News

Catherine Pope, EdD writes about her struggle to gain social justice.

As a 19-year-old black college student, Pope set her sights on the Miss America Crown. She began by winning the 1969 Miss Omaha beauty pageant, where she was promised a four-year college scholarship. However, the following year, though she won talent contests, In 1970, Pope did not receive any recognition, let alone given the Miss Nebraska award. A photo in her book of pageant contestants shows a line of blondes with bouffant hairdos, where Pope and another dark-haired white lady who sit in the foreground, stand out as the most beautiful.

Though Pope’s neighbors showed support, many expressed fears of white backlash as she ran for each contest. Whites called her family and threatened them regularly; often demeaning Pope as an unworthy Miss Omaha winner. However, she wore her crown as she attended civil rights protests and demonstrations. When she lost the Miss Nebraska honor, she experienced it as a personal failure. Nevertheless, she also thought of her loss as a failure of white society to grow and encourage blacks to realize their abilities. Sadly, not until 1984 did the first black woman receive the Miss America pageant.

In every regard, Pope stands out as a winner, personally, professionally, and socially. Her example inspires me to challenge myself and to do more for others.

Long time SDWEG member, Al Converse, departed from his usual genre of humorous who-dunits to write a historical fiction book about his great-grandfather’s experience as he served in Company G of the Thirteenth Vermont Volunteers, Second Vermont Brigade in the Union Army that fought at Gettysburg, PA.

Converse details the way of life for the government’s soldiers during the Civil War. The food was inadequate. Though they had uniforms, the soldiers only had one set, which they wore daily. In addition to being scratchy, their wool pants were hot, and their brogan boots fell apart as they walked. Rarely having a chance to clean their uniforms, the men endured lice most of the time. Only when they stayed somewhere more than a couple of days did they get a chance to boil their clothes and gain some relief from the bugs.

Converse and his troop enlisted for nine months. They spent most of their time walking and camping thirty or so miles outside Washington, DC; probably to protect the capitol city from attack. Only when called on to go to Pennsylvania did the men know they would be experiencing battle. The book depicts all emotions from fear to determination to win, as Converse nears the battle site.

Vermonter depicts the famous Gettysburg battle and gives a sense of its vastness. Details of Converse and his troop during the battle actions are clear and moving. Converse’s troop fought valiantly, and to their relief they found Confederate soldiers raised their hands in surrender to the Union.

Though I have a distaste for battle scenes, Converse won me over. He wrote with such clarity and passion, with meaningful details, I felt breathless from the time Nathan Converse is told that his troop will be packing to go to battle until he returns to his farm and greets his sweetheart.

Since 2012, Converse has published short stories in The Guilded Pen, an anthology produced by the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild. His first novel, Bitch'n, a coming-of-age thriller, set in the 1959 beach town, Coronado, was published in 2012. In his second novel, Die Again, a college student's life changes when he catches a serial killer. His novel, Boston Boogie is an adventure thriller set in 1963 Boston. The Baja Moon was his fourth novel. In 2016 he released News from the East, an action adventure set in 1974. In 2017 he completed Flagship, a novel based on his experience in the Vietnam War. In 2018 he released, Hornwinkle Hustle, a cold case thriller. In 2019, Jack Blue was released that addressed some moral questions as Mo Harris solves a murder.

The amazing and generous Jonathan Maberry shared with us last October a number of tips on the steps to follow to get our work published. You can review the recording of that workshop here: https://www.sdweg.org/Workshop-Replay-Videos#Maberry 

In addition, Rose de Guzman included a number of tips on writing query letters in her prsentation to the Author Marketing Support group in February of this year. You can review the recording of that session here: https://www.sdweg.org/Marketing-Replay-Videos/#Feb2025

Note that the recorded replays of our meetings are only available to current members when they are logged in. If you would like access to our replay libraries, consider joining the Guild for that and other benefits.

We've pulled out a few of the main points from Jonathan's presentation and gathered information from other sources regarding writing a query letter for this blog post. Watch for other blog posts on other topics Jonathan touched on in his presentation.

What is a Query Letter?

After completing your manuscript, submitting a query letter is the first step to getting your book published. Query letters are an avenue for literary agents to learn about your book idea, so it's important to set a good first impression and generate interest. A well-written query letter is key to signing your book and finding someone to represent you for publication.

Essential parts of a query letter

A query letter will typically follow this general structure:

• Introduction
• Story description
• Comp titles
• Author's biography
• Closing

Let's dive into how you should approach each part.

Introduction

In your introduction, address the audience and your purpose for reaching out.

Devising a hook

Since agents go through multiple query letters a day, you should open your letter with something strong and attention-grabbing. Mentioning a point of connection, such as a previous meeting or referral, can be a good starting point if applicable.

Otherwise, open with something related to your story.

Introducing your novel

Make sure to include these 3 basic (but crucial) pieces of information about your manuscript:

• Title
• Genre
• Wordcount

Story description

The story description will comprise the bulk of the query letter and is arguably the most important part. In your description, include your protagonist(s), general plot, and anything else your audience should know. Since a query letter only runs about one page, brevity is essential. Give agents a taste of your writing style, but make sure the description doesn't go into extraneous detail (something between 150 and 180 words is usually recommended). Lastly, remember that you need to hook your audience. Agents should be interested in your idea from the get-go and compelled to read more.

Comp titles

To strengthen your query letter, mention any comparable titles (comp titles for short) that are similar to your manuscript. The idea is that through the provided titles, agents will be able to get a sense of your novel's intended audience and market.

If you find that there are no novels that quite fit the scope of your book, comp titles are completely optional.

Author’s biography

Make sure to include a brief introduction to yourself, including any previous works, awards, or other achievements in the writing.

Closing

Politely thank your reader for their time. This is also where you place your call to action—a request to the agent to check out your manuscript.

Notes:

To maximize success, personalize your letters to individual agents' requirements and preferences. Some agents might require comp titles, for example, while for others comp titles are more of a suggestion.

For an example of a query letter, check out this version by Jonathan Maberry:

This summary of key points in writing a synopsis was prepared by Rita Sithideth, a student volunteer supporting the Guild.

The amazing and generous Jonathan Maberry shared with us last October a number of tips on the steps to follow to get our work published. You can review the recording of that workshop here: https://www.sdweg.org/Workshop-Replay-Videos#Maberry 

Note that the recorded replays of our meetings are only available to current members when they are logged in. If you would like access to our replay libraries, consider joining the Guild for that and other benefits.

We've pulled out a few of the main points from Jonathan's presentation and gathered information from other sources regarding writing a synopsis. Watch for other blog posts on other topics Jonathan touched on in his presentation.

What is a synopsis?

A synopsis is a summary that outlines the basic plot of a novel. Synopses differ from blurbs—the short summaries on the backs of books that attempt to hook and entice readers. Instead, they function as references to help agents and editors quickly get a sense of what a story is about. This summary should cover all major characters, plot points, conflicts, and narrative arcs. An important distinction from the blurb is that your synopsis should also tell the audience how your book ends. A synopsis should be succinct but thorough, giving a full picture of what agents and editors can expect.

How should a synopsis be written?

A synopsis should strike a balance between showmanship and simplicity.

It isn't a mechanical summary. One common mistake authors make is focusing solely on beat-by-beat plot progression. A strong synopsis should also include the characters' internal motivations and emotional stakes, which add depth to the story. A synopsis can be an opportunity to generate interest in a book idea and showcase an author’s writing ability. However, authors shouldn't veer too hard into selling their novel; the document shouldn’t resemble a blurb or marketing pitch.

The common advice that's often repeated to writers is to show rather than tell. When writing a synopsis, however, authors should focus more on telling the events of the story rather than showing them. Because a condensed version of a story is being presented, it's important to be clear and concise. Specificity should be included to provide context, but authors should refrain from cluttering with stylistic prose or excessive detail.

A synopsis typically falls between one to two pages, but the length will vary depending on submission requirements. The following example synopsis outlines the plot of the popular novel, Pride and Prejudice. Note: This synopsis was generated by AI and may not meet the requirements of all agents or publishers.

Pride and Prejudice follows the story of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy as they navigate love, societal expectations, and their own personal growth in early 19th-century England.

The novel opens with the arrival of Mr. Bingley, a wealthy young bachelor, to the Netherfield estate near the Bennet family home. Mrs. Bennet, eager to see her five daughters married, is thrilled at the prospect. At a local ball, Bingley takes an immediate liking to Jane, the eldest Bennet daughter, while his friend Mr. Darcy is perceived as proud and disagreeable, particularly by Elizabeth, the second eldest Bennet daughter.

As the story unfolds, Elizabeth's prejudice against Darcy grows, fueled by his apparent interference in Jane and Bingley's budding romance and his alleged mistreatment of Mr. Wickham, a charming militia officer. Meanwhile, Darcy finds himself increasingly drawn to Elizabeth's wit and intelligence, despite his initial reservations about her family's social status.

The plot thickens with the arrival of Mr. Collins, a pompous clergyman and heir to the Bennet estate, who proposes to Elizabeth. She refuses him, much to her mother's dismay. Collins then marries Elizabeth's friend, Charlotte Lucas.

A turning point occurs when Darcy, having fallen in love with Elizabeth, proposes to her. She rejects him, confronting him about his role in separating Jane and Bingley and his treatment of Wickham. Darcy responds with a letter explaining his actions, causing Elizabeth to reassess her judgments.

The story takes a dramatic turn when Lydia, the youngest Bennet sister, elopes with Wickham. Darcy secretly intervenes to ensure their marriage, saving the Bennet family from scandal. This act, along with his renewed efforts to unite Bingley and Jane, leads Elizabeth to recognize her growing affection for him.

In the end, both Elizabeth and Darcy overcome their pride and prejudices. Bingley and Jane are happily engaged, and Darcy proposes to Elizabeth again. This time, she accepts, having realized the true nature of his character.

Throughout the novel, Austen masterfully explores themes of love, marriage, social class, and personal growth, all while offering a witty critique of the societal norms of her time. The character development of Elizabeth and Darcy, as they move from misunderstanding and dislike to mutual respect and love, forms the heart of this enduring classic.

General guidelines to follow

• Write in the third person
• Use present tense
• Follow normal formatting (e.g., single-spaced, 12 pt font)
• Follow grammar, spelling, and punctuation rules
• Follow the same structure of your novel from beginning to end

Additionally, you should reference the requirements of the agent or editor to whom you’re sending your synopsis. Submission guidelines can vary by publishing house, so make sure to tailor your document to fit what’s expected.

See Jonathan's sample synopsis from his website here.

This summary of key points in writing a synopsis was prepared by Rita Sithideth, a student volunteer supporting the Guild.

Thanks to the members who shared their 2024 published works at our Year-end Celebration in December. Seventeen members showed off their recently published books and gave an elevator pitch to encourage others to read them. One member who planned to present wasn't able to attend. We've included her book in this post.

Reviews are the lifeblood of an author. We encourage members who read any of the below books to leave a review on Amazon, Good Reads, or any other platform where the books can be found.

Chris August —two books to the showcase which were published in 2024:  Planet Redshine Silly Farm by Lily Tessie Lamb (pen name) and Deadly Trouble by Heartley Penna (pen name).  Redshine Trilogy II which is a compilation of three previous Silly Space Books. 

Join the yuks at the Silly Farm with the arrival of Quintuplets Shasme, Rose, Jazzy, Pendo and Eldoor. Queen Rocksea and King Bup adopt rescue animals from Planet Goof-Up and the fun begins. Meet Pierre Poodarilla, Pinky the Cata-Dilly, Tiny the Croc-Maloon and more. See ya at the Silly Farm!

24-year-old Cookie Blonde lands a PI job with Raz Investigations and jumps into an ocean of trouble in sunny San Diego. Follow the addictive action from the Embarcadero to Little Italy as real estate mogul Thornton Peters and his family are targeted for disaster. Cookie and Raz take the case and become entangled inside a fishnet of murder.

This is a compilation of the following books:

*Honeymoon at Moon Splash Motel *Nile Noodles *Magical Muzzie Tinkerbot

Join the fun and enjoy the yuks on Planet Redshine!

Bert-Oliver Boehmer – Galacticide

Galacticide is the third and final novel about Kel Chaada’s journey through an epic inter-galactic conflict and its mind-bending consequences. The story follows the events from the award-winning novels Three Immortals and Dark Cascade.

No cause. No effect. Causality stops and reality shatters.

Kel Chaada believed to have beaten the extra-galactic menace when rigged AI cores blew the Võmémééř’s galactic realm apart. Sheltered from the explosions, the alien Brood Mother survived, mourning billions of her children, burning with vengeance.

One breeding couple is all it takes to re-build an army, but the Brood Mother’s target is neither Kel, nor space fleets: It is reality itself. No universe hostile to the Mother’s children shall remain.

Richard Carrico – Monsters on the Loose

In 1931, San Diego’s idyllic image as a beach town with peaceful suburbs concealed a harrowing reality: a series of unsolved crimes targeting women, fueling fear and vulnerability. MONSTERS ON THE LOOSE tells the tragic and true stories of three women murdered early that year: Virginia Brooks, Louise Teuber, and Hazel Bradshaw. Local law enforcement, out-of-town criminologists, and investigators from what would become the FBI pursued hundreds of leads. Statewide, newspapers covered every angle and clue and sometimes played a role in the investigations. Yet, the killer(s) were never identified and brought to justice. In MONSTERS ON THE LOOSE, award-winning author and historian Richard L. Carrico pieces fragments of evidence together for three cold cases, shedding light on a dark chapter in San Diego's history. More than ninety years after the murders, Carrico emerges as an advocate for the victims, meticulously reconstructing their stories. Immersed in dusty files, long-forgotten oral histories, and newly discovered investigation records, his primary objective remains unwavering: to seek justice for the three young women. With no witnesses to the crimes, the significance of circumstantial evidence and speculation, both then and now, became paramount. And he may have even solved one of the murders.

Larry Edwards - Chariot Canyon: A Rent Beacham Mystery

When investigative journalist Rent Beacham looks into reports of welfare fraud, he has no clue his investigation not only will take him into a remote, semi-lawless area of San Diego County, but that a twist of fate will give his probe a more personal—and deadly—nature than he ever imagined.

As Rent digs deeper, he suspects a sinister criminal enterprise lies behind the fraudulent activity. When horseback riders discover human remains at an abandoned gold mine in historic Chariot Canyon, a murder investigation increases the complexity—and danger—of Rent’s attempt to uncover the truth.

While this story is fiction, the fraud at the heart of this story is not. Join journalist Rent Beacham as his deep dive into welfare fraud drags him into the dark depths of Chariot Canyon.

Zoe Ghahremani - Memory Garden

A lively afternoon together in Nana’s garden is full of laughter, discovery, and connection. In lyrical text that blends past and present, Memory Garden takes us to the places we leave behind but never forget.

Written and illustrated by a loving mother daughter duo, the nostalgic text and vibrant illustrations invite us to enjoy the beauty of Iranian gardens – and culture - in an adventure that will resonate with readers of all backgrounds.

Robert Glick – Finding Your Quantum Sense, How to Enhance Mindfulness, Perception, and Creativity

We live in a quantum world. This book explores the effects of quantum fluctuations on your mind and body, where sensation and learning take place, and offers guidance to tap into your own quantum sense.

QUANTUM SENSE is common sense, It is your spark of curiosity, adaptation and change found in the unravelling of the universe and the mutation of neural connections that give voice to consciousness. It kisses life and light, breath and death, language and thought, drama and emotion. It hides in green buds and black decay, in every face of creation and destruction. Resolute and beautiful, terrifying and inspiring, it is in your blood and heartbeat, your pulse and impulse.

Anne Hoiberg -  Tears of War

Tears of War highlights the strength, courage, and resilience of thirty-seven refugee and asylee women originally from Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Author Anne Hoiberg made contact with these women through her activism and promotion of women's rights. After interviewing each woman, she compiled their compelling stories into a book along with a brief history of each country from which they fled. The histories provide a backdrop for the intimate and emotional stories of these women, allowing us to feel connected to their journey towards justice and peace in their new homeland.

Jacob Hubbard – Sounds of Yesterday

For five years, Rob and Ana have been inseparable. They both have overcome career challenges, achieved emotional stability, and survived a global pandemic. Their future seems bright.

That is, until Ana abruptly ends their relationship. Rob's routine-driven world is shattered, reopening traumas and insecurities he thought were long put to rest. As he obsesses over what might have gone wrong and struggles for healing and self-acceptance, his memories put him on an imagined stage where he teeters between the habit of meeting outside expectations, and the pain of ripping masks away to reveal his true self.

Sounds of Yesterday dives into the complex interplay between love and loss on the autism spectrum, unpacking the diverse ways empathy and emotional agency interconnect inside a neurodivergent world.

Alex A. Kecske – Healer 

It's 1888, and Rene Sakin, having tragically lost both parents, is expelled from a prestigious medical college for laudanum abuse. Facing ridicule from New York society and determined to move medicine into the 20th century, she heads west to a Tennessee mining town to seek out a mysterious healer--Charles Noble. After Charles restores a blind woman’s sight and saves a child from an incurable disease, Rene risks everything to learn Noble’s secret. Following a night of passion, Noble enlists Rene to help save lives on an Indian reservation while he eradicates typhus in a utopian town. United again, Charles and Rene race across the country to San Francisco, evading evil forces eager to steal Charles' closely guarded healing secret.

Erik Martin – The Case of the Zombie Ninjas and The Case of the Greensboro Gremlins

Gremlins and fashion don’t mix!

Summer vacation before seventh grade should be awesome. Instead, Dotty Morgan’s favorite clothes don’t fit; her mother constantly embarrasses her with bra-talk; and she’s growing in places she would rather not. She can’t even talk about it with her girlfriend, Hannah, who is tall and slender and has never had to stretch a shirt until threads popped to squeeze into it.

What is a twelve-year-old supernatural sleuth to do? Find a mystery, of course.

The Sato Corporation comes to Elderton.

The Sato Corporation built the new Crooked Creek Commons parking garage. They bought Blue Devil Castle for their new corporate retreat. They funded the Waverly Perchance Memorial Garden, a project organized by twelve-year-old Dotty Morgan. Now, Mr. Sato himself takes an interest in Dotty and her dream of owning and operating a legit Supernatural Sleuthing Agency. Mr. Sato’s interest comes with cash.

If Dotty lets Mr. Sato examine the Japanese sword and cup her dad recently acquired, then Mr. Sato will approve a generous small business grant. All Dotty’s dreams will come true. Simple, right?

Reina Menasche – Twice Begun and perhaps a sample of her latest novel.

It all begins in the closet.Paris Jablonski, wife, mother, social worker, and aspiring writer, is celebrating her seventh wedding anniversary when she uncovers a secret letter about her sexy French husband—and his girlfriend. The letter is in French, nearly incomprehensible, and so is the betrayal. How could she, an experienced mental health professional, have so misread her own life?

After traveling to France to confront her husband, Paris returns to face wildfires, evacuations, and a new job with recovering addicts. And she finds herself attracted to the most unlikely candidate: a recovering alcoholic who also happens to be a client.

In this heart-tugging story of love, loss and renewal, Paris Jablonski is a heroine whose street savvy must learn to take back seat to a wiser heart.

M.L. Meurs - Camp Salvador

Experience a trip to a quirky beachfront surfer camp and its unusual cast of aging expat characters and animals in Baja California, Mexico … In cartel country.

See the world through Ellis Robinson's eyes, the main character whose straight to the point thoughts remind us of our own, but whose outward interactions are generally those of who she is; a nice lady.

This story is at times strange and a little edgy. Heartwarming tales interwoven with a touch of questionable behavior.

Just like real life, when you think you know what’s going to happen, events take over the tranquility of what should be peaceful beach life, leading you to an unforgettable conclusion.

Pablo Sáinz-Ferretti — Desde Navolato añoro: testimonios navolatenses.

"Guía no autorizada para aprobar el examen de ciudadanía", publicada originalmente hace 15 años en 2009 bajo el título "Mica chueca", es una novela californiana y sinaloense a la vez. El lenguaje que utiliza es la confusa morada entre el inglés, el español y el sinaloense, donde habita la identidad de tantos inmigrantes (muchos de ellos de Navolato, Sinaloa) que viven en Huntington Park, una de las ciudades más mexicanas en Los Angeles.

En esta novela ubicada en los 90, PABLO SÁINZ-FERRETTI, da forma a sus personajes (sinaloenses de origen vasco, como el mismo autor) y los pone en la balanza entre el sueño americano y la dura realidad que enfrentan. Con esta ágil muestra de espanglish y sinaloense, el autor logra llevarnos a la vida diaria de los jóvenes inmigrantes indocumentados. También es una sarcástica crítica a la narcocultura, alentando a los jóvenes a no dejarse deslumbrar por el dinero fácil.

The second one is a YA novel titled Guía no autorizada para aprobar el examen de ciudadanía: una novela de Huntington Park.

La nostalgia por un pasado mejor es común entre la gente.

En "Desde Navolato añoro: testimonios navolatenses", docenas de habitantes y personas originarias del Municipio de Navolato plasman sus voces acerca de ese pasado, cuando la vida era más sencilla, tranquila y (por lo menos en la memoria) preferible.

Este libro es una colección de testimonios, recuerdos, añoranzas, tradiciones, leyendas, historia oral, fotos y viñetas del Navolato del ayer.

Con este tomo se cierra la trilogía "Desde Navolato", que celebra 40 años de la municipalización de Navolato, luego de su independencia de Culiacán.

Ken Schafer – An Otherwise Perfect Plan

Join Gwen Pendergrass on an unpredictable and surprisingly funny journey that is "as amusing as it is engaging" (Booklife Prize). Whether you're currently a teen, or can barely remember being one, this is a coming-of-age story that will make you laugh, make you care, and take you on a ride you won't soon forget.

WINNER: BEST YA NOVEL IN THE 2024 KINDLE BOOK AWARDS

At sixteen, all Gwen knows about her dad stems from the fact that she was born, so she figures she must have had one. While her mom does confirm this (rather obvious) conclusion-and even shows Gwen a strip of photobooth pictures of the two of them from "the weekend Gwen was made" (ew...!)-she flatly refuses to elaborate further.

Still, Gwen is mostly okay with that. it's not like anyone had asked for her buy-in on the whole birth deal anyway, so she's just as happy to let it go and move on with life. That is, until Gwen kind of, accidentally, gets her mom an all-expenses paid scholarship to Yale.

There's only one tiny, little hitch. Her mom plans to turn it down because of what she calls "Parental Responsibilities." Or, in other words, because of Gwen.

Peter Shaw – Murder on the Way - A Camino de Santiago Mystery

A newly formed Camino family is on pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.

Among them is a hitman posing as a pilgrim while searching for his target who is on Camino after undergoing plastic surgery as a start to his new life.

As they traverse the Camino, it becomes apparent that the hitman is not the only one hiding secrets.

The impact that the Camino has on pilgrims will reveal all.

Wanjiru Warama – The Colonial Farm

The Colonial Farm is a remarkable, one-of-a-kind memoir told with honesty, clarity, and suspense. The book captures the opportunities gained and lost, terrors and successes of her family and the Gȋkũyũ community told through the eyes of Wanjirũ Warama, from when she turns twelve and a half years old, as she forges against the tide of her pre-designed farmhand lifestyle. Despite the odds of an African living in 1950s Kenya, where education for a girl is an afterthought, she's determined to stick to an escape route that she believes is her only ticket from the drudgery.

The book shows the resilience and endurance of the human spirit in overcoming adversity under the shadows of a lethal tug-of-war between the powerful and the powerless.

Sandra Yeaman – Whispers in the Shadows: An American’s Adventure Teaching in Romania Behind the Iron Curtain

American Fulbright lecturer, Sandra Wenner, taught English at the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University in the northeastern capital of the Romanian province of Moldova, Iași, Romania. She arrived in the fall of 1977. Nicolai Ceașescu was in power. An earthquake had flattened major portions of Bucharest the spring before. The shops had plenty of food, but very little variety. And it became quickly clear to her that her students either disliked her or were otherwise pressured into having nothing to do with her outside classes. In spite of these discouragements, she explored Romania with other foreigners, eventually established small inroads into her students' lives, and came to love the country and its population. Fifteen years later, she returned to the region, this time as a US diplomat assigned to the newly independent neighboring country of Moldova which allowed her to travel back to Iași and observe the changes in everyday living after the departure of Ceașescu.

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The Guild is always willing to share our members' accomplishments through Tip of the Hat mentions in the newsletter and social media posts. Send news of your book completion, publication, book launch, and awards won to our newsletter editor by the 20th of the month in order to be included in the following month's newsletter. The address to use is community@sdwritersguild.org. Use "For the newsletter" as the subject line.

Before we march into 2025, here's a review of what the Guild accomplished in 2024. We'd love to be able to add to this list the number of books our members published, launched, and won awards for. A poll at the end of this post may help us do just that.

Three in-person meetings:

• Literary Games with Margaret Harmon
• Our 45^th anniversary celebration with Odin Award presentations
• The Year-End Celebration

Plus an extra event in July as “Author of the Month” at the Central Library

In 2025 we are committed to hosting at least three in-person meetings as well in April, August, and December. These meetings may be on a different day and time.

Open Mic Night

We held one Open Mic Night on Zoom in November. Feedback from participants was very positive. We plan to hold at least one Open Mic Night event in 2025.

Eight Presentations on

• editing and selecting an editor,
• planning a book launch,
• legal considerations of AI for writers,
• finding a book coach,
• tips on preparing an anthology submission,
• first page critiques,
• the importance of Chapter One, and
• the Road from Moments to Memoir

Recordings of all these presentations are available for viewing on our website.

In 2025, we have already scheduled presentations to address finding an agent and building an author website. We welcome ideas from members. Send them to events@sdwritersguild.org.

Four Workshops on

• Character Therapy,
• Verbing your Writing,
• Creating Podcasts, and
• How to Sell Your Novel

Recordings of all these workshops are available for viewing on our website.

In 2025 we plan to host two workshops. If you have ideas for topics or presenters for workshops, send them to events@sdwritersguild.org.

Manuscript Critique Program

• At an initial Strategic Planning session, we restructured the Manuscript Review Program into the Manuscript Critique Program to provide greater value to our members.
• We completed twice as many Manuscript Critique Reviews (8) as we had planned for (4).

The price for the restructure program remains $20 per submission.

Local Book and Author Events

We represented the Guild at two local events

• San Diego Writers Festival
• North Park Book Fest

We’ve already books a space for the 2024 Writers Festival. And our coordination with Partners In Crime and San Diego Writers, Ink at the North Park Book Fest is something we believe we can build on in 2025.

Anthology

We changed our anthology program in two ways:

• first, all submissions are short stories, and
• second, the production period spans two years.

The reason for the first is to improve our marketing opportunities to a potential audience beyond our membership. The reason for the second is to allow time for more members to get involved in, and learn about, the production process to benefit their own independent publication skills.

The Poll

Here's the poll that we hope will help us create a list of members' accomplishments in 2024. Click the button below to help us gather the number of books our members published, launched, and won awards for.

{NOTE: To complete the poll, choose "Vote" first and then add your Comments. } 

Poll: Books published and launched, and awards

The annual membership rate for San Diego Writers and Editors Guild is currently $36. On April 1, 2025, the rate will go up to $40. You can take advantage of the lower current rate by joining the Guild or renewing your membership early before April 1.

Until April 1, 2025, new members will see a choice of four options when they join the Guild:To take advantage of our special membership offer for multiple-year subscriptions, select Regular membership - 2 years - $72.00 (USD) or Regular membership - 3 years - $108.00 (USD). Then select NEXT to complete your membership profile.

Current members can always renew their membership at any time by logging in and then Reviewing their profile. This is also an appropriate time to update any of the fields that have changed. 

The date your membership expires is the fourth item in your profile. Under that is a blue RENEW TO [date] option. To renew for up to three years, select this option multiple times until the “Renewal due on” date is in the year 2028, three years from now.

The above image reflects the profile of a member who has already renewed for three years.

The Member Directory Page has changed.

We’ve updated the Members Only Directory to make it easier to locate other members with common interests. In the past, only the Name and Membership categories were visible. For this reason, the simple search (see the search box above NAME) would only find entries where the first or last name matched the search criteria. It has always been possible to use the Advanced search to find members with profile content that matches search terms, but this has been used little.

Now, by adding Pen Name, Bio, and Actively seeking fields to what displays on the Directory page, it’s possible to pull up a list of names of members who include the search term in either their Bio or Actively Seeking fields. For example, when I used the simple search by typing in “poetry,” 7 member names appeared in the results. When I searched for “critique,” 5 member names appeared in the results.

Why should this matter to you?

By expanding what can be seen on the Member Directory page (remember, it’s only visible to members who are logged in, not the public), you should more easily be able to identify other members with similar interests.

What about the Advanced Search option?

The Advanced search option expands what will be included in the results based on any of the profile fields. For example, I searched for entries where the Zip Code field includes “92103,” a zip code near North Park in San Diego, the results included 6 names.

How can I be sure other members find me by my interests?

Review your online profile and add information about your accomplishments in your “Bio” field and your future plans in the “Actively seeking” field.

By Rita Sithideth

Ingram iD, developed by publishing platform Ingram Spark, offers new ways for authors to market and sell books. 

Through the platform, authors can manage advertising efforts across several channels. Ad campaigns can be launched through Facebook, Google Search, Google Display, and promotional email--all from a single dashboard. 

One key feature of Ingram iD is the ability to target books towards the right audience. Audiences are composed of active readers hailing from 60+ genres and niches, all verified through Ingram's network. 

Along with its advertising options, Ingram iD offers ad analytics and reporting tools. Authors can track a campaign's performance through important metrics, including clicks and impressions, that provide valuable insights into optimizing a campaign's effectiveness. 

Creating an ad campaign with Ingram iD starts at $15 a day for 7 days, with a fixed rate based on expected clicks.

Caveat: We provide this information because it may be a useful tool for some members. None of the SDWEG Board of Directors has experience with this new option. SDWEG received nothing of value in exchange for posting this information.

For More Information

by Marcia Buompensiero

At its May 13 meeting, the SDWEG Board of Directors unanimously voted to support the Friends of the Central Library with a donation of $250, and voted to consider a future annual donation in an amount to be determined.

The Anthology Marketing Committee brought the recommendation forward for consideration. “Libraries provide access to books, thousands of publications from around the world, and also serves as a support system in many communities, including supporting local authors,” Marcia Buompensiero said. “The Anthology Marketing Committee considered the benefits that the Central Library provides, including the annual Local Authors Exhibit which provides a platform for local authors to display their work.” For several years, SDWEG has participated in the Local Authors Exhibit by displaying the current edition of The Guilded Pen, the SDWEG anthology. The exhibit is well attended, usually over 300 in attendance, and it provides a venue for local recognition for the SDWEG and its members. The Central Library has promoted individual authors' exhibits and continues to hold author events.

The Board was enthusiastic in its support and encourages members to support Friends of the Library in their local communities.

A little about “Friends of the Library”—

Friends of the Library groups are composed of volunteers and are independent nonprofits formed to support local libraries. San Diego County Library enjoys active Friends groups at almost every branch, and their support allows the library to provide enhanced levels of service, programming, and collections to better serve the public. Friends groups advocate for libraries as the positive voice spreading the word of library services in the community and with local government and business entities.

They provide financial support to the library with funds earned at their bookstores, collection of membership dues, by accepting donations, fund raising, grant writing, or online sales. All proceeds go directly to support the library’s community initiatives with the purchase of physical and digital materials, buying equipment, computers or furniture and to sponsor library programs.

The local branch chapters of the Friends of the Library are supported by the County-wide umbrella organization, Library Friends of San Diego County (LFSDC) which coordinates activities and shares best practices that benefit all groups. This organization also coordinates shared resources from the individual organizations to provide support for system-wide County Library initiatives. 

If you would like to be an advocate for libraries and literacy in your community, join your local Friends of the Library. To do so, please visit your local library's group's website or contact your local library branch for information. Libraries with Friends groups and bookstores include those listed below.

• 4S Ranch

• Alpine *

• Bonita-Sunnyside *

• Borrego Springs

• Campo-Morena Village

• Cardiff-by-the-Sea *

• Casa de Oro

• Crest

• Del Mar

• Descanso

• El Cajon *

• Encinitas *

• Fallbrook *

• Fletcher Hills

• Imperial Beach *

• Jacumba

• Julian *

• La Mesa *

• Lakeside

• Lemon Grove *

• Lincoln Acres

• Pine Valley

• Potrero

• Poway *

• Ramona *

• Rancho San Diego *

• Rancho Santa Fe *

• San Marcos *

• Santee *

• Solana Beach *

• Spring Valley *

• Valley Center *

• Vista *

* Friends of the Library bookstores can be found at these library branch locations.

For more information visit: https://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/about-the-library/partners/friends

https://www.sdcl.org/friends/ (local branches)