If you have a story you want to write – and don’t we all Or your draft needs polishing – just one last read-through! Or your book is published, but how will you find its readers? – Congratulations, but you must continue your journey! I’ve invited several past attendees, now published authors, to share why they believe you need to attend the 2024 Cuesta College 40th edition of the Central Coast Writers Conference (www.centralcoastwritersconference.com) on Saturday October 5. Director Brian Schwartz announced last month, “Workshops, presenters, panels – everything you want to know, including registration, is available.”
“The Hardest Year,” a memoir based on 300 letters written by Carole Wagener and her husband who served in the Vietnam War in 1969 is now available in 13 countries and by audio book. A screenplay adaption is this author’s next quest at CCWC 2024. The book concept percolated for years, then after a variety of workshops offered at CCWC and programs offered monthly at Coastal Dunes California Writers Club, Carole published her book. Hollywood writer/producer Peter Dunne provided her “aha” directive to move forward and complete her project. “The war is your antagonist, not your husband.” Presenter Katya Cengal advised “frame your book” demonstrating how Carole might weave the letters into her story and once she met Sara Roahen, she knew she had the editor she needed to polish her project. Of course, she still needed a plan to market her project, and I suspect she and Brian Schwartz would love to share the rest of her story with you at CCWC 2024.
Lynnly Sainsbury said, “CCWC has been huge – talking to real professionals about the business.” In August she submitted her MFA project, a mystery “Three Murders & a Meeting” after attending conferences and writing workshops for fifteen years. Her original goal was to glean real-world industry experiences for her students. After last year’s conference, “I got brave enough to submit for myself. Based on a true crime story her tale is about teens committing a crime and adults reeling them in to face the consequences of their actions.” Several of her students have attended CCWC’s Teen Program created about ten years ago. “Many participated in the school’s literary magazine and 100% improved their day-to-day writing.”
Melanie Senn has transitioned from teaching English at Cuesta College to offering writing courses at Cal Poly for seventeen years to ultimately self-publishing her historical fiction “Murray: A Novel” last year. This accomplishment came after several years attending CCWC. “I consumed workshops from novel and memoir writing to editing and marketing. This year I’ve been invited to teach historical fiction at the conference. I’m still learning, always.”
YA/Young Adult Fantasy Fiction author Debbie Black penned “Deetjen’s Closet, Sara and the Ghost Clothes” series after studying the craft and trade at CCWC since 2010. “I felt uneasy at first – as if I didn’t belong, but it quickly went away after realizing many were there to explore as I was.”
As a landscape architect, her career demanded excellent technical writing skills, but she’d always wanted to explore fictional options. “First, I took the workshops on craft like point-of-view, setting, etc. then I needed to know how to navigate the business with presentations on query letter, industry expectations, and marketing. It was a wealth of knowledge and made me a better writer. And I enjoyed connecting with local writers.” Why does Debbie recommend you attend? “I needed to convince myself writing was important to me and see myself as a writer. Once I changed my focus from adult fiction to children 8-12 years, the Deetjen’s YA concept of a series delighted me.” And she admits linking up with a writers’ group over the past eight years has offered continual support and inspiration. Last year she was a panelist for creating a writers’ group and this year she will moderate a panel.
Richard Kurrasch had a specific writing project in mind when he attended CCWW 2017 through 2019. He encourages writers to attend in the early stages of the writing process. “It helped me get through my first draft. As a pastor I had written sermons, newsletters, and published papers for years, but until I took the workshop, “Even Hemingway Needed an Editor and You Do, Too!” I didn’t realize how much I needed an editor for this project.” He knew what he wanted to say, but his editor taught him how to write it for a broader audience than his eager parishioners. He also learned how to research publishing options. For affordability, he chose a hybrid publishing approach offering some editing and marketing options. “I’m still working on the marketing of “Acres of Oak – A Pastor Rethinks Church in the 21st Century.”
Kim McGuire touched my heart by reminding me of Anna Unkovich, who we loved and lost in 2017. She was the volunteer coordinator for CCWC for five years. “I attended a workshop presented by Anna,” Kim said. “She was published in Chicken Soup books – short personal stories that seemed to fit what I wanted to do. It was easy to submit, and my first work was accepted. Now I’ve had seven stories published.” Chicken Soup publishing also offered her a writing family with zoom parties for new and seasoned contributing authors. “CCWC has a variety of workshops for every interest and level of any aspiring writer and update information about the industry including AI this year.
Kim’s best reason for writers to attend CCWC 2024, “This is a crazy world and the best thing a writer can do is Don’t Stop Your Joy.”
