Meetings and Events
MONTHLY MEETINGS
Guild meetings take place on 2nd Tuesday of every month from 5:30-7:30PM. We feature guest speakers, panels, member readers, and small group interaction with topics of interest to writers at all skill levels. Meetings are free and open to the public
WORKSHOPS
In line with our mission to advance growth and success of individual writers, COWG offers several workshops per year—typically on a Saturdays for half or full day. Professional speakers impart their writing craft expertise, followed by the opportunity for participants to share their work in a small group critique session. Information about workshops will be posted on this page as they are offered.
Join Now!
Guild meetings take place on 2nd Tuesday of every month from 5:30-7:30PM. We feature guest speakers, panels, member readers, and small group interaction with topics of interest to writers at all skill levels. Meetings are free and open to the public
WORKSHOPS
In line with our mission to advance growth and success of individual writers, COWG offers several workshops per year—typically on a Saturdays for half or full day. Professional speakers impart their writing craft expertise, followed by the opportunity for participants to share their work in a small group critique session. Information about workshops will be posted on this page as they are offered.
Join Now!
Central Oregon Writers Guild Anthologies (2024, 2023, 2022) Available at Roundabout Books or at Amazon Central Oregon Writers Guild Meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 5:30PM in The Brooks Room at the Bend Downtown Library
November Meeting 11/12/24
Irene Cooper "How Writing & Reading Poems Can Make All Your Writing Better" Poetry brings so much to the table when it comes to enriching your creative writing—music, concision, and sure, lyricism. Join Irene Cooper in an exploration of how to read and write poems with an eye toward making all your writing sing. Irene Cooper’s writings appear in Beloit Poetry, Denver Quarterly, The Rumpus, Witness, and elsewhere. She wrote the feminist noir novel Found, Committal, poet-friendly spyfy about family, and spare change, finalist for the Stafford/Hall award. Irene teaches at OSU-Cascades and in community, and currently serves as an editor for Airlie Press. https://irenecooperwrites.com/ In Person at the Bend Library (Brooks Room) 601 NW Wall St. 5:30-7:30PM Or you can watch remotely: ZOOM LINK Irene's Slides 
COWG Quarterly Workshop
Saturday November 16, 1-4PM in The Brooks Room, Downtown Bend Library Irene Cooper “Forms of Revision: Poetic Tools to Hone Your Writing” You've got a first draft—well done! Now let’s go deep and ask the questions of your work that will help you discover what it really wants to be. Revision IS work, yes—the best kind. Join Irene in exploring how poetic tools can make your writing sing. Irene Cooper’s writings appear in Beloit Poetry, Denver Quarterly, The Rumpus, Witness, and elsewhere. She wrote the feminist noir novel Found, Committal, poet-friendly spyfy about family, and spare change, finalist for the Stafford/Hall award. Irene teaches at OSU-Cascades and in community, and currently serves as an editor for Airlie Press. https://irenecooperwrites.com/ COWG Members $10, Nonmembers $25 Registration Coming Soon 
December Meeting Monday 12/9/24
Note That this is on MONDAY not TUESDAY! Holiday Potluck and Member Reading! Join us for our annual Holiday Member Reading and Potluck. Come in person and bring your favorite holiday snacks to share, or sit back and relax at home (with your own snacks) as you listen to several of our members share their prose and poetry. We'll also give you a sneak peek at the 2025 COWG Presenters and Workshops. See you there! In Person at the Bend Library (Brooks Room) 601 NW Wall St. 5:30-7:30PM Or you can watch remotely: ZOOM LINK |
Writing Events
in Central Oregon (Click on links for more information) Quiet Writing with Community COCC (Barber Library, South Oregon Room, 2nd floor) -Tuesdays 12:30-2 Shut Up & Write -Wednesdays 2-3:30 at Kevista Coffee November 2024 Events November 2 (COCC) Western Genre Writing Workshop with Dani Nichols November 4 (Paulina Springs Books) The Pause Button: A Monthly Poetry Gathering November 7 (Roundabout Books) Author Matt Wastradowski November 7 (Paulina Springs Books) Author Krista West November 9 (Spork) Raging Writers/Spoken Words November 11 (Bend Downtown Library) Cycling Through Seasons of Change: Creative Writing Workshop with Krayna Castelbaum November 12 (Bend Library) COWG Monthly Meeting: Irene Cooper "How Writing and Reading Poems Can Make All Your Writing Better" November 13 (In-Person/Zoom) Poetry Playshop with Krayna Castelbaum November 14 (Roundabout Books) Author Jon Waterman November 16 (Bend Library) COWG Quarterly Workshop: "Poetic Tools to Hone Your Writing" with Irene Cooper November 16 (Zoom) Blank Pages Writing Salon November 16 (Lone Pine Coffee) Poetry Night 5-8 November 20 (Sunriver Books) Author Craig Johnson November 21 (The Commons) Third Thursday Spoken Word Night November 21 (High Desert Music Hall) Third Thursday Spoken Word Night December 2024 Events December 2 (Paulina Springs Books) The Pause Button: A Monthly Poetry Gathering December 5 (Roundabout Books) COWG Anthology Launch and Reading December 5 (Paulina Springs Books) Author Lori Hellis December 7 (COCC Redmond) Write for Kids Workshop with Dani Nichols December 8 (Spork) Raging Writers/Spoken Words December 9 Monday (Bend Library) COWG Annual Holiday Potluck and Member Reading December 11 (In-Person/Zoom) Poetry Playshop with Krayna Castelbaum December 12 (Paulina Springs Books) Authors Kit Tosello & Melody Carlson December 19 (The Commons) Third Thursday Spoken Word Night December 19 (High Desert Music Hall) Third Thursday Spoken Word Night December 21 (Zoom) Blank Pages Writing Salon December 21 (Lone Pine Coffee) Poetry Night 5-8 Upcoming Conferences, Events, Workshops, and Classes: ~Wintering: A Writing Group with Sarah Cyr January 13 - February 17 |
Previous Virtual COWG Meetings (Recordings):
Click Here to See the October 2024 Meeting with Kristin Dorsey "The Healthy Writer: Writing for Health and Healthy Writing Habits" (coming soon)
Kristin's Slides
Kristin's Slides
Click Here to See the August 2024 Meeting with Lorin Oberwerger "Unstuck in the Middle"
Lorin's Slides
Lorin's Slides
Click Here to See the June 2024 Meeting with Julie Swearingen & Erik Frank "Building Your Author Platform"
Sample Questions for an Author Interview
Sample Questions for an Author Interview
Click Here to See the May 2024 meeting with Shelby Little: "How to Shout About Your Work (Without Losing Your Voice)"
Shelby's Slides
Shelby's Slides
Click here to see the April 2024 meeting with Kerry Chaput "History With a Side of Action: How to Write Historical Fiction That Keeps Readers Hooked"
Kerry Chaput's Slides
Kerry Chaput's Slides
Click Here to See the March 2024 Meeting with Catherine Malcynsky “Self-Centered: First-Person Narration in Fiction”
Catherine's Slides
Catherine's Slides
Click Here to See the September 2023 Meeting with Amanda and Aaron Johnson: "What if Story is the Answer?"
What if Story is the Answer
What if Story is the Answer
Click Here to See the August 8, 2023 Meeting with Julie Swearingen: “How To Create and Run and Author Event”
Successful Author Events
Successful Author Events
Click Here to See the July 2023 Meeting with Ginger Hanson: "Dialogue: The Fastest Way to Improve Your Story"
Ginger's Dialogue Checklist
Ginger's Dialogue Handout
Ginger's Dialogue Checklist
Ginger's Dialogue Handout
Click Here to See the September 2022 Meeting: "Reimagining Research Across Genre" with Erica Berry
Erica's Slide Presentation
Erica's Creative Research Worksheet
Erica's Slide Presentation
Erica's Creative Research Worksheet
Click Here to See the March 2022 Virtual Meeting: Mind Your Words: A Workshop for Self-Editing with Debra Froese
And Here are Deborah's Slides and Handout
And Here are Deborah's Slides and Handout
Click Here to See the February 2022 Virtual Meeting: Images that Shimmy and Shake with Krayna Castelbaum
And Here is Krayna's Worksheet
And Here is Krayna's Worksheet
Click Here to See the January 2022 Virtual Meeting: Editing Panel Discussion
Links to Editorial Freelancers Association and Northwest Editors Guild rates for comparison
Links to Editorial Freelancers Association and Northwest Editors Guild rates for comparison
Click Here to See The October 2021 Virtual Meeting: What's it All About with Ellen Santasiero
And Here is Ellen's Blurb Template
And Here is Ellen's Blurb Template
Click Here to see the July 2021 Virtual Meeting: Pulling In To Branch Out: Using the Hermit Crab Technique in Your Writing with Kristin Dorsey
Kristin's Presentation Notes
Kristin's Presentation Notes
Click Here to see the March 2021 Virtual Meeting: Young Adult and Middle Grade Writing Panel
Websites for YA/MG Panelists: cidney@cidneyswanson.com - catwintersbooks@gmail.com - amber.j.keyser@gmail.com - rosanneparry@comcast.net
Websites for YA/MG Panelists: cidney@cidneyswanson.com - catwintersbooks@gmail.com - amber.j.keyser@gmail.com - rosanneparry@comcast.net
Click Here to see the November 2020 Virtual Meeting with Ginger Dehlinger: Submit! Submit! Submit!
Submit! Submit! Submit! Handout Ginger's Blog: www.gdehlinger.blogspot.com
Submit! Submit! Submit! Handout Ginger's Blog: www.gdehlinger.blogspot.com
Click here to see the August 2020 Virtual Meeting with Denice Hughes-Lewis: 10 Screenwriting Tips for All Authors
Additional Reading (Click on links):
Denice Lewis COWG Screenwriting Presentation - 10 Screenwriting Tips - Resources - Blake Snyder's Beat Sheet - Character, Subtext - Description Example
Additional Reading (Click on links):
Denice Lewis COWG Screenwriting Presentation - 10 Screenwriting Tips - Resources - Blake Snyder's Beat Sheet - Character, Subtext - Description Example