Posts Written By: CHWGMedia

10 Long Beach Community Theater with Ann Wellman

Published on December 22, 2016 under Podcasts

Our local community in southern California is full of great creators and organizers. Here in our own Long Beach, Ann Wellman is running a theater where artists share their own stories on stage! Plus commentary on our community as writers and J tries his hand at dramatic reading.

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09 How to Query an Agent with Alana Saltz

Published on October 28, 2016 under Podcasts

Finding a good agent can be tough. Getting them to agree to be your agent can be just as challenging. In this podcast, J discusses with guest Alana Saltz on the best ways to query an agent. They go over structure, examples, and etiquette.

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08 How To Critique Others with John Lowell

Published on October 13, 2016 under Podcasts

Writing groups are a great way to help improve your work and your craft. When you participate, you end up critiquing other writers’ work. John Lowell and J discuss how to do it.

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07 Publish in 180 Days with Scott McClelland

Published on September 22, 2016 under Podcasts

Want to get published and haven’t yet? Scott with show you how to do it in 180 days. The internet has a plethora of resources, so let’s learn to use them.

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06 The Writer’s Platform with Wendy Van Camp

Published on August 2, 2016 under Podcasts

Wendy Van Camp discusses the writer’s platform -a valuable tool for the author to get his/her work out there. Listen now to get insight into how to do it yourself. Plus, Sci-fi haiku (Scifaiku). Hosted, edited, and produced by J Bryan Jones.

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05 Young Adult Fiction with Cory Rasmussen

Published on July 5, 2016 under Podcasts

J & Cory discuss the challenges of writing Young Adult Fiction. How do you define YA? How do you capture that voice? Listen now. Plus, on how writing is art and the attack in Orlando on a gay nightclub.

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04 Writing the 1st Paragraph with Andrew Turner

Published on June 2, 2016 under Podcasts

The first paragraph is the initial impression you leave with editors, agents, and readers. It’s important to get it right. This is the first “shop talk” -editorial lessons on improving your writing- brought to you by Andrew Turner. As always, hosted by J Bryan Jones.

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03 Beggars Crossing with CHWG Anthology Editor Bill Wilbur

Published on May 19, 2016 under Podcasts

CHWG published a book of short stories called BEGGAR’S CROSSING. Each story began with a prompt that sets it in a desert town of the same name when a visitor is greeted by a mysterious old man. In the book, you’ll find 14 stories by members of the Coffee House Writers Group community. You can buy one now and help support our non-profit! Find it on Amazon today.

Bill Wilbur is the editor of the Beggar’s Crossing Anthology. In this podcast you’ll hear J & Bill have a conversation about motivation in writing and what led Bill to take on this project and difficulties of getting it made.

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02 CHWG Vice President Eric von Mizener

Published on May 5, 2016 under Podcasts

Organization Vice President Eric von Mizener sold his first screenplay as a teen to NBC’s the Incredible Hulk, Executive Directed the Cayman Islands Film Festival, and now leads the Screenwriting Meetup in Long Beach. He has awesome insight into the world of writing. Listen to his conversation with host J Bryan Jones now.

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01 CHWG Founder Christine Bryant

Published on April 21, 2016 under Podcasts

Our First Podcast! With our organization’s founder, president, and CEO, Christine Bryant. We talk about the history of Coffee House Writers Group and her amazing life.

Our podcast will feature members of the writing community including our members, topical conversations, and Shop Talks -our instructional advice on writing. Subscribe for more!

Visit us at chwritersgroup.org

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Steve Harshberger

Published on January 1, 2016 under Testimonials
” I am proud to be the first member of Coffee House Writers Group, joining through Meetup.com on January 1, 2010. Christine had just decided to create the writer’s group the day prior on December 31, 2009. I haveĀ  enjoyed the feedback and friendships gained through attending CHWG critique groups over the years. I have also expanded and refined my writing skills through interaction with other writers and attending the free CHWG Shop Talks. “

— Steve Harshberger on January 1, 2016

The First Meeting

Published on October 10, 2015 under Our Blog

Christine Marie Bryant is the founder of this organization. Without her vision, it would not exist. She started it through Meetup.com, creating it on December 31, 2009. I happen to have the dubious distinction of being the first member to join that meetup group. I wanted to start off 2010 by making a resolution to start writing again. On January 4, 2010, Christine posted three Meetup.com messages to me regarding the first meeting.

Christine started this group with the same concept we use today. In her first ever message to me, she laid out the concept (see image). She followed that up with another message which read: “As far as Agenda, I’m thinking .. 1) Introductions 2) a member reads 3) group gives feedback 4) another member reads 5) group gives feedback ~ so on and so forth”. Her vision was realized from the first meeting, and this format has proven successful. Our membership increased every year, expanding into other states and to other groups here in California. As the group expanded beyond the borders of the San Gabriel Valley, I had occasion to think back to the first CHWG meeting I attended, back in 2010.

When I walked into the small coffee shop in San Dimas, CA, I was welcomed by Christine personally, and by the rest of the group seated around the table. I had at that time, no formal critique experience, and I brought nothing to read. I just wanted to put myself into a situation where I was exposed to and could talk with other writers. What I experienced was so much more. I was impressed by the style of writing and the content of the stories that were shared that day. I did not read anything that meeting, but I did give my honest feedback to each writer.

Since that day, I have had many life experiences that prevented my attendance in every meeting. With the recent expansion of CHWG into Long Beach, I have the opportunity to join the group meeting every Wednesday night. Working in the LA/LB harbor, my two hour commute precluded any opportunity to make other meeting times. So I am very pleased to be back among gifted writers. And I count myself fortunate. I’ve lost count of how many fantastic people I had the pleasure to meet over the past five years through CHWG. I have enjoyed meeting them, and getting to know them better through their writing and critiques. I highly encourage anyone reading this to come join us for at least one meeting. You’ll be hooked. I promise.

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