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• JUMPSTART YOUR WRITING CAREER 2025 PART 1:HOW TO SET, SUSTAIN & SUCCEED IN YOUR WRITING GOALS

  • When
    18 Jan 2025
  •  
    1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
  • Location
    Online via Zoom
  • Registered
    16 registrants

  Register

  JUMPSTART YOUR WRITING CAREER pART 1: HOW TO SET, SUSTAIN & SUCCEED IN YOUR WRITING GOALS

  The path to publication is filled with detours and distraction, and without proper goal-setting, you may find yourself overwhelmed and frustrated. Goals are like little lampposts that help light the path toward your writing dreams and help keep you focused towards your desired outcome: whether that’s getting a book published, or establishing a fulfilling writing career.

  In this 90-minute workshop, you’ll discover how to turn your writing dream into a vision by creating purposeful, compelling, and practical goals. Beyond this, you’ll learn strategies and tactics to set, sustain, and succeed in your writing goals.

  
  

  About the Speaker

  N.A. Windsor is a middle grade/young adult fantasy writer represented by East West Literary Agency. She is the Founder and President of CBW-LA, former Co-Regional Advisor of the L.A. Region of SCBWI (Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators). She is the Program Manager for the UCLA Extension Writers' Program and is currently working on getting her MFA in Creative Writing at Antioch University Los Angeles . 

  You can learn more about her by reading her interview with Voyage LA Magazine.

  
  

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• A Commitment to Story: Monthly Virtual Write-Ins

  • When
    28 Jan 2025
  •  
    5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
  • Location
    Online on Zoom
  • Registered
    3 registrants

  Register

  A Commitment to Story: Monthly Virtual Write-Ins

  Last Tuesday of the Month (no meeting December)

  We're throwing it back to the 20-teens and bringing back an old CBW-LA favorite: the weekday write-in. But this time... virtual!

  Back in the day, we used to host two hour quiet writing sessions at a coffee shop in Manhattan Beach—time for our members to get together and sit together to work on any current writing project. Mostly quiet time, there was also an opportunity to check in briefly about the projects and voice questions or stumbling blocks. Members outlined, wrote early drafts, edited, and even worked on pitches and marketing proposals for their work.

  As time went on and schedules shifted, we got away from the format, but now we're reintroducing it. Just a little bit different. 

  Shorter (one hour). 

  Later (evenings). 

  And Virtual (our members live all across the country now, coast-to-coast, so let's make it easy to connect).

  The format will be similar: brief connection and dedicated quiet writing time. 

  We'll take 10 minutes at the start to check in with a sentence about each person's intention for the writing time and a breathing exercise to drop into creative flow, then we'll set a timer to write for 40-45 minutes. At the end, we'll wrap up with a brief coming together (5-10 minutes) and release. We'd love to see your face at the beginning and end during check-in, but please feel free to turn off the camera during writing time and breathing exercises.

  This is a  supportive community offering to help you carve out time, each month, devoted to the craft and joy of writing stories. Free for CBW-LA Members, $10 for non-members. 

  
  

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• JUMPSTART YOUR WRITING CAREER 2025 PART 2: FIND YOUR PATH TO PUBLICATION

  • When
    08 Feb 2025
  •  
    1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    Online via Zoom
  • Registered
    Be the first

  Register

  JUMPSTART YOUR WRITING CAREER PART 2:
  FIND YOUR PATH TO PUBLICATION  

  Find the “write path” towards achieving your writing dreams. Discover who you are as a writer, and learn all about your different publishing options.

  If you’ve always wanted to write, but don’t know where to start, if you’re stuck in a writing rut or want to rekindle your passion for writing, or if you’re serious about getting published but don’t know much about the industry, this workshop is for you.

  We’ll have worksheets, handouts and writing exercises to help you get started on whatever writing path you wish to travel.

  Here's a sampling of what you'll learn if you register for the workshop:

  1. The Key Paths to Publishing - Traditional publishing and self-publishing are just two of the many options you have for getting published.

  2. How a book gets published traditionally

  3. The basics of self-publishing including:

  a. Your self-publishing options

  b. The Real Cost of Self-Publishing a book

  4. The pros and cons for both traditional publishing and self-publishing

  5. Other Publishing Options 

  6. Tools to kickstart your writing career

  And much, much more!

  NOTE: Attendees of the Jumpstart Your Writing Career Part I Workshop get a $10 Discount to attend this workshop. 

  
  

  About the Speaker

  N.A. Windsor is a middle grade/young adult fantasy writer represented by East West Literary Agency. She is the Founder and President of CBW-LA, former Co-Regional Advisor of the L.A. Region of SCBWI (Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators). She is the Program Manager for the UCLA Extension Writers' Program and is currently working on getting her MFA in Creative Writing at Antioch University Los Angeles . 

  You can learn more about her by reading her interview with Voyage LA Magazine.

   

  
  

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• Online Critique Session: All Genres Welcome

  • When
    09 Feb 2025
  •  
    1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    Online (Zoom)
  • Spaces left
    3
  • Registered
    8 registrants

  Register

  ONLINE CRITIQUE SESSION
  FOR CHILDREN'S BOOK WRITERS

  Calling All Children's Book Writers: Picture Book, Early Reader, Chapter Book, Middle Grade, Young Adult, New Adult… All genres welcome

  Whether you’ve written a just handful of pages or you’re putting the finishing touches on your opus magnus, getting another set of eyes on your manuscript is a wise course of action.  At our critique sessions, you'll get constructive feedback for your manuscripts, meet potential critique partners and make new friends.

  
  

  THE VALUE OF A CRITIQUE SESSION

  As writers, we are very close to our work and oftentimes we miss certain details on story development or story elements like characters, setting, etc.

  Critique sessions allow other people with “fresh eyes” to have a look at your writing sample and read them as your future readers would, providing you with valuable feedback to improve your writing skills and get your manuscript submission-ready.

  In all our Critique Sessions, we give you feedback in the most TACTful way possible.

  TACT = Finesse, thoughtfulness or having a keen sense of what to say or do to avoid giving offense; skill in dealing with difficult or delicate situations.

  TACT is also the technique we use for our critiques:

  T = Terrific

  We share what we loved in your piece, what worked in your story and what we liked about your plot, setting, character, pacing, etc.

  A = Author Questions

  In the last few minutes of your critique time, we encourage you, as the author, to ask questions either about your story or to  clarify the comments you received.

  C = Constructive Comments We deliver, in the politest way possible, comments that are specific and helpful to help you improve your story. 

  T = Talent Talent can get you far, but hard work can get your farther. We always end by encouraging you, the author, to keep on writing. We remind you that we are here to help you achieve your writing goals.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Show details
• A Commitment to Story: Monthly Virtual Write-Ins

  • When
    25 Feb 2025
  •  
    5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
  • Location
    Online on Zoom
  • Registered
    2 registrants

  Register

  A Commitment to Story: Monthly Virtual Write-Ins

  Last Tuesday of the Month (no meeting December)

  We're throwing it back to the 20-teens and bringing back an old CBW-LA favorite: the weekday write-in. But this time... virtual!

  Back in the day, we used to host two hour quiet writing sessions at a coffee shop in Manhattan Beach—time for our members to get together and sit together to work on any current writing project. Mostly quiet time, there was also an opportunity to check in briefly about the projects and voice questions or stumbling blocks. Members outlined, wrote early drafts, edited, and even worked on pitches and marketing proposals for their work.

  As time went on and schedules shifted, we got away from the format, but now we're reintroducing it. Just a little bit different. 

  Shorter (one hour). 

  Later (evenings). 

  And Virtual (our members live all across the country now, coast-to-coast, so let's make it easy to connect).

  The format will be similar: brief connection and dedicated quiet writing time. 

  We'll take 10 minutes at the start to check in with a sentence about each person's intention for the writing time and a breathing exercise to drop into creative flow, then we'll set a timer to write for 40-45 minutes. At the end, we'll wrap up with a brief coming together (5-10 minutes) and release. We'd love to see your face at the beginning and end during check-in, but please feel free to turn off the camera during writing time and breathing exercises.

  This is a  supportive community offering to help you carve out time, each month, devoted to the craft and joy of writing stories. Free for CBW-LA Members, $10 for non-members. 

  
  

  Show details
• Online Critique Session: All Genres Welcome

  • When
    16 Mar 2025
  •  
    1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    Online (Zoom)
  • Spaces left
    10
  • Registered
    1 registrant

  Register

  ONLINE CRITIQUE SESSION
  FOR CHILDREN'S BOOK WRITERS

  Calling All Children's Book Writers: Picture Book, Early Reader, Chapter Book, Middle Grade, Young Adult, New Adult… All genres welcome

  Whether you’ve written a just handful of pages or you’re putting the finishing touches on your opus magnus, getting another set of eyes on your manuscript is a wise course of action.  At our critique sessions, you'll get constructive feedback for your manuscripts, meet potential critique partners and make new friends.

  
  

  THE VALUE OF A CRITIQUE SESSION

  As writers, we are very close to our work and oftentimes we miss certain details on story development or story elements like characters, setting, etc.

  Critique sessions allow other people with “fresh eyes” to have a look at your writing sample and read them as your future readers would, providing you with valuable feedback to improve your writing skills and get your manuscript submission-ready.

  In all our Critique Sessions, we give you feedback in the most TACTful way possible.

  TACT = Finesse, thoughtfulness or having a keen sense of what to say or do to avoid giving offense; skill in dealing with difficult or delicate situations.

  TACT is also the technique we use for our critiques:

  T = Terrific

  We share what we loved in your piece, what worked in your story and what we liked about your plot, setting, character, pacing, etc.

  A = Author Questions

  In the last few minutes of your critique time, we encourage you, as the author, to ask questions either about your story or to  clarify the comments you received.

  C = Constructive Comments We deliver, in the politest way possible, comments that are specific and helpful to help you improve your story. 

  T = Talent Talent can get you far, but hard work can get your farther. We always end by encouraging you, the author, to keep on writing. We remind you that we are here to help you achieve your writing goals.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Show details
• A Commitment to Story: Monthly Virtual Write-Ins

  • When
    25 Mar 2025
  •  
    5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
  • Location
    Online on Zoom
  • Registered
    2 registrants

  Register

  A Commitment to Story: Monthly Virtual Write-Ins

  Last Tuesday of the Month (no meeting December)

  We're throwing it back to the 20-teens and bringing back an old CBW-LA favorite: the weekday write-in. But this time... virtual!

  Back in the day, we used to host two hour quiet writing sessions at a coffee shop in Manhattan Beach—time for our members to get together and sit together to work on any current writing project. Mostly quiet time, there was also an opportunity to check in briefly about the projects and voice questions or stumbling blocks. Members outlined, wrote early drafts, edited, and even worked on pitches and marketing proposals for their work.

  As time went on and schedules shifted, we got away from the format, but now we're reintroducing it. Just a little bit different. 

  Shorter (one hour). 

  Later (evenings). 

  And Virtual (our members live all across the country now, coast-to-coast, so let's make it easy to connect).

  The format will be similar: brief connection and dedicated quiet writing time. 

  We'll take 10 minutes at the start to check in with a sentence about each person's intention for the writing time and a breathing exercise to drop into creative flow, then we'll set a timer to write for 40-45 minutes. At the end, we'll wrap up with a brief coming together (5-10 minutes) and release. We'd love to see your face at the beginning and end during check-in, but please feel free to turn off the camera during writing time and breathing exercises.

  This is a  supportive community offering to help you carve out time, each month, devoted to the craft and joy of writing stories. Free for CBW-LA Members, $10 for non-members. 

  
  

  Show details
• Online Critique Session: All Genres Welcome

  • When
    06 Apr 2025
  •  
    1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    Online (Zoom)
  • Spaces left
    10
  • Registered
    1 registrant

  Register

  ONLINE CRITIQUE SESSION
  FOR CHILDREN'S BOOK WRITERS

  Calling All Children's Book Writers: Picture Book, Early Reader, Chapter Book, Middle Grade, Young Adult, New Adult… All genres welcome

  Whether you’ve written a just handful of pages or you’re putting the finishing touches on your opus magnus, getting another set of eyes on your manuscript is a wise course of action.  At our critique sessions, you'll get constructive feedback for your manuscripts, meet potential critique partners and make new friends.

  
  

  THE VALUE OF A CRITIQUE SESSION

  As writers, we are very close to our work and oftentimes we miss certain details on story development or story elements like characters, setting, etc.

  Critique sessions allow other people with “fresh eyes” to have a look at your writing sample and read them as your future readers would, providing you with valuable feedback to improve your writing skills and get your manuscript submission-ready.

  In all our Critique Sessions, we give you feedback in the most TACTful way possible.

  TACT = Finesse, thoughtfulness or having a keen sense of what to say or do to avoid giving offense; skill in dealing with difficult or delicate situations.

  TACT is also the technique we use for our critiques:

  T = Terrific

  We share what we loved in your piece, what worked in your story and what we liked about your plot, setting, character, pacing, etc.

  A = Author Questions

  In the last few minutes of your critique time, we encourage you, as the author, to ask questions either about your story or to  clarify the comments you received.

  C = Constructive Comments We deliver, in the politest way possible, comments that are specific and helpful to help you improve your story. 

  T = Talent Talent can get you far, but hard work can get your farther. We always end by encouraging you, the author, to keep on writing. We remind you that we are here to help you achieve your writing goals.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Show details
• A Commitment to Story: Monthly Virtual Write-Ins

  • When
    29 Apr 2025
  •  
    5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
  • Location
    Online on Zoom
  • Registered
    2 registrants

  Register

  A Commitment to Story: Monthly Virtual Write-Ins

  Last Tuesday of the Month (no meeting December)

  We're throwing it back to the 20-teens and bringing back an old CBW-LA favorite: the weekday write-in. But this time... virtual!

  Back in the day, we used to host two hour quiet writing sessions at a coffee shop in Manhattan Beach—time for our members to get together and sit together to work on any current writing project. Mostly quiet time, there was also an opportunity to check in briefly about the projects and voice questions or stumbling blocks. Members outlined, wrote early drafts, edited, and even worked on pitches and marketing proposals for their work.

  As time went on and schedules shifted, we got away from the format, but now we're reintroducing it. Just a little bit different. 

  Shorter (one hour). 

  Later (evenings). 

  And Virtual (our members live all across the country now, coast-to-coast, so let's make it easy to connect).

  The format will be similar: brief connection and dedicated quiet writing time. 

  We'll take 10 minutes at the start to check in with a sentence about each person's intention for the writing time and a breathing exercise to drop into creative flow, then we'll set a timer to write for 40-45 minutes. At the end, we'll wrap up with a brief coming together (5-10 minutes) and release. We'd love to see your face at the beginning and end during check-in, but please feel free to turn off the camera during writing time and breathing exercises.

  This is a  supportive community offering to help you carve out time, each month, devoted to the craft and joy of writing stories. Free for CBW-LA Members, $10 for non-members. 

  
  

  Show details
• Online Critique Session: All Genres Welcome

  • When
    04 May 2025
  •  
    1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    Online (Zoom)
  • Spaces left
    10
  • Registered
    1 registrant

  Register

  ONLINE CRITIQUE SESSION
  FOR CHILDREN'S BOOK WRITERS

  Calling All Children's Book Writers: Picture Book, Early Reader, Chapter Book, Middle Grade, Young Adult, New Adult… All genres welcome

  Whether you’ve written a just handful of pages or you’re putting the finishing touches on your opus magnus, getting another set of eyes on your manuscript is a wise course of action.  At our critique sessions, you'll get constructive feedback for your manuscripts, meet potential critique partners and make new friends.

  
  

  THE VALUE OF A CRITIQUE SESSION

  As writers, we are very close to our work and oftentimes we miss certain details on story development or story elements like characters, setting, etc.

  Critique sessions allow other people with “fresh eyes” to have a look at your writing sample and read them as your future readers would, providing you with valuable feedback to improve your writing skills and get your manuscript submission-ready.

  In all our Critique Sessions, we give you feedback in the most TACTful way possible.

  TACT = Finesse, thoughtfulness or having a keen sense of what to say or do to avoid giving offense; skill in dealing with difficult or delicate situations.

  TACT is also the technique we use for our critiques:

  T = Terrific

  We share what we loved in your piece, what worked in your story and what we liked about your plot, setting, character, pacing, etc.

  A = Author Questions

  In the last few minutes of your critique time, we encourage you, as the author, to ask questions either about your story or to  clarify the comments you received.

  C = Constructive Comments We deliver, in the politest way possible, comments that are specific and helpful to help you improve your story. 

  T = Talent Talent can get you far, but hard work can get your farther. We always end by encouraging you, the author, to keep on writing. We remind you that we are here to help you achieve your writing goals.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Show details
• A Commitment to Story: Monthly Virtual Write-Ins

  • When
    27 May 2025
  •  
    5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
  • Location
    Online on Zoom
  • Registered
    2 registrants

  Register

  A Commitment to Story: Monthly Virtual Write-Ins

  Last Tuesday of the Month (no meeting December)

  We're throwing it back to the 20-teens and bringing back an old CBW-LA favorite: the weekday write-in. But this time... virtual!

  Back in the day, we used to host two hour quiet writing sessions at a coffee shop in Manhattan Beach—time for our members to get together and sit together to work on any current writing project. Mostly quiet time, there was also an opportunity to check in briefly about the projects and voice questions or stumbling blocks. Members outlined, wrote early drafts, edited, and even worked on pitches and marketing proposals for their work.

  As time went on and schedules shifted, we got away from the format, but now we're reintroducing it. Just a little bit different. 

  Shorter (one hour). 

  Later (evenings). 

  And Virtual (our members live all across the country now, coast-to-coast, so let's make it easy to connect).

  The format will be similar: brief connection and dedicated quiet writing time. 

  We'll take 10 minutes at the start to check in with a sentence about each person's intention for the writing time and a breathing exercise to drop into creative flow, then we'll set a timer to write for 40-45 minutes. At the end, we'll wrap up with a brief coming together (5-10 minutes) and release. We'd love to see your face at the beginning and end during check-in, but please feel free to turn off the camera during writing time and breathing exercises.

  This is a  supportive community offering to help you carve out time, each month, devoted to the craft and joy of writing stories. Free for CBW-LA Members, $10 for non-members. 

  
  

  Show details
• Online Critique Session: All Genres Welcome

  • When
    15 Jun 2025
  •  
    1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    Online (Zoom)
  • Spaces left
    10
  • Registered
    1 registrant

  Register

  ONLINE CRITIQUE SESSION
  FOR CHILDREN'S BOOK WRITERS

  Calling All Children's Book Writers: Picture Book, Early Reader, Chapter Book, Middle Grade, Young Adult, New Adult… All genres welcome

  Whether you’ve written a just handful of pages or you’re putting the finishing touches on your opus magnus, getting another set of eyes on your manuscript is a wise course of action.  At our critique sessions, you'll get constructive feedback for your manuscripts, meet potential critique partners and make new friends.

  
  

  THE VALUE OF A CRITIQUE SESSION

  As writers, we are very close to our work and oftentimes we miss certain details on story development or story elements like characters, setting, etc.

  Critique sessions allow other people with “fresh eyes” to have a look at your writing sample and read them as your future readers would, providing you with valuable feedback to improve your writing skills and get your manuscript submission-ready.

  In all our Critique Sessions, we give you feedback in the most TACTful way possible.

  TACT = Finesse, thoughtfulness or having a keen sense of what to say or do to avoid giving offense; skill in dealing with difficult or delicate situations.

  TACT is also the technique we use for our critiques:

  T = Terrific

  We share what we loved in your piece, what worked in your story and what we liked about your plot, setting, character, pacing, etc.

  A = Author Questions

  In the last few minutes of your critique time, we encourage you, as the author, to ask questions either about your story or to  clarify the comments you received.

  C = Constructive Comments We deliver, in the politest way possible, comments that are specific and helpful to help you improve your story. 

  T = Talent Talent can get you far, but hard work can get your farther. We always end by encouraging you, the author, to keep on writing. We remind you that we are here to help you achieve your writing goals.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Show details
• A Commitment to Story: Monthly Virtual Write-Ins

  • When
    24 Jun 2025
  •  
    5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
  • Location
    Online on Zoom
  • Registered
    2 registrants

  Register

  A Commitment to Story: Monthly Virtual Write-Ins

  Last Tuesday of the Month (no meeting December)

  We're throwing it back to the 20-teens and bringing back an old CBW-LA favorite: the weekday write-in. But this time... virtual!

  Back in the day, we used to host two hour quiet writing sessions at a coffee shop in Manhattan Beach—time for our members to get together and sit together to work on any current writing project. Mostly quiet time, there was also an opportunity to check in briefly about the projects and voice questions or stumbling blocks. Members outlined, wrote early drafts, edited, and even worked on pitches and marketing proposals for their work.

  As time went on and schedules shifted, we got away from the format, but now we're reintroducing it. Just a little bit different. 

  Shorter (one hour). 

  Later (evenings). 

  And Virtual (our members live all across the country now, coast-to-coast, so let's make it easy to connect).

  The format will be similar: brief connection and dedicated quiet writing time. 

  We'll take 10 minutes at the start to check in with a sentence about each person's intention for the writing time and a breathing exercise to drop into creative flow, then we'll set a timer to write for 40-45 minutes. At the end, we'll wrap up with a brief coming together (5-10 minutes) and release. We'd love to see your face at the beginning and end during check-in, but please feel free to turn off the camera during writing time and breathing exercises.

  This is a  supportive community offering to help you carve out time, each month, devoted to the craft and joy of writing stories. Free for CBW-LA Members, $10 for non-members. 

  
  

  Show details