What We Are

What we are

  • Open-minded – Bring us your ideas for new programs and activities, especially if you’re willing to dig in to help make them happen.
  • Open to submissions – We have several opportunities for writers to help you along your writerly path. Check our Submissions page. 
  • Nice – Please see the rules below.

What we’re not

  • Snobs – We embrace writers of all experience levels.
  • Navel Gazers – We’re a practical community. We like to share information on what works and what to avoid, and to support each other as we work toward our writing and creative goals. 
  • Paid – This community runs on volunteer work.

The rules: 

These rules apply to all O.C. Writers’ Facebook groups, workshops, write-ins, and any other gatherings.

  • Treat those who share their creative work with kindness.
    • In non-critique groups and forums: The foremost purpose is to support and encourage each other, as well as learn from one another. Act accordingly.
    • In critique groups and forums: Follow the critique leader’s guidelines for keeping criticism constructive and positive.
  • Keep online language civil. Profanity will not be tolerated.
  • Do not mock, demean, or accuse another member of wrongdoing.
  • Limit self-promotion to Fridays. Other postings may be considered excessive and removed. We want to celebrate writers’ successes, but we don’t want to be overrun with self-promotion, either.

What we offer

  • FRIDAY READS: a showcase of local writers’ work
  • SEEKING CRITS AND READS: a monthly opportunity to find critique partners, beta readers, and book reviewers
  • GOOD WRITERLY NEWS: a monthly roundup of publishing milestones of local writers
  • MARKETING MAYHEM: a monthly column on book marketing by USA Today best-selling author Kristy Tate
  • EASY EDITS: a monthly column on simple grammar, punctuation, and style fixes by author and copy editor DeAnna Cameron
  • THE WRITING WORKSHOP: a monthly column on the art and craft of writing by Andrea Lewis
  • MARISSA’S TAKE ON: a monthly review on a book related to the craft or business of writing by Marissa Dunham
  • WORDS FROM THE WRITING CAVE: Barbara Neal Varma’s monthly humorous take on the writing life
  • THE AUTHOR WHEEL WISDOM: a monthly column devoted to writerly advice and insight from Megan Haskell and Greta Boris of The Author Wheel
  • LITERARY CALENDAR: the most comprehensive calendar of writing-related events in Orange County
  • a Facebook group with more than 1,000 members where we chat about writing, publishing, and more
  • a Sunday evening email recapping the week’s blog posts and previewing upcoming literary events (sign up HERE)
  • a weekly write-in (on hold)
  • a weekly critique group (currently operating virtually and there’s a waitlist)
  • a weekly roundtable discussion group (currently operating virtually)
  • workshops and other writing events scheduled throughout the year

 

Image credits:

Team member photographs are the property of the respective team members and appear here with permission.

O.C. Writers’ logo was designed by DeAnna Cameron is used here with permission.