Writing Groups
Chicago Writers Association
(Join us on Facebook; follow us on Twitter!)
InPrint Professional Writers Group
Writer’s Studio at the University of Chicago
Teen Writers and Artists Project
Illinois Woman’s Press Association
Sisters in Crime Chicago Chapter
Chicago North Chapter of Romance Writers of America
Windy City Chapter of Romance Writers of America
Independent Writers of Chicago
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Illinois Chapter
Chicago’s Lit Scene
Indie book stores, cafes, clubs, and other writer-friendly places
Writer’s Studio at the University of Chicago: Offers downtown and online writing classes as well as community events around Chicago
StoryStudio Chicago: the center for writing and related arts with locations in Chicago and the North Shore
Recurring Chicago Reading Series
Chicago Literati’s Live Lit Roundup
READING UNDER THE INFLUENCE, first Wedneday/month, 7:30PM, $3, Sheffields
ESSAY FIESTA, third Monday/month, 7 PM, FREE, The Book Cellar
UPTOWN POETRY SLAM, Sundays 7 PM, $6, The Green Mill
QUICKIES! second Tuesday/month, 7:30, FREE, Innertown Pub
WINDY CITY STORY SLAM, last Tuesday/month, 8PM, $5 (suggested), Quennect 4 Gallery
SUNDAY SALON CHICAGO, last Sunday/month FREE
MFA Programs
Courses
Novel-in-Progress Bookcamp: The Novel-In-Progress Bookcamp & Writing Retreat offers a pair of parallel residential writing programs led by published authors and editors designed to help you reach your publishing goals. One registration fee includes room, board, and all program expenses.
Writer’s Studio at the University of Chicago: Offers downtown and online writing classes as well as community events around Chicago.
Hypertext Studio: Study at any level, from beginning writer to expert writer. Hypertext Studio is for writers who are serious about honing their storytelling skills but aren’t interested in pursuing a degree.
Chicago Dramatist’s Playwrights’ Studio
Discovery Center Writing Classes
Off Campus Writers’ Workshop. Weekly workshops Thursday mornings in Winnetka.
The Second City Writing Program
The Foundation for Light Verse: Wordplay Workshop and other programs
UW Madison Online Workshops: Fiction, nonfiction, screenwriting, poetry. One-on-one instruction via email.
Podcasts
Chicagoland Publishing Houses
Chicago Center for Literature and Publishing
Chicago Literary Agents
Browne & Miller Literary Associates
Finding an Agent
Publishing Opportunities
Duotrope: a subscription-based service for writers that offers an extensive, searchable database of current fiction, poetry, and non-fiction markets, a calendar of upcoming deadlines, a personal submissions tracker, and useful statistics compiled from the millions of data points we’ve gathered on the publishers we list.
Formatting Your Manuscript
William Shunn’s Guide to Proper Manuscript Format
Style Guidelines
Submitting your manuscript: Query and Pitch Tips
How to Write a Great Query Letter by Noah Lukeman
Marcus Sakey’s “Pitch Perfect” & “Query-Go-Round”
Book Reviews
Advertising/Promotional Items: Business cards, bookmarks, postcards, t-shirts, etc.
Earthly Charms: Specializing in Promotion for Writers
Promoting Your Book/Manuscript
Bookhitch: a free book listing service
Scott Nicholson’s How to Write an Author Press Release
Editing Services
Word Bird Editorial Services: manuscript evaluation, content editing, copyediting, editorial evaluation
BookIvy Word Studio: editorial services for literary and academic communities
The Book Don: editorial support to writers at all stages of the process
UW Madison Critique Services: One-on-one, via email or mail, in-depth.
Starting a Blog
Book/Library Locators
WorldCat.org: world’s largest library catalog
BookCrossing: find books, share books, and meet fellow book lovers.
