CWC President Wilson Sept. Speaker
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VOLUME 3 ISSUE 2 SEPTEMBER 2009 “The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.” Jack London represent the California Writers Club libertarian, was the first president. The CWC from San Jose to San Louis Obispo. Club incorporated in 1913, choosing as Centennial The California Writers Club grew out its motto "Sail On!" from Joaquin of the turn of the century literary Miller's poem, "Columbus." The Club movement in the San Francisco Bay goal is to promote fellowship and per- This year the California Writers area where the literary circle at the sonal and professional growth of writ- Club celebrates its 100th birthday! Coppa Club included Jack London, ers. With a membership of nearly 1200 poet George Sterling and short story Between 1912 and 1914, active mem- across 17 branches, it is the largest writer Herman Whitaker. From these bership grew from 60 to 118. Early writers organization in the state, and informal gatherings came the Press honorary members included Joaquin the oldest continuously active writer's Club of Alameda, a faction of which in Miller (Songs of the Sierra), environ- organization in the nation. The Central 1909 formed the California Writers mentalist John Muir, Ina Coolbrith Coast Writers branch of CWC received Club. Austin Lewis, an English civil (first California poet laureate), and its charter in July 2002 and is proud to Cont‟d on page 3 CWC President Wilson Sept. Speaker In 1993, after 37 years in the trenches work- two American Cancer Society public service announce- ing for the US Government, Casey Wilson ments and narrated a third. “I was paid more as the produc- changed careers to become a full-time freelance tion assistant than I got for the scripts,” he said. writer. “I figured,” Wilson said, “with all the gov- Wilson credits interviews with many interesting and infor- ernment reports I‟ve written, I should be qualified to write mative people for his success. He has interviewed cops and great stuff for the fiction markets. “ crooks, admirals and sailors, congressmen and John Q. Pub- Since then, he has been moderately successful with non- lic, millionaires and homeless. From those experiences he fiction, collecting bylines from newspapers and magazines. developed an interviewing workshop. In addition to many front-page, above-the-fold articles, he We welcome our State CWC President and September has written cover stories for national magazines. Along the speaker to the Katzenberg Room. way he created scripts and acted as production assistant for CWC/WV 1 SEPTEMBER 2009 elcome members new and old to our fourth year of the - Lenora Smalley West Valley Branch of the California Writers Club. ne of the best ways to enhance your writing skills and take them I hope you're among those who sent in their checks already. If you're not, to another level is to attend a writing you can write one to CWC/West Valley and give it to Membership VP Sheila conference. A conference can produce Moss at the coming meeting. new ideas, jumpstart writer's The beautiful room at the Katzenberg Villa is awaiting us, courtesy of block and impart inspiration. Betty Freeman and the MPTV residence, cookies and lemonade on the table, Writer‘s conferences are offered Hedy Lamarr and Carol Lombard on the wall. VP/Programs Yolanda Fintor throughout the year but there seem to has already lined up some fine speakers. State President Casey Wilson starts be more available during the summer. it off. He's a world traveler, a freelancer writer-photographer with years of You can find them in all writing maga- interesting experiences. And remember Kelly Lange, the television news zines and websites especially Poets and lady? She'll be here in October. She writes mysteries now. Writers Magazine. We elected a great Board of Directors at the June meeting. Our newsletter The well known Santa Barbara In Focus continues to charm its readers, and our website at Writer‘s Conference was canceled this cwcwestvalley.org. is among the best in the state. We have an summer—partly because of the econ- anthology—Collage—on the way, and we'll try to have it ready by omy. Both the summer SBWC and the the September meeting. March Weekend of Poetry are moving And besides all this good stuff, I get to see all my writing next year to the beautiful Hotel Mar friends after a long, hot summer. See you then. Monte on the beach in Santa Barbara, - Dave Wetterberg, CWC/WV Branch President just a block or so from the old location. The room rates are significantly less than at the previous location, but the New Crew Comes on Board hotel offers all the same amenities and On a recent sunny Saturday has been recently renovated. This six- the CWC/WV Board met to day summer conference will be June 17- look over plans for the next 23, 2010. Start thinking about attending year. Four new members it early — in 2009! were welcomed by President Danielle Ste. Just Meanwhile remember the CWC Pen- Dave Wetterberg. insula's Jack London Conference comes Danielle Ste. Just has her lap up in October, and CWC Redwood's top ready to take notes at our Conference, also in October. Check out Jay Zukerman is our busy Board meetings. And new Treasurer. His she‟ll be busy keeping up the information on the California Writ- job : keep track of our with the projects and new ers Club state website at financial records and ideas expressed by our new www.calwriters.org. report to Central CWC Vice-Presidents Sheila Moss every month. Keep in mind the CWC South Bay's Jay Zukerman and Yolanda Fintor. East of Eden Conference. next Septem- Sheila Moss is in charge of track- ber 2010. Having attended two years, I ing Membership and Yolanda can recommend it highly. I will never Fintor has the heavy responsibility. forget eating breakfast in Steinbeck's of providing interesting speakers boyhood home. each month. I attended a three day poetry work- Our sincerest thanks to all shop this summer. I learned that work- Sheila Moss Board officers. shops truly can also inspire. Yolanda Fintor and Dave Wetterberg Ed‟s Note: Lenora‟s poem on page 8 was inspired by the Santa Barbara workshop . CWC/WV 2 SEPTEMBER 2009 Continued from page 1 Columbus Charles Fletcher Lummis. Jack London, an occasional speaker at the BEHIND him lay the gray Azores, Club, and his friend George Sterling were also honorary members. Behind the Gates of Hercules; In the 30's, historical novelist and feminist Gertrude Atherton (A Before him not the ghost of shores, Daughter of the Vine) and Kathleen Norris (Certain People of Impor- Before him only shoreless seas. tance) were admitted as honorary members. The good mate said: "Now we must pray, Large banquets and elegant affairs characterized club activities For lo! the very stars are gone. in the 1920's and 1930's. In the early 1920's, Berkeley poet Charles Brave Admiral, speak, what shall I say?" Keeler (The Simple Home) served as president and encouraged more "Why, say, 'Sail on! sail on! and on!' " emphasis on poetry and dramatic arts. The Club expanded in North- "My men grow mutinous day by day; ern California during these decades. My men grow ghastly wan and weak." The Club soon began publishing members' works. WEST The stout mate thought of home; a spray WINDS, a hardcover collection of fiction illustrated by California Of salt wave washed his swarthy cheek. artists, was published in 1914, and went into eight printings. Jack "What shall I say, brave Admiral, say, London and Rebecca N. Porter were among its contributors. WEST If we sight naught but seas at dawn?" WINDS: A Book of Verse, came out in 1925, with poetry by Ina Cool- "Why, you shall say at break of day, brith, George Sterling, Edwin Markham, Charles and Ormeida 'Sail on! sail on! and on!' " Keeler, and seventy other members. Six years later, WEST WINDS 111- A Book of Fiction, was published with contributions by Agnes They sailed and sailed, as winds might blow, Morley Cleveland (No Life for a Lady) and Charles Caldwell Dobie Until at last the blanched mate said: (San Francisco Tales). Other poetry collections followed during the "Why, now not even God would know 1930's. Should I and all my men fall dead. The Club tradition of planting trees to honor California writers These very winds forget their way, and poets began in 1930. The "Writers Memorial Grove" at Joaquin For God from these dead seas is gone. Miller Park in Oakland is on land which originally belonged to Now speak, brave Admiral, speak and say" -- Miller, who dreamed of establishing a memorial for artists and writ- He said, "Sail on! sail on! and on!" ers there. The first trees planted honored Joaquin Miller, Bret Harte, Charles Warren Stoddard (South Sea Idyls), Edward Roland Sill (A They sailed. They sailed. Then spake the mate: Fool's Prayer), Ina Coolbrith, Jack London, Mark Twain, Charles "This mad sea shows his teeth tonight. Fletcher Lummis, and Edwin Markham. The Berkeley Branch has He curls his lip, he lies in wait, since added trees in recognition of Dashiel Hammett, Gertrude With lifted teeth, as if to bite! Stein, and historians Will and Ariel Durant. In the 1940's, the site Brave Admiral, say but one good word: was named "Woodminster" and expanded by the addition of an am- What shall we do when hope is gone?" phitheater.