hermit mode.” We hunker behind our keyboards, stare at our flat screens, and tune out the world while we create new, and often more compelling, worlds with words and imaginations. But writers need a concrete presence in the real world, a platform from which they can proclaim their talent and to which they can draw an ever-enlarging circle of readers. And they need trusted compatriots who can help them hone their skills to the highest level, and encourage them to reach out by submitting work to contests, publications, agents and publishers.

That’s the value of SLO NightWriters. We offer the support, encouragement, extended learning and opportunities that can make a writer’s dreams of success come true. Join us this fall and see what we can offer to you, how we can help you realize the passion that rules your writing life.

Susan Tuttle

President, SLO NightWriters