Past Meetings

Glenda Carroll, Author, October 15, 2022

Past Meetings /

Glenda Carroll is the author of the Trisha Carson mysteries that are set in the San Francisco Bay area. Open water swimming is the undercurrent that runs through all the thrillers. The series includes Dead in the Water, Drop Dead Red,and Dead Code. She is currently working on the fourth Trisha Carson book, Dead to Me.  During her presentation, she’ll talk about:

How to use surroundings/location as a character

Take the journalistic approach – who, what why, where when, how

Be specific

Does the surroundings/locations reflect your protagonist’s mood/feelings

The more you look, the more you see

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Kevin Fisher-Paulson, Author and SF Chronicle Columnist, September 17, 2022

Past Meetings /

Kevin Fisher-Paulson will present “The Fourth Column” at the Tri-Valley Writers Saturday, September 17, 2022 meeting. Every writer has one column in them. The trick is to be the kind of writer who has one column in them every week.

Kevin will discuss the craft of writing from the perspective of purpose and structure. Specifically, the process of writing a weekly column for a major newspaper, like the San Francisco Chronicle. His unique brand of column is the one-week memoir, warts and all. Writing is a search for meaning, and Kevin talks about how the different forms represent different means of exploring experience. He includes choices—not habits—that usher the individual through the creative door.

In his weekly column, Kevin grapples with great issues but knows that the narrative must be satisfied in 750 words. As the reputation of this column grew, he became aware of consistency, fresh perspective, and the assertive reader.

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July & August 2022

Past Meetings /

Tri-Valley Writers takes a brief summer hiatus during the months of July and August. The Board of Directors will be busy planning for a terrific 2022-2023 term. Monthly meetings will resume in September. Critique groups, Social Space, Author Support Group, Pull Up a Chair and Write, and the Zoom Sit Down and Write will continue

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Jim Grayson, June 18, 2022, Great Stories—How the Pieces Fit Together

Past Meetings /

Jim Grayson will present “Great Stories—How the Pieces Fit Together” at the Tri-Valley Writers June 18, 2022 meeting. This presentation deals with the use of characters, plot, setting, and conflict and how they can combine with dialogue, inner thought, action, and reaction to bring out the best in your stories. Together, we’ll delve into an

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Annual High School Writing Contest Awards Ceremony, May 21, 2022

Past Meetings /

Join us Saturday, May 21, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. as Tri-Valley Writers hosts its 11th Annual High School Writing Contest awards ceremony. Student winners from the literary nonfiction, poetry, and short story fiction categories will receive their awards and share their work via readings. Pleasanton’s Teen Poet Laureate and Amador High School senior Nikita Jayaprakash

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Mary Rakow, March 19, 2022, What a Fabulous Edit Can Do for Your Writing & Publishing

Past Meetings /

Mary Rakow will present “What a Fabulous Edit Can Do for Your Writing & Publishing” at the Tri-Valley Writers March 19, 2022 meeting. Mary will be doing live edits on selected TVW members’ works. This meeting will be a hybrid meeting. Registrants have the choice to meet in person at the Four Points by Sheraton

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Sandra Tayler, February 19, 2022, Structuring Your Life to Support Creativity

Past Meetings /

Note: This meeting will be on Zoom only due to an increase in the transmission rate of Covid-19 (omicron).  See below for Reservation & Payment details* Sandra Tayler will present “Structuring Your Life to Support Creativity” at the Tri-Valley Writers February 19, 2022 meeting. Life is complicated and often those complications don’t leave space for the

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Kendra Murray & Ralph Scott, Squeaky Cheese Productions, December 18, 2021

Past Meetings /

Kendra Murray and Ralph Scott will present “He Said. She Said. We Said.” at the Tri-Valley Writers December meeting. The pair are narrators/producers in Squeaky Cheese Productions where duet/dual/solo narration magnetizes audiobook audiences. Kendra and Ralph will select up to three TVW members’ WIP or published novel submissions and take them to studio, then use the audio

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