Many people aspire to be a writer! They have a manuscript or two stashed in their nightstand to prove it. At least that’s what the grocery clerk, the waitress, the insurance agent, the hair stylist or other casual contacts tell us when they find out that we are members of the California Writers Club. We can see the starry look in their eyes. They have dreams of book signing events with a line of readers snaking around the block. They hear the cash register stuffing money into their bank account and famous Hollywood stars portraying their characters in a blockbuster movie.
Well, let’s face it. We all write in one form or another all of our lives. But having authored school papers or personal letters doesn’t mean we can automatically produce a manuscript someone is willing to read or publish. A favorite analogy is that of playing the piano. Discounting musical geniuses, if we want to compose a symphony for the piano, we first must take piano lessons, followed by hours of practice. Then we take more lessons and practice again, repeating the process until we reach the level of proficiency that we seek.
As members of the Mt. Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club, we have a wonderful opportunity to sharpen our writing skills and learn the path to becoming a published author. Our monthly meetings offer a variety of speakers and our workshops provide outstanding instructors in the craft and marketing of our prized manuscripts. Even if a speaker is not addressing a subject of interest to you, think about coming to the events anyway. You might be surprised. There’s always useful information from speakers that can apply to any genre. And, as an extra bonus, you may find yourself sitting next to someone who provides that spark to move you to the next level of your writing.
