Bruce Overby joins js to speak on Writing Dialogue for Impact
By Shari Clare
South Bay Writers Vice President
The South Bay Writers Club welcomes Bruce Overby as our August speaker, where he will give a presentation on “Writing Dialogue for Impact.”
Bruce’s writing journey has taken him on a circuitous route, starting as a journalism major in college before finding his way into high tech, as an editor and manager in technical publications and professional services. For 30 years he put his writing skills to good use at Cisco, Stratus, Sun, and Ariba. Though he wanted to write fiction since his undergrad days, he realized that he needed more life experience, waiting more than 20 years before enrolling in and completing the MFA program at Queens University of Charlotte. That life experience paid off, and his first novel, “The Cyclone Release” became a finalist in the Blue Moon Novel Competition, while his story “Bookmarks” won first prize in the Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition. In addition to writing fiction, Bruce is a songwriter who believes that music and writing go hand in hand. You can read more about his fiction and even hear one of his songs on his website, bruceoverby.com.
Bruce’s involvement with the California Writers Club has also taken an unconventional path. Though he is a San Jose native, he moved to Livermore when he retired, and joined the Tri-Valley chapter when he recognized the importance of being part of a writing community. He assumed a leadership role in that chapter, but unfortunately, it disbanded earlier this year. After switching his membership to the SF Peninsula branch, he participated in the Rinconada Book Fair on a panel focused on how writers shape their stories. His impressive energy led to a conversation where he described a presentation he has given on how to write effective dialogue, something that comes easily to him as he reruns imaginary conversations in his head and liberally sprinkles dialog throughout his fiction. Bruce’s engaging style and interesting journey make this a must-see presentation for anyone interested in this aspect of the craft of writing.
The meeting will take place at the Saratoga Senior Center on Saturday, August 8. An orientation for new members begins at 10:00 a.m. Everyone else is invited to check in at 10:15, and the general meeting will begin at 10:30. The center is located at 19655 Allendale Ave in Saratoga. $10 for members, $15 for nonmembers. Visit southbaywriters.com to become a member.