Chicago-area Writing Groups

Chicago-area writing groups

Chicago Women in Publishing (cwip.org)

Chicago Writers Association (chicagowrites.org)

Illinois Women's Press Assn. (iwpa.org)

Independent Writers of Chicago, (iwoc.org)

Midwest Writers Association (midwestwriters.com)

Off-Campus Writers Workshop  (ocww.bizland.com)

Story Studio.com (storystudio.com)




By loose definition, these are groups who charge an annual membership fee and/or charge per-session for events held year-round. There are also many writing groups in our area, but these are the main ones that offer public events, and guest speakers,  Some national organizations such as ASJA.org have local chapters. There are many powerful and rewarding online writing organization too. One I belong to is Small Publishers, Artists & Writers Network at spawn.org. I also recommend all writers join the free online groups:
SheWrites.com and RedRoom.com.  Take a look at them and see what you're missing.

If I missed a group you like, add it below by leaving a comment. Let's keep the Chicago-area a vibrant writing community.
By 2015, we'll welcome the new American Writer's Museum to Chicago as well.

See you online,
Helen

Natl. Assn. Memoir Writers - next roundtable

Tired of Just Saying You're Going to Finish Your Memoir?

"Rev Up to Write Your Memoir"

FREE call on Tuesday, Feb 26, at 4pm PST | 7pm EST

At a wonderful workshop in Hinsdale, IL yesterday, I mentioned the resources available at the National Association of Memoir Writers. Here's an upcoming online event on Tuesday you might enjoy. Even if you're working on fiction, essays, or short stories, the techniques of good writing cross all boundaries.



This call is for you if you have a memoir-in-progress, or even an idea for a memoir, and you're needing that extra bit of motivation to just make it happen already! 
In this call, join Linda Joy and Brooke to explore:

• common reasons for abandoning your memoir and how to get your groove back
• strategies for prioritizing your writing
• ways to confront what's holding you back
• ideas for reconnecting to the heart of your story and what moves you

Learn more by clicking here.

 

 

Free Memoir Roundtable:  Real Life Characters--The Heart of your Memoir 

March 7, 2013 

4 PM PST 5 PM MST  6 PM CST  7 PM EST
We're so pleased to have Suzanne Sherman talk with us about developing your characters in a memoir. We know that they're "real people" yet we have to bring them alive so others can know them too.
In fiction, writers give focused attention to creating characters that carry the plot forward. Character motivation is a continuing consideration as they reveal the central and secondary characters through the book or short story. In screenwriting, the same is true.
In memoir, our job is different. We aren't creating characters and deciding their relevant motivations, we're taking what's here and turning it into story. We're writing about central and secondary characters and we're drawing them in 3-D, so readers get to know them.
Characters -- the people in our life stories -- are at the heart of it all.
Sign up here.

Dozens of book promotion links

46 Book Promotion Resources. How many are you using?

Thanks to Savvy Writers & Ebook blog for this extensive list of book promotion resources. You're sure to learn of a few new resources here.  Enjoy!


http://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2012/03/11/18-top-websites-to-promote-your-book-for-free/

Helen Gallagher

Oh, say it isn't so...

This just in from Publishers Weekly today...

Amazon Poised to Sell Used E-books

Amazon’s business model has long been dependent on resellers of used books and other merchandise. But a U.S. patent that Amazon Technologies in Reno, Nev., received last week indicates that the mega-retailer has its sights on digital resale, including used e-books and audio downloads. According to the abstract, Amazon will be able to create a secondary market for used digital objects purchased from an original vendor by a user and stored in a user’s personalized data store.

Comments?

February 23rd: Join us in Hinsdale for a workshop

Inside Writing & Publishing A Writer’s Guide to Tech Tools

Saturday, February 23
2:00 p.m.
Join author and national speaker Helen Gallagher to learn about the tools and skills you need to gain visibility for your writing and publishing. Blogs, social media sites, eBooks and other digital options will be explored. Register at the Library, over the phone or online...

Is 2013  the year you reach your writing goals?

Helen Gallagher