September 28 Meet-up Guest Speaker: Laura Segal Stegman
Laura Segal Stegman is the author of Summer of L.U.C.K., Ready or Not, and The Chambered Nautilus, a middle-grade trilogy from Young Dragons Press, each of which have earned Readers' Favorite Five Star reviews. She has been featured at NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English), Orange County Children’s Book Festival, SCBWI-SoCal’s Fall Harvest Writers and Illustrators Day, San Diego Writers Festival, OC Book Fair, and LitFest in the Dena, and she shares her author journey with students at virtual and in-person school visits. She also serves as a judge for Society of Young Inklings, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and other writer competitions. She owns Laura Segal Stegman Public Relations, LLC, whose wide-ranging client list includes businesses and arts organizations. Her PR Tips for Authors workshop, a step-by-step guide to building a digital author media kit, has been presented by The Writing Barn, SCBWI, and elsewhere. Non-fiction writing credits include collaboration on the travel book Only in New York as well as feature stories and guest posts that have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Magazine, SCBWI's Official Blog, and School Library Journal’s Teen Librarian Toolbox, among others. She is based in Los Angeles.
Top Ten Things to Know About Writing A Basic – but Effective – Promotional Author Bio
Presenter: Laura Segal Stegman
Authors are storytellers, right? So why is it that writing a book seems almost easy compared to the material we must write about our books? Log lines, for example. The dreaded synopsis. Even putting together a simple bio feels overwhelming. But it needn't be. In this webinar, filled with real-life examples, you'll learn why the first sentence is crucial and how to structure it; the difference between a promotional bio and a book jacket bio; the importance of bio lengths; and much more.
When: Sunday, Sept. 28, 1:00-2:00 pm
Where: Our meet-ups are virtual over zoom
The zoom link is provided in the bi-monthly email. If you'd like to be added to the email list, please contact Bev Plass at [email protected]
Cost: Free
SoCal welcomes you to join our monthly meet-ups to connect with other creative people and hone your craft. We mingle, have guest speakers, and celebrate writer successes. We generally meet on the fourth Sunday of the month from 1:00-2:00. Sometimes we change the dates due to holidays or other SCBWI events. We break into critique groups immediately following, using the same zoom link. Please read about the critique groups and submission deadlines for "SoCal Writers Group" below.
Critique Groups
SoCal Writer Critique Groups
SoCal Writers typically meet every fourth Sunday of the month via zoom immediately following the meet-up. The same zoom link is used for both meetings.
Inland Empire Writers Critique Group
Inland Empire Writers meet every third Saturday of the month via zoom for meet-up and critique groups.
Illustrator Meet-ups
Illustrators typically meet every second Saturday of the month in person and via zoom (hybrid).
Illustrator Accountability Sessions
One-hour motivational work sessions held on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month via zoom
Writer Submission Guidelines:
Picture Book (PB)
Submission length - Send in one manuscript. 1,000 words or less.
Document type - Word document (NOT Pages or PDF.)
Document name - GENRE (PB), LAST NAME, FIRST, TITLE
Document formatting - Size 12 font, Times New Roman. Double spaced. 1 inch margin on all sides.
Document header - Title/author last name (on the far left) and page numbers (on the far right)
Middle Grade (MG) / Young Adult (YA)
Submission length - Send in five pages (double spaced)
Document type - Word document (NOT Pages or PDF.)
Document name - GENRE (MG/YA), LAST NAME, FIRST, TITLE
Document formatting - Size 12 font, Times New Roman. Double spaced. 1 inch margin on all sides.
Document header - Title/author last name (on the far left) and page numbers (on the far right)
Note: If you are submitting a chapter that is later in the novel (not chapter 1), it is helpful to provide a “here’s what has happened so far” summary. It is also helpful to the critiquer if you include a complete synopsis of the novel so they can judge the excerpt within the entire context of the novel. These are merely suggestions, not requirements, to help you maximize the quality of the feedback from your group. First-time submissions: It is highly recommended you attend a meeting once before participating in a critique group. That way, you will know the process we follow. It is important you know the process as this is a moment of vulnerability for members of the group. We want to guide and inspire, not crush our aspiring writers.
Future Meet-up Dates:
Sept 28 (submissions due 9/19) Speaker: Laura Stegman, author
Oct 26 (submissions du 10/17) Speaker: Lee Wardlaw, author- Poetry
Nov 23 (submissions due 11/14)