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• A Commitment to Story: Monthly Virtual Write-Ins

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

  Register

  A Commitment to Story: Monthly Virtual Write-Ins

  Welcome to the Weekday Write-in!

  In these community writing sessions, members get together for some quiet writing time. This session is virtual and attendees have an opportunity to check in briefly about their projects and voice questions or stumbling blocks. Attendees can outline, write early drafts, edit, and even work on pitches and marketing proposals for their work. 

  In this session, we'll  take a few minutes at the start to check in with a sentence about each person's intention for the writing time and either a breathing exercise/meditation/chair yoga/writing prompt 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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• 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
• A Commitment to Story: Monthly Virtual Write-Ins

  • When
    28 May 2025
  •  
    5:15 PM - 6:15 PM
  • Location
    Online on Zoom
  • Registered
    3 registrants

  Register

  A Commitment to Story: Monthly Virtual Write-Ins

  Welcome to the Weekday Write-in!

  In these community writing sessions, members get together for some quiet writing time. This session is virtual and attendees have an opportunity to check in briefly about their projects and voice questions or stumbling blocks. Attendees can outline, write early drafts, edit, and even work on pitches and marketing proposals for their work. 

  In this session, we'll  take a few minutes at the start to check in with a sentence about each person's intention for the writing time and either a breathing exercise/meditation/chair yoga/writing prompt 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
• THE JOY OF HOLDING BACK: THE EAST ASIAN FOUR-ACT STRUCTURE

  • When
    31 May 2025
  •  
    1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    Online via Zoom
  • Registered
    11 registrants

  Register

  
  

  THE JOY OF HOLDING BACK:
  THE EAST ASIAN FOUR-ACT STRUCTURE 

  with Henry Lien 

  Discussions in the West around diversity in the arts often focus on the identities of characters and creators. However, true diversity is about more than just plopping different faces into stories that are 100 percent Western in spirit; it can―and should―encompass diverse story structures. The workshop explores how storytelling staples in the West, such as the three-act structure, are far from universal. It introduces writers to the East Asian four-act story structure. Using practical tips, it teaches all writers, regardless of their own artistic or cultural background, how to inject freshness and surprise into their writing simply by embracing a different structure

  
  

  ABOUT THE SPEAKER

  
  

  
  

  HENRY LIEN

  Henry Lien is a graduate of Brown University, UCLA School of Law, and Clarion West Writers’ Workshop. He is the author of the Peasprout Chen fantasy series and the non-fiction book Spring, Summer, Asteroid, Bird: The Art of Eastern Storytelling. His short fiction has appeared in publications including Asimov’s, Analog, and F&SF, and he is a four-time Nebula Award finalist. Henry also teaches for institutions including UCLA Extension, the University of Iowa, Clarion West, and Writing the Other and won the UCLA Extension Department of the Arts Outstanding Instructor of the Year Award. Henry has previously worked as an attorney and fine art dealer. Born in Taiwan, Henry currently lives in Hollywood, California. Hobbies include writing and performing campy anthems for his books and losing Nebula Awards.

  HENRY'S NEW BOOK!

  
  

  Discussions in the West around diversity in the arts often focus on the identities of characters and creators. Speculative fiction author and writing instructor Henry Lien makes the pathbreaking argument that diversity is about more than just plopping different faces into stories that are 100 percent Western in spirit; it can--and should--encompass diverse structures, themes, and values.

  Using examples ranging from Parasite to The Thousand and One Nights to the Mario video game franchise, Lien shows how storytelling staples in the West, such as the three-act structure and themes of empowerment and change, are far from universal. He introduces the East Asian four-act structure (kishotenketsu), as well as circular and nested structures, and explains how Eastern value systems such as collectivism can dictate form. Spring, Summer, Asteroid, Bird is essential reading for any writer or reader who wants to broaden their understanding of how to tell a satisfying story.

  
  

  
  

  Purchase Henry's books here:

  
  

  Spring, Summer, Asteroid, Bird: The Art of Eastern Storytelling

  
  

  Peasprout Chen: Future Legend of Skate and Sword

  
  

  Peasprout Chen: Battle of Champions

  
  

  The Magic Paintbrush and Other Enchanted Tales

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• A Commitment to Story: Monthly Virtual Write-Ins

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

  Register

  A Commitment to Story: Monthly Virtual Write-Ins

  Welcome to the Weekday Write-in!

  In these community writing sessions, members get together for some quiet writing time. This session is virtual and attendees have an opportunity to check in briefly about their projects and voice questions or stumbling blocks. Attendees can outline, write early drafts, edit, and even work on pitches and marketing proposals for their work. 

  In this session, we'll  take a few minutes at the start to check in with a sentence about each person's intention for the writing time and either a breathing exercise/meditation/chair yoga/writing prompt 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
    9
  • Registered
    2 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.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

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• A Commitment to Story: Monthly Virtual Write-Ins

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

  Register

  A Commitment to Story: Monthly Virtual Write-Ins

  Welcome to the Weekday Write-in!

  In these community writing sessions, members get together for some quiet writing time. This session is virtual and attendees have an opportunity to check in briefly about their projects and voice questions or stumbling blocks. Attendees can outline, write early drafts, edit, and even work on pitches and marketing proposals for their work. 

  In this session, we'll  take a few minutes at the start to check in with a sentence about each person's intention for the writing time and either a breathing exercise/meditation/chair yoga/writing prompt 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
• 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
• A Commitment to Story: Monthly Virtual Write-Ins

  • When
    29 Jul 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
• A Commitment to Story: Monthly Virtual Write-Ins

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

  Register

  A Commitment to Story: Monthly Virtual Write-Ins

  Welcome to the Weekday Write-in!

  In these community writing sessions, members get together for some quiet writing time. This session is virtual and attendees have an opportunity to check in briefly about their projects and voice questions or stumbling blocks. Attendees can outline, write early drafts, edit, and even work on pitches and marketing proposals for their work. 

  In this session, we'll  take a few minutes at the start to check in with a sentence about each person's intention for the writing time and either a breathing exercise/meditation/chair yoga/writing prompt 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