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Writing Opportunities
Our Next Open-To-Everyone Meeting
will be held on October 11.
This meeting will be special, because...
It's Time For
EKPHRASIS
Our annual pairing of writers and artists
Sunday, October 11
2:00 - 3:30pm
at Matheson Performing Arts Center
45096 Cahto Street
Mendocino
September-October 2026
The Writers of the Mendocino Coast and the members of the Artists’ Coop of Mendocino are collaborating to produce an ekphrastic experience.
Ekphrasis is a Greek word that, loosely translated, means
art describing art. Think John Keats' Ode on a Grecian Urn.
This is one of our most eagerly anticipated events. For the
15th year, ten gallery artists have created art for ten writers to
respond to. Ten writers have written a single page for ten artists to respond to. The Artists’ Co-op exhibit opens on October 7. However,
the pairings of artists and writers will remain anonymous until
they are revealed at the gallery on October 10.
In addition to the Ekphrasis gallery exhibit, the
Writers of the Mendocino Coast invites you to attend a
companion event: a slide show of the ten works of art, displayed
while the ten paired writers read their written words.
This will take place at Matheson Auditorium
on October 11 from 2:00-3:30pm.
The Artists' Co-op of Mendocino is located at the corner of
Kasten and Albion Streets. It is open daily from 11:00am-4:00pm,
except for the Second Saturday Gallery Stroll on
October 10, when it will remain open until 7:00pm.
Again, the Artists' Co-op exhibit runs October 7-November 2.
It will be accessible indefinitely on the gallery's Website.
Many thanks to
Elizabeth Kirkpatrick-Vrenios
for her crowd-pleasing September 13 presentation
Romance: Time Travelers' Cafe
A Different Way to Say "I Love You."
WMC meetings are held the second Sunday of every month * at
the Stanford Inn** and are open to members and non-members.
* Exceptions are June [members only meeting] and December [no meeting]
** Our October Esphrasis meeting is held at Matheson Performing Arts Center
Did You Participate
in Matthew Long's Film Project?
The entry deadline has passed.
Now we wait.
Watch this space for updates.
Everyone who participated will be
credited as a writer.
The 2027
Writers of the Mendocino Coast Anthology
Ericka Lutz is the new editor of our anthology. Once the Board of Directors made its theme selection, Ericka sent them an email. Here's part of it: "I think [the theme is] evocative: Things stuffed away, old, dusty, but also things to be revealed. What does it mean to be in the box? To think out of the box. Or boxes, the verb: Who is boxing in the attic?"
As Ericka takes the helm of Boxes in the Attic, we wish her well in what promises to be a busy several months.. At the same time, we offer our sincere thanks to Elizabeth Vrenios, whose untiring devotion to editing our anthology for the past three years resulted in
three of our most popular publications. We're pleased that Elizabeth will stay with us as a member of our Board for the upcoming year.
“Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.”
- Louis L'Amour
Writers of the Mendocino Coast
Policy Regarding Use of
Artificial Intelligence
The WMC Board of Directors has established an official policy regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in members' writing.
It is as follows:
Writers of the Mendocino Coast does not and will never accept work that was written, created, or developed, in whole or in part, using generative AI. This includes prose, poetry, and all mediums of art and photography. The policy extends across all our activities including our annual anthology, Ekphrasis, Smatchup, and
public readings and workshops.
AI may have its place, but that place is not
within the creative fields. At Writers of the
Mendocino Coast, we value human creativity and expression, abhor plagiarism, and are keenly aware of--and deeply concerned about--the writers, artists, editors, and other creators whose copyrights and livelihoods are increasingly compromised by the use of artificial, non-human, intelligence.
By submitting your creative work and/or participating in our club activities, you pledge that no AI was, or will be, used.
Remember...
We've added two special features to our meetings.
Come by a little early -- say, 1:30 -- and see for yourself.
We think you'll enjoy these.
Let's Talk About Writing
We'll sip a beverage, enjoy fine Stanford Inn
snacks, get to know one another, and talk
about our writing in a small-group setting.
The Little Free Library
Members, lend a book you've written.
Borrow one, too, then return it
with comments for the author.
Can't get to the meeting? Join us live on our
Facebook page! Just log on to Facebook
to Like and Follow. We are also on Instagram! @writersofthemendocinocoast.
Members, please check our bio page.
If you aren’t featured, just jot
down a bit about yourself in 50 (or
thereabouts) words, then email your bio
and (optional) headshot to writersmendocino@aol.com.
If you are already featured, and your
information needs to be changed, please
send necessary updates to writersmendocino@aol.com
Thinking of joining
Writers of the Mendocino Coast?
Please see our Membership tab
at the top of this page.
Painting by Janis Porter
All members receive one complimentary copy of our 2026 anthology; additional books are $12.00. If you need them mailed, contact Elizabeth Vrenios at evrenios1@gmail.com.
Listen now to our members read their one-minute plays!
i am from the ocean by windflower Townley
I Could Not Stop for Covid by Holly Tannen
Something New & Murder She Wrote by Philip Zwerling
The CWC website includes a calendar of monthly meetings for all state branches. Any of our members can attend the meetings of any other branch for free or for the same fee as their membership pays. To view their meeting topics (many are still on Zoom), click on
https://calwriters.org/events/.
Writers of the Mendocino Coast is Proud to be a Branch of the California Writers Club
