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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250122T183000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250122T193000
DTSTAMP:20260607T185042
CREATED:20250106T195435Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250106T195435Z
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SUMMARY:The Girls of the Glimmer Factory Book Launch at the Coronado Public Library
DESCRIPTION:Author Jennifer Coburn – SDWF Instructor in Residence\, launches her latest novel\, The Girls of the Glimmer Factory at the Winn Room at the Coronado Library on January 22nd.\n\nFrom the author of Cradles of the Reich comes a poignant and inspiring tale of resistance\, friendship\, and the dangers of propaganda\, based on the real story of Theresienstadt\, for fans of The Forest of Vanishing Stars and The German Wife. \nHannah longs for the days when she used to be free\, but now\, she is a Jewish prisoner at Theresienstadt\, a model ghetto where the Nazis plan to make a propaganda film to convince the world that the Jewish people are living well in the camps. But Hannah will do anything to show the world the truth. Along with other young resistance members\, they vow to disrupt the filming and derail the increasingly frequent deportations to death camps in the east. \nHilde is a true believer in the Nazi cause\, working in the Reich Ministry of Enlightenment and Propaganda. Though they’re losing the war\, Hilde hasn’t lost faith. She can’t stop the Allied bombings\, but she can help the party create a documentary that will renew confidence in Hitler’s plans for Jewish containment. When the filming of Hitler Gives a City to the Jews faces production problems due to resistance\, Hilde finds herself in a position to finally make a name for herself. And when she recognizes Hannah\, an old childhood friend\, she knows she can use their friendship to get the film back on track. \nReserve your seat
URL:https://sdmwa.org/event/the-girls-of-the-glimmer-factory-book-launch-at-the-coronado-public-library/
LOCATION:Coronado Public Library\, 640 Orange Ave\, Coronado\, CA\, 92118
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://sdmwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/unnamed.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250201T143000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250201T160000
DTSTAMP:20260607T185042
CREATED:20250122T182745Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250122T182745Z
UID:3242-1738420200-1738425600@sdmwa.org
SUMMARY:The Art of Essay Writing with Lisa Lee Herrick
DESCRIPTION:Join us for our next IMWA meeting – The Art of Essay Writing with Lisa Lee Herrick. \nZoom information will be sent to all members.  To renew your membership or join please email Tjjones1@gmail.com \nAbout Lisa:\nLisa Lee Herrick is the daughter of Hmong refugees\, and she is an award-winning Hmong-American writer\, illustrator\, and producer based in California. Her creative nonfiction is honored in the Best American Essays (2020; 2021) and Best American Food Writing 2020. In 2019\, she was selected for a Writing X Writers fellowship at the Esalen Institute in California and named a finalist for the Paper Darts Short Fiction Prize. The following year\, she was a finalist for the 2020 Ploughshares Emerging Writers’ Contest and longlisted for the Creative Capital Award. In May 2021\, Lisa was awarded a PEN America Emerging Voices Fellowship and paired with best-selling Hmong American writer Kao Kalia Yang as her mentor. She was announced as a finalist for the Restless Books Prize for New Immigrant Writing 2021 in September\, and she is working on her debut book—a memoir in essays—as well as several publishing projects examining contemporary issues affecting the Hmong in diaspora. \nLisa is also the co-founder of Fresno’s LitHop literary arts festival\, which she started after a decade working in journalism and television\, and currently serves as Editor-at-Large for Hyphen magazine. She is also a regular contributor to The Rumpus\, Emergence Magazine\, and advises nonprofit arts & public broadcasting organizations in media strategy and community outreach. She has been featured in and/or appeared on PBS\, NPR\, FOX\, ABS-CBN\, The Fresno Bee\, the Houston Chronicle and others. She has a B.A. in Comparative Literature from the University of California\, Davis\, where her first published personal essay is permanently archived in the Department of English’s Prized Writing catalogue. Twitter: @lisaleeherrick
URL:https://sdmwa.org/event/the-art-of-essay-writing-with-lisa-lee-herrick/
LOCATION:ZOOM Online\, CA\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://sdmwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_8693.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250206T193000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250206T203000
DTSTAMP:20260607T185042
CREATED:20250122T183118Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250122T183118Z
UID:3245-1738870200-1738873800@sdmwa.org
SUMMARY:Shaking the Tree 6 Book Signing Event at Warwick's
DESCRIPTION:Join us at Warwick’s on Thursday\, February 6 at 7:30 p.m. to celebrate the publication of What Just Happened? and hear Robert Kirk\, K’Cee Scoggins\, Dr. Heather Berberet\, Chuck Dunning\, Suzi Finkelstein\, and Nancy O’Sullivan read portions of their amazing stories. There will be book signings\, raffles\, and more! \nReserve your seat today here\n 
URL:https://sdmwa.org/event/shaking-the-tree-6-book-signing-event-at-warwicks/
LOCATION:Warwick’s Bookstore\, 7812 Girard Ave.\, La Jolla\, CA\, 92037\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://sdmwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_8694.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250301T143000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250301T163000
DTSTAMP:20260607T185042
CREATED:20250220T230826Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250220T230826Z
UID:3265-1740839400-1740846600@sdmwa.org
SUMMARY:Writing about Survival and Resilience: An Important Conversation with Memoirist Brittany Means
DESCRIPTION:Please join us Saturday (3/1) at 2:30 p.m. PT for our March IMWA meeting with on “Writing About Survival and Resilience:” with memoirist Brittany Means\, author of Hell If We Don’t Change Our Ways. Brittany is also a panelist at the San Diego Writers Festival this year! \nPraise for Hell If We Don’t Change Our Ways: \nA PEOPLE magazine pick\, Best Books Fall 2023: “A breathtaking memoir about surviving a horrifying childhood; Means…transforms memories…into a work of art.” \nStarred review from Kirkus: “This book is an outstanding debut…A harrowing and soulful memoir to be read\, savored\, and reread.” \n“Brittany Means has pieced together the shards of a devastating childhood in this powerful memoir. It’s gut-wrenching but at the same time triumphant\, harrowing yet exquisitely told. Hell If We Don’t Change Our Ways is a story of survival that left me choked up and cheering.”\n–Jeannette Walls\, author of The Glass Castle \nAbout the Bestselling\, Debut Memoir: \n“I can’t write a story about myself as the sad\, quiet child of two drug addicts. That’s not how it was\, even when it was. To me\, sleeping in the car was normal. Better\, it was comfy and fun. I loved my bed made of clothes inside a trash bag that I sank into slowly like Uncle Fester from the Addams Family movie. . . . I loved the motels and their swimming pools and trashy daytime TV channels. . . . Nobody could tell us what to do.” \nBrittany Means’s childhood was a blur of highways and traumas that collapsed any effort to track time. Riding shotgun as her mother struggled to escape abusive relationships\, Brittany didn’t care where they were going―to a roadside midwestern motel\, a shelter\, or The Barn in Indiana\, the cluttered mansion her Pentecostal grandparents called home―as long as they were together. But every so often\, her mom would surprise her―and leave. \nAs Brittany grew older and questioned her own complicated relationships and the poverty\, abuse\, and instability that enveloped her\, she began to recognize that hell wasn’t only the place she read about in the Bible; it was the cycle of violence that entrapped her family. Through footholds such as horror movies\, neuropsychology\, and strong bonds\, Brittany makes sense of this cycle and finds a way to leave it. \nWhile untangling the web of her most painful memories\, Brittany crafts a tale of self-preservation\, resilience\, and hope with a unique narrative style―a sparkling example of the human ability to withstand the most horrific experiences and still thrive
URL:https://sdmwa.org/event/writing-about-survival-and-resilience-an-important-conversation-with-memoirist-brittany-means/
LOCATION:ZOOM Online\, CA\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://sdmwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/IMG_9422.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250405T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250405T170000
DTSTAMP:20260607T185042
CREATED:20250106T200416Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250106T200416Z
UID:3239-1743840000-1743872400@sdmwa.org
SUMMARY:2025 San Diego Writers Festival
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://sdmwa.org/event/2025-san-diego-writers-festival/
LOCATION:Coronado Public Library\, 640 Orange Ave\, Coronado\, CA\, 92118
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250503T143000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250503T163000
DTSTAMP:20260607T185042
CREATED:20250421T173413Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250421T173442Z
UID:3279-1746282600-1746289800@sdmwa.org
SUMMARY:Creativity as a Solution for the Heaviness of Reality
DESCRIPTION:Ray Bradbury said\, “You must stay drunk on writing\, so reality doesn’t destroy you.”\n\nJill Badonsky agrees and explains how creativity’s altered state keeps us buoyed even when harsh reality gives us a sinking feeling daily. Creativity is remembering who we are and\, as we do\, unearthing stories of resilience\, compassion\, and authenticity. Join Jill for an interactive workshop  where you will explore prompts and inspiration that will take your personal stories deeper.\n\nJill Badonsky is an inspirational humorist and author/illustrator of three books on the creative process\, creator and founder of Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coaching Certification training\, playwright\, and international retreat leader.
URL:https://sdmwa.org/event/creativity-as-a-solution-for-the-heaviness-of-reality/
LOCATION:ZOOM Online\, CA\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://sdmwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Screenshot-2025-04-21-at-10.33.39 AM.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250607T143000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250607T163000
DTSTAMP:20260607T185042
CREATED:20250530T202525Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250602T163250Z
UID:3304-1749306600-1749313800@sdmwa.org
SUMMARY:Book Publishing 1-2-3
DESCRIPTION:Grab a pen and join us for this lively class\, peppered with ideas and stories to inspire and empower writers of all types. We’ll start by checking out today’s book business (traditional and indie publishing)\, then share valuable resources to help aspiring authors approach industry professionals. \nNext up? Tips you can put to work immediately to boost your command of the craft\, followed by thoughts on reaching readers through marketing and promotion.\nMore highlights: Writing prompts to goose the muse\, four-page handout\, “Ask the Editor” Q&A. \nPresenter bio: Laurie Gibson is an editor with three decades of experience serving writers\, publishers\, organizations (e.g.\, the Southern Poverty Law Center)\, and universities (e.g.\, Stanford). She’s had the honor of proofreading the work of groundbreaking novelist Alice Walker\, business guru Brian Tracy\, and Yvon Chouinard\, founder of Patagonia. Additionally\, Laurie taught editing at both UCSD and UCLA Extension for years. She’s revising her first novel―featuring British punk rockers The Clash. Her love of story led her to create “Book Publishing 1-2-3” to help writers launch their work into the world.
URL:https://sdmwa.org/event/book-publishing-1-2-3/
LOCATION:CA
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://sdmwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/unnamed-2.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250617T173000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250617T183000
DTSTAMP:20260607T185042
CREATED:20250602T163635Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250616T201106Z
UID:3319-1750181400-1750185000@sdmwa.org
SUMMARY:How to Write a Winning Memoir Showcase Piece - A Free Workshop
DESCRIPTION:Free workshop on how to write a winning memoir showcase piece: \nJune 17 @ 5:30 pm (PT) on Zoom. \n 
URL:https://sdmwa.org/event/how-to-write-a-winning-memoir-showcase-piece-a-free-workshop/
LOCATION:ZOOM Online\, CA\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://sdmwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/IMG_2480.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250713T143000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250713T163000
DTSTAMP:20260607T185042
CREATED:20250616T201012Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250616T201012Z
UID:3349-1752417000-1752424200@sdmwa.org
SUMMARY:Mapping Memory: Top 3 Travel Writing Tips That Elevate Your Memoir with Lenore Greiner
DESCRIPTION:Mapping Memory: Top 3 Travel Writing Tips That Elevate Your Memoir: How techniques from great travel writing—scene-building\, sensory immersion\, and emotional resonance—can make your memoir more vivid\, layered\, and unforgettable. \nAbout Lenore:\n \nAn award-winning travel writer\, Lenore Greiner began her writing journey as a lifelong journal keeper. \nAt seventeen\, she took off for La Paz\, Mexico\, pen and journal in hand. At nineteen\, her passion for adventure led her to Italy’s heart to study at the University for Foreigners in Perugia and immerse herself in Italian language and culture.\nThere\, the seeds of her memoir were sown. \nA passionate storyteller\, Lenore has garnered eight prestigious Solas Awards for Best Travel Writing and was honored in Best American Travel Writing 2013\, edited by Elizabeth Gilbert. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times\, Fodor’s travel guides\, and three volumes of Shaking the Tree\, the International Memoir Writers Association’s annual anthology. \nA speaker and teacher\, she’s presented at the San Diego Writers Festival\, St. Louis Writers’ Guild\, and the International Memoir Writers Association. She teaches travel writing at San Diego Writers Ink. She holds a BA in Mass Communications from the University of California\, Davis.
URL:https://sdmwa.org/event/mapping-memory-top-3-travel-writing-tips-that-elevate-your-memoir-with-lenore-greiner/
LOCATION:ZOOM Online\, CA\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://sdmwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Lenore-IMWA-Travel-Writing-July-12-.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250802T143000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250802T163000
DTSTAMP:20260607T185042
CREATED:20250724T182833Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250724T182907Z
UID:3378-1754145000-1754152200@sdmwa.org
SUMMARY:Lisa Cheek talks about her debut memoir Sit\, Cinderella\, Sit
DESCRIPTION:Lisa Cheek talks about her debut memoir and (sort of) Cinderella story about a woman who’d been told she was “too old” to create magic. \nAbout Lisa Cheek:\nAfter twenty-five years editing and producing other people’s work\, Lisa Cheek decided to take her friends’ and coworkers’ advice and tell her own stories. Her first memoir\, “Sit\, Cinderella\, Sit” is an Amazon Bestseller\, a Zibby’s Most Anticipated Books for 2025\, and a People Magazine pick. She has written for both radio and television. You can find her musings “One Minute Thoughts From A Pink Head” on Substack. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband\, Chris Johnson\, two mutts\, Josie and Elvis Bruce Wayne\, and two kitties\, Eartha Kitt and Trixie. She is currently working on her next two books and has several film and television scripts in various stages of development. \n  \n\n\nSit\, Cinderella\, Sit\nA unique memoir blending fairy tale elements with the author’s true-life experience – this is an unusual and charming memoir sure to find readership in women’s book clubs.\n\n\n\n\nLisa Cheek loved editing TV commercials—almost as much as she loved her dog\, Ron Howard. Then\, she “aged out” of advertising\, at 45. After being let go\, Lisa got a call—at 2:45 AM—from a director who\, like everyone in Hollywood\, had a film he wanted to make: the original Cinderella story. Now\, his dream could come true—if Lisa granted his wish. \nIn Sit\, Cinderella\, Sit\, Lisa Cheek shares her adventures in editing a film made on location in China—along the Tibetan border—where Mandarin was the only language spoken by everyone but her. Stuck in a house with fourteen men she couldn’t understand\, literally\, she yearned for conversation and coffee. \nBut there were moments of wonder and laughter. Lisa forged a bond with her translator and a woman named Sunny. She rescued one dog\, and then another. “Everyone speaks Cinderella\,” the director had assured her. Maybe he was right. \nTold with humor and heart through a fairy tale lens\, with flashbacks into the author’s not-always-happy childhood\, Sit\, Cinderella\, Sit is a story about what can happen when you take a leap of faith\, look and hear beyond people’s differences\, and dare to believe in yourself. \n\n\n\n\n\nPraise\n“By turns funny and moving\, this book about a lonely woman who came into her own will appeal to animal lovers and anyone who appreciates the satisfaction of a hard-earned happily-ever-after. A feel-good memoir about embracing risk and finding the courage to love.”\n—Kirkus Reviews / read full review\n\n\n\n\n“This memoir is a heartwarming exploration of self-discovery\, perfect for those looking for a light yet reflective read.”\n—Readers’ Favorite\, 5-star review \n“In all seasons of life\, there are times we feel unmoored. Sit\, Cinderella\, Sit\, chronicles one such time with honesty\, insight\, and hope. It’s one of those stories that helps you remember that kindness and love are universal languages\, best spoken by dogs.”\n—Julie Barton\, New York Times Bestselling author of Dog Medicine\, How My Dog Saved Me From Myself  \n“With a quick-witted tone and the creative lens of a gifted filmmaker\, Lisa Cheek takes us through the mid-life resurrection of a woman who isn’t afraid to make her own way. In the end\, she reminds us that we aren’t meant to do life solo and that true surrender requires far more strength than weakness.”\n—Julie Cantrell\, New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of Perennials \n“With tenderness\, wit and curiosity\, Lisa Cheek takes you on an eye-popping adventure that proves it’s never too late to find your true place in the world.”\n—Rona Maynard\, Author of Starter Dog: My Path to Joy\, Belonging and Loving This World \n“Refreshingly candid and insightful\, Sit\, Cinderella\, Sit\, is an entertaining memoir of one woman’s international journey in search of authentic love — for herself\, for humanity\, and for those powerful teachers we call dogs.”\n—Michael Konik\, author of Ella in Europe: An American Dog’s International Adventure \n“Here is a fresh voice\, a wise old soul with a bouncy young attitude and the golden gift of capturing the bright shards of life. Her sketches of the precarious life of the people who make the wheels of Hollywood go round are totally convincing\, and she flings her central character\, a dreamy film editor\, into an unimaginable adventure filled with all the pain and joy of a complete life\, accompanied by charming animal helpers and strong doses of cappuccino.”\n—Christopher Vogler\, author of The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers \n“Out of work in her forties\, Lisa Cheek accepted a job offer that took her to China. Familiar work\, but made seemingly impossible because Cheek spoke no Chinese. Nevertheless\, she set out on what became an adventure into herself. It is a great story\, a triumphant story well told\, with the added bonus of two darling dogs that help along the way.”\n—Abigail Thomas\, New York Times best-selling author of A Three Dog Life: A Memoir \nwww.lisacheek.com
URL:https://sdmwa.org/event/lisa-cheek-talks-about-her-debut-memoir-sit-cinderella-sit/
LOCATION:ZOOM Online\, CA\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://sdmwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_3356.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250920T090000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250920T170000
DTSTAMP:20260607T185042
CREATED:20250818T160013Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250818T161206Z
UID:3400-1758358800-1758387600@sdmwa.org
SUMMARY:Festival U
DESCRIPTION:Welcome to Festival U – SDWF Day Of Online Learning for Writers! Join us for a day filled with insightful workshops and engaging discussions tailored for writers of all levels. Whether you’re a seasoned author or just starting out\, there’s something for everyone at this virtual event. Learn from industry experts\, connect with fellow writers\, and grow your skills in a supportive online environment. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to expand your knowledge and inspireyour creativity. Register now and get ready to take your writing to the next level! \nSee Full Lineup and Register here
URL:https://sdmwa.org/event/festival-u-3/
LOCATION:ZOOM Online\, CA\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://sdmwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Minimal-Save-The-Date-Adult-Birthday-Party-Instagram-Post.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251010T090000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251010T104500
DTSTAMP:20260607T185042
CREATED:20250924T171424Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250924T171439Z
UID:3458-1760086800-1760093100@sdmwa.org
SUMMARY:San Miguel Writers Conference: How To Unblock and Become a Creative Force of Nature with Marni Freedman (virtual)
DESCRIPTION:Join acclaimed writer\, teacher\, and therapist Marni Freedman\, a member of our 2026 Conference faculty\, for a 5-week online course inspired by her upcoming Hay House book\, Artistic Badassery: How to Unblock and Become a Creative Force of Nature. \nUnlock Your Writing Creativity Before the San Miguel Writers’ Conference! \nJoin acclaimed writer\, teacher\, and therapist Marni Freedman\, a member of our 2026 Conference faculty\, for a 5-week online course inspired by her upcoming Hay House book\, “Artistic Badassery: How to Unblock and Become a Creative Force of Nature.“ \nThrough lively discussions\, neuroscience-based tools\, and fun exercises\, Marni will help you quiet your inner critic\, unlock your creative flow\, and write with confidence. You’ll learn to: \n\nStep into the Three Mindful Creative States—Allow\, Trust\, and Play—to deepen and enliven your writing practice\nRecognize and silence The Five Faces of the Inner Critic\nUncover your Creative Flow Style for writing that feels effortless\nShape-shift to move past writer’s blocks and stuck spots\nConnect with your Creative Guides to inspire your storytelling\nLearn evidence-based writing practices that will continuously spark the unstoppable force behind your writing\n\nIgnite your creativity and connect with Conference faculty before you even arrive in San Miguel this February! \nCost: $395 \nCourse dates: \nFridays\, October 10 – November 7*\n9:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Pacific time / 10:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. San Miguel time \nFriday\, October 10\, 2025\nFriday\, October 17\, 2025\nFriday\, October 24\, 2025\nFriday\, October 31\, 2025\nFriday\, November 7\, 2025 \n*Note: Sessions will be recorded so you can catch up on class if you need to miss one throughout the five-week series.  \n\n\nRegister Here\nAbout Marni Freedman:\nMarni Freedman (BFA\, LMFT) is an award-winning writer and therapist specializing in supporting artists. She began her career with the Disney-produced film\, Playing Mona Lisa. Marni is the Founder and Executive Director of the San Diego Writers Festival and serves as the Programming Director of the International Memoir Writers Association. \nAt the 2026 San Miguel Writers’ Conference\, Marni will be teaching two powerful workshops\, Memoir 101 – How to Write Your Life (on Wednesday\, February 11th) and Writing the Breakthrough Self-Help Book (on Friday\, February 13th). \nLearn more about Marni here.
URL:https://sdmwa.org/event/san-miguel-writers-conference-how-to-unblock-and-become-a-creative-force-of-nature-with-marni-freedman-virtual/
LOCATION:ZOOM Online\, CA\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://sdmwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Screenshot-2025-09-24-at-9.24.13-AM.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251011T143000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251011T163000
DTSTAMP:20260607T185042
CREATED:20251006T171757Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251006T171757Z
UID:3465-1760193000-1760200200@sdmwa.org
SUMMARY:Naked Writing For Memoirists
DESCRIPTION:Memoir writing comes alive when we drop into raw\, unfiltered truth — the kind that moves both writer and reader to tears\, laughter\, and recognition. But one of the hardest parts of memoir is not just writing those truths\, but daring to share them. \nIn this one-hour workshop\, Marijke McCandless\, award-winning author of Naked in the Now\, invites you to practice Naked Writing — a form of freewriting that quiets the inner critic and opens the door to surprise. Through simple\, open-ended prompts and timed exercises\, you’ll explore what’s waiting beneath the surface and allow your natural voice to emerge without striving for perfection. \nWe’ll also practice the art of sharing raw\, unedited words in a supportive space. By exposing our imperfect selves and listening with presence to others\, we discover courage\, connection\, and community. \nBring pen\, paper\, and a willingness to be surprised.
URL:https://sdmwa.org/event/naked-writing-for-memoirists/
LOCATION:CA
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://sdmwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/NEW-Naked-Writing-Marijke.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251114T190000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251114T210000
DTSTAMP:20260607T185042
CREATED:20251016T174533Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251017T203944Z
UID:3481-1763146800-1763154000@sdmwa.org
SUMMARY:11th Annual Memoir Showcase
DESCRIPTION:Save the date: \nThe 11th Annual Memoir Showcase theatrical performance will be at 7 p.m. on Friday\, November 14\, at the David & Dorothea Garfield Theatre in UTC. \nThe International Memoir Writers Association proudly presents the 11th Annual Memoir Showcase\, an unforgettable night of brazen\, short\, and compelling true stories inspired by the theme “No\, Really\, I’m Fine.” Actors bring our winning writers’ five-page memoirs to life on stage—from a midnight border crossing from a war-torn Bosnia and a sex cult in Japan\, to witnessing a bank robbery\, eating spacecakes in Amsterdam\, and more! Touching\, powerful\, funny\, and just plain brilliant. One night only!\nGet your tickets HERE
URL:https://sdmwa.org/event/11th-annual-memoir-showcase/
LOCATION:David and Dorothea Garfield Theatre\, 4126 Executive Dr.\, la Jolla\, 92037\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://sdmwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Presents-the-11th-Annual-Memoir-Showcase-3.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251206T143000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251206T160000
DTSTAMP:20260607T185042
CREATED:20251201T185620Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251201T190003Z
UID:3518-1765031400-1765036800@sdmwa.org
SUMMARY:Interactive writing workshop with author\, editor\, and healing instructor Matthew Pallamary
DESCRIPTION:Matthew J. Pallamary is an award-winning author\, editor\, and shamanic explorer whose works have been translated into six languages. His historical novel Land Without Evil won a San Diego Book Award and inspired an Emmy-nominated PBS episode. His nonfiction collaboration The Infinity Zone earned first place in the International Book Awards\, and his memoir Spirit Matters won the San Diego Book Award for Spirituality. Over his prolific career\, Matt has published numerous acclaimed novels and story collections exploring visionary states\, consciousness\, and the mystical intersections of science and spirit. He has appeared on Coast to Coast AM and other national programs\, and has taught writing and shamanism workshops across the U.S. for more than three decades\, including at the Santa Barbara Writers Conference\, where he serves as ombudsman. He is Editor-in-Chief of Mystic Ink Publishing and continues to inspire readers to explore the frontiers of imagination and awareness.
URL:https://sdmwa.org/event/interactive-writing-workshop-with-author-editor-and-healing-instructor-matthew-pallamary/
LOCATION:ZOOM Online\, CA\, United States
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251212T173000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251212T183000
DTSTAMP:20260607T185042
CREATED:20251202T005706Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251202T005706Z
UID:3524-1765560600-1765564200@sdmwa.org
SUMMARY:Book Launch for Babymaker by Vincent Schroeter
DESCRIPTION:Join December Member of the Month Vincentia Schroeter for her book launch and art show! Vin will be interviewed by Marni Freedman.
URL:https://sdmwa.org/event/book-launch-for-babymaker-by-vincent-schroeter/
LOCATION:San Diego Writers\, Ink\, 2730 Historic Decatur Rd. #202-204\, San Diego\, CA\, 92106\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://sdmwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-4.55.56-PM.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260117T120000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260117T140000
DTSTAMP:20260607T185042
CREATED:20251231T010814Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260110T020335Z
UID:3542-1768651200-1768658400@sdmwa.org
SUMMARY:New Year’s Vision Board Workshop
DESCRIPTION:The IMWA and SDWF are inviting you to a special community workshop:\nVision Boards\, Inspiration & Rejuvenation\nSaturday\, January 17\, 2026 (see Zoom link below)\n12 p.m. PT on Zoom (Just this once\, we are gathering at noon.)\nWe’ll start with a short presentation on Unblocking Creatively in 2026\, then shift into a relaxed\, supportive create-and-craft session where you can build your vision board and set your creative intentions for the new year.\nChoose your format:\n\n\nPhysical vision board: Have on the ready pens\, paper\, pictures\, markers\, and anything else that inspires you (magazines\, glue\, scissors\, stickers\, etc.).\n\n\nDigital vision board: We’ll share links on Saturday to help you get started dreaming up your creative new year.\n\n\nCommunity share:\nDuring our crafting time\, we’ll open the floor for anyone who’d like to share a short inspirational saying\, poem\, or phrase.\nWe’d love to see you there—and please feel free to invite a friend. This workshop is open to the whole community.
URL:https://sdmwa.org/event/2026-new-year-workshop/
LOCATION:ZOOM Online\, CA\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://sdmwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/NEW_Jan-17-Vision-Board-Graphic.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260122T190000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260122T200000
DTSTAMP:20260607T185042
CREATED:20260108T183127Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260108T183907Z
UID:3552-1769108400-1769112000@sdmwa.org
SUMMARY:Talk and Book Signing with Author Janell Strube
DESCRIPTION:Join Author Janell Strube in conversation with Marni Freedman\, editor\, writing coach and cofounder of the San Diego Writer’s Festival discussing Janell’s new novel\, Adelaide: Painter of the Revolution. \nJanuary 22\, 7:00 PM \nBarnes & Noble\, Encinitas\n1040 N El Camino Real Drive. \nEncinitas\, CA 92024 \n  \nIn a world where women are seen but rarely heard\, Adélaïde Labille-Guiard refuses to be silenced. \nThe daughter of Parisian shopkeepers\, Adélaïde dreams not of marriage or titles but of earning a place among the masters of French art. With Queen Marie Antoinette on the throne and a spirit of change in the air\, anything seems possible. But as revolution brews and powerful forces conspire to deny her success\, Adélaïde faces an impossible choice: protect her life—or fight for a legacy that will outlast her. \nInspired by the true story of one of the first women admitted to the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture\, Adélaïde: Painter of the Revolution is a sweeping\, evocative portrait of ambition\, courage\, and resilience in the face of history’s fiercest storm. \n  \n  \n  \nJanell Strube makes a mean barbecue sauce. She’s also a world traveler\, a baker\, and a bicyclist. But when she writes\, her identity as an adoptee often steers her attention to topics of alienation\, erased history\, and displacement. \nIn 2024\, a personal essay of hers was published in the anthology Adoption and Suicidality. Her work has also appeared in Shaking the Tree: brazen. short. memoir and A Year in Ink. Her short memoir\, “Taking my Blonde Daughter to a Black Lives Matter Rally\,” was selected for the 2020 San Diego Memoir Showcase\, an annual live storytelling event. \nWhile much of her writing is personal\, she enjoys the freedom that comes with crafting fiction. Her desire to learn about forgotten female artists who shaped the French revolutionary period motivated her to write Adélaïde: Painter of the Revolution. \nWhen not crunching numbers as a tax executive for a hotel chain\, she can be found hanging out with Shiloh the Wheaten and plotting her second book.
URL:https://sdmwa.org/event/author-janell-strube-book-launch/
LOCATION:CA
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://sdmwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/0-3.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260207T143000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260207T163000
DTSTAMP:20260607T185042
CREATED:20260205T190107Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260205T190107Z
UID:3568-1770474600-1770481800@sdmwa.org
SUMMARY:Writing About Motherhood and Adoption
DESCRIPTION:Motherhood comes in many forms—through birth\, adoption\, foster care\, and reunion. This Saturday\, five remarkable memoir writers share their deeply personal adoption stories: a birth mother\, adoptees\, and an adoptive parent opening up about the courage it took to write what they lived. Join us for an honest conversation about family\, secrets\, healing\, and the challenges all memoir writers face when writing about motherhood in its many complicated forms.
URL:https://sdmwa.org/event/writing-about-motherhood-and-adoption/
LOCATION:CA
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://sdmwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/unnamed-14.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260307T143000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260307T160000
DTSTAMP:20260607T185042
CREATED:20260226T180921Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260226T180921Z
UID:3582-1772893800-1772899200@sdmwa.org
SUMMARY:Eat Your Words
DESCRIPTION:Join award-winning poet and author\, Jane Yevgenia Muschenetz\, for a short reading and generative writing workshop around food and memory.  Enjoy a poetic taste test and explore how your own stories about food can invite delicious and evocative writing.\n\nAbout Jane:\nJane Muschenetz arrived in San Diego as a Jewish child refugee from Soviet Ukraine. She’s been recognized for excellence in poetry performance by the County of San Diego and most recently won the 2025 National Federation of Press Women Communications Award in Creative Verse and the 2025 War Poetry Postcard Prize from Middlewest Press. Jane’s words appear in MIT Technology Review\, KPBS\, Spoken Word Paris\, and numerous other publications. Jane is the Poetry Director for the San Diego Writers Festival and Partnerships Director for San Diego Poetry Annual. Connect with Jane at www.PalmFrondZoo.com.
URL:https://sdmwa.org/event/eat-your-words/
LOCATION:CA
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://sdmwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Eat-Your-Words-March-7-Memoir-Zoom-v2.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260328T090000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260328T170000
DTSTAMP:20260607T185042
CREATED:20260226T181511Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260226T181511Z
UID:3586-1774688400-1774717200@sdmwa.org
SUMMARY:San Diego Writers Festival
DESCRIPTION:Join us for the 7th Annual San Diego Writers Festival.\nThe San Diego Writers Festival is a free\, community-based event designed to celebrate the power of writing and storytelling.  \nStories transform both the teller and the listener. In whatever form you welcome a story into your life—by reading a memoir or graphic novel\, listening to a podcast or a poetry reading\, watching a movie or play or going to the theater—stories are our pathways\, our links\, our bridges to one another. \nAt the San Diego Writers Festival\, we ask two important questions: What if there was a place where all stories could be nurtured and heard? What if we opened up our community to stories from those who have been under-served\, disenfranchised\, or neglected? \nWe invite you to join us on our mission to hear one another\, be educated and illuminated by one another\, and inspired by one another—one story at a time. \n\n2026 Keynote Speaker\n\n\n\n\nJodi Picoult is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of thirty novels\, including By Any Other Name\, Mad Honey (co-authored with Jennifer Finney Boylan)\, Wish You Were Here\, The Book of Two Ways\, A Spark of Light\, Small Great Things\, Leaving Time\, and My Sister’s Keeper\, and\, with daughter Samantha van Leer\, two young adult novels\, Between the Linesand Off the Page. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband.\nwww.sandiegowritersfestival.com
URL:https://sdmwa.org/event/san-diego-writers-festival/
LOCATION:Coronado Public Library\, 640 Orange Ave\, Coronado\, CA\, 92118
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260401T193000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260401T210000
DTSTAMP:20260607T185042
CREATED:20260330T212217Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260330T212449Z
UID:3591-1775071800-1775077200@sdmwa.org
SUMMARY:Anne Lamott and Neal Allen on "Good Writing" in conversation with Marni Freedman
DESCRIPTION:Join bestselling author Anne Lamott and writer-spiritual coach Neal Allen in conversation with Marni Freedman for an inspiring and entertaining evening that will change the way you think about language. \nTICKETS  \nTHE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER \n36 ways to improve your writing \nTwo writers show you how to turn a worthy sentence into a memorable one. Starting where The Elements of Style leaves off\, Good Writing can improve your book\, your essay\, your memo\, your blog post\, speech\, or script. These essential rules for persuasive language work on any type of writing\, and anyone can learn them quickly. \nEach rule is accompanied by examples and a lively pair of essays\, the first by Neal Allen\, who developed the list of tips over the course of his journalism and corporate careers; the second by his wife\, Anne Lamott\, acclaimed author of Bird by Birdand nineteen other nonfiction works and novels. The authors don’t always agree on the specifics\, but they are passionate about making better sentences. \nAs Neal writes\, “These rules economize\, favor the plainspoken and the specific\, keep the reader’s attention sharp\, and in other ways show respect for the audience’s time and desire for novelty.” \nSome rules are fundamental: Use strong verbs. Remove the boring stuff. Twist clichés. Some are more subtle: Draw on all five senses. Give your sentence a finale. Along the way\, Good Writing addresses practicalities such as finishing projects despite challenges\, trusting editors\, and knowing when to break the rules to serve your story. \nWhether you’re a novice writer or a seasoned author\, this entertaining guide will revolutionize your approach to crafting sentences.
URL:https://sdmwa.org/event/anne-lamott-and-neal-allen-on-good-writing-in-conversation-with-marni-freedman/
LOCATION:Balboa Theatre\, 868 Forth Ave.\, San Diego\, 92101\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://sdmwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/New-York-Times-Bestseller.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260502T143000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260502T163000
DTSTAMP:20260607T185042
CREATED:20260414T181942Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260414T181942Z
UID:3610-1777732200-1777739400@sdmwa.org
SUMMARY:Interview with New York Times bestselling author Annabelle Gurwitch
DESCRIPTION:Join us for a powerful and deeply human conversation as Annabelle Gurwitch\, New York Times bestselling author\, sits down with Tracy J. Jones and Marni Freedman to discuss her bold and unforgettable memoir\, The End of My Life Is Killing Me. \nWith wit\, irreverence\, and surprising tenderness\, Gurwitch turns the traditional “cancer warrior” narrative on its head\, embracing what she calls the “cancer slacker” philosophy—choosing joy\, humor\, and presence over perfection and pressure. This conversation explores how storytelling can hold both grief and laughter\, how meaning is found in the ordinary\, and how memoir can illuminate even life’s most uncertain chapters. \nExpect insight\, honesty\, and moments that will stay with you long after the conversation ends.
URL:https://sdmwa.org/event/interview-with-new-york-times-bestselling-author-annabelle-gurwitch/
LOCATION:ZOOM Online\, CA\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://sdmwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Awakening-the-Creative-Spirit-Instagram-Post-Square-Facebook-Event-Cover-28.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260606T143000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260606T160000
DTSTAMP:20260607T185042
CREATED:20260514T205154Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260514T205154Z
UID:3640-1780756200-1780761600@sdmwa.org
SUMMARY:Writing About Trauma with Mimi Nichter
DESCRIPTION:Join the International Memoir Writers Association on June 6 for a powerful conversation with Mimi Nichter on “Writing About Trauma.” \nA finalist for the 2026 Tucson Festival of Books Literary Award in Nonfiction\, Mimi will discuss her gripping memoir\, Hostage\, which recounts surviving the 1970 hijacking of TWA Flight 741 and the lasting impact of trauma\, silence\, survival\, and resilience. \nThis promises to be an unforgettable discussion about transforming painful experience into meaningful memoir — and how storytelling can become part of the healing process. Join us.
URL:https://sdmwa.org/event/writing-about-trauma-with-mimi-nichter/
LOCATION:ZOOM Online\, CA\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://sdmwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Awakening-the-Creative-Spirit-Instagram-Post-Square-Facebook-Event-Cover-29.png
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