Welcome Scribblers, Writers, Dreamers!

ANNOUNCEMENT:

CBW-LA Virtual Happy Hour: Are You Feeling All Write?

To Register for this FREE EVENT, click here: CBW-LA Virtual Happy Hour: Are You Feeling All Write?

Dear Scribblers,

We miss you! We miss your hugs, your smiles, the brilliant conversation that occurs when we come together in creative community. And we want to know how you're faring, whether you're writing, how we can support you.

So let's get together. Saturday, July 25, 10 a.m., it's a date. We'll be on Zoom, hanging out for an hour and a half, talking about it all.

The world has changed a lot since we last got to see you in person, and we know that the new normal has changed things for a lot of people. Some are fully tuned into a creative flow in this moment, taking advantage of extra time at home to compose words and stories. Others are feeling the weight of isolation, raw emotion and worry, and feeling blocked. Writing may feel like more of a challenge than usual in the midst of everything that is happening in our lives.

Wherever you are right now, we'd love to hear what's going on, and learn from one another. In this special online forum, we will check in with one another. We can talk about what's happening in your writing life with craft, process, and creative inspiration. We'll discuss challenges we are currently encountering, and also share tips, hacks, and tricks to help us cope with these challenges. Finally, we'll spend some time talking about the big WHY. Why we write. Why we fell in love with the often solitary life of the storyteller. Why creativity matters deeply in the midst of uncertainty. When we remember our why, we can rekindle the writing passion and move forward.

CBW-LA knows that stories change lives. We see firsthand how important representation is in literature, especially literature for children. As always, we hear you, we see you, and we stand by you. The most fundamental part of our CBW-LA mission and vision is to support a literary world in which every child sees him or herself reflected in literature—both in the characters and in the authors. We support and stand with Black Lives Matter, DACA and international students, refugees and immigrants, authors with disabilities, women, and LGBTQIA+ voices.

Arts and literature make a difference. They are a way through quarantine and isolation, as they offer entertainment, escape, and creative outlet. They are a way through social justice, as they offer reflection, empathy, understanding, and belonging.

Let's celebrate that magic of creativity and writing, and be there to support one another in these times.

To Register for this FREE EVENT, click here: CBW-LA Virtual Happy Hour: Are You Feeling All Write?

Whether you seek a community of like-minded authors, dream of becoming a published author, or simply want to pursue and explore your writing hobby, joining a writing group like the Children's Book Writers of Los Angeles will help you.

CBW–LA offers critique groups and sessions, writing workshops, guest lectures, write-ins at local coffee shops, networking, writing support, and even publishing opportunities for our members and guests. Every month, there's something interesting on our calendar!

Once you've had a look around, be sure to check out OUR NEWSLETTER at medium.com for thoughts on writing.

Upcoming events

No upcoming events

HISTORY

Although the group's main focus is on writing for children, we welcome writers of all kinds, as well as those who love to read children's books.

Founded in 2010, we branched out to start publishing our members in 2013 through our annual Story Sprouts Writing Day Workshop. We have two Writing Resources and Anthologies under our belt: Story Sprouts and Story Sprouts: Voice as well as a collaborative Middle Grade novel called Kayla Wayman, Teen Time Traveler: Lost in the Stream.

Story Sprouts: Setting and Story Sprouts: Conflict are currently in development, as well as a yet-unnamed Middle Grade collaborative novel about a boy who gets sucked into his video game. Look for those soon.

We encourage you to attend the annual workshop and buy a copy of the previous Story Sprouts; they make an excellent writing resource, brimming with high quality poetry, short fiction and nonfiction by our Story Sprouts authors.

MISSION AND PURPOSE

Our workshops provide tips and lessons on the craft and business of writing. You'll learn how to create characters so real, they practically jump off the page, weave storylines to make an interesting plot, revise and edit your manuscript, write and submit query letters to agents and editors, and how the publishing industry works.

You can get helpful feedback on your manuscript through our critique sessions, and our creative writing sessions help in sparking the next great idea, or simply help you improve your writing skills so you can find your voice and style.

MEMBERSHIP AND EVENTS

Events are open to members and non-members alike. Members get great discounts on our workshops and free access to our critique sessions. Be sure to RSVP to reserve your space at any event. We offer many takeaways and have limited space, so we want to make sure you get the most out of your experience.