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.
Summer 2010
(updated May 29, 2010)
| Chicago |
Representatives:
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Programs:
June 29: Writing the Unseen
Join award-winning children's author, Beth Finke, who is blind, and writing instructor Trina Sotira for a workshop on strengthening dialog and setting by relying on senses other than sight. With group exercises and individual writing time, participants will explore new ways to improve their work. (Please bring paper and a pen.)
When: June 29, 2010
Time: 7-9pm
Where: Cenacle Retreat and Conference Center (513 W. Fullerton Pkwy, Chicago, 60614)
Cost: Free
RSVP: To Trina Sotira (tsotirakids@yahoo.com) by June 25
Bring: Paper and a pen
July 20: Writing Humor for Children with 2010 Thurber Fellow Keith McGowan
In 2010, Keith McGowan is the super lucky recipient of the James Thurber residency in Columbus, Ohio, and he will be in Chicago before the residency begins. He will read from his book The Witch's Guide to Cooking with Children and talk about writing humor for children, and other topics as they come up.
When: Tuesday, July 20
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Where: Cenacle Retreat and Conference Center, 513 Fullerton Parkway, Chicago, IL 60614, www.cenaclesisters.org/chicago-retreat-conference-center/directions/ where parking is EASY
RSVP to Jane Hertenstein, Chicago SCBWI co-rep janeh@jpusa.org
About Keith's Book: I love children. Eating them, that is . . . So begins Keith McGowan's first novel for children, The Witch's Guide to Cooking with Children, in which a modern-day brother and sister-who don't always get along-go up against a witch who cooks and eats children. New Yorker editor Macy Halford called The Witch's Guide to Cooking with Children a "literary treat for the kiddies (of about eight years or older)" with "cerebral humor that will delight and challenge the inquisitive youngster," while USA Today book reviewer Bob Minzesheimer said the book was "funny, scary, and subversive."
(Note: His book may or may not be available at the talk, but he's super glad to sign books that are brought.) KeithBooks.com
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| Chicago - Hyde Park |
Representatives:
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What if you're hosting a book event and nobody shows?
What if you've finally landed an editor, but she's moving houses?
Come one, come all to the next Hyde Park/South Side SCBWI event we're calling, "What's the Worst That Could Happen?" We're planning a lively panel discussion of worst-case scenarios and how to make the best of them!
Our panel of children's authors and illustrators will share their worst-case scenarios and pass along what they did to get themselves through it all. We'll feature James Kennedy, Stephanie Kuehnert, Matthew Cordell, and Julie Halpern, who together have piles of books and buckets of experience.
When: 6 p.m. July 23rd (Friday)
Where: 57th Street Books
1301 East 57th Street in Hyde Park
What: "What's the Worst That Could Happen?"
Don't think this is a night devoted to commiseration in this time of industry upheaval. No, no, no. It is more like strategy building from a team of experts. Survival tips from folks who know!
We'd also like this to be a bit of a summer mixer as well. We'll be serving light fare like our world famous brownies, sandwiches, wine, and beer.
Please RSVP to KateHannigan@gmail.com so we can get a headcount.
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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.
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.
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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.
June 9: Excellent Editors = Awesome Authors!
Great editors have a lot to teach us about becoming great (or even better) writers. Join us [put date & time here?] for a lively discussion on the editorial process with Alice Letvin, Editorial Director of the highly-respected Cricket Magazine Group and longtime editor of all "kidlit" genres.
In the first part of the program Alice and author Pamela Dell will discuss the typical back-and-forth editorial exchange between writer and editor, using a sample story from Pamela's ongoing fiction serial "Doodlebug & Dandelion" in Spider Magazine.
We'll follow up with a Q&A and invite other published authors to relate some of their own experiences--good and not-so-good--with editors.
Finally, Alice will discuss submission guidelines for Cricket's numerous children's magazines (Ladybug, Babybug, Click, Cricket, Muse, among others). These publications offer great opportunities for new writers to build up writing credits, or for book-published authors who'd like some extra credits!
July 14: Planning Meeting for 2010-11 Do you believe it's time already? Tonight’s your chance to pitch your ideas for programs and program presenters for our upcoming season, beginning in September. If you’d like to present, or if you have a great idea for a topic or person you’d enjoy – July’s the time to put a good word in!
August – NO MEETING!
Far Northern Suburbs
Representatives:
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Shop Talk & Critiques:
Meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month 7-9 p.m upstairs at the Barnes & Noble, Westfield Shopping Center, Vernon Hills, on Rte. 60 & Milwaukee Avenue.
June 3, 7 - 9 pm
Critique Night - Bring copies your WIP to rget some great feedback from the group.
Barnes and Noble, upstairs in children's section, Vernon Hills
July 16, 6:30 pm
Cafe and chat night. Location TBD.
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. (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:
June 10: Collaborative Writing/Illustrating Workshop. We are asking you, our members, to help us create a writing/illustrating workshop. Select an exercise from a favorite book on creativity or writer’s/illustrator’s craft. Please make 12 copies of the directions (don’t forget to list the name and author of the book you are using) and bring them to our network meeting. (Dole library has a copier.) We will pick exercises at random and spend 10-15 min. (or less if appropriate) working on each one. At the end of the night you’ll have a sheaf of ideas and books to keep you inspired through the summer.
We invite you to declare a goal for the summer which will be posted on the Accountability Corner on our blog as you arrive.
July 8: Janet Nolan will speak about the development and publication of her newest book, The Firehouse Light.
August 12: Informal shop talk and critique. Attendees may bring a work in progress--either writing or art--for constructive feedback. Critiquing guidelines will be reviewed.
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, August 7, 2010
10:00 a.m. - noon
Lisle Public Library (777 Front St., Lisle)
Speaker: Carolyn Crimi
"When a Bunny Walks Into a Bar"
Carolyn Crimi, author of multiple children's books and frequent lecturer on writing for children, will share her thoughts on using humor in children's books. Carolyn's publishing credits include Don't Need Friends, Tessa's Tip-Tapping Toes, Get Busy, Beaver!, Boris and Bella, Henry and the Buccaneer Bunnies, The Loud Family, Where’s My Mummy?, Dear Tabby, and Rock and Roll Mole.
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
Fourth Saturday of each month
Freeport Public Library 10-1 p.m.
Please contact Lee or Debbie to verify dates/locations.
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:
June 15: Writing For Children's Magazines (led by Margo Dill)
July 20: Shop Talk Topic to be determined
Both Shop Talks will be held at Jupiter's 2511 Village Green Pl Champaign, IL 61822.
Contact Margo Dill at margodll@aol.com or 217-714-8582.
Program:
Downstate Illinois Words in the Woods Lakeside Retreat
June 18 – 20, Springfield IL.
Author Kathi Appelt, editor Kristin Daly, and agent Steven Barbara
Current status: Full, with wait list
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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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The Illustrators Network is in summer hiatus. No formal meetings, but we will be meeting in smaller groups and going on field trips, art exhibits and to illustrator workshops. 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.
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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.
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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