SCBWI-Illinois: Networks

NETWORKS offers Illinois SCBWI members easy, handy access to programs, writing groups, networking opportunities and other interested (and interesting!) writers and illustrators. Check below for your particular NETWORKS’ time, location and Shop Talk.

Interested in starting a NETWORKS group in your area? Contact NETWORKS
Coordinator, Alice McGinty ( 217-328-1994 / alice@mcgintyzone.com).

**Please note, hovering your cursor or clicking on representatives' names will display some brief biographical info about them. This works only for the names that are highlighted as a link.

Winter 2012

January 6 – 8, 2012, Friday evening through Sunday afternoon

Chicago SCBWI Network’s Second Annual New Year’s Retreat

Cenacle Retreat and Conference Center

Imagine having a room of your own to write in for the entire weekend. Imagine getting 2012 off to the WRITE start! Well, stop imagining and sign up because the New Year’s Retreat will quickly fill up.

NEW this year! Pat Schmatz, the author of four novels for teens and leader of Fierce Revision, will conduct manuscript critiques for those interested.** Plus Pat will also lead a small informal breakout session Saturday night on the stages of novel writing – from first spark to first draft, outlines and tricks of the trade, revision, fine-turning, and moving into the publishing realm.

SPACE IS LIMITED. Only 13 rooms available to SCBWI.

The retreat is the same hugely discounted price as last year, $130/weekend per person, which includes 5 meals (one dinner) at the Cenacle Retreat and Conference Center in Chicago (next to the zoo).

*Cost is $130 which includes meals

*RSVP to Jane Hertenstein janeh@jpusa.org and then she will e-mail you an emergency release form and further details. Your place will only be reserved once we have the form and your check in hand. MUST BE A MEMBER OF SCBWI to partake in this event.

**There will be an extra fee for the critique. Contact Jane for details—will be sent to you with the form.

February, 2012

CHICAGO NETWORK is Ready to Party!

For February we are putting out the call for a Party Host. If you would like to host an SCBWI networking party please let us know. We’ve done these in the past and usually 20 – 30 people come, though not all at once.

Please contact Mary Jo Mguglie150@gmail.com if you want to offer your home for this event.

The date is OPEN.

Saturday, March 24, 2012

E-Publishing Panel

If you’ve gone the traditional route and are looking to put your book on-line or are taking your work straight to digital download, this seminar is for you. Appearing on the panel are authors Megg Jensen, GP Ching, and Karly Kirkpatrick all of Darkside Publishing and Norm Cowie.

This panel will give you the why and how of getting into-publishing. It is estimated that by the end of the year, there will be over 10,000,000 readers sold. E-book sales in 2010 are up over 150% from previous year’s sales. Not yet overtaking physical book sales, but it’s only a matter of time. Get in on this new way to publish.

TIME: 1 – 3 pm

WHERE: Sulzer Regional Library

This is a FREE event.

For more information and current shop talk topics, visit the Chicago Southland blog at http://scbwisouthchicago.blogspot.com.

Shop Talks:
Second Thursday of every month.

Evening Talk Only:
7 P.M., Barnes and Noble, 105 Orland Park Place, LaGrange Rd. (Rte. 45) & 153rd St.in Orland Park. Second Thursday of every month.

Shop Talk:
Second Wednesday of each month, from 7-8:45 p.m.
The Book Stall at Chestnut Ct., 811 Elm Street, Winnetka. 847-446-8880.

December 14th – NSN Kidlit Holiday Gathering

The North Suburban Network is taking a break this month from the usual format of kidlit talk to celebrate the holidays. Our gracious Prairie Queen Carolyn Crimi has generously offered her Evanston Estate as the site of this event. We will still meet on the second Wednesday of December (the 14th) with an earlier start time of 6:30pm. Everyone is invited. The only requirements are festive attire and bringing a dish to share. Please RSVP to Carolyn at crims@aol.com or Michael (the jester boy) at got_mikl@comcast.net by Friday Dec 9th. Spouses and significant others are welcome as long as they are fun (straight from the Queen herself).

January 11th – First Pages of the Published Variety

The North Suburban Network is starting off the New Year with a study of craft through analyzing published first pages. Please bring in a book (or two) that you think is an excellent example of starting off with that special hook. Favorite books that are loved despite a less than stellar start are also open for discussion. And if there is a book about craft of writing that you can’t live without, bring that along too.

February 8th – First Pages Critique of Peer Works in Progress

This month at the North Suburban Network we are going to be critiquing our own first pages. Please bring in the first page of anything that you would like to share and get feedback on. It’s recommended to bring in at least 10 copies to distribute among the group for the reading. Artwork is also welcome for critique with a limit of 1 to 2 spot illustrations or 1 medium full scene illustration. 10 copies are also recommended for viewing within the group. The rules of peer critiquing will be covered at the beginning of the meeting.

NEW MEETING WEEK: Meetings are held the third Wednesday of each month 7-9 p.m. upstairsat the Barnes & Noble, Westfield Shopping Center, Vernon Hills, on Rte. 60 & Milwaukee Avenue.

Open Critique
Third Wednesday of each month, 7 - 9 p.m. in the cafe of Barnes & Noble, 590 W. Golf Road, Schaumburg. All meetings are open critiques with the last half hour dedicated to answering any new writer questions.

Shop Talk/Critique Session
Second Thursday of the month 7-9 p.m., unless otherwise noted.
Barnes and Noble (at Spring Hill Mall), 1444 Springhill Mall Blvd. West Dundee, 60118

Shop Talk

Second Thursday of the month, 6-8 p.m. (NOTE THE CHANGE IN TIME--The Dole will be closing at 8 pm every evening, starting Jan. 1.) Our meetings are open to all. We ask that you pay $15 dues each calendar year (Jan.-Dec.) to offset the cost of the room.

Dole Library, 255 Augusta Blvd., Oak Park (708-366-9032)

Programs & Critiques:

Dec. 8 critique-- Critique night. Attendees may bring a work-in progress--either writing or art--for constructive feedback. Critiquing guidelines will be reviewed. This meeting will be at the Oak Park Main Public Library, 834 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL 60601

Jan. 12 The Return of the ever-popular Creative Orgy. Our theme this year is “recreating Kindergarten.” You may wear your jammies or slippers. Bring your inner child.

Save these dates:
Feb. 9
Mar. 8
April 12
May 10

Topics to be covered in these four meetings (but not yet scheduled) will include:

1. a group discussion of graphic novels. You may want to start reading now. Graphic novels are quite popular and are being written for all ages. Sample as many as you can and bring them in to share and discuss. Recommended reading also includes UNDERSTANDING COMICS, by Scott McCloud.

2. school and public librarians-- what gets checked out most frequently and where are the gaps? How do Kids use Lib. and how do teachers use lib. and where are the gaps/needs?

3. Critique night

4. Life in the in-between--you're writing, submitting, not yet published, how do you feed, support your work and go from wanna-be to be? Creating structure for your writing life while maintaining your day-job or family life; developing a professional presence; building networks and support; managing paper, files, information; what role does social networking play in this--distraction or benefit?

This network will hold quarterly meetings, which will be held on weekday evenings or Sat. mornings at the Lisle Public Library, 777 Front Street, Lisle IL 60532 (630) 971-1675

LaGrange-Naperville Network Meeting

Saturday, January 28th, 10:00 – Noon

“Great Beginnings: How to Hook Readers and Keep Them Turning the Pages” presented by author Carmela Martino. Begin the new year with a workshop focused upon how you open and begin your story. There’s a great deal riding on the opening paragraphs of any piece of writing, whether it’s a picture book, novel, short story, or nonfiction work. In this workshop, Carmela will explain the concept of a story’s “implicit promise,” and why it’s so important to hooking readers. Using examples from children’s literature, she’ll also discuss the four key elements of intriguing openings. And, if time permits, she’ll present a related writing exercise, so bring the first page or two of one of your own works-in-progress that could use a stronger opening. Lisle Library doors open at 9:30. Network announcements begin at 10:00 am, presentation to follow.

Shop Talk:
First Wednesday of each month, 7:00 p.m.
Barnes and Noble, 102 Commons Drive, near Randall Road, Geneva

Second Monday of each month, 6 - 9 p.m.
Highland College Conference Center, Freeport

Downstate Craft Retreat: Workshop with Candace Fleming
NOT JUST THE FACTS, M'AM: HOW TO CRAFT NONFICTION AND HISTORICAL FICTION FOR PUBLICATION
When: January 13-15, 2012
Friday evening program: Skype visit with Susan Goodman
Saturday 9 a.m. - Sunday until 1 p.m.

Where: Hawthorn Suites in Savoy, IL
Cost: $175 for SCBWI members and $190 for nonmembers if you register before November 18th. After November 18th, cost is $185 for members and $200 for nonmembers.

Shop Talks:

Shop Talk/Holiday Party
Monday, December 12, 2011
5:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Come drink a glass of wine, socialize, and brainstorm:
How to pitch your present writing project…or…how to find the story you should pitch.

Buvons/Corkscrew Wine Emporium, 203 N. Vine Street, Urbana, at the corner of Water Street down from Civic Center, across from Schnuck’s on Vine
On the menu: specialty cheese plates or order a pizza from Mirabelle’s

January – Goal Setting with special Skype Motivational Speaker, Jennifer Ward
Stay tuned for date and location.

The Bloomington/Normal network holds monthly Shop Talks on the first Wednesday evening of the month at 6:30 p.m. Meetings will be held at the Coffeehouse & Deli, 114 E. Beaufort, Normal unless otherwise noted. Contact Dawn Malone (dawnie23@frontier.com) or Laurie Swindler (lauri@laurencollierswindler.com) for more information.

Writing Group/Shop Talk:
First Monday of each month, 6:30 p.m.
Panera Bread, 3101 West White Oaks Dr. (across from Barnes and Noble), Springfield

During summer months, holidays, or if you are wanting to inquire about the group, please contact Cynda Strong for details at cynda@eosinc.com.

Monthly Critique Meeting:
Third Wednesday of the month , 7 p.m.
Barnes & Noble in Fairview Heights

Monthly Meeting: The Illustrators Network meets once a month at the Des Plaines Library, 1501 Ellinwood, Des Plaines, IL, from 9:30 until noon. If time permits, we reserve the last part of the meeting to critique members' current works-in-progress or portfolio reviews.

SCBWI member illustrators, make sure you are on the illustrator yahoogroups listserv for updates....or contact Terri Murphy at the email address shown here to be added.

Saturday, January 28, 9:30 - 12:  Writers’ Words, Illustrators’ Impressions
Picture book writers are invited to come read their works-in-progress and hear how various illustrators might interpret their work, and/or how their manuscripts can be tweaked to make them more “illustratable.”  This has always been a lively meeting in the past, as creative juices flow!

Saturday,  February 11, 9:30 – 12: Guest Illustrator, Chris Sheban.  Come learn about the artistic process of Chris Sheban. See how his picture books evolve from thumbnail sketches to finished pieces rendered in mixed media of watercolor, pastel and prismacolor pencils. This illustrator has a fantastic design sense, controlled palette, and luminescent quality to his work that engages his audience with humor and exaggeration. Check out his website at http://www.chrissheban.com and come and hear from him in person!

March 10, 9:30 - 12:00: The Basics of Illustrator. Has Illustrator always confounded you? Has this vector-based software program always vexed you? Well, don't get your pixels in a bunch, our member Andi Butler will show you some creative ways to use Illustrator and how she applies it to her own process. Andi is an illustrator and a surface pattern designer whose clients include Klutz/Scholastic, Fisher-Price, Harcourt Educational, Highlights for Children and Hallmark. See her artwork at www.andibutler.com

April 14, 9:30 - 12:00: New Picture Book Debut Larry Day and Terri Murphy present their new titles and a behind-the scenes look at the creative processes used. Larry's book, "Civil War Drummer Boy" /Putnam, by Verla Kay takes us on the journey of a young confederate boy as he witnesses the brutality of war and shows its affect on him. www.dayhere.com

Terri's book, "One Day I Went Rambling"/Bright Sky Press, by Kelly Bennett follows young Zane, a rambler, a forager, a little boy with a big imagination. He roams his neighborhood re-imagining his finds into fantastic treasures only to be deflated when the neighborhood kids make fun of him. www.terrimurphyart.com

May 5, 8:30 - 4:30: SCBWI-Illinois Illustrators Conference, Oakton Community College, Des Plaines, IL

June-July: Summer Hiatus. Be sure you on our illustrators listserv to hear about summer field trips and impromptu activities. Contact Terri Murphy, email above, if you're not.

The SCBWI-IL Downstate Illustration Group meets four times a year alternating between Decatur , Il, and other central Illinois venues. Meetings are USUALLY held on the second Saturdays of January, April, July and October typically from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.* (Email before you come, to get an update.) We frequently have lunch together after the meeting. At our meetings we discuss markets, critique our work and share our journey. Everyone is welcome.

Downstate Illustration Plans for 2012:

Sat. Jan. 7 2012:
Meeting in Champaign @ the Champaign Library 200 W. Green St. Champaign, IL for a meeting and a brief tour of the library. We will plan lunch after for interested members.

Contact: newlou2008@hotmail.com for updates as they become available.

Sat. April 21, 2012:
Brief meeting, lunch and tour of Boneyard Arts Festival in Champaign/Urbana

Contact: newlou2008@hotmail.com for updates as they become available.

July meeting 2012:
In Springfield. Plans are not yet decided.

Contact: newlou2008@hotmail.com for updates as they become available.

October meeting 2012:
In Decatur. Plans are not yet decided.

Contact: newlou2008@hotmail.com for updates as they become available.