Writer's Retreat at "The Ranch" in Penryn
2025-07-30 10:00 - 23:59 (America/Los_Angeles) | CA
Attend a Writers Retreat hosted by Terry Wick at her beautiful ranch in Penryn, CA.
Wednesday, July 30, 2025, from 10am to ?
Bring a sack lunch & swimwear. Drinks will be provided.

Email Terry at terryshenhouse@gmail.com for more details and to RSVP.
NOTE: No Meeting in the Rose Room at Auburn City Hall.

Nonfiction 1,500-Word Short Story Contest OPENS TODAY
2025-08-06 | CA
Gold Country Writers is excited to announce a contest for nonfiction stories up to 1,500 words. The contest aims to give local authors the opportunity to gain experience and build their credentials.
Winners will be awarded the following prizes:
First Place $100
Second Place $75
Third Place $50
Entries will be accepted starting Wednesday, August 6, 2025, until midnight (PT) Wednesday, September 17, 2025.
Contest Entry Form available starting August 6.
Click for the 2025 Nonfiction Short Story Contest Rules.
Click for the Short Story Contest Judging Rubric Overview.
CELEBRATION!
Winners will be announced at a celebration hosted by Gold Country Writers on Saturday, October 4, 2025, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., at Auburn City Hall in the Council Chambers theater. After that, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., we will gather for refreshments downstairs in the Rose Room.

Nonfiction 1,500-Word Short Story Contest Submissions Open Aug 6 - Sep 17
2025-08-06 - 2025-09-17 | CA
Gold Country Writers is excited to announce a contest for nonfiction stories up to 1,500-words. The contest aims to give local authors the opportunity to gain experience and build their credentials. All three winning stories will be published on the Gold Country Writers website and in the Gold Country Media newspapers and online issues.
Winners will be awarded the following prizes:
First Place $100
Second Place $75
Third Place $50
Entries will be accepted between Wednesday, August 6, 2025, and midnight (PT) Wednesday, September 17, 2025.
Entry fee $15 for Public, $10 for GCW Members.
Stay tuned for details and entry information.
We appreciate our 2025 contest sponsors!

Business Meeting - 1st Wednesday
2025-08-06 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-09-03 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-10-01 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-11-05 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-12-03 10:00 - 12:00 | Auburn City Hall – Rose Room, 1225 Lincoln Way, Auburn, CA 95603, CA, 95603, United States
Gold Country Writers Board and Leadership holds a business meeting on the FIRST Wednesday of each month, from 10 am to noon in the Rose Room of the Auburn City Hall.
Members are welcome to attend.

Drop-in Critique - 2nd Wednesday
2025-08-13 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-09-10 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-10-08 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-11-12 10:00 - 12:00 | Auburn City Hall – Rose Room, 1225 Lincoln Way, Auburn, CA 95603, CA, 95603, United States
The second Wednesday of each month is our Drop-in Critique. These events are in-person only.
Members may bring up to five pages of their work, double spaced, to read and receive feedback.
For information please email goldcountrywriters1849@gmail.com
To be held in the Rose Room at Auburn City Hall. Click here for address, map, and directions.

Special Event - Let's Talk About Mentoring & Spin-Off Groups
2025-08-20 10:00 - 12:00 | Auburn City Hall – Rose Room, 1225 Lincoln Way, Auburn, CA 95603, CA, 95603, United States
Let’s Talk about Mentoring and Spin-Off Groups
Wednesday, August 20, 2025, from 10am to noon
Learn from members who’ve benefited from the Mentoring Program. Hear about our active Spin-Off Groups and tell us what else you’d like to see. We need your input!

NOTE: No Speaker Meeting in August or December.

Drop-in Critique - 4th Wednesday
2025-08-27 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-09-24 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-10-22 10:00 - 12:00 | Auburn City Hall – Rose Room, 1225 Lincoln Way, Auburn, CA 95603, CA, 95603, United States
The fourth Wednesday of each month is our Drop-in Critique. These events are in-person only.
Members may bring up to five pages of their work, double spaced, to read and receive feedback.
For information please email goldcountrywriters1849@gmail.com
To be held in the Rose Room at Auburn City Hall. Click here for address, map, and directions.

Nonfiction 1,500-Word Short Story Contest CLOSES at MIDNIGHT
2025-09-17 | CA
Gold Country Writers is excited to announce a contest for nonfiction stories up to 1,500-words. The contest aims to give local authors the opportunity to gain experience and build their credentials. All three winning stories will be published on the Gold Country Writers website and in the Gold Country Media newspapers and online issues.
Winners will be awarded the following prizes:
First Place $100
Second Place $75
Third Place $50
Entries will be accepted starting Wednesday, August 6, 2025, until midnight (PT) Wednesday, September 17, 2025.
Contest Entry Form available starting August 6.
Click for the 2025 Nonfiction Short Story Contest Rules.
Click for the Short Story Contest Judging Rubric Overview.
CELEBRATION!
Winners will be announced at a celebration hosted by Gold Country Writers on Saturday, October 4, 2025, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., at Auburn City Hall in the Council Chambers theater. After that, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., we will gather for refreshments downstairs in the Rose Room.
We appreciate our 2025 contest sponsors!

September Speaker - Bob Stanley
2025-09-17 10:00 - 12:00 | Auburn City Hall – Rose Room, 1225 Lincoln Way, Auburn, CA 95603, CA, 95603, United States
Our speaker will be Bob Stanley on “Why Is This a Poem?”
Bob Stanley, Sacramento Poet Laureate Emeritus, taught English and Creative Writing at Solano College, Sacramento City College, and Sacramento State University before retiring in 2021. He was President of the Sacramento Poetry Center from 2007 to 2019. He was selected as Sacramento’s fifth Poet Laureate, serving from 2009 to 2012. Bob’s books include Walt Whitman Orders a Cheeseburger(2009), Miracle Shine (2013), and Language Barrier (2024). Bob and his wife Joyce live in Sacramento and organize online poetry seminars that help support nonprofit organizations.

Speaker meetings are held in the Rose Room at Auburn City Hall.
Public Invited – Free
Click here for Rose Room address, map, and directions. Also, info on Rose Room parking, now offsite only.

Nonfiction Short Story Contest CELEBRATION
2025-10-04 14:00 - 16:00 | Auburn City Hall – Rose Room, 1225 Lincoln Way, Auburn, CA 95603, CA, 95603, United States
Winners of the 2025 Nonfiction Short Story Contest will be announced at a celebration hosted by Gold Country Writers on Saturday, October 4, 2025, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., at Auburn City Hall.
Guest speaker is best-selling author Joan Griffin, on the topic, “Unleash Your Inner Storyteller: Turning True Events to Stories.”
The event will begin at 2pm in the Council Chambers theater and will be recorded by ACTV Auburn Community Television.
From 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., we will gather for refreshments downstairs in the Rose Room.
Public Welcome.
Click here for Auburn City Hall address, map, and directions.

Read & Review
2025-10-10 10:00 - 12:00 | Depoe Bay, 893 High Street, Auburn, CA, 95603
Read and Review will meet Friday, October 10 at Depoe Bay Coffee Roasters, 893 High Street, Auburn. Please join us from 10 a.m.to noon.
We will be discussing two books:
Abby’s Fire: A Mt. Prospect Mystery, by Corinne Malcolm Ibeling and R. I. Partridge (Rebecca Inch-Partridge)
The True Story of Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Stevens: The Ghosts of Kennicott by Randy Landenberger writing as Randy L. Scott
All books chosen for the program are available for GCW members to check-out in our GCW library and for purchase where ever you buy books.
Read and Review details can be found in our newsletter, The Dispatch.
For more information please email GoldCountryWriters1849@gmail.com

October Speaker - Anne Da Vigo
2025-10-15 10:00 - 12:00 | Auburn City Hall – Rose Room, 1225 Lincoln Way, Auburn, CA 95603, CA, 95603, United States
Our speaker will be Anne Da Vigo on “Creating Fiction from Real Events”
Anne Da Vigo is the author of Night Flight, inspired by the real-life 1955 airplane bombing out of Denver airport. It was released early this year. Her other thrillers include Bakersfield Boys Club and Thread of Gold, also based on actual events. She is a former journalist who covered police and the courts for newspapers throughout California, including the trial in the first of the infamous Lords of Bakersfield murders.
For more info, visit https://annedavigoauthor.com/.

Speaker meetings are held in the Rose Room at Auburn City Hall.
Public Invited – Free
Click here for Rose Room address, map, and directions. Also, info on Rose Room parking, now offsite only.

Halloween Party & Costume Contest
2025-10-29 10:00 - 12:00 | Awful Annie’s Restaurant, 13460 Lincoln Way, Auburn, CA, 95603, United States
Our 5th Wednesday social event will be Halloween Party held at Awful Annie’s restaurant, 13460 Lincoln Way, Auburn, from 10am to noon.
Best Costume Contest!
Photo Booth!
Prizes and Treats!
Please be prepared to buy your own meal.
RSVP to VP-Internal Lisa Schliff at onthebeamlisa@gmail.com
GCW Halloween Flyer 2025

November Speaker - Catharine Bramkamp
2025-11-19 10:00 - 12:00 | Auburn City Hall – Rose Room, 1225 Lincoln Way, Auburn, CA 95603, CA, 95603, United States
Our speaker will be Catharine Bramkamp on “The Creative Impulse in an Age of False Perfection”
Catharine Bramkamp is a writing coach and workshop facilitator; and she has authored 27 books, including fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Her most recent nonfiction book is Out Loud: A Writing Adventure for Women. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Nevada County Arts Council, Empire Club, and on the organizing committees for the Sierra Poetry Festival and the Sierra Writers Conference. For more information, visit: https://catharine-bramkamp.com/.

Speaker meetings are held in the Rose Room at Auburn City Hall.
Public Invited — Free
Click here for Rose Room address, map, and directions. Also, info on Rose Room parking, now offsite only.

No Meeting - Day Before Thanksgiving
2025-11-26 10:00 - 12:00 | CA
No meeting the day before Thanksgiving… see the calendar for holiday adjustments to regular schedules.

Holiday Party
2025-12-10 10:00 - 12:00 | Auburn City Hall – Rose Room, 1225 Lincoln Way, Auburn, CA 95603, CA, 95603, United States
On the second Wednesday of December, all Gold Country Writers members are invited to our Holiday Party!
Potluck Brunch – bring food or non-alcoholic beverages to share
Holiday Sweater Parade – prizes for funniest and most fashionable
Toys for Tots – bring an unwrapped toy to donate
Happy Holidays to All!
(PS This is a great time bring $60 cash or check to pay your dues for 2026.)

Drop-in Critique - Special Day Due to Holidays
2025-12-17 10:00 - 12:00 | Auburn City Hall – Rose Room, 1225 Lincoln Way, Auburn, CA 95603, CA, 95603, United States
Wednesday, December 17, will be the Drop-in Critique normally held on the 2nd Wednesday of the month. These events are in-person only.
Members may bring up to five pages of their work, double spaced, to read and receive feedback.
For information please email goldcountrywriters1849@gmail.com
To be held in the Rose Room at Auburn City Hall. Click here for address, map, and directions.

No Meeting - Day Before Christmas
2025-12-24 10:00 - 12:00 | CA
No meeting the day before Christmas… see the calendar for holiday adjustments to regular schedules.

No Meeting - New Year's Eve
2025-12-31 10:00 - 12:00 | CA
No meeting the day of New Year’s Eve… see the calendar for holiday adjustments to regular schedules.

Business Meeting - 1st Wednesday
2026-01-07 10:00 - 12:00 | Auburn City Hall – Rose Room, 1225 Lincoln Way, Auburn, CA 95603, CA, 95603, United States
All members are welcome to attend monthly business meetings of the GCW Officers, Directors, and Leadership Team.

Drop-in Critique - 2nd Wednesday
2026-01-14 10:00 - 12:00 | Auburn City Hall – Rose Room, 1225 Lincoln Way, Auburn, CA 95603, CA, 95603, United States
The second Wednesday of each month is our Drop-in Critique. These events are in-person only.
Members may bring five (or six) copies of up to five pages of their work, double spaced, to read and receive feedback.
For information please email goldcountrywriters1849@gmail.com
To be held in the Rose Room at Auburn City Hall. Click here for address, map, and directions.
