Illinois NETWORKS Click here to return to Main Page
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 2009-2010
(updated December 7, 2009)
| Chicago |
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| Chicago - Hyde Park |
Representatives:
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Chicago's Southland
Representatives:
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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.
Daytime Talk: 9 a.m., Barnes and Noble, 105 Orland Park
Place, LaGrange Rd. (Rte. 45) & 153rd St. in Orland Park
Evening Talk: 7 p.m., Barnes and Noble, Orland Park
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| Northern Suburbs |
Cook County
Representatives:
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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.
New members and visitors are always welcome to our monthly gathering of
children's writers and illustrators. We ask that participants contribute
$15 per season (September through August of the following year) towards
a general SCBWI fund that pays for honoraria for our speakers.
Far Northern Suburbs
Representatives:
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Shop Talk & Critiques:
Meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month 7-9 p.m at the Barnes
& Noble on Rte. 60 & Milwaukee Avenue (Westerfield's Hawthorne
Shopping Mall in Vernon Hills).
Dec. - Speakers: author, Maryjo Reinhart and Illustrator,
Paula Nathan
(Holiday Party at date TBA)
Jan. - Manuscript/Illustration Critiques
Feb. - Manuscript/Illustration Critiques
March - Speaker: MG author, Brenda Ferber - "Revising
with Power and Purpose"
April - Manuscript/Illustration Critiques
May - Published Authors Panel: Q & A with
children's authors published by over 8 different houses
Far Northwest Suburbs
Representatives:
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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.
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Dundee Area
Representative:
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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
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| Western Suburbs |
Oak Park and Near West Suburbs
Representatives:
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Shop Talk
Second Thursday of the month, 6-8 p.m. PLEASE NOTE THAT WE NOW BEGIN AT 6 AND END AT 8. The library has revised its hours.
Dole Library, 255 Augusta Blvd., Oak Park (708-366-9032)
Programs & Critiques:
January 14, 2010: Back by popular demand—Writing/Illustrating Orgy—an eclectic mix of exercises to get your creative juices flowing.
February 11: Kathi Baron, author of SHATTERED, a YA novel, will present a workshop called “Yearning.” This workshop explores the concept of how the protagonist's yearning drives plot, as described in Robert Olen Butler's book, From Where You Dream. By analyzing a brief reading and doing a writing exercise, we'll delve into the process of writing yearning through use of sensory details, voice and memories. Kathi writes: “I truly believe that Butler's book changed my writing.... especially focusing on what the main character was yearning for in each chapter. After reading this book, I revised the novel I had written at Vermont College. And it's the draft that sold!”
March 11: Pacing in Picture Books. Participants should bring a favorite picture book (not story book) to share and to examine for structure and pacing in both text and pictures.
Save these dates for more great programming and critiques:
April 8:
May 13:
June 10:
July 8:
August 12:
LaGrange - Naperville
Network
Representatives:
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Shop Talk:
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
Programs:
Saturday, January 23rd 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, Lisle Public Library
“Fabulous First Pages” moderated by Esther Hershenhorn
Does the first page of your novel grab the reader’s attention and entice them to continue reading? Do the opening paragraphs of your picture book sizzle or fall flat? Are your characters unique and memorable? Have you hinted at the problem or conflict in the book on your first page?
If you don’t have a “fabulous first page,” you’ll never get an editor’s or agent's attention to read more of your manuscript. Join us as our esteemed former SCBWI – IL Regional Advisor extraordinaire, Esther Hershenhorn, helps us examine 10 first pages (across different genres) in a workshop setting. Esther will share her perspective and lead an interactive group discussion.
To attend, you must pay the annual $12 LaGrange-Naperville network subscriber fee to cover meeting and supply costs, if you have not done so already this year. Contact Co-Reps Dana Easley - bdeeasley@aol.com or Eileen Meyer – ekmeyer82@sbcglobal.net for more information.
Geneva Network
Representatives:
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Shop Talk:
First Wednesday of each month, 7:00-
9 p.m.
Barnes and Noble, 102 Commons Drive, near Randall Road, Geneva
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| Northern Illinois |
Freeport/Rockford Area
Representatives:
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Critique Session/Shop Talks:
Second Monday of each month, 6 - 9 p.m.
Highland College Conference Center, Freeport
Third Thursday of each month
Gallery Café, Freeport Public Library, 4-6 p.m.
Fourth Saturday of each month
Freeport Public Library 10-1 p.m.
Please contact Lee or Debbie to verify dates/locations. Watch for information regarding our Spring 2009 Family Book Fest III, dates and details to be announced.
DeKalb Area
Representatives:
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Shop Talk & Critique Session:
Last Wednesday of the month
At 7:30 PM at Border's on Rte 23 in DeKalb.
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Central Illinois
Central Illinois (Champaign-Urbana)
Representatives:
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Shop Talks:
Third Thursday of each month, 7 p.m. Place TBA
Contact Clyde Gabriel, Shop Talk Coordinator, for more information:
cgwoodwrite@comcast.net
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| Bloomington/Normal (Near-Normal Writer’s Group) |
Representatives:
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| Springfield Area |
Representatives:
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Writing Group/Shop Talk:
First Monday of each month, 6:30 p.m.
Barnes and Noble in the Children's Section.
3111 South Veterans Parkway, Springfield, Illinois 62704
During summer months, holidays, or if you are wanting to inquire about
the group, please contact Cynda Strong for details at cynda@eosinc.com.
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| Southern Illinois |
Representatives:
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Monthly Critique Meeting:
Third Wednesday of the month , 7 p.m.
Barnes & Noble in Fairview Heights
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| Chicago-area Illustrators Network |
Representatives:
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Monthly Meeting: Des Plaines Library, 9:30 a.m. until
12:00 p.m.
We discuss topics, go on field trips, or host presenters. We also critique
each other's work at the end of most meetings if time allows. Everyone
is welcome. For directions to the Des Plaines Library, check their website:
http://www.dppl.org/
January 9, 2010 MOCK CALDECOTT EVENT 9:30am-3pm (B.Y.O.L. Bring your own lunch) Free event.
Join us for an entire day of Caldecott discussion as we learn the language of picture book evaluation.
Center for Teaching through Children’s Books
National-Louis University - North Shore Campus
5202 Old Orchard Road (North Tower)
Skokie, IL 60077-4409
Exit 35 at Old Orchard Road, Just west of I-94, Free Parking
Third Floor
RSVP is required, to CTCB@nl.edu
February 13, 2010 FAVORITE ILLUSTRATORS. In a roundtable discussion, each attendee brings picture book examples and speaks of illustrators that influence, impact and inspire them. A much loved program where everyone shares and comes away with something new.
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| Downstate Illustrators Network |
Representatives:
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The SCBWI-IL Downstate Illustrator’s Group meets four times a year alternating between Decatur , Il, and Urbana, IL. 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 each other's work and share our journey. Everyone is welcome.
Jan 9, 2010: Urbana Free Library (Children’s Section) 210 W Green St., Urbana, IL:
Meet and critique 10:30 am
April 10, 2010: Decatur Public Library (Children’s Section) : 130 N Franklin St., Decatur, IL: Meet and critique 10:30 am
July 10, 2010: Urbana Public Library (Children’s Section) 210 W Green St., Urbana, IL:
Meet and critique 10:30 am
October 9, 2010: Decatur Public Library (Children’s Section) : 130 N Franklin St., Decatur, IL: Meet and critique: 10:30 am
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