The Writers' Workshop The Workshop meets every Wednesday. The meetings begin promptly at 6:30pm and never go past 9:00pm. Please arrive by 6:15 p.m. to sign in to the guestbook and introduce yourself to the members who’ve already arrived. They’ll be glad to answer your questions!

Check our event calendar for specific meetings and locations.

Visiting

The Central Valley Writers' Workshop welcomes visitors at least 18 years old to come to any regular Wednesday evening meeting. There is no need to notify us in advance, just show up! The Workshop meets EVERY Wednesday, regardless of holidays or weather. It has been years since a meeting was canceled for any reason. We meet at 6:30 p.m.

We have sometimes lengthy business meetings the second Wednesday of each month before we get to the “good stuff,” so if you’d rather not sit through that we recommend you choose a different week to visit. Non-members may visit twice per year and are encouraged to sit in and observe our ‘Read and Critique’ sessions, but may not participate directly in the process until they have joined. However, visitors may participate in the discussions during the break periods as a method of learning the Workshop’s successful practices.

Membership

Membership is open to anyone, over the age of 18, who desires to promote the art and craft of writing. There are no limitations on membership. Writers in any genre and any experience level — from multi-published to just starting out — are welcome to join and will find benefit from being part of our group. Current annual dues are $25 per person. Dues entitle you to participate in our weekly read and critique sessions. They also entitle you to a significant membership discount for the annual Central California Writers Conference sponsored by the Workshop.

Things to know about the Workshop

We are a First Amendment group. We do not censor the reads that take place during the meetings. The critique that takes place can sometimes be a little rough and not what we want to hear. But the purpose is to help make the writing sharper and more compelling, so you will have a higher chance of securing agent representation and/or a publishing contract. If you’re serious about honing your writing, this is the place to be!

Disclaimer: Session topics, meetings, and general assembly sessions are subject to change without notice. We will make every effort to publish agendas and changes as they become available. Nevertheless, by signing up for the workshop, you agree to not hold the Central Valley Writers' Workshop Board liable for any inconvenience or loss. The Central Valley Writers' Workshop is a non-profit 503c volunteer organization established to assist and educate writers.