Meetings and Events
Monthly Meetings
NorCalRW typically meets the 4th Saturday of each month, online via Zoom (unless otherwise noted). Those who register and pay for the scheduled meeting will receive an email with the meeting's Zoom link. Be sure to pay at least three days in advance to allow time for the Zoom invitation to be issued.
Once a quarter, we meet in person.
Check in begins at 9:30 a.m. A brief business meeting begins at 10:00 a.m., followed by that month's program and speaker. We typically conclude by 12:00 noon. All times are US Pacific.
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Charge for regular meetings:
Zoom meetings: NorCalRW members pay $15 to attend each meeting. The price for non-members is $25.
In-person "regular" meetings: NorCalRW members pay $25 to attend each meeting. The price for non-members is $35.
Fees are not refundable if you are unable to attend (although you will have access to any meeting handouts).
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Upcoming Meeting:​
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A very special guest for our October Meeting...
Best-selling author
Willow Winters
presents:
Dark Romance & Social Media
Saturday, October 25th​
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Add to Calendar:
Outlook​​
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Willow Winters writes:
I started writing after having my little girl, Evie, December of 2015. All during my pregnancy with her I read. i only wanted to read romance novels and I read everything I could get my hands on. I would read a book a day - sometimes two. In January I was staying up late with her and just thinking of all these stories. They came to me constantly. I finally sat down and just started writing. I always wanted to do it so I figured, why not? I never thought I would reach this point of success to be honest. It's insane to me that I have connected with so many readers. And I love each and every one of them for all of their support. I'll be honest, some days are HARD. I have my littles during the day and I write at night. Some days are just simply exhausting and then I hear from a reader and it motivates me to push through and keep writing. I couldn't be more grateful for this wonderful career.
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A writer can write whatever they want, but there are aspects of dark romance that will catch heat, and others that will catch fire on social media if marketed correctly. I'll break down the key factors that make dark romance addictive and a much-needed sub-genre, as well as touch on the aspects that are often targeted as harmful. Notably, I'll go over how to balance that line on social media so your dark romance is read by as many readers as possible who need to read these stories.
More than any other subgenre romance demands that we write real human beings, and we make their interactions believable. How do writers fit together vibrant, wildly individual characters like puzzles missing their lost pieces, while also crafting a plot that lets them interact naturally? It all comes back to understanding the building blocks of our craft.
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This workshop will be held over Zoom. A link will be sent out to all signed up attendees prior to the event. Log on at 9:30am. The presentation begins at 10:00.
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Cost is $15 for NCRW members ($0 for those with a yearly subscription) and $25 for non-members. Pay through Paypal to:
SVRTreasurer@gmail.com​​​​​
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The first two meetings are free for all prospective new members.
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Future Meetings:​​
Saturday, November 15--Holiday Party (in-person meeting)
No meeting in December! Enjoy your holidays!
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Check back often for updates, and to register for upcoming meetings!
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Click here for a list of Past Meeting topics
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Writing Sprints
Need a little structure and team motivation to work on that important project? Give writing sprints a try!
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Six times a week, several members meet online for a brief chat and timed periods of writing. Here's when we meet (all times Pacific):
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​Weekdays:
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Morning
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​Monday-Wednesday-Friday 7:00 - 8:00 a.m.
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Tuesday & Thursday from 7:00 - 8:00 a.m.
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Evening
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​Monday & Thursday from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
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Weekends:
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Afternoon
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Saturday from 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.​​​
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The Zoom link and password are listed in the members' Groups.io forum. Another great reason to join NorCal Romance Writers!
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(Note that there is no fee to participate in the sprints, but you must be a member of the group.)
Events
Periodically, we host special events such as half- or full-day workshops and weekend writing retreats featuring nationally-recognized authors and writing instructors.
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Members are alerted via email and announcements in the quarterly e-newsletter. Notice will also be posted here.
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Past Meetings and Events
Click here for a list of some of the speakers and topics presented at past monthly meetings, workshops and retreats.
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Marketing Mojo
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Typically the second Sunday of each month at 2:00 p.m. Pacific, we'll gather via Zoom to review a variety of topics related to book marketing, researched and led by our past president and teacher extraordinaire, Bonnie Phelps. This is a great benefit of membership! Sessions are videotaped and are available to members upon request.​​
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October 12 – What about selling subscription or mystery boxes on your website or direct sale site. Can you do it or is that strategy way out of your league?
November 9 – Once you’ve typed ‘the end’ it’s not really over. We all want readers to engage with us and buy more of our books. Let’s look at some tips and strategies to get readers excited about signing up for our newsletters and picking up another of our books.
December – We won’t meet in December. Enjoy the holidays!
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Past Topics:
An exploration of email service providers, what different providers offer, and what are the pros and cons of each
Setting up Amazon Ads with guest-host Loucinda McGary!
​What about Patreon? Is it more trouble than it’s worth – or should you consider hopping on the bandwagon?
Diversifying Your Book Income Streams
Pros and Cons of Ebook/Paperback Formatting Programs
Romance Ebook Market Economics Analysis, including hot and rising genres
Using Paid Review Manager Services
As always, Marketing Mojo is free to NCRW members. Check the group forum for the Zoom link.