Membership Information
The Ventura County Writers Club was founded in 1933 by four writers in the Ojai, California area. Since then the club has grown to more than 150 members and holds regular monthly general membership meetings. In these meetings persons prominent in all areas and genres of the literary field speak on sources for ideas, enhancing creativity, and getting your work published. Membership Information...
Calling All Poets
The main Poetry Contest page on the website is located directly under the Contests tab at the top of the page. Click HERE to access the main Poetry site (which has the rules, the FAQ for all your initial questions, and other information), click directly on the Poetry selection under Contests. To access the forms, move your mouse over to the right AFTER Poetry is highlighted. Remember, after registering, membership access may take up to 3 business days.
Happy Writing!
Library's 30th Anniversary
The Grant R. Brimhall Library in Thousand Oaks is celebrating its 30th anniversary with several outstanding programs during January. Admission is free.
Location: Grant R. Brimhall Library, 1401 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks
Gene Perret, Emmy-Award Winning Writer, SpeaksVCWC member, Gene Perret, three-time Emmy winning comedy writer and author will discuss his television career and writing in general. Gene’s latest book “Write Your Book Now!” was released last fall by Quill Driver Books. Gene is a popular speaker and teacher and in 2011 led a comedy workshop exclusively for VCWC members. Gene will answer questions from the audience.
Saturday, January 28, 2012, 2:00 p.m.
Volunteers wanted for WORD WORKOUT in Camarillo
For Writers who never get around to writing, beginners and advanced, all writers who crave silence, writers longing to hear their words resonate, come perform your words, laugh... firm up for the future! Bring your water bottle - Loose fitting clothes ~ Lift your notebook ~ Pick up your pen ~ Create words that last - build trust ~ make friends with your writer within.
What kind of "Word Workout?"
PROMPT WRITING ~ WILD WRITING ~ FREE WRITING (see it, write it, read it, claim it, YES!)
We will perform our written results at a public invited performance in The Gallery as our conclusion.
In THE GALLERY of Studio Channel Islands Art Center
Camarillo, in the heart of old town
2221 Ventura Blvd. 805-383-1368 ~Write surrounded by art~
$15.00 a session or $90.00 for 6 sessions and get 7th session free!
Wednesday evenings 5:30PM to 7:30PM
February 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 March 7, 14th.
February 2012 Speaker
Author Michael Arkush will discuss how he wrote books with Sugar Ray Leonard, former Lakers coach Phil Jackson, and 1964 U.S. Open champion Ken Venturi
What does it take to write about the life of another person? How do you collaborate with them on telling their story? Oak View resident Michael Arkush has written ten books, including three New York Times Best-Sellers (Rush! an unauthorized biography of Rush Limbaugh; The Last Season, a collaboration with ex-coach Lakers’ coach Phil Jackson on the turbulent 2003-2004 season; and The Big Fight, boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard’s memoir.) At the February 14th club meeting he will discuss his writing process from initial idea through promoting the finished book.
A life long fan of boxing, Arkush spent nearly two years researching and working with Sugar Ray Leonard on “The Big Fight: My Life In and Out of the Ring,” including hours sitting with Leonard and watching his old fights. As their collaboration moved forward, Arkush worked with Leonard to confront the abuse he suffered as a child. Leonard has stated in interviews that 
experience of telling his full story freed him from years of emotional baggage.
“Having a passion for the topic is vital,” Arkush said. “When you write a book, it can take a year or two so you must love the subject or why are you spending this much time researching it?” On the Leonard project, Arkush spent time researching the boxer’s history including trips to his childhood home in Maryland. “Seeing the locations where he grew up, meeting the people who knew him as a young boy, that adds to the quality of the story you tell.”
Additionally, planning the interview process and conducting interviews is vital. Arkush will discuss how he does this, how he organizes other research, fact checking and then the actual writing of the book. Once it’s completed, he will discuss what he does to promote the book and try to make it a success.
Arkush, a former entertainment writer for The Los Angeles Times, has also written for the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Sports Illustrated. His other books include: an unauthorized biography Tim Allen Laid Bare; The Fight of the Century: Ali vx Frazier March 8, 1971; Fairways and Dream: Twenty-Five of the World’s Greatest Golfers and the Fathers Who Inspired Them; and, I Remember Payne Stewart: Personal Memories of Golf Most Dapper Golfer by the People Who Knew Him Best.
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