Events

The week's events

  • - Writing for Children with José Chávez, Poetry & Prose with James Coats
    Writing for Children with José Chávez

    Writing for Children with José Chávez


    June 3, 2024

    Writing for Children with José Chávez

    (All Levels)

    Alternating Mondays, 6:00-8:00 PM PT 4/22, 5/6, 5/20, 6/3, and 6/17/24 on Zoom.

    $50. Registration required.

    https://tinyurl.com/Spring2024CWW

    This workshop is designed to meet the needs of those who wish to write or are writing for children. We’ll explore the writing voice for children, define a “picture book,” story arc, story introductions, appropriate vocabulary, children’s poetry, and more. There will be time to flex our writing muscles and develop the beauty and strength of our “voice” for children.

    José Chávez is a retired bilingual teacher and dedicates his life to writing. He's had poetry published in the Multilingual Educator Journal, Acentos Review, Inlandia Anthology and has written two award-winning bilingual poetry books for children. He lives in Riverside, CA, is married, and has three grown children.

     

    Poetry & Prose with James Coats

    Poetry & Prose with James Coats


    June 3, 2024

    Poetry & Prose with James Coats

    (All Levels)

    Alternating Mondays, 6:30-8:30 PM PT, 4/8, 4/22, 5/6, 5/20, and 6/3/24

    on Zoom

    https://tinyurl.com/Spring2024CWW

    In this multi-genre workshop, participants receive twice-monthly inspiration in the form of both poetry and prose. Prompts inspire writing in the genre of your choice. Class discussions include the craft of writing and the challenges writers face in generating poetry, memoir, and short and long fiction.

    James Coats is an author, poet, and educator born in Los Angeles and raised in the Inland Empire. He received his BFA from Cal Poly Pomona and his MBA from Cal State San Bernardino. As a creative change agent, he believes the arts can inspire youth and influence positive change in the world. His first poetry collection, If I had Lived, was published in 2018. In 2021, he founded Lift Our Voices Education, which hosts the monthly “Be The Change: Social Justice Writing Workshop.” His newest poetry collection, Midnight & Mad Dreams, is published by World Stage Press. Follow him on Instagram @MrLovingWords.

  • - Micro Memoir with David Puma
    Micro Memoir with David Puma

    Micro Memoir with David Puma


    June 4, 2024

    Micro Memoir with David Puma

    (All Levels)

    Alternating Tuesdays, 6:00-8:00 PM, 4/9, 4/23, 5/7, 5/21, and 6/4/24.

    $50. Registration required.

    https://tinyurl.com/Spring2024CWW

    In person at Riverside Main Library – Carnegie Room

    3900 Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside 92501

    Micro memoirs are short standalone pieces that often explore a moment in time, rather than an expanded life chapter. They are drawn from personal experience. Micro memoirs combine truth-telling with narrative tension and are specific to the writer’s micro-memory. Join instructor David Puma for this in-person workshop at Riverside Main Library as participants unleash the power of micro memoir.

    David Puma obtained his M.F.A. in creative writing at San Jose State University and his B.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Redlands. He has been in advanced poetry workshops every semester for the last four years, and has performed spoken word across California, including the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and the Inland Empire – as well as in New York City and in London, U.K. Professionally, David’s poetry has been included on streaming platforms like Disney+.

  • - All Genres Workshop with Victoria Waddle
    All Genres Workshop with Victoria Waddle

    All Genres Workshop with Victoria Waddle


    June 5, 2024

    All Genres Workshop with Victoria Waddle

    (Int.-Adv.)

    Alternating Wednesdays, 6:00-9:00 PM PT, 4/10, 4/24, 5/8, 5/22, and 6/5/24, on Zoom

    $50. Registration required.

    https://tinyurl.com/Spring2024CWW

    In this multi-genre workshop, participants submit poetry and prose for biweekly critiques and receive feedback from other group members. Discussions include the craft of writing and the challenges writers face. The workshop leader provides biweekly articles and links related to participants’ work, particularly to problems that were discussed in the previous session.

    Victoria Waddle is a Pushcart Prize-nominated writer, with fiction and nonfiction published in literary journals and anthologies, including in Best Short Stories from The Saturday Evening Post Great American Fiction Contest. A collection of her short fiction, Acts of Contrition, is available from Los Nietos Press and her chapbook, The Mortality of Dogs and Humans, is available from Bamboo Dart Press. Her YA novel about a teen escaping a polygamist cult is coming from Inlandia Books. Previously the managing editor of Inlandia: A Literary Journey, she helped to establish a yearly teen issue. In a previous life, she was a high school English teacher and librarian.

  • - Writer’s Toolbox with Renee Gurley
    Writer’s Toolbox with Renee Gurley

    Writer’s Toolbox with Renee Gurley


    June 8, 2024

    Writer’s Toolbox with Renee Gurley

    (All levels)

    Alternating Saturdays, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM PT, 4/13, 4/27, 5/11, 5/25, and 6/8/22, on Zoom.

    $50. Registration required.

    https://tinyurl.com/Spring2024CWW

    Unlock the door to your storytelling potential with "Writer's Toolbox," a transformative 5-session workshop designed to hone your craft and elevate your writing to new heights. Whether you're an aspiring novelist, seasoned writer, or simply eager to unleash your creative prowess, this course is your gateway to mastering the essential elements of compelling storytelling.

    Throughout this immersive journey, we'll delve deep into the art of characterization, exploring techniques to breathe life into your characters and make them leap off the page. From crafting complex personalities to infusing your characters with depth and authenticity, you'll learn how to create protagonists and antagonists that resonate with readers long after they've turned the final page.

    Renee Gurley, MA, MFA, is a writer and English teacherwith over 20 years of experience with words, whose works have appeared in Coping Magazine, Lehigh Valley Woman’ s Journal, and Budget Press.