California Writers Club, Mt Diablo Branch

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May 2026 Meeting with Writers Tables

*Different Venue: Pleasant Hill Community Center, McHale Room, 320 Civic Drive, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523*

Part 1, 10:00 – 11:00: Three-Minute Flash Fiction: Which table can write the best story?


Part 2, 11:00 – 12:00: Writers Tables

Choose Your Topic with Writers Tables

  • Author’s Guide to YouTube with Michael Barrington
    • This table will focus on how to set up and market your book with your YouTube author account.
  • How to Capture Internal and External Emotion on the Page with Gala Russ
    • Emotion drives every scene, but how do you show what your characters truly feel? In this Writers Table session, Gala Russ breaks down how to write internal and external emotion and teaches three practical strategies to make those feelings land on the page. Ideal for any genre and any stage of writer who wants more vivid, resonant scenes.
  • How To Turn Your Book into Speaking Engagements with Lucinda Jackson
    • One of the best ways authors can reach more readers, sell more books, and eventually increase revenue with speaker fees is by speaking to groups of people. In this Writers Table, you will learn how to:
      • Identify speaking topics based on your book:
      • Take the first steps to get started as a speaker.
      • Locate venues where you can speak locally and nationally.
  • Writing Outside the Box: Fun with Brainstorming Techniques with Lori Lynne Armstrong
    • How do you come up with new plots and characters, or expand on current ones? We all have our process. Sometimes we can’t even explain it in words. Let’s play with different brainstorming techniques to see which ones might have potential to enrich our writing. 
  • Suzy Orpin: Unleash Your New AI Assistant
    • Curious about using AI but not sure where to start? Sit down for an easy, welcoming intro to writing prompts that help you brainstorm marketing, scheduling, book trailers, blurbs, and more. Learn how to talk to your new digital assistant so it actually helps you. No tech experience required!
  • Ask Me a Question with Andrew Benzie
    • As a graphic designer, publisher, and author, I often get asked lots of questions. During this Writers Table, I will attempt to answer ANY questions you have about the process of designing, publishing, or marketing a book. 

Member Spotlight

Member Spotlight – Michael Barrington Launches His New Book “Colourblind: A Travesty of Justice”
Member Spotlight – Michael Barrington Launches His New Book “Colourblind: A Travesty of Justice”

Click here to view more Spotlights or if you have a writing Spotlight to share with us.

Upcoming Programs

  • May 9, 2026, Three-Minute Flash Fiction and Writers Tables: choose from 6 topics. (This meeting is at the Pleasant Hill Community Center)
  • June 13, 2026, Hakim: Poetry in Its Many Forms
  • July/August 2026: Summer Break 
  • September 12, 2026, Diane Frank: Poetry as the Language of the Soul 

Our Meeting Schedule and Location

General Meetings are held the second Saturday of each month, except July and August.
Location:
The Pleasant Hill Senior Center
233 Gregory Lane
Pleasant Hill, CA
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Optional post-meeting events until 1:30. Bring your lunch!
Our meetings are open to the public. See the Meetings and Workshops page to register. 

Join Our Branch

Writers need each other! Click to Join.

 

Newsletter and Social Media

The Write Newsletter, May 2026


The Back Fence: Our Members-Only Facebook Group

 

CWC Statewide

CWC State Website

Find other CWC Branches

Read the latest CWC Bulletin

 

Critique Group


CLICK HERE for information about our Critique Groups and how to join.

 

Our Community Partners

Reasonable Books for partner
Reasonable Books for partner
Art Embraces Words
Art Embraces Words
Our Community Partners
Our Community Partners
Our Community Partners
Our Community Partners

CWC Mt. Diablo Branch, P.O. Box 606, Alamo, CA 94507

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