The Writing Place
Resources for writers in the chicago-area, greater chicago plays host to numerous events, workshops, services, and spaces for writers of all types. below is an annotated list of some of our favorites..
If you are aware of other Chicago-area resources you’d like us to highlight, email us at [email protected] .
Literary Organizations & Writers’ Workshops
Chicago dramatists .
Through workshops, residencies, and classes, Chicago Dramatists assist aspiring playwrights and producers to develop and hone their craft. And for those who just love going to the theatre, their Saturday Reading Series is open to the public.
The Chicago Writers Association
The Chicago Writers Association is made up of both published and amateur writers of all types and is open to anyone who wishes to join. Members can participate in the CWA’s annual speakers bureau, enter the association’s Book of the Year contest, and may be published in the Write City e-zine or Windy City Writer’s blog . Members are also able to interact in the CWA’s e-group to share publishing and marketing materials or in one of its critique groups.
Evanston Writers Workshop
The Evanston Writers Workshop sponsors events and workshops for a diverse array of writers. Their workshops include prompt and critique workshops, as well as an annual “In the Trenches” conference, where attendees can learn quickly about the ins and outs of writing and publishing in various genres and arenas. Members in the Evanston Writers Workshop receive priority admission to conferences and events, as well as promotion and marketing of their writing and other literary events.
Guild Literary Complex
The Guild Literary Complex sponsors writing programs featuring diverse writers and subjects. Past events have included bilingual poetry nights and marathon readings of Illinois-native Gwendolyn Brooks’ work. They solicit open submissions for their Annual Prose Award in both fiction and non-fiction categories, and sponsor several other contests throughout the year.
The Newberry Library
This world-renowned research library is open to the public. And, in addition to its extensive historic and literary resources, the Library also sponsors writing workshops and series on topics as diverse as memoir writing or writing childrens’ books.
The Poetry Center of Chicago
The Poetry Centerof Chicago is one of the nation’s largest promoters of poetry through readings, workshops, residencies, and arts education. Their workshop series are competitively priced, and aspiring poets can also work with the organization as volunteers or interns.
Story Studio Chicago
With locations in both Chicago and Winnetka, Story Studio offers classes in both creative and business writing. Additionally, they offer one-day workshops and write-ins to accommodate the schedules and needs of writers of all types. Check their current list of classes and events (some free) to sign up.
Writing Meetups and Work Spaces
Colab evanston.
Located on Chicago avenue near the Main El, CoLab Evanston provides shared workspace for individuals and groups. Full-time, part-time, and “floater” memberships are available, all of which come with discounts to on-site networking events.
Just Write Chicago
Just Write Chicago is a meetup group of writers who meet in several locales around the city several days a week to write together. With a focus on the writing process, not its product, they work together to inspire and motivate regular writing. There are currently over 1000 writers in the group, it costs nothing to join, and you can RSVP to attend a meetup whenever the time and place is convenient for your schedule.
The Writers Workspace
Located between Edgewater and Rogers Park, The Writers WorkSpace provides writers with a comfortable environment where they can write away from the distractions of their home or office. Both part- and full-time memberships are available.
Courses & Certificate Programs
The graham school.
The University of Chicago’s Graham School of Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies offers certificate programs in creative writing, as well as professional development courses in writing and speaking for business professionals. They also offer several open-enrollment creative writing courses that don’t require advance application or registration to participate.
Oakton Community College
For international students hoping to improve their English writing and speaking, Oakton Community College offers both credit and non-credit ESL courses on their Skokie campuses. Many courses meet in the evening to accommodate students who have other responsibilities during the day.
Editing and Proofreading Services
Mb writing and editorial services.
Run by a Medill grad, this editing service has extensive experience copy editing doctoral dissertations and other academic work.
Creative Writing Events near
Find events near
Creative Writing Essentials with Steve Trumpeter (In-Person)
Join us in person! This class will focus on learning to identify and understand the craft elements that comprise the building blocks of compelling, engaging narratives.
Let’s Get Weird: The Ordinary Elements of Weird Fiction with Pedro Ponce
The weird is all around us. This class will give you ways to look for and reveal the strangeness in seemingly ordinary situations.
Foundations of Memoir with Lacy Crawford
There are as many different ways to approach memoir as there are memories, so this class will not assume any priority of form, but is designed to give writers looking to imagine, draft, and / or revise a book-length memoir the inspiration and tools to give a book its own life.
SINGLE SESSION
Writing About Art with David Welch
Write to Change the World with Cleyvis Natera
In this generative workshop, participants will be guided through writing prompts that will leverage characterization and setting as tools to confront social injustice in fiction.
YOUTH: My Ultimate Fantasy World with Denise A. Santomauro
In My Ultimate Fantasy World , students will have the opportunity to explore an imaginary world they would love to live in.
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Stories Matter. Tell Yours Today
Upcoming classes.
Building Your Own World with Susanna Calkins
In this interactive session, writers will explore key aspects of world-building and scene-setting, reflecting on how sensory details, language, dialogue and history (real or imagined) help authors create their own unique worlds.
Character Workout with Joseph Scapellato
This one-session course will take you through a rigorous but playful back-to-the-basics study of character in fiction. You’ll leave this class with practical and immediately applicable ideas for character in your current fiction projects, no matter where you are in the process.
Collecting, Organizing, and Transforming Ideas into Fiction with Chaitali Sen
In this single-session class, we’ll tap into our curiosity to generate story ideas. The aim is to accelerate the process from first spark to finished draft.
View All Classes »
StoryBall Fundraiser The Stories Matter Foundation Board of Directors invites you to celebrate2023 StoryBall: Turning 20 in the 20s Join us for a Literary Carnival as we celebrate StoryStudio Chicago’s…
StoryStudio Chicago
We offer classes for writers to hone their craft, express their creativity, and communicate with confidence.
Stories Matter Foundation
StoryStudio is part of this 501(c)3 charitable nonprofit and community of storytellers. We aim to change worlds using the power of story.
Our Community
One of our main goals is building a community where writers and literary folks can come together to learn, share, and grow in the creative arts.
Read a bit from our blog…
20 stories: addison (#4).
StoryStudio was there for me during all the uncertainty of 2020. They were there when I grew into my capabilities a little more. And they were ready to accept where I was.
20 Stories: Dionna Griffin-Irons (#3)
No one chooses a project like this — in writing, work, life — knowing exactly what it will demand. And even if we did, for the ones worth doing, we’d do it anyway.
20 Stories: Ericka Carmona-Vega (#1)
Ultimately, StoryStudio Chicago’s teachings and empowering methods of inquiry led me to finish my first novel of the Rise series.
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Writing Tips Oasis
7 Top Writing Groups in Chicago
By Kevin Chan
Do you need help in finding writing groups in Chicago? We’ve summarized 7 for you in the list below.
1. The Chicago Writers Circle
The Chicago Writers Circle is a writing group located in Chicago. Writers of all genres, including professionals, amateurs and aspiring writers, are welcome to join the writing group’s regular meetings. Group leader David Woods helps manage The Chicago Writers Circle and several other co-organizers.
Writing meetings happen every day at 9 in the morning. Join some of the 6,000+ members of The Chicago Writers Circle to start the day off with a stretch of time dedicated to writing before getting back to the busyness of the rest of the day. Participants can look forward to getting advice from other writers, building relationships and advancing their own pieces of writing.
Speak to The Chicago Writers Circle!
2. Edge Writers Workshop
Located in Chicago, Edge Writers Workshop is a writing group led by group organizer Samuel Durr. Writers of all genres and backgrounds are welcome to join Edge Writers Workshop’s writing meetings, which take place every two weeks. Writing meetings are usually held in person at local venues in the Edgewater area of Chicago, but have been moved online for the time being to make it more accessible and comfortable for all participants.
Meetings start out with a quick writing activity and move into critique sessions. Interested participants are more than welcome to join Edge Writers Workshop’s next discussions, where they can get an idea first-hand of what goes on at Edge Writers Workshop’s writing group meetings.
Learn more about Edge Writers Workshop!
3. Independent Writers of Chicago (IWOC)
Independent Writers of Chicago (IWOC) is a writing group in Chicago. Today, Independent Writers of Chicago has over 1,200 members of local writers. Independent Writers of Chicago is led by president Laura Stigler. Writers will benefit from some of the special features Independent Writers of Chicago offers members, including work and networking opportunities and presentations by writers and publishing professionals.
Independent Writers of Chicago meetings are held on the second Tuesday of every month. Writers will be able to gain knowledge on different topics, including writing about other people, learning to grow a following and community, and legal tips for writers. Independent Writers of Chicago meetings are held online and in person; information regarding specific events can be found on their Meetup.com webpage.
Contact Independent Writers of Chicago!
4. Shut Up & Write! Chicago
Shut Up & Write is a writing group that is represented nationwide by many chapters, including one in Chicago. Shut Up & Write! Chicago members will be able to connect with some of the 800+ writers who make up Shut Up & Write! Chicago. Writers working on books, blog articles, essays, dissertations or poetry are welcome to join Shut Up & Write! Chicago at one of their future meetings.
Shut Up & Write! Chicago’s group meetings are regularly held every other week on Monday evenings, along with additional meetings on different days of the week. Meetings are organized with short introductions, an hour-long period of personal, focused writing, followed by free time for networking with other writers or additional writing.
For more information about Shut Up & Write! Chicago, check out their Meetup.com webpage .
5. Accio Beer! Writers of Fantasy / Sci-Fi / Fiction Critique Group
Accio Beer! Writers of Fantasy / Sci-Fi / Fiction Critique Group is a writing group that welcomes writers of all backgrounds and genders who are passionate about writing about fantasy and science fiction. The writing group is led by organizer Cody Frovarp and his co-organizers. Interested participants are encouraged to join the waitlist if there are no spots for the writing group you wish to join.
Accio Beer! Writers of Fantasy / Sci-Fi / Fiction Critique Group runs a number of ongoing meetings during the week, some of which meet in person and others online. Writers are encouraged to share their work-in-progress and can benefit from the positive criticism and encouragement they will receive from other participants.
Connect with Accio Beer!
6. You Know You Can Write Chicago
Based in Chicago, You Know You Can Write Chicago is a writing group established by group organizer Patrick Waldron. In addition to his commitment to running, You Know You Can Write Chicago, Patrick himself has studied writing for over 20 years and organizes online meetings for writers.
You Know You Can Write Chicago meetings are held online on Zoom and cover topics like creating a beat sheet, outlines and writing scenes. Meetings are held on Fridays and Sundays every week. Patrick leads the group through different writing exercises, discussions and analyses of different texts. Join You Know You Can Write Chicago and build relationships with other writers, ideas, and inspiration for your writing.
Check out You Know You Can Write Chicago.
7. Just Write Chicago
Just Write Chicago is a writing group serving writers in Chicago. Today, the writing group has over 5,000 active members who are a part of this collective of writers who simply write. There are no special events to attend or membership fees to pay for interested writers.
Just Write Chicago organizes writing groups in different areas across Chicago on most days of the week. The purpose of this writing group is to be a supportive community of writers who welcome writers of all experience levels looking for professional companionship along this solitary journey. Writers who are passionate about any number of different genres, from fiction to non-fiction.
Find out more about Just Write Chicago.
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Join over 3000 writers and receive 1 lesson per week for 52 weeks to help you write your first novel in 1 year!
The Program in Creative Writing is part of the Department of English Language & Literature at the University of Chicago. Students at UChicago pursue creative writing within the larger context of academic study. While the purpose of the program is, above all, to give students a rigorous background in the fundamentals of creative work by providing them with the opportunity to study with established poets and prose writers, it differs from creative writing programs at other universities in seeing itself as an integral part of the university’s intellectual life, and most particularly in providing opportunities for interdisciplinary work. The program offers an undergraduate major in Creative Writing; a joint minor in English and Creative Writing that includes a creative portfolio; and a formal Creative Writing Option through the Master of Arts Program in the Humanities .
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Upcoming Events
New Voices in Fiction: Julia May Jonas & June Villers
“A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.”
Jerry Cleaver’s
The Writers’ Loft
Chicago’s longest running and most successful writing workshop Featuring Mary Carter , Loft graduate & NY Times bestselling author
Register for workshop beginning: Tuesday September 6th vi Zoom 7 PM CST You can register by sending an email to: [email protected] I've been teaching this wonderful workshop since 2011 in New York City, North Carolina, and Chicago. I've met amazing people, I've helped a few achieve their goals of finishing and even helped a few get published. I'm also in the fortunate position of being a working novelist and I need to take the Spring and Summer to work on a new project. I will be suspending this workshop until the Fall of 2021. A few things are in play that may alter the future of the workshop and I should have all the info I need by August of 2021. Please check back to this site for more details then. In the mean-time I'd recommend a copy of Immediate Fiction by Jerry Cleaver and just keep writing! If you want to be put on a waiting list for future workshops please email me at [email protected] . Cheers, Mary Carter aka Carlene O'Connor New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Coach/Owner The Writers Loft Chicago
You want to write but you have no time.
When you do find time, you just can't drag yourself to the desk.
If you do get going, your writing starts strong, but becomes such a mess you don't know whether to keep working or dump it all and start something new.
You write lots of bits and pieces, but none of them fit together into a meaningful whole.
You have training (workshops, college courses, or even a degree in creative writing) but little or nothing you write gets published.
You haven't taken a class because you're not sure where to turn or what to do first. One thing you do know is you want to get the right start so you don't waste a lot of time working on things that don't matter.
GET SOLUTIONS to these and any other writing problems at Chicago's legendary Writers’ Loft.
Jerry in China
Jerry’s book, Immediate Fiction , is the bestselling writing book in China. Here’s the banner they used on his book tour to Beijing and Shanghai where he gave student seminars at the five major universities plus special professional writers and writing professors conferences and writing teachers' workshops.
Only one workshop in Chicago has mentored 40+ novels and 5 nonfiction titles into print by major publishers — plus an Emmy winner.
"Simply brilliant. Brilliantly simple." Donal Harding, winner of Paris Afton Bonds Screenplay Award
"I recommend it to everyone who writes." Linda Lael Miller, NY Times bestselling author, 12 million+ books in print
"Simply the best workshop ever." Nicole Hollander, nationally syndicated cartoonist, creator of Sylvia
"Proves there is method to this madness." Tim Kazurinsky, Saturday Night Live writer, screenwriter
"Better than all my writing classes combined." Donald Catherall, Back from the Brink (Bantam)
"The best storyman ever." Jane Leder, Brothers and Sisters (St. Martins), Dead Serious (Atheneum)
"A powerful motivator." Laura Caldwell, Burning the Map and A Clean Slate (Red Dress Ink)
"Demystifies the story process." Michele Fitzsimmons, winner of Illinois Arts Council Award
Taught by NY Times bestselling author Mary Carter, The Writers’ Loft gives writers of all levels the crucial skills that make every story and every writer a success. Learn everything you need to unlock your imagination and bring your ideas to life on the page, stage, or screen.
MORE THAN A WORKSHOP, The Writers’ Loft is a writer's community. It's a place for you to be with other writers, have your work presented, and get the support, guidance, and coaching you need to write successfully in all genres and all media, including novels, short stories, screenplays, stage plays, biography, memoir, nonfiction. Plus you get insider help and advice on how to market your work and how to make those all-important connections to agents, editors, and publishers.
Jerry Cleaver created The Writers’ Loft 20 years ago. It’s been turning out published authors ever since.
Jerry cleaver.
Teacher of Professional Fiction at Northwestern University for ten years.
Teacher of special seminars for Writer's Digest, published articles in the Writer's Digest Magazine, and featured in the Writer's Digest Yearbook.
Creator of the worldwide "Write Your Novel Now" online course (students in Alaska, New Zealand, Turkey, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, Ireland, England, Canada, India).
Creator and leader of the Fiction Writing for Lawyers seminar series.
Very sadly, Jerry is no longer with us. He is greatly missed by his family, friends and students. (Read more here .)
At the request of Jerry and his family, writer and teacher Mary Carter has come to Chicago to carry on his work at the Writers’ Loft.
Author — published in various magazines, and ghostwritten for several books.
Mary Carter
I followed Jerry Cleaver’s unique course when I was writing my first novel, She'll Take It (Kensington Books). It was published in 2006 and since then I have published over 22 titles and have become a USA Today bestselling author under my pen name Carlene O'Connor. My work has been translated into 7 languages, and my anthologized novellas were New York Times bestsellers for several weeks in a row. You can read more about me at marycarterbooks.com or carleneoconnor.net
I received personal training from Jerry in his Writers’ Loft workshop methods, and since then I have been leading successful workshops in New York and Wilmington, North Carolina. Jerry continued to train, coach and mentor me the whole time.
I am honored and thrilled to be chosen as the only person other than Jerry ever to teach at the Writers’ Loft. I feel a special responsibility to Jerry — and to Writers’ Loft students.
I follow Jerry's methods closely because I know from my own experience as a writer that they work. And I know from my experience as a teacher that they can work for you. That's why I strive to match the dedication, enthusiasm, empathy and insight that Jerry showed me — and every student.
Here's the thing — you can try The Writers’ Loft workshop with me for free. Just come to the first class and see what you think. You don't pay anything unless you return for the next class. So why not? To sign up, email me at [email protected] . Sessions fill up fast!
"After being stuck for years, I am now 150 pages into my first draft. Mary created just the right atmosphere." Martin Gavin, President of NYC's StarCom
"Mary Carter is a gifted writer and incredibly talented coach/mentor/instructor." Megan Cunningham, CEO/Founder of Magnet Media, Inc
"Mary efficiently revived my writing career." Craig Dixon, author of "Notes by a Nomad" and "Shorts"
Six 2 1/2 hour workshop sessions, plus all the help you need outside of class.
Each session meets from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM. Each class consists of three things:
Specific story techniques presented and explored through examples and discussion.
Presentation of writing with feedback and coaching using Jerry's innovative feedback techniques. Mary reads your writing to the class, anonymously, so no one is put on the spot or forced to present their own writing.
In-class writing. The last half hour is committed to writing, using your own idea or one of the dramatic setups provided.
Each class ends with this half hour of writing to put you into the process of writing, get you loosened up, and create some momentum that will carry over to the outside. One Writers’ Loft student took a class exercise and expanded it into a novel ( The Leaving Summer by Donal Harding) that was published by William Morrow. Another student entered 21 pages of her in-class writing in the Illinois Arts Council Awards and won $7,000.
Sample the Course
A good story cannot be denied. Like falling in love, it's irresistible. It touches your heart before it reaches your head. You're drawn in — whether you want to be or not. And you're not asking yourself, "Is it good?" or "Is it real?" because you're part of the story, living and feeling it with the characters. That's the kind of story you'll learn to write in The Writers’ Loft. The craft and techniques you'll learn are those used by all great writers.
Fine. But how does it work?
A Touch of Craft
Here's an example that will give you a feel for the most critical story ingredient of them all. It's the single force that will turn any idea into a dramatic story every time. Without it no story, no matter how beautifully written, can succeed. I can do this in a couple of ways. I can give you a definition, a concept, a model. But, stories aren't ideas. They're not concepts or definitions. They're experience. So, rather than tell you how a story works, I'm going to show you—show you by giving you a little story to see how much of an experience I can cause you to have. Here's the story:
My wife and I have a friend named Larry who just went through a horrendous divorce. My wife ran into him at the mall. He looked terrible—sad and despondent. He sounded even worse than he looked, so she invited him over for dinner to try to cheer him up.
Larry's an old friend, so we know what he likes. My wife cooked his favorite food and I bought a bottle of his favorite scotch. We had a nice dinner and let Larry know we would be there for him whenever he needed us. He could call anytime night or day. No matter what, we would be there to help him through this. Larry felt better. We felt better. He went home happy. We went to bed happy. It was a great night, all around, for everybody. That's the end of the story.
How was it? Moving? Compelling? Dramatic? Did you identify? Were you gripped? Did you have the kind of experience you want from a story?
The answer, of course, is NO. You did not have an experience. You did not connect. You did not identify. You could not. The reason you could not was: I purposely gave you a dead story. So, the effect was boredom and maybe irritation. The cause was a dead story. I presented you with an experience that left you cold, with a mistake. Why? Because mistakes are what we start with.
We make mistakes, constantly. First drafts are loaded with them. Hemingway said, "The first draft is shit." If Hemingway's first drafts were shit, you shouldn't be expecting any better from yourself. Expecting too much is the surest way to get discouraged and blocked. The other reason I started with a mistake is: We learn more from our mistakes than our successes—not from the mistakes themselves, but from fixing them. Experiencing perfect writing will not teach you what you need to know. If it did, all you would have to do is read great writers and you'd be a great writer. I know people who read great literature all the time but can't write worth a damn.
Fine. So where do we go from here? Well, if I'm right, if I know what I'm doing, I should be able to show you how to turn this mistake into an involving story. But, before I do, consider...
Next: Making It Happen
Making it happen.
What's needed to turn this dead story into something with some energy, some drama? Detail, dialogue, emotion? Well, I could give you reams of detail and keep it as dull as it is. Dialogue? I could have them talking all night and far into the next day and you would be even more bored than you were. Emotion? Well, it has emotion. We're happy, satisfied, fulfilled. How much more do you want of happy, happy, happy?
Before I give you my answer, why don't you work on one of your own. See what you can do to give this dead story some energy. Think about what you could do, or you can actually write it out. You can write the whole thing out or you can just jot down some general ideas about how it should go—plan it out without doing it word for word.
Here's another version of the same story. See if I can get you more involved. In this version...
I've got a touch of bronchitis or flu the day Larry is coming for dinner. I'm not feeling great, so I stay home to rest up so I won't let Larry down.
Now, the flu is a minor detail, but I want you to decide whether you want it in or out. You don't have to have a reason—just a feeling. A few people usually go for the flu, but not many. Remember, this is not flu we're talking about. This is story and in story, everything counts. Nothing is along for the ride. So, the flu is in.
Larry comes over. We have a few drinks. He and my wife are both smokers. Before we get to dinner, they run out of cigarettes. "I'll go get them," I say. "I want to get out of this haze and clear my lungs."
Smokers is the next element. Yes or no? A few more go for it than the flu.
OK, so I head out for the corner store to get their smokes. It's a nice walk. I get their cigarettes and head back, but instead of walking up the front walk, I decide to take the shortcut down the alley.
OK, next item: Alley in or out? Pretty much everybody goes for the alley. Why? The answer to that is at the very heart of successful storytelling. It's not alley, not flu, not smokers. It's story.
So, I'm walking down the alley, relaxing, breathing fresh air, looking at the yards. Now, our kitchen sticks out from the back of the house and has a window in which I can see Larry and my wife. As I come through the yard, I see they're having a rather intense conversation. My wife is especially lively. I haven't seen her that bubbly in months.
OK, what's on your mind right now? What are you thinking? Let me guess. You're thinking, hanky-panky, fooling around, touching, embracing, kissing, etc. Right? Not only are you thinking it, but you're wanting it. Oh, yes. Not only do you give me the flu, make me walk down the alley, but you throw my marriage into crisis by making my wife unfaithful. Maybe not in reality, but in story, we prefer cheating to loyalty—always. We want chemistry, passion, fireworks! You don't go to the amusement park to ride the merry-go-round. You go to ride the roller coaster.
Next: The Active Ingredient
< previous
The Active Ingredient
I knew what you were thinking, not because I read your mind, but because I know how people work and how stories work. I led you there—with story. I gave you an experience that hooked you in. Something you can learn to do every time by mastering the story craft.
Fine, so far, but where do we go from here? We left me standing there, watching my wife talking to Larry. What's next? Well, I've raised your expectations, so I have to give you what you want—or something better. Let's go with the kiss.
My wife says something. Larry laughs, opening his arms. They embrace and have a nice long kiss.
What now? She kisses Larry. End of story. Yes? No? Why not? I'm sure you know in your heart, it's not over. Your heart is a good guide. It might be enough for an obvious example like this—might be. But when it's not obvious, when it gets subtle and tricky, when you get lost, it's never enough. To be a successful storyteller, you have to know in story terms, why it's not over. So, what has to happen to complete this story, to give it a bang-up ending? How about this:
I figure, "Heck with it. What do I care? Everybody cheats. Look at Clinton." Then I go in, we have a nice dinner, pledge our friendship to Larry, and wind up good friends just like before.
A satisfying ending? Maybe the characters are satisfied, but we are not and no reader will be either. All right. If this story is going to hold someone, I have to care, to feel betrayed, and go in and do something about it. Stories are about doing, always. It could go like this:
"Hi, guys," I say happily as I come in. "Here's the smokes."
They thank me and both light up. Larry pours himself some scotch.
"How'd it go while I was gone?" I say, flopping into a kitchen chair.
"Fine," my wife says.
"How about you, Lar? Enjoy yourself in my absence?"
He glances at my wife. "I did," he says.
"Good. I was worried you might get lonely. But when I saw you through the window, I could see you didn't need me to entertain you."
"Well," Larry says. "We both missed you and we're glad you're back."
"That's right, honey," my wife says. "It's not the same without you."
"Of course not," I say. "Say, hand me the butcher knife, darling."
"Butcher knife, what for?"
"No reason. I just feel like holding it."
"Don't be silly," she says.
"No, really. Indulge me."
"Will you stop," she says.
"Stop what? You don't trust me with a knife? What is this: No sharp objects for the lunatic?"
"Very funny," she says.
Larry stares at me, smiling weakly.
"Afraid I'll hurt myself — slit my wrists — or my throat? What do you think, Lar? Can I be trusted with a knife in my own kitchen with my best friend and my loyal wife?"
"Of course, you can," Larry says flatly, then downs his scotch.
"Damn right. Hear that, angel? Larry trusts me. He trusts you. We all trust each other. So pass me the knife, sweets."
Next: The Crucial Difference
The crucial difference.
LIFEBLOOD OF EVERY STORY — AND EVERY WRITER
All right, let's stop here. The story's not over yet. It can go in many directions. Each writer will do it his or her own way. But no matter which way it goes it must fulfill the basic story requirements or it will fail.
For now, the question is: what's the difference between this last version and the first? Can you see it? It's not details. It's not dialogue. It's not emotion. I left it out when I raised this question earlier so you could experience it first. The first version — happy, happy, happy — left us cold. The last — trouble, trouble, trouble — got to us. What does that tell us?
It tells us that you must have conflict to create an engaging, compelling story. Conflict. We all know what conflict is, right? Your wife calls you an insensitive slob. You get run off the expressway on the way to work. Your boss tells you you'd better get your work up to par or you'll be out of a job. Your mother disinherits you.
Well, guess what, none of those is conflict, our kind of conflict — dramatic conflict. Oh, those examples are troubling, disturbing, upsetting, but none of them is what's needed to set a story in motion. They're false conflict. Trying to create a story from false conflict is like dragging a dead horse around a racetrack: You might get to the finish line, but you'll never win a race.
Even though every writing teacher and every writing book will tell you that conflict is the necessary ingredient, it remains the single, most misunderstood, most deceptive part of all storytelling. It's the reason why writers write as many duds as hits and why there are so many feeble stories limping around.
Conflict is deceptive because: All conflict is trouble but all trouble is not conflict. What we think of as conflict in everyday experience — disagreements, arguments, insults, shouting matches, even fistfights — are not dramatic conflict. They can be turned into dramatic conflict — anything can, once you know how — but dramatic conflict is a different creature entirely. Dramatic conflict is made up of several elements. Get one wrong, and no matter how brilliantly you write, your story will fall flat.
Because it is the source of everything that happens in story, understanding, creating, and using dramatic conflict is at the heart of The Writers’ Loft.
Conflict is critical but how your story is presented on the page is also critical. That brings us to our last example.
Next: You Can Do This
Experience vs. ideas.
If I said, Francesca was uncomfortable in her marriage especially when it came to sex, it might get your attention, but only because you'd want to know more. If that statement, that idea, were as far as it went, it wouldn't be very satisfying because it's an idea about her marriage and not the experience of it. If I wanted to give you the experience of her and her marriage, I would have to put it in Francesca's personal terms, give you her specific experience, which is what every successful story must do. Here's how one of my students did it:
Sex had never been Francesca's forte. In fact, she had to admit to her rather drab reflection in the bathroom mirror as she stood brushing her teeth, sex wasn't even her mediumte — if there were such a word. No. She paused in her brushing, listening for the sound of Jack's snoring, hoping for the snoring, waiting for the snoring.
No snoring.
Francesca began brushing again. No. The fact was she wasn't good at sex at all. Never had been. And, as she looked again at her reflection — gray hair mixed freely with the brown, lines fanning out from the corners of her eyes, the sag underneath her chin-she realized now that she was 43, she was never going to get good at it. She spit in the sink and listened again for the sound of snoring. In vain.
It wasn't that she wanted to be this way.
And hadn't she enjoyed Jack — his kisses, the warm feel of his body in bed, the simple touch of his hand with the swirled scar from the time he went over the handle bars of his bike at 12 and landed with a stick piercing his palm?
Yes, she had enjoyed Jack, at one time at least. But that had been, what? A year ago? Two? Maybe two and a half.
Maybe she just needed to adjust her attitude.
"Hey, what's going on in there? Did you drown yourself?" Jack called.
Yes, adjust her attitude — be positive. Maybe sex would be…nice for a change.
"Did you flush yourself down the toilet?" Jack called again. "I sure hope not 'cause big daddy is out here waiting for you."
Positive attitude. Francesca smiled to the mirror, flicked off the bathroom lights, and stepped into the bedroom.
"There you are," he said, looking up from the Outdoor Sportsman magazine he had in his hand.
"Here I am." Francesca kept smiling. He had already pushed all the covers down to the foot of the bed — the way she hated — and was lying on top of the top sheet in nothing but his boxers and round-framed glasses.
"Big daddy's ready for some fun." He smiled and wiggled his thin hips on the bed.
"I've told you I don't like it when you say that."
"Say what?" he grinned.
"What?" He patted the side of the bed next to him.
"Big daddy," Francesca said through her teeth. "It's really not a turn on." She walked around his scattered clothes — shirt, pants, half curled-up belt — on the floor.
"Big daddy," he said, smiling.
by A. C. Paterson
There you have it. Which hits home, the idea or the experience? (Notice also that there's conflict throughout.) Being able to create an experience in this way is another of the several essential tools you must master to succeed as a writer. All of them are at the heart of The Writers’ Loft.
You Can Do This
That's the most important thing to keep in mind. Storytelling is an acquired skill and not an inborn talent. You don't have to be brilliant or write a brilliant story. You just have to master enough craft to tell a good enough story. Plenty of writers of average intelligence are making lots of money writing mediocre stories. Look around. They're not hard to find. Unlike the other arts (music, painting, dance, etc.) where you must have an inborn ability, to be a successful storyteller, you have what you need already. You don't have to know how to play the piano or paint a portrait to get along in the world, but you'd better understand yourself, how people work, how the world works if you're going to make it in this life. In fact, if you've survived this long, you have at least 10 novels in you. You have a full set of emotions and plenty of dramatic, painful, and exciting experience to draw on. That doesn't mean you have to write about yourself. Even if you're creating Martians, it all comes from your imagination. They're your Martians and your Martians are unlike all others.
You have what you need already, but you must learn how to use it. That means developing the skills to get in touch with your imagination and to bring it to life on the page. So, it's not what you have, but learning how to use it. All you need is the desire. The Writers’ Loft gives you everything else.
Classes are now forming. To register or for more information please email me at [email protected] or call 206.618.3747.
You Also Get
Audio files that cover the critical elements of storytelling. Play them as you ride in your car or on your phone or iPod. The more you listen the more you learn. A great way to perfect your skills and technique while you're doing other things.
STORY HELP LINE. Call any time for help with any writing problem. Get the help you need when you need it. No need to wait until the next class. Call any time for personal help with any and every writing problem whether it's trouble with your story or yourself. Don't sit there and suffer. Remember no writing problem is too big to conquer and no problem is too small to disable you. This is Mary's specialty. Call any time and let Mary get you back on the track.
PERSONAL CONFERENCES. Unlimited personal conferences. Personalized help tailored to your needs of the moment and the future. Help finding your subject, setting your goals, and dealing with any other writing problems.
OUTSIDE WRITING HELP. Get feedback and coaching with outside writing. If you already have a story, you will get the coaching and guidance you need to get it into shape and off to market.
The first class is free. Any time you miss a class you are able to attend that class the next time it is presented.
FULL MARKETING STRATEGY. Taking one Writers’ Loft workshop entitles you to full marketing help and guidance - even if you're no longer in the workshop. Whenever you have a novel, short story, screenplay, or stage play ready, Mary will give you everything you need to market your work and help you short cut the submission process and get your story a serious read by agents, editors, and publishers.
How You Learn, What You Learn, and More
What You Learn
STORY CRAFT AND TECHNIQUE. Plot, character, dramatic momentum. The source of all drama. The few dramatic forces that will turn any idea into a compelling story.
THE CREATIVE PROCESS. Overcoming doubt, fear, and panic. Techniques to overcome resistance, stop fighting yourself, and get the flow going the moment you sit down.
SELF-COACHING AND SELF-EDITING. Learn to stop torturing yourself when it doesn't come out the way you wanted. Learn to trust your own emotional radar to find that dramatic potential that's always in your work and learn how to use it to bring your story to life on the page every time.
REWRITING TECHNIQUES. Turning drudgery into excitement and inspiration. Rewriting is the best part. Once you know how, rewriting becomes re-exciting.
THE ESSENCE OF CHARACTER. What's needed to bring characters to life in all their depth and complexity. How to make the deepest, most personal connection to your characters.
SHORT STORY TO NOVEL, STAGE PLAY OR SCREENPLAY. How to turn any short story or story idea into the longer form without stressing, straining, or padding. Plus the easiest (and hardest) kind of novel to write and the easiest (and hardest) kind of novel to sell. What makes literature literature (exactly what it takes to write literary fiction.) How to write a bestseller. And how to write down-and-dirty, commercial fiction with the least pain and most pleasure in the least amount of time if that's your goal.
UNIVERSAL PLOT FORMS. Aristotle, quoted in nearly every writing book and by every writing teacher, said there were six fundamental plots. Learn what even Aristotle didn't know — but Shakespeare did and so did Tolstoy, Steinbeck, Fitzgerald and many, many others. Learn how simple and easy it is to create compelling plots.
ORIGINALITY. What is it? Do you have it? (In a word: Yes. It's already there inside you. All you need are the tools to uncover it.) You're full of original ideas. You'll see how originality, this often intimidating concern, is easily achieved when you learn how to unlock your imagination and turn it loose on the page.
WORK METHODS. How to approach your story idea. (Should you outline, know the end first, write straight through before revising, have a plan, just jump in and go, write from a premise, have a theme in mind, etc). What you need to know before you start and what you don't.
MANAGING TIME. Where to find it (yes, it's there) and how to use it. Learn how you can write the first draft of a novel in just minutes a day in one year, regardless of your busy schedule and have fun doing it.
POINT OF VIEW. The ins and outs of this often confused and poorly explained story dimension made simple.
DEAD-WEIGHT. Learn the things that sound good but only serve to confuse, impede, or even disable you. Advice and misconceptions that many writers hold dear and struggle against that you need to be aware of and ignore.
Next: How You Learn
How you learn.
LECTURE AND DISCUSSION. In the first part of each workshop session, a specific technique is presented using concrete, clear-cut examples so you can see and apply these techniques directly to your writing. This approach demystifies the process, eliminates the guesswork, and puts the pleasure and satisfaction back in.
IN-CLASS WRITING. We end each session by writing for the last half-hour. Putting words on the page is what it's all about so we end by putting you in the process to get you loosened up and create some momentum that will carry over to the outside. This is your time to write anything you want, but a number of dramatic, provocative scene and story setups are given each time to help you get going if you need them.
WORKSHOP OF THE WRITING. It's not just feedback. The single, best way to master the story craft. Special techniques for actually practicing your craft and developing your skills and your ideas while considering some one else's work even though you're not putting words on the page. You will not be required or pressured to present your own work. All writing is presented by Jerry and is presented anonymously so the members can be relaxed and focus on the craft. Emphasis is on your own immediate, spontaneous response, which is where every story lives or dies. Like falling in love, you shouldn't have to be mulling it over or asking yourself, Is it working? Again, it's all about learning to trust your emotional radar and use it to turn any idea into a dramatic, compelling story.
STORY HELP LINE. Mary is a full time writer and workshop leader. She's around all the time, which means you can call any time and get the help you need without waiting until the next class. Getting the help when you need it is a great catalyst in developing your skills.
PERSONAL CONFERENCES In-person conferences about any and all writing problems. Get help with picking ideas, setting goals, scheduling, etc, to make sure you're not working against yourself and setting yourself up for failure with unrealistic expectations.
Next: Do You Have What It Takes?
Do you have what it takes.
What does it take to be a successful writer? Two things: motivation + story craft. I know you've heard about talent and of course it does exist but you don't need it to be successful, even very successful, in this art. Unlike the other arts (music, painting, dance, etc.) where you must have a special inborn talent to succeed, no special talent is needed to be a successful writer. How can that be? That's because the very skills you need to get along in the world are exactly what you need to be a successful storyteller. You don't have to know how to play the guitar or paint a landscape to survive, but you must know how people work, how you work, and how the world works. If you didn't, you wouldn't have made it this far. And because you've made it this far, you've got at least ten novels in you. You may not feel it. But trust me, they're there.
They're there because you have a full set of emotions, plenty of dramatic and exciting experience, and a rich imagination. Getting in touch with what you have is what The Writers’ Loft workshops are all about. Your emotions, your experience, your imagination, and the desire to write are all you need to create successful novels, short stories, screenplays, stage plays, biographies, memoirs, and nonfiction - plus one more critical skill. Story craft and technique. That's what you get at The Writers’ Loft in the quickest, easiest, most enjoyable way possible.
Now I'm not knocking talent. It does exist and if you have it, it's a bonus. But talent alone, talent without craft, will never do the job. I've had many talented, gifted writers who don't take the time to master the story craft and because they don't, they never bring their ideas to life on the page and they never get published. Beautiful writing will not save a dead story. A beautiful corpse is still a dead body. No matter how pretty you make it, it's never going rise up and do something exciting.
And of course talent comes into play if you're trying to win a Pulitzer Prize or the National Book Award. But few writers win those prizes - just as few actors ever win an Oscar but still go on to make fortunes in the movies.
Also, you may have noticed when you read novels or go to movies, there are plenty of average writers writing mediocre stories and making lots of money doing it. The competition isn't that tough. You can do it. You have what you need already. Come to the Writers Loft and get the skills to unlock your imagination and bring your ideas to life on the page, stage, or screen.
Next: Philosophy
It's not just a philosophy but a method — a method that works. A method that has produced many successful, prize-winning writers. At the heart of this method is the understanding that there is no such thing as a bad idea. Every idea has potential and dramatic possibilities. How can that be true? It's true because any and every idea can be shaped, reshaped, added to, subtracted from until it becomes dramatic and compelling.
If you don't believe me, Sample the Course for a demonstration of exactly how it's done. Also, to survive (to do your best work and have a good time doing it), you must cultivate a state of mind in which you're always looking for the possibilities and potential in your writing and not beating yourself up because it didn't come out the way you wanted. You must address the weaknesses, but the question must always be "What do I have and what can it become" "How do I make this work?"
In Printers' Row, just south of the Loop.
Important update: due to the current covid-19 pandemic all classes will be held over zoom meeting.
New Address. The Writers Loft is now located in Printers Row in downtown Chicago.
The Pope Building 633 South Plymouth Court #1002 (10th Floor) Chicago, 60605
Close to all train lines at Harold Washington Library stop at State/Van Buren and close to the Harrison Red line stop. Also close to the Metra. Parking lot across the street or metered street parking. Ask Mary for more details.
And guess what? It really does meet in a loft!
The best measure of a workshop is the success of its students.
Loft Successes: more than 40 novels*, 5 nonfiction titles*, plus an Emmy winner *All major publishers. Self publishing doesn’t count at the Loft.
How do you judge a workshop?
You may have never had a workshop and may have little or no idea what to look for. Or you may have had a workshop or two or even a bunch and still not be sure what you need and what works. Or you may feel you know what you need, but how can you tell if that's what you'll get from any particular workshop?
What is the best way to choose? What's the best measure of a workshop's effectiveness?
If your goal is to be a successful writer, then only one thing matters: Results. Learning the right skills to get you there as quickly and as painlessly as possible. And that can only be measured by the accomplishments of the students who have studied at that workshop.
Here is what a few of those who have studied at The Writers’ Loft have to say:
I recommend it to everyone who writes." Linda Lael Miller, author of eight New York Times bestsellers. Over 12 million books in print.
"The best there is." Michael Harvey, Emmy winner, writer for Academy Award nominated documentary Eyewitness , novelist.
"Without Jerry I never would have published at all." Josh Landsman, playwright, author of Frank Talk About Matters Big and Small (Organic Theatre, Chicago).
"A powerful motivator." Laura Caldwell, author of Burning the Map and A Clean Slate (Red Dress Ink), The Year of Living Famously (November, 2004), Look Closely (June, 2005).
"Simply brilliant. Brilliantly simple." Donal Harding, author of The Leaving Summer (Wm Morrow) and winner of the Paris Afton Bonds Screenplay Award.
"The best storyman ever." Jane Leder, author of Brothers and Sisters (St. Martins - nonfiction) and Dead Serious (Atheneum - nonfiction - rated one of the top ten books of the year by The National Library Board).
"Demystifies the story process." Michele Fitzsimmons, winner of $7,000 Illinois Arts Council Award for 21 pages of The Writers’ Loft in-class writing.
"Better than all my English and writing classes combined." Donald Catherall, author of Back from the Brink (Bantam).
"Simply the best workshop ever." Nicole Hollander, nationally syndicated cartoonist, creator of Sylvia .
Here are some endorsements from those who have the expertise to know:
"Plainly gifted." C. Michael Curtis, senior editor of The Atlantic Monthly .
"A true story master." Bernard Sabath, Broadway playwright, author of The Boys in Autumn , starring George C. Scott and John Cullum.
"Proves there is method to this madness." Tim Kazurinsky, Saturday Night Live writer and performer, screenwriter for About Last Night (Tri Star), For Keeps (Tri Star), and The Cherokee Kid , HBO special.
"Stretches your limits." Bob Condor, Columnist, Chicago Tribune .
We meet at 633 South Plymouth Court in Printers Row from 7:00 to 9:30-10:00 PM for six sessions. The cost for the entire course is $575. You can put it on a charge card if you want. If you charge it, you can spread the payments out over five months. Five payments bring it down to $115 a month. If you were to take a course like this at Northwestern or another university, the cost would be over $6,000.
The right coaching and guidance is critical to your writing success. So, come try it and see. You have nothing to lose and much to gain.
To try the first class for free, email [email protected] or call Mary Carter at 206.618.3747.
Literary Diversity
As an organization which believes in the power of words, we realize we haven’t said enough about the Black Lives Matter movement, racism, police brutality and in support of Black writers in our community and beyond. Within our organizing board, we have received feedback on how we can do better. We have been taking the time to listen, to learn more, and to compile a list of resources to begin the conversation.
As writers, there’s only one sentence we could write to begin: Black lives matter, have always mattered, and we need to do whatever we can to support the Black community.
CLICK HERE for our full statement, and a list of resources.
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Let's Just Write! An Uncommon Writers Conference
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Off Campus Writers Workshop
Writer’s Studio at the University of Chicago
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Writer’s Studio at the University of Chicago : Offers downtown and online writing classes as well as community events around Chicago
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Blue Hour , a free monthly online reading series and generative writing workshop presented by Chicago Poetry Center
This Much Is True : 2nd Thursday of Every Month, Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro, 3905 N Lincoln Ave., Chicago, 7:30 PM (Doors at 7:00) FREE
Story Lab Chicago : 3rd Thursday of Every Month, Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro, 3905 N Lincoln Ave., Chicago, 7:30 PM (Doors at 7:00) FREE
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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.
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William Shunn’s Guide to Proper Manuscript Format
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Program Coordinator E'mon Lauren and Executive Director Demetrius Amparan recently joined WGN's "Daytime Chicago" to discuss the 2022 Rooted & Radical Youth Poetry Festival and YCA in general:
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Writing groups can be useful tools for writers looking to gain constructive feedback on their work and improve their craft. At Writer’s Relief, we’ve taken the time to curate a list of writers groups so you don’t have to! Scroll down or click one of the links below to view the writing groups in your state or region.
Regional | Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri | Montana | Nebraska | Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | New York | North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee | Texas | Utah | Vermont | Virginia | Washington, D.C. | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming | Canada
For Online Writers Groups, click here!
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Regional writing groups:.
The Fellowship of Southern Writers (All Genres)
Midwest Travel Writers Association (Travel)
New England Science Writers (Science, Technology, and Journalism)
Northwest Science Writers Association (Science)
Science Writers Association of the Rocky Mountains (Science, Photography)
Society of Southwestern Authors (All Genres)
Southeastern Writers Association (All Genres)
Women Writing the West (All Genres)
Alabama Writing Groups:
Birmingham, AL — Alabama Media Professionals (All Genres)
Cullman, AL — Alabama Writer’s Conclave (All Genres)
Homewood, AL — Heart of Dixie (Romance)
Huntsville, AL — Southern Magic (Romance)
Mobile, AL — Gulf Coast Chapter of the Romance Writers of America (Romance)
Mobile, AL — Mobile Writer’s Guild (All Genres)
Mobile, AL — Huntsville Literary Association (All Genres)
Mobile, AL — Alabama Writer’s Forum (All Genres)
Montgomery, AL — Write Club (All Genres)
Alaska Writing Groups:
Anchorage, AK — Alaska Writers Guild (All Genres)
Anchorage, AK — Northern Speculative Fiction (Fiction)
Anchorage, AK — Alaska Wilderness Writers (All Genres)
Anchorage, AK — Alaska Professional Communicators (Journalism)
Anchorage, AK — The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (Children’s Literature)
Anchorage, AK — 49 Writers (All Genres)
Arizona Writing Groups:
Chandler, AZ — Chandler Romance Writing (Romance)
Glendale, AZ — Writer’s Round Table (All Genres)
Litchfield Park, AZ — West Valley Writer’s Workshop (All Genres)
Mesa, AZ — East Valley Writing Workshop (All Genres)
Multiple Locations in AZ — Arizona Authors Association (All Genres)
Peoria, AZ — Peoria Fiction Writing Critique Group (Fiction)
Phoenix, AZ — Central Phoenix Writing Workshop (All Genres)
Phoenix, AZ — The Phoenix Writers Club (All Genres)
Phoenix, AZ — Nonfiction Authors Association (Nonfiction)
Phoenix, AZ — Gang of Fearless Freewriters (All Genres)
Phoenix, AZ — Arcadia Memoir Writers (Memoir)
Scottsdale, AZ — Writing Without Workshops (All Genres)
Scottsdale, AZ — Scottsdale Society of Women Writers (All Genres)
Arkansas Writing Groups:
Fayetteville, AR — Arkansas Writers (All Genres)
Hot Springs Village, AR — Village Writers’ Club (All Genres)
Little Rock, AR — American Christian Fiction Writers (Christian Fiction)
Little Rock, AR — Little Rock Literary Writing Workshop (All Genres)
Little Rock, AR— Central Arkansas Speculative Fiction Writers’ Group (Fiction)
Searcy, AR — White County Creative Writers (All Genres)
Springdale, AR — Fiction Forge (Fiction)
California Writing Groups:
Bakersfield, CA — Writers of Kern (All Genres)
Berkley, CA — California Writers Club (All Genres)
Burbank, CA — Write It Up (All Genres)
Davis, CA — The Davis Writers Saloon (All Genres)
Fountain Valley, CA — Southern California Writers Association (All Genres)
Huntington Beach, CA — Southern California Writers Association (All Genres)
Lake Forest, CA — Sit Down, Shut Up, and Write (All Genres)
Long Beach, CA — Coffee House Writers Group (All Genres)
Long Beach, CA — The Writers Critique Group (All Genres)
Los Angeles, CA — Children’s Book Writers of Los Angeles (Children’s Literature)
Los Angeles, CA — Independent Writers of Southern California (All Genres)
Los Angeles, CA — Los Angeles Writers Group (Fiction)
Los Angeles, CA — Writers With Drinks (All Genres)
Los Angeles, CA — Los Angeles Poets & Writers Collective (All Genres)
Los Angeles, CA — Organization of Black Screenwriters (Screenwriting)
Los Angeles, CA — The Southwest Manuscripters (All Genres)
Los Angeles, CA — Writers Guild of America, West (All Genres)
Los Angeles, CA — Deus ex Machina Advanced Writers Collective (All Genres)
Murrieta, CA — International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association (Journalism)
Multiple Locations in CA — Sierra Writers (Fiction, Nonfiction)
Oakland, CA — California Writers Club (All Genres)
Redondo Beach, CA — Greater Los Angeles Writers Society (All Genres)
San Clemente, CA — Poets and Dreamers: Authors and Writers Literary Network (All Genres)
San Bernadino, CA — San Bernardino Writers’ Group (All Genres)
San Diego, CA — San Diego Writers/Editor Guild (All Genres)
San Francisco, CA — Central Coast Writers (All Genres)
San Francisco, CA — San Francisco Writers Grotto (All Genres)
Sonora, CA — Sonora Writers Group (All Genres)
Simi Valley, CA — Write Here, Write Now (All Genres)
West Hollywood, CA — Creative Express for Writers, Screenwriters & Filmmakers (All Genres)
Colorado Writing Groups:
Boulder, CO — Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers (Fiction)
Colorado Springs, CO — Colorado Springs Fiction Writers Group (All Genres)
Colorado Springs, CO — Pikes Peak Writers (All Genres)
Denver, CO — Denver Woman’s Press Club (All Genres, Journalism)
Denver, CO — Colorado Authors League (All Genres)
Eastlake, CO — Colorado Romance Writers (Romance)
Fort Collins, CO — Northern Colorado Writers (All Genres)
Greenwood Village, CO — Women Writing the West (All Genres)
Montrose, CO — Lighthouse Writers’ Workshop (All Genres)
Pueblo West, CO — Pueblo West Writers Group (All Genres)
Connecticut Writing Groups:
Multiple Locations in CT — Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association (All Genres)
Somers, CT — Northern Connecticut Writers Workshop (All Genres)
Westport, CT — Westport Writers’ Workshop (All Genres)
Westport, CT — Just For Writers (All Genres)
Westport, CT — Fairfield County Writers Group (All Genres)
West Hartford, CT — West Hartford Fiction Writers (Fiction)
West Hartford, CT — Faxon Poets (Poetry)
West Hartford, CT — Connecticut Screenwriters (Screenwriting)
West Redding, CT — Long Ridge Writers Group (All Genres)
Delaware Writing Groups:
Georgetown, DE — Delmarva Christian Writers’ Fellowship (Spiritual)
Rehoboth Beach, DE — Rehoboth Beach Writers’ Guild (All Genres)
Florida Writing Groups:
Avon Park, FL — Avon Park Wordsmiths (All Genres)
Boca Raton, FL — Indie Writers & Artists (All Genres)
Boynton Beach, FL — Boynton Writers Critique Group (All Genres)
Bradenton, FL — Bradenton Writers Group (All Genres)
Brandon, FL— Brandon Writers Critique Group (All Genres)
Celebration, FL — Celebration Writers Group (All Genres)
Cocoa, FL — Space Coast Fiction Writers (Fiction)
Daytona Beach, FL — Daytona Beach Writers (All Genres)
Deerfield Beach, FL — Mystery Writers of America, Florida Chapter (Crime, Fiction)
Deland, FL — Café Writers (All Genres)
Englewood, FL — Suncoast Writers Guild, Inc . (All Genres)
Fernandina, FL — Writers by the Sea (All Genres)
Ft. Myers, FL — Gulf Coast Writers Association, Inc. (All Genres)
Ft. Pierce, FL — Treasure Coast Writers Guild (All Genres)
Gainesville, FL — Writers Alliance of Gainesville (All Genres)
Hallandale Beach, FL — Gulfstream Writers (All Genres)
Havana, FL — Havana Writers (All Genres)
Jacksonville, FL — Serivilous Panerians (All Genres)
Jacksonville, FL — River City Writers (All Genres)
Jacksonville, FL — First Coast Christian Writers Group (Spiritual)
Jacksonville, FL — Northeast Florida Sisters in Crime (Crime, Mystery)
Lady Lake, FL — Lady Lake Writers (All Genres)
Lakeland, FL — Lakeland Writers (All Genres)
Lake Mary, FL — Seminole County Writers Group (All Genres)
Lake Mary, FL — A Novel Group of Writers (All Genres)
Maitland, FL — Maitland Writers (All Genres)
Miami, FL— South Florida Writers Association (All Genres)
Mount Dora, FL — Authors Roundtable of Mount Dora (All Genres)
Mount Dora, FL — Poets Critique Group (Poetry)
Ocala, FL — Freedom Writers Group (All Genres)
Oldsmar, FL — Oldsmar Critique Group (All Genres)
Orange Park, FL — Clay County Writers (All Genres)
Orange Park, FL — Clay County Writers Critique Group (All Genres)
Orlando/Winter Park, FL — Orlando Area Writers (All Genres)
Oxford, FL — Oxford Writers (All Genres)
Palm Bay, FL — Palm Bay Writers (All Genres)
Palm City, FL — Palm City Word Weavers (All Genres)
Panama City, FL — Panama City Chapter (All Genres)
Pembroke Pines, FL — Quills in the Glades (All Genres)
Ponte Vedra, FL — Ponte Vedra Writers (All Genres)
Port Orange, FL — Port Orange Scribes (All Genres)
Port St. Lucie, FL — Treasure Coast Writers Group (All Genres)
Punta Gorda, FL — Peace River Writers (All Genres)
Sarasota, FL — Sarasota Writers Group (All Genres)
Sebring, FL — Sebring Scribblers & Scribes (All Genres)
Sebring, FL — The Hearland Author Mix (All Genres)
St. Augustine, FL — Ancient City Writers (All Genres)
St. Petersburg, FL — St. Petersburg Writers (All Genres)
St. Petersburg, FL — St. Petersburg Writer Critique Group (All Genres)
Sunrise, FL — Dan Pearl Sunrise Writers (All Genres)
Tallahassee, FL — Tallahassee Writers Association (All Genres)
Tampa, FL — New Tampa/Wesley Chapel Writers (All Genres)
Tampa, FL — Tampa Writers (All Genres)
Tampa, FL — Tampa Writers Alliance (All Genres)
Tarpon Springs, FL — Tarpon Springs Fiction Writers (Fiction)
Treasure Coast, FL — Treasure Coast Writers Guild (All Genres)
Vero Beach, FL — Porch Poets (Poetry)
Vero Beach, FL — Tuesday Writers (All Genres)
Vero Beach, FL — Writers Window Pane (All Genres)
Vero Beach, FL — Vero Beach Writers Circle (All Genres)
Wellington, FL — Wellington Writers Critique Group (All Genres)
West Melbourne, FL — Space Coast Writers Guild (All Genres)
Yankeetown, FL — Yankeetown Critique Group (All Genres)
Georgia Writing Groups:
Athens, GA — Athens Writers Association (All Genres)
Atlanta, GA — Atlanta Writers Club (All Genres)
Calhoun, GA — Calhoun Area Writers (All Genres)
Decatur, GA — Village Writers Group (All Genres)
Gainesville, GA — Northeast Georgia Writers (All Genres)
Kennesaw, GA — Georgia Writers Association (All Genres)
Hawaii Writing Groups:
Honolulu, HI — Pacific Writers’ Connection (All Genres)
Keauhou, HI — Hawaii Island Writers Association (All Genres)
Multiple Locations in HI— Hawaii Island Writers Group (All Genres)
Idaho Writing Groups:
Boise, ID — Idaho Writers Guild (All Genres)
Boise, ID — Idaho Writers Rendezvous (All Genres)
Coeur d’Alene, ID — Idaho Writer’s League (All Genres)
Idaho Falls, ID — Blue Sage Writers (All Genres)
Meridian, ID — Idahope Christian Writers (Spiritual)
Post Falls, ID — Inland Empire Chapter of Romance Writers of America (All Genres)
Priest River, ID — River Writers (All Genres)
Twin Falls — Twin Falls Writers (All Genres)
Illinois Writing Groups:
Aurora, IL — A-Town Poetics (Poetry)
Batavia, IL — Batavia Writers Group (All Genres)
Bloomington-Normal, IL — Bloomington-Normal Writers Group (All Genres)
Carol Stream, IL — DuPage Writers Group (All Genres)
Carterville, IL — Southern Illinois Writers Guild (All Genres)
Chicago, IL — Chicago Dramatists (Playwrights)
Chicago, IL — Chicago Women in Publishing (All Genres)
Chicago, IL — Chicago Writers Association (All Genres)
Chicago, IL — Poets and Patrons of Chicago (All Genres)
Chicago, IL — The Writers WorkSpace (All Genres)
Elgin, IL — Wordplay (All Genres)
Elgin, IL — Writers on the Fox (All Genres)
Geneva, IL — Day Jammers (All Genres)
Geneva, IL — Inklings and Speculations (Fiction)
Geneva, IL — Night Writers (All Genres)
Geneva, IL — Writers Anonymous (All Genres)
Geneva, IL — Write Time Writers Group (All Genres)
North Aurora, IL — Fox Valley Writers Group (All Genres)
Multiple Locations in IL — Central Illinois Writers Group (Horror, Fantasy, Science Fiction)
Multiple Locations in IL — Fox Valley Writers & Poets (All Genres)
Naperville, IL — Naperville Writers Group (All Genres)
Park Ridge, IL — Prairie Avenue Writers (All Genres)
St. Charles, IL — Lit Lab 51 (Poetry, Sci-Fi, Improv)
St. Charles, IL — St. Charles Writing Group (All Genres)
Indiana Writing Groups:
Hammond, IN — First Friday Wordsmiths (All Genres)
Hammond, IN — Indiana Writers’ Consortium (All Genres)
Indianapolis, IN — Indiana Writers Center (All Genres)
Merrillville, IN — Write-On Hoosiers, Inc. (All Genres)
Schererville, IN — Magic Hour Writers (All Genres)
Iowa Writing Groups:
Ames, IA — Inkspots (All Genres)
Des Moines, IA — Beaverdale Writers Group (All Genres)
Des Moines, IA — Central Library Writers’ Workshop (All Genres)
Des Moines, IA — Des Moines Writers’ Workshop (All Genres)
Des Moines, IA — Iowa Romance Writers (Romance)
Des Moines, IA — Sisters in Crime (All Genres)
Des Moines, IA — Southside Library Writers’ Workshop (All Genres)
Waukee, IA — Waukee Public Library Writer’s Group (All Genres)
Kansas Writing Groups:
Lawrence, KS — Great Plains Writers Group (All Genres)
Olathe, KS — Kansas City Writers Group (All Genres)
Wichita, KS — Wichita Area Romance Writers (Romance)
Wichita, KS — Kansas Writers Association (All Genres)
Kentucky Writing Groups:
Elizabethtown, KY — Bard’s Corner Writers Group (All Genres)
Frankfort, KY — Capitol City Writers Roundtable (All Genres)
Harrodsburg, KY — Writers Bloc 40330 (All Genres)
Horehead, KY — Kentucky State Poetry Society (Poetry)
Lexington, KY — Dreambuilding (All Genres)
Lexington, KY — Eagle Creek Writers Group (All Genres)
Lexington, KY — Lexington Fiction Writers Group (Fiction)
Lexington, KY — Poezia Poetry/Prose Group (Poetry/Prose)
Louisville, KY — Green River Writers (All Genres)
Louisville, KY — Louisville Romance Writers (Romance)
Louisville, KY — Women Who Write (All Genres)
Louisville, KY — The Writers Workshop Project (WWP) (All Genres)
Multiple Locations in KY — Kentucky Indie Writers (All Genres)
Owensboro, KY — Owensboro Writers Group (All Genres)
Louisiana Writing Groups:
Baton Rouge, LA — Baton Rouge Writers (All Genres)
Bossier City, LA — North Louisiana Storytellers & Authors of Romance (All Genres)
Covington, LA — Northshore Literary Society (All Genres)
Lafayette, LA — Writers Guild of Acadiana (All Genres)
Lake Charles, LA — Bayou Writers Group (All Genres)
Maine Writing Groups:
Bangor, ME — Southern Penobscot Area Writers Network
Blue Hill, ME — Down East Writers (All Genres)
Portland, ME — Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance (All Genres)
Dover-Foxcroft, ME — Central Maine Writers Group (All Genres)
Multiple Locations in ME — Maine Poets Societ y (Poetry)
Maryland Writing Groups:
Annapolis, MD — Annapolis Writers Critique Group (All Genres)
Annapolis, MD — Maryland Writers Association, Annapolis Chapter (All Genres)
Annapolis, MD — Women Poets Workshop (Poetry)
Arnold, MD — Waterfront Writers (Fiction)
Baltimore, MD — Baltimore Area Writers (Creative/Literary Nonfiction)
Baltimore, MD — Baltimore Writing Hour (All Genres)
Baltimore, MD — Black Writers’ Guild of Maryland (All Genres)
Baltimore, MD — Charm City Writers (All Genres)
Baltimore, MD — Maryland Writers Association, Baltimore Chapter (All Genres)
Columbia, MD — Fiction and Screenwriting Critique Group (Fiction)
Columbia, MD — Maryland Writers Association, Howard County Chapter (All Genres)
Easton, MD — Eastern Shore Writers Association (All Genres)
Finksburg, MD — Maryland Writers Association, Carroll County Chapter (All Genres)
Frederick, MD — Frederick Writers Group (Fiction)
Frederick, MD — Frederick Writers Salon (All Genres)
Hampden, MD — Hampden Writers’ Group (Fiction)
La Plata, MD — Maryland Writers Association, Charles County Chapter (All Genres)
Leonardtown, MD — Maryland Writers Association, St. Mary’s County Chapter (All Genres)
Multiple Locations, MD — BayHill Writers (All Genres)
Saverna Park, MD — Saverna Park YA/NA Writers Group (Fiction)
Silver Spring, MD — Maryland Writers Association, Montgomery County Chapter (All Genres)
Massachusetts Writing Groups:
Boston, MA — The Writers’ Room of Boston (All Genres)
Dennis, MA — Scargo Hill Poets (Poetry)
Hyannis, MA — Writers in Common (Fiction, Memoir, Creative Nonfiction)
Lancaster, MA — Seven Bridge Writers’ Collaborative (All Genres)
Mashpee, MA — Mid-Cape Nonfiction Writers Group (Nonfiction)
Mid-Cape, MA — Sands of Time Memoir Group (Memoir, Nonfiction)
Orleans, MA — Dune Hollow Writers (All Genres)
Osterville, MA — Advanced Writers Group (All Genres)
Sandwich, MA — Upper Cape Writers Group (All Genres)
Worcester, MA — The Worcester Writers Group (All Genres)
Michigan Writing Groups:
Ann Arbor, MI — Mid-Michigan Prose and Writing Group (All Genres)
Ann Arbor, MI — Mid-Michigan Romance Writers of America (All Genres)
Detroit, MI — Detroit Working Writers (All Genres)
Detroit, MI — Detroit Writer’s Guild (All Genres)
Detroit, MI — Motown Writers Network (All Genres)
Grand Rapids, MI — Grand Rapids Writer’s Exchange (All Genres)
Grand Rapids, MI — Peninsula Writers (All Genres)
Howell and Livingston County, MI — Howell Area Writers’ Circle (All Genres)
Ludington, MI — The WestSide Gang Writers Group (All Genres)
Multiple Locations in MI— Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Michigan Chapter (Children’s Literature)
Novi, MI — Southeast Michigan Christian Writers (Spiritual)
Rochester, MI — Rochester Writers (All Genres)
Standish, MI — Mid-Michigan Writers, Inc. (All Genres)
Minnesota Writing Groups:
Alexandria, MN — Alexandria Area Writers Group (All Genres)
Alexandria, MN — Alexandria Word Weavers (All Genres)
Brainerd, MN — Brainerd Heartland Poets (Poetry)
Brainerd, MN — Brainerd Writers Alliance (All Genres)
Duluth, MN — Lake Superior Writers (All Genres)
Elbow Lake, MN — Elbow Lake Grant County Writers’ Group (All Genres)
Fergus Falls, MN — Fergus Falls Writers’ Group (All Genres)
Hackensack, MN — Hackensack Bards of a Feather (All Genres)
Little Falls, MN — Great River Writers (All Genres)
Maple Grove, MN — Minnesota Christian Writers Guild (Spiritual)
Minneapolis, MN — Loft Literary Center (All Genres)
Minneapolis, MN — Midwest Fiction Writers (Fiction)
Minneapolis, MN — Minnesota Science Fiction Society (Science Fiction)
Minneapolis, MN — Minneapolis Writers Workshop (All Genres)
Minneapolis, MN — Open Book (All Genres)
Minneapolis, MN — MinnSpec (Speculative Fiction)
Ottertail, MN — Ottertail Writers’ Group (All Genres)
Park Rapids, MN — Park Rapids Jackpine Writers’ Bloc (All Genres)
Perham, MN — Perham Thousand Lakes Writers’ Group (All Genres)
Rochester, MN — Rochester MN Writing Group (All Genres)
Sauk Centre, MN — Sauk Centre Gopher Prairie Writers’ Group (All Genres)
St. Paul, MN — Write, Create, Communicate (All Genres)
Twin Cities, MN — Twin Cities Writers Group (All Genres)
Mississippi Writing Groups:
Biloxi, MS — Gulf Coast Writers Association (All Genres)
Hattiesburg, MS — Hub City Writers (All Genres)
Natchez, MS — Mississippi Writers Guild (All Genres)
Ridgeland, MS — Mississippi Poetry Society (Poetry)
Starkville, MS — Mississippi Writers and Musicians (All Genres)
University, MS — University of Mississippi Writers Project (All Genres)
Missouri Writing Groups:
Branson, MO — Ozarks Writers League (All Genres)
Cape Girardeau, MO — Missouri Writers’ Guild, Southeast Missouri Chapter (All Genres)
Cassville, MO — Mid-South Writers Group of Missouri (All Genres)
Columbia, MO — Missouri Writers’ Guild, Columbia Chapter (All Genres)
Joplin, MO — Missouri Writers’ Guild, Joplin Chapter (All Genres)
Kansas City, MO — Kansas City Writers Group (All Genres)
Kansas City, MO — Midwest Children’s Authors Guild (Children’s Literature)
Kansas City, MO — The Writers Place (All Genres)
Kansas City, MO — Heartland Romance Authors (Fiction, Romance, Novel)
Kennett, MO — Heartland Writers Guild (All Genres)
Marshall, MO — Missouri Writers’ Guild, Marshall Chapter (All Genres)
O’Fallon, MO — Missouri Writers’ Guild, Coffee and Critique Chapter (All Genres)
St. Louis, MO — Missouri Romance Writers of America (Romance)
St. Louis, MO — Sisters in Crime, Greater St. Louis Chapter (All Genres)
St. Louis, MO — St. Louis Writers Guild (All Genres)
St. Joseph, MO — St. Joseph Writers Guild (All Genres)
St. Peters, MO — Missouri Writers’ Guild, Saturday Writers Chapter (All Genres)
Montana Writing Groups:
Kalispell, MT — Authors of the Flathead (All Genres)
Missoula, MT — 406 Writers’ Workshop (All Genres)
Missoula, MT — Montana Romance Writers (Romance)
Nebraska Writing Groups:
Omaha, NE — Omaha Writers Group (All Genres)
Omaha, NE — The Nebraska Writers Guild (All Genres)
Omaha, NE — Romance Authors of the Heartland (Romance)
Ralston, NE — The Nebraska Writers Writers Workshop (All Genres)
Nevada Writing Groups:
Carson City, NV — Ash Canyon Poets (Poetry)
Carson City, NV — Lone Mountain Writers (All Genres)
Henderson, NV — Henderson Writers’ Group (All Genres)
Pahrump, NV — Oasis Writers Guild (All Genres)
New Hampshire Writing Groups:
Concord, NH — Granite State Writers Group (All Genres)
Hooksett, NH — New Hampshire Writers Project (All Genres)
Ossippe, NH — Poetry Society of New Hampshire (Poetry)
Peterborough, NH — Monadnock Writers’ Group (All Genres)
Portsmouth, NH — Beat Night Poetry (All Genres)
Portsmouth, NH — Creative Writing Group (All Genres)
Portsmouth, NH — Hoot Night at Cafe Espresso (All Genres)
Portsmouth, NH — Memoir Writing Group (Memoir)
Portsmouth — Nonfiction Writing Group (Nonfiction)
Portsmouth, NH — Pen Central Writers (All Genres)
Portsmouth, NH — Poetry and Short Fiction Writers Group (Poetry, Fiction)
Portsmouth, NH — Portsmouth Writing Salon (All Genres)
Portsmouth, NH — Pisquataqua Poets (Poetry)
Portsmouth. NH — Writers Night Out (All Genres)
New Jersey Writing Groups:
Atco, NJ — Garden State Writers (All Genres)
Asbury Park, NJ — Writers Group (All Genres)
Bayville, NJ — Berkeley Adult Writers’ Group (All Genres)
Bellmar, NJ — South Jersey Writers Group (All Genres)
Bergen County, NJ — The Writers of the Weird (Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror)
Edison, NJ — Liberty States Fiction Writers (Fiction)
Fanwood, NJ — Serendipitous Scribes (All Genres)
Iselin, NJ — New Jersey Romantic Writers (Romance)
Mahwah, NJ — Mahwah Writer’s Collective (All Genres)
Mahwah, NJ — The Science Fiction Society of Northern NJ (Sci-Fi)
Manalapan, NJ — Monmouth Creative Writing Group (All Genres)
Manchester, NJ — The Manchester (NJ) Writers’ Circle (All Genres)
Middletown, NJ — The Noble Writers (All Genres)
Milltown, NJ – Milltown Area Writers Group (All Genres)
Moorestown, NJ — Juliette Writer’s Group (All Genres)
Multiple Locations in NJ — Women Who Write, Inc. (All Genres)
Multiple Locations in NJ — The NJ Authors’ Network (All Genres)
Ridgewood, NJ — Ridgewood Memoir Writing Workshop (Memoir)
Plainsboro, NJ — Princeton Writing Group (All Genres)
Somerset, NJ — New Jersey Writers’ Society (All Genres)
South Hackensack, NJ — Bergen County Poets & Fictionaires (All Genres)
Summit, NJ — New Providence Writers (All Genres)
Woodbridge, NJ — Woodbridge Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers (Sci-Fi, Fantasy)
New Mexico Writing Groups:
Alamogordo, NM — The Writers Corner (All Genres)
Albuquerque, NM — SouthWest Writers (All Genres)
Albuquerque, NM — The Wordwrights (All Genres)
Ruidoso, NM — Lincoln County Writers Association (All Genres)
Santa Fe, NM — Santa Fe Writers Group (All Genres)
New York Writing Groups:
Albany, NY — Poetry Chat (Poetry)
Astoria, NY — Astoria Writers Group (All Genres)
Brooklyn, NY — Brooklyn Speculative Fiction Writers (Fiction)
Brooklyn, N7Y — NY Writers Coalition (All Genres)
Brooklyn, NY — The Brooklyn Writing and Creative Group (All Genres)
Bronx, NY — Poetry On Demand (Poetry)
Forest Hills, NY — Forest Hills Poetry Writing (Poetry)
Long Island, NY — Amateur Writers of Long Island (All Genres)
Manhattan, NY — NYC Writers Circle (All Genres)
Manhattan, NY — Science Writers in New York (Science and Medicine)
Manhattan, NY — WF Writing (All Genres)
New York City, NY — NYC Laid-Back Writing Group (All Genres)
New York City, NY — New York Writing Club (All Genres)
New York City, NY — Poets House (Poetry)
New York City, NY — Shut Up & Write! (All Genres)
New York City, NY — Storytellers of NY (Fiction)
New York City, NY — The Poetry Table (Poetry)
Nyack, NY — River Writers Circle (All Genres)
Staten Island, NY — The Staten Island Writers (All Genres)
Syracuse, NY — The Syracuse Veterans’ Writing Group (Nonfiction)
Multiple Locations in NY — Morningside Writers Group (Fiction, Screenwriting, Teen Writing, Memoir)
Tarrytown, NY — Hudson Writers Group (All Genres)
Troy, NY — Hudson Valley Writers Guild (All Genres)
Troy, NY — Capital District Screenwriters (Screenwriting)
North Carolina Writing Groups:
Boone, NC — High County Writers (All Genres)
Charlotte, NC — Charlotte Writers’ Club (All Genres)
Charlotte, NC — Queen City Writers Group (All Genres)
Graham, NC — Burlington Writers Club (All Genres)
Greensboro, NC — Writers’ Group of the Triad (All Genres)
Monroe, NC — Union County Writers Club (All Genres)
Multiple Locations in NC— North Carolina Writers’ Network-West’s Mountain Writers & Poets (All Genres)
Raleigh, NC — Screenline (Screenwriting)
Raleigh, NC — Triangle Association of Freelancers
Pittsboro, NC — Bynum Comedy Writers Workshop (Humor)
Southern Pines, NC — North Carolina Poetry Society (Poetry)
Wadesboro, NC — Anson County Writers Club (All Genres)
Washington, NC — Pamlico Writers Group (All Genres)
Winston-Salem, NC — Winston-Salem Writers (All Genres)
North Dakota Writing Groups:
Devils Lake, ND — Lake Region Writers’ Group (All Genres)
Grand Forks, ND — University of North Dakota Writing Center (All Genres)
Minot, ND — North Dakota Nonfiction Writers (Creative Nonfiction, Journalistic Nonfiction)
Moorhead, ND— Fargo Writers (All Genres)
Ohio Writing Groups:
Akron, OH — Akron Writers’ Group (All Genres)
Beavercreek, OH — Antioch Writers’ Workshop (All Genres)
Canton, OH — Greater Canton Writers’ Guild (All Genres)
Cincinnati, OH— Greater Cincinnati Writers League (All Genres)
Cleveland, OH — Skyline Writers (All Genres)
Columbus, OH — Downtown Writers Network (All Genres)
Columbus, OH — The InkStone (Novel)
Columbus, OH — Ohio Writers’ Guild (All Genres)
Columbus, OH — Wild Goose Creative (All Genres)
Dayton, OH — Western Ohio Writers Association (All Genres)
Dayton, OH — Dayton Christian Writers Guild, Inc. (Spiritual)
Delaware, OH — Poetry at the Delaware Library (Poetry)
Greater Cleveland and North Eastern, OH — Cleveland Writer Group (All Genres)
Hamilton, OH — Hamilton Writers Guild (All Genres)
Multiple Locations in OH — Romance Writers of America, Central Ohio Fiction Writers Chapter (Fiction)
Multiple Locations in OH — The Ohio Poetry Association (Poetry)
Sylvania, OH — Toledo Writers Workshop (All Genres)
Zanesville, OH — Y-City Writers’ Forum (All Genres)
Oklahoma Writing Groups:
Ada, OK — Ada Writers (All Genres)
Bartesville, OK — Wordweavers Writing Group (All Genres)
Bixby, OK — The South Tulsa Writers Meetup (All Genres)
Enid, OK — Enid Writers Club (All Genres)
Edmond, OK — Pen and Keyboard Writers (All Genres)
Edmond, OK — The Inklings (All Genres)
Green Country, OK — Green Country Ruff Riters (All Genres)
Guthrie, OK — Red Dirt Writers Society (All Genres)
McAlester, OK — McAlester’s McSherry Writers (All Genres)
Midwest City, OK — Mid-Oklahoma Writers (All Genres)
Norman, OK — Norman Galaxy of Writers (All Genres)
Oklahome City, OK — Creative Quills (All Genres)
Oklahoma City, OK — Oklahoma City Writers, Inc. (All Genres)
Oklahoma City, OK — Oklahoma Horror Writers’ League (Horror)
Oklahoma City, OK — Oklahoma Write Now (All Genres)
Oklahoma City, OK — Romance Inc. (Romance)
Stillwater, OK — Stillwater Writers Group (All Genres)
Tulsa, OK — Critical Ink (Fiction)
Tulsa, OK — Tulsa NightWriters (All Genres)
Tulsa, OK — Tulsa Area Children’s Book Writers (Children’s Literature)
Tulsa, OK — Nevermore Edits (All Genres)
Tulsa, OK — Unbreakable Spines (All Genres)
Woodward, OK — Writers of the Purple Sage (All Genres)
Oregon Writing Groups:
Baker City, OR — The Writers Guild of Eastern Oregon (All Genres)
Eugene, OR — The Lane Literary Guild (All Genres)
Jefferson, OR — Women’s Fiction Writers Association (Women in Fiction)
Portland, OR — 9 Bridges Writers Guild (All Genres)
Portland, OR — Attic Institute (All Genres)
Portland, OR — Friends of Mystery (Mystery)
Portland, OR — The Moonlit Poetry Caravan (Poetry)
Portland, OR — Mountain Writers Series (All Genres)
Portland, OR — Oregon State Poetry Association, Portland Unit (Poetry)
Portland, OR — Oregon Writers Colony (Novel)
Portland, OR — Willamette Writers (All Genres)
Portland, OR — Write Around Portland (All Genres)
Portland,, OR — Writers Mill (All Genres)
Redmond, OR — Central Oregon Writers Guild (All Genres)
Roseburg, OR — An Association of Writers (All Genres)
Pennsylvania Writing Groups:
Bethel, PA — First Monday Discussion Group (All Genres)
Danville, PA — Danville Writers Group (All Genres)
Dillsburg, PA — Central PA Writers’ Workshop (All Genres)
Easton, PA — Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group (All Genres)
Erie, PA — Millcreek Mall Area Group (All Genres)
Erie, PA — Fellowship of the Quill (All Genres)
Erie, PA — Presque Isle Meeting (All Genres)
Hawley, PA — Pencils NEPA (All Genres)
Lancaster, PA — Lancaster Area Writers Group (All Genres)
Meadville, PA — Meadville Vicinity Pennwriters (All Genres)
Monroeville, PA — Pittsburgh East Scribes (All Genres)
Monroeville, PA — Pittsburgh East Writers Group (All Genres)
Mount Lebanon, PA — South Hills Critique Group (All Genres)
Multiple Locations in PA— Pennwriters (All Genres)
Multiple Locations in PA — Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (Children’s Literature)
New Cumberland, PA — Harrisburg Area Writers Group (All Genres)
Philadelphia, PA — Philadelphia Writers (All Genres)
Pittsburgh, PA — Pittsburgh Writers (All Genres)
Pittsburgh, PA — Second Tuesday of the Month Group (All Genres)
Shenango Valley, PA — Shenango Valley Pennwriters (All Genres)
State College, PA — Nittany Valley Writers Network (All Genres)
State College, PA — Nittany Valley Writers Network: The Early Risers (All Genres)
State College, PA — Nittany Valley Writers Network: Social Gatherings (All Genres)
Wexford, PA — Critique Group North (All Genres)
Wexford, PA — The Mindful Writers Group (All Genres)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA — A Writing Hand (All Genres)
Windber, PA — Southern Alleghenies Writers Guild (All Genres)
York, PA — York Area Writers Group (All Genres)
Rhode Island Writing Groups:
Cumberland, RI — Rhode Island Romance Writers (Fiction)
Providence, RI — Frequency Writers (All Genres)
Providence, RI — Goat Hill Writers (Fiction, Historical Fiction, Memoir, & Flash Fiction)
Warwick, RI — Rhody Writing Group (All Genres)
South Carolina Writing Groups:
Aiken, SC— SCWW, Aiken Chapter (All Genres)
Anderson, SC — SCWW, Anderson Chapter (All Genres)
Beaufort, SC — SCWW, Beaufort Chapter (All Genres)
Bluffton, SC — SCWW, Bluffton Chapter (All Genres)
Camden, SC — SCWW, Camden Chapter (All Genres)
Chapin, SC — SCWW, Chapin/Irmo Chapter (All Genres)
Charleston, SC — LILA (All Genres)
Charleston, SC — SCWW, Charleston East Cooper Chapter (All Genres)
Charleston, SC — SCWW, Charleston North Area Chapter (All Genres)
Columbia, SC — Columbia Writers Alliance (All Genres)
Columbia, SC — SCWW, Columbia I Chapter (All Genres)
Columbia, SC — SCWW, Columbia II Chapter (All Genres)
Columbia, SC — SCWW, Columbia III Chapter (All Genres)
Daniel Island, SC — SCWW, Daniel Island: Guilty Prose Chapter (Fiction)
Florence, SC — SCWW, Florence Chapter (All Genres)
Greenville, SC — Sisters in Crime of Upstate SC (Crime, Fiction)
Greenville, SC — SCWW, Greenville Chapter (All Genres)
Lexington, SC — SCWW, Lexington Chapter (All Genres)
North Charleston, SC — Lowcountry Romance Writers (Romance)
Rapid City, SC — Black Hills Writers Group (All Genres)
Seneca, SC — SCWW, Seneca Chapter (All Genres)
Sumter, SC — SCWW, Sumter Chapter (All Genres)
Surfside, SC — SCWW, Surfside Chapter (All Genres)
South Dakota Writing Groups:
Brookings, SD — South Dakota State Poetry Society (Poetry)
Multiple Locations in SD — South Dakota Authors Association (All Genres)
Rapid City, SD— Black Hills Writers Group (All Genres)
Rapid City, SD — High Plains Writers (All Genres)
Tennessee Writing Groups:
Bartlett, TN — Bartlett Christian Writers (Spiritual)
Bartlett, TN — River City Romance Writers (Romance)
Chattanooga, TN — Chattanooga Writers’ Guild (All Genres)
Collierville, TN — Collierville Christian Writers (All Genres)
Franklin, TN — Music City Romance Writers (Romance)
Hillsboro Villiage, TN — Sisters In Crime, Middle Tennessee Chapter (Crime, Fiction)
Knoxville, TN — Knoxville Writers’ Guild (All Genres)
Knoxville, TN — Smoky Mountain Romance Writers (Romance)
Nashville, TN — Bellevue Writers’ Group (All Genres)
Nashville, TN — Nashville Writers Circle (All Genres)
Multiple Locations in TN — Lost State Writers Guild (All Genres)
Murfreesboro, TN — Murfreesboro Writers Group (All Genres)
Oak Ridge, TN — Tennessee Mountain Writers (All Genres)
Texas Writing Groups:
Abilene, TX — Abilene Writers Group (All Genres)
Alpine, TX — Texas Mountain Trail Writers (All Genres)
Amarillo, TX — Panhandle Professional Writers (All Genres)
Austin, TX — Writers’ League of Texas (All Genres)
Cedar Hill, TX — Dallas Area Writers Group (All Genres)
Clarksville, TX — Red River Writers’ Workshop (All Genres)
College Station, TX — Brazos Writers (All Genres)
Dallas, TX — Dallas Screen Writers Association (Screenwriting)
Dallas, TX — Poetry Society of Texas (Poetry)
Denton, TX — Denton Poets’ Assembly (Poetry)
Denton, TX — Denton Writers’ Critique Group (Fiction)
El Paso, TX — El Paso Writers’ League (All Genres)
Euless, TX — DFW Writers’ Workshop (All Genres)
Fort Worth, TX — Fort Worth Writers (All Genres)
Houston, TX — Houston Writers Guild (All Genres)
Houston, TX — Nuestra Palabra (All Genres)
Houston, TX — White Oak Writers (All Genres)
Hurst, TX — North Texas Speculative Fiction Network (Fiction)
Katy, TX — West Houston/Texas Writers Group (All Genres)
Mt. Pleasant, TX — Northeast Texas Writers’ Organization (All Genres)
San Antonio, TX — San Antonio Romance Authors (Romance)
San Antonio, TX — San Antonio Writers’ Guild (All Genres)
Shenandoah, TX — Writers on the Storm (Spiritual)
Tyler, TX — East Texas Writers Guild (All Genres)
The Woodlands, TX — Woodlands Writers Guild (All Genres)
Utah Writing Groups:
Bountiful, UT — League of Utah Writers: Bountiful Chapter (All Genres)
Bountiful, UT — Utah State Poetry Society: Rhyme & Reason (Poetry)
Cedar City, UT — League of Utah Writers: Color Country Nightwriters (All Genres)
Cedar City, UT — Utah State Poetry Society: Cedar City Chapter (Poetry)
Holladay, UT — League of Utah Writers: Wordcraft (All Genres)
Layton, UT — League of Utah Writers: Wasatch Writers (All Genres)
Lehi, UT — Utah State Poetry Society: Write On (Poetry)
Lindon, UT — League of Utah Writers: Utah Valley Legends (All Genres)
Logan City, UT — League of Utah Writers: Cache Valley Chapter (All Genres)
Moab, UT — Moab Poets & Writers (All Genres)
Midway, UT — League of Utah Writers: Heber Valley Writers (All Genres)
Murray, UT — Utah Book Writers Club (Novel)
Ogden, UT — League of Utah Writers: Blue Quill Chapter (All Genres)
Ogden, UT — Utah State Poetry Society: Ben Lomond Chapter (Poetry)
Orem, UT — Utah Valley Writers (All Genres)
Provo, UT — Utah State Poetry Society: Word Weavers (Poetry)
Richfield, UT — League of Utah Writers: Sevier Valley Writers (All Genres)
Salt Lake City, UT — League of Utah Writers: Salt City Scribes (All Genres)
Salt Lake City, UT — Utah State Poetry Society: Valley Winds (Poetry)
St. George, UT — Utah State Poetry Society: Dixie Chapter (Poetry)
St. George, UT — Utah State Poetry Society: Red Rock (Poetry)
Taylorsville, UT — League of Utah Writers: Oquirrh Writers (All Genres)
Tooele, UT — League of Utah Writers: Tooele Writers (All Genres)
Tooele, UT — Utah State Poetry Society: Oquirrh Chapter (Poetry)
Vermont Writing Groups:
Brattleboro, VT — Write Action (All Genres)
Burlington, VT — Leage of Vermont Writers (All Genres)
Burlington, VT — The Burlington Writers Workshop (All Genres)
Wilmington, VT — Southern Vermont SCBWI Critique Group (All Genres)
Virginia Writing Groups:
Abington, VA — The Virginia Writers Club, Appalachian Authors Guild (All Genres)
Fredericksburg, VA — The Virginia Writers Club, Riverside Chapter (All Genres)
Virginia Beach, VA — Hampton Roads Writers (All Genres)
Multiple Locations, VA — The Virginia Writers Club, Hanover Writers Chapter (All Genres)
Multiple Locations in VA — The Virginia Writers Club, Write by the Rails Chapter (All Genres)
Richmond, VA — Agile Writers (All Genres)
Richmond, VA — James Rivers Writers (All Genres)
Roanoke, VA — The Virginia Writers Club, Valley Writers Chapter (All Genres)
Williamsburg, VA — The Poetry Society of Virginia (Poetry)
Williamsburg, VA — The Virginia Writers Club, Chesapeake Bay Writers Chapter (All Genres)
Washington, D.C. Writing Groups:
Washington, DC — The Black Women Playwrights’ Group (Screenwriting)
Washington, DC — D.C. Area Literary Translators Network (Literary Translation)
Washington, DC — D.C. Comedy Writers (Humor)
Washington, DC — Split This Rock (Poetry)
Washington, DC — The Washington Biography Group (Memoir)
Washington, DC — Washington Romance Writers (Romantic Fiction)
Washington Writing Groups:
Bothell, WA — Northwest Christian Writers Association (Spiritual)
Buckley, WA — Plateau Area Writers Association (All Genres)
Issaquah, WA — The Cottage (All Genres)
Langley, WA — Whidbey Island Writers Association (All Genres)
Lewis County, WA — The Lewis County Writers Guild (All Genres)
Mount Vernon, WA — Skagit Valley Writers League (All Genres)
Multiple Locations in WA — Tri-City Writers (Novel, Prose)
Seattle, WA — Writer’s Cramp (Science Fiction, Fantasy)
Spokane, WA — Inland Northwest Writers Guild (All Genres)
Spokane, WA — Spokane Authors and Self-Publishers (All Genres)
Spokane, WA — Spokane Fiction Writer’s Group (All Genres)
Wenatchee, WA — Write on the River (All Genres)
West Virginia Writing Groups:
Beckley, WV — Raleigh County Library Writers Group (All Genres)
Braxton, WV — Braxton Writers Group (All Genres)
Charleston, WV — Pens Writer’s Group (All Genres)
Fairmont, WV — The Crow’s Quill (All Genres)
Hinton, WV — Summers County Writers’ Group (All Genres)
Huntington, WV — Black Dog Writers Group (All Genres)
Huntington, WV — The Guyandotte Poets (Poetry)
Huntington, WV — The Patchwork Writers (All Genres)
Huntington, WV — Society of the Lark (All Genres)
Huntington, WV — Wicked Wordsmiths of the West (All Genres)
Jefferson County, WV — The Mountain Scribes (All Genres)
Martinsburg, WV — Athens on the Opequon (Poetry)
Martinsburg, WV — Martinsburg Writers Group (All Genres)
Morgantown, WV — Morgantown Writers Group (All Genres)
Parkersburg, WV — Sacred Way Poets (Poetry)
Philippi, WV — Barbour County Writers Workshop (All Genres)
Point Pleasant, WV — The Point Pleasant Writers Guild (All Genres)
Princeton, WV — Appalachian Pen Works (All Genres)
Ripley, WV — The Appalachian Wordsmiths (All Genres)
Romney, WV — Ice Mountain Writers (All Genres)
Shepherdstown, WV — The Bookend Poets (Poetry)
Spencer, WV — Women’s Writing Circle (All Genres)
St. Albans, WV — St. Albans Writers Group (All Genres)
Triadelphia, WV — Ohio Valley Writers Group (All Genres)
Wisconsin Writing Groups:
Armery, WI — Northern Lakes Writers’ Guild (All Genres)
Balsam Lake, WI — Poco Penners (All Genres)
Black River Falls, WI — BRF Writers Group (All Genres)
Door County, WI — Door Pens (All Genres)
Eau Clair, WI — Writers’ Group at the Library (All Genres)
Eau Clair, WI — Western Wisconsin Christian Writers Guild (Spiritual)
Frederic, WI — Northwest Regional Writers (All Genres)
Hayward, WI — Yarnspinners (All Genres)
Janesville, WI — Janesville Area Writers Club (All Genres)
Kenosha, WI — Kenosha Writers’ Guild (All Genres)
Kewaskum, WI — Moraine Writers Guild (All Genres)
Madison, WI — Tuesdays with Story (All Genres)
Manitowoc, WI — The Lakeshore Writers (All Genres)
Menomonee, WI — Chippewa Valley Writers (All Genres)
Milwaukee, WI — Red Oak Writers (All Genres)
Milwaukee, WI — Wisconsin Romance Writers of America (Romance)
Multiple Locations in WI — Wisconsin Writers Association (All Genres)
Nekoosa, WI — Home Town Players/Writers Group (All Genres)
Oshkosh, WI — Oshkosh Area Writers Club (All Genres)
Pinney, WI — Pinney Writing Group (All Genres)
Portage, WI — Pauquette Wordcrafters (All Genres)
Portage, WI — The Writers at the Portage (All Genres)
Sheboygan, WI — Mead Public Library Poetry Circle (Poetry)
Solon Springs, WI — St. Croix Writers of Solon Springs (All Genres)
Stevens Point, WI — Aspiring Authors of Stevens Point (All Genres)
Two Rivers, WI — The Cool City Writers Group (All Genres)
Wausau, WI — Writers of Wausau (All Genres)
Wauwatosu, WI — Writer’s Voice (All Genres)
West Bend, WI — Washington County Writers’ Club (All Genres)
Wyoming Writing Groups:
Green River, WY — Wyoming Writers, Inc. (All Genres)
Riverton, WY — WyoPoets (Poetry)
Sundance, WY — Bearlodge Writers (All Genres)
Canada Writing Groups:
Alberta — Writers’ Guild of Alberta (All Genres)
Burnaby — Burnaby Writers’ Society (All Genres)
Kamloops — Interior Authors Group (All Genres)
Nanaimo — Writing Life Women’s Writing Circle (All Genres)
New Westminster — New West Writers (All Genres)
New Westminster — Waves Writers (All Genres)
Nova Scotia — Romance Writers of Atlantic Canada (Romance)
Ontario — Canadian Authors Niagara Branch (All Genres)
Ottowa — Ottowa Independent Writers (All Genres)
Quebec — Quebec Writers’ Federation (All Genres)
Salmon Arm — Shuswap Writers Group (All Genres)
Sooke — Sooke Writers’ Collective (All Genres)
Terrace — Terrace Writers Group (All Genres)
Toronto — Canadian Authors Toronto Branch (All Genres)
Toronto — Writers’ Union of Canada (All Genres)
Vancouver — Grind Café Writers Group (All Genres)
Vancouver — Thursday Writing Collective (All Genres)
Vancouver — West End Writers’ Workshop (All Genres)
Online Writing Groups:
Critique Circle (All Genres)
Inked Voices (All Genres)
Pen Parentis (All Genres)
Scribophile (All Genres)
Writer’s Café (All Genres)
Ada, OK — Ada Writers (All Genres)
Bartesville, OK — Wordweavers Writing Group (All Genres)
Enid, OK — Enid Writers Club (All Genres)
Edmond, OK — Pen and Keyboard Writers (All Genres)
Edmond, OK — The Inklings (All Genres)
Green Country, OK — Green Country Ruff Riters (All Genres)
Guthrie, OK — Red Dirt Writers Society (All Genres)
McAlester, OK — McAlester’s McSherry Writers (All Genres)
Midwest City, OK — Mid-Oklahoma Writers (All Genres)
Norman, OK — Norman Galaxy of Writers (All Genres)
Oklahome City, OK — Creative Quills (All Genres)
Oklahoma City, OK — Oklahoma Horror Writers’ League (Horror)
Oklahoma City, OK — Oklahoma Write Now (All Genres)
Oklahoma City, OK — Romance Inc. (Romance)
Stillwater, OK — Stillwater Writers Group (All Genres)
Tulsa, OK — Tulsa Area Children’s Book Writers (Children’s Literature)
Woodward, OK — Writers of the Purple Sage (All Genres)
Jefferson, OR — Women’s Fiction Writers Association (Women in Fiction)
Portland, OR — Attic Institute (All Genres)
Portland, OR — Mountain Writers Series (All Genres)
Portland, OR — Oregon State Poetry Association, Portland Unit (Poetry)
Portland, OR — Oregon Writers Colony (Novel)
Portland,, OR — Writers Mill (All Genres)
Roseburg, OR — An Association of Writers (All Genres)
Bethel, PA — First Monday Discussion Group (All Genres)
Danville, PA — Danville Writers Group (All Genres)
Dillsburg, PA — Central PA Writers’ Workshop (All Genres)
Easton, PA — Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group (All Genres)
Erie, PA — Millcreek Mall Area Group (All Genres)
Erie, PA — Fellowship of the Quill (All Genres)
Erie, PA — Presque Isle Meeting (All Genres)
Hawley, PA — Pencils NEPA (All Genres)
Lancaster, PA — Lancaster Area Writers Group (All Genres)
Meadville, PA — Meadville Vicinity Pennwriters (All Genres)
Monroeville, PA — Pittsburgh East Scribes (All Genres)
Monroeville, PA — Pittsburgh East Writers Group (All Genres)
Mount Lebanon, PA — South Hills Critique Group (All Genres)
Multiple Locations in PA— Pennwriters (All Genres)
Multiple Locations in PA — Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (Children’s Literature)
New Cumberland, PA — Harrisburg Area Writers Group (All Genres)
Philadelphia, PA — Philadelphia Writers (All Genres)
Pittsburgh, PA — Second Tuesday of the Month Group (All Genres)
Shenango Valley, PA — Shenango Valley Pennwriters (All Genres)
State College, PA — Nittany Valley Writers Network (All Genres)
State College, PA — Nittany Valley Writers Network: The Early Risers (All Genres)
State College, PA — Nittany Valley Writers Network: Social Gatherings (All Genres)
Wexford, PA — Critique Group North (All Genres)
Wexford, PA — The Mindful Writers Group (All Genres)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA — A Writing Hand (All Genres)
Windber, PA — Southern Alleghenies Writers Guild (All Genres)
York, PA — York Area Writers Group (All Genres)
Cumberland, RI — Rhode Island Romance Writers (Fiction)
Providence, RI — Frequency Writers (All Genres)
Providence, RI — Goat Hill Writers (Fiction, Historical Fiction, Memoir, & Flash Fiction)
Columbia, SC — SCWW, Columbia II Chapter (All Genres)
Greenville, SC — Sisters in Crime of Upstate SC (Crime, Fiction)
Brookings, SD — South Dakota State Poetry Society (Poetry)
Multiple Locations in SD — South Dakota Authors Association (All Genres)
Rapid City, SD — High Plains Writers (All Genres)
Bartlett, TN — Bartlett Christian Writers (Spiritual)
Chattanooga, TN — Chattanooga Writers’ Guild (All Genres)
Franklin, TN — Music City Romance Writers (Romance)
Knoxville, TN — Knoxville Writers’ Guild (All Genres)
Knoxville, TN — Smoky Mountain Romance Writers (Romance)
Nashville, TN — Bellevue Writers’ Group (All Genres)
Nashville, TN — Nashville Writers Circle (All Genres)
Multiple Locations in TN — Lost State Writers Guild (All Genres)
Oak Ridge, TN — Tennessee Mountain Writers (All Genres)
Abilene, TX — Abilene Writers Group (All Genres)
Austin, TX — Writers’ League of Texas (All Genres)
Cedar Hill, TX — Dallas Area Writers Group (All Genres)
Clarksville, TX — Red River Writers’ Workshop (All Genres)
College Station, TX — Brazos Writers (All Genres)
Dallas, TX — Dallas Screen Writers Association (Screenwriting)
Denton, TX — Denton Poets’ Assembly (Poetry)
Denton, TX — Denton Writers’ Critique Group (Fiction)
El Paso, TX — El Paso Writers’ League (All Genres)
Euless, TX — DFW Writers’ Workshop (All Genres)
Fort Worth, TX — Fort Worth Writers (All Genres)
Houston, TX — Houston Writers Guild (All Genres)
Houston, TX — White Oak Writers (All Genres)
Hurst, TX — North Texas Speculative Fiction Network (Fiction)
Mt. Pleasant, TX — Northeast Texas Writers’ Organization (All Genres)
San Antonio, TX — San Antonio Writers’ Guild (All Genres)
Shenandoah, TX — Writers on the Storm (Spiritual)
Tyler, TX — East Texas Writers Guild (All Genres)
St. George, UT — Utah State Poetry Society: Dixie Chapter (Poetry)
St. George, UT — Utah State Poetry Society: Red Rock (Poetry)
Tooele, UT — League of Utah Writers: Tooele Writers (All Genres)
Burlington, VT — Leage of Vermont Writers (All Genres)
Abington, VA — The Virginia Writers Club, Appalachian Authors Guild (All Genres)
Virginia Beach, VA — Hampton Roads Writers (All Genres)
Multiple Locations, VA — The Virginia Writers Club, Hanover Writers Chapter (All Genres)
Richmond, VA — James Rivers Writers (All Genres)
Williamsburg, VA — The Virginia Writers Club, Chesapeake Bay Writers Chapter (All Genres)
Washington, DC — The Black Women Playwrights’ Group (Screenwriting)
Washington, DC — D.C. Comedy Writers (Humor)
Washington, DC — Split This Rock (Poetry)
Washington, DC — The Washington Biography Group (Memoir)
Washington, DC — Washington Romance Writers (Romantic Fiction)
Bothell, WA — Northwest Christian Writers Association (Spiritual)
Mount Vernon, WA — Skagit Valley Writers League (All Genres)
Seattle, WA — Writer’s Cramp (Science Fiction, Fantasy)
Spokane, WA — Spokane Fiction Writer’s Group (All Genres)
Beckley, WV — Raleigh County Library Writers Group (All Genres)
Braxton, WV — Braxton Writers Group (All Genres)
Charleston, WV — Pens Writer’s Group (All Genres)
Fairmont, WV — The Crow’s Quill (All Genres)
Hinton, WV — Summers County Writers’ Group (All Genres)
Huntington, WV — The Guyandotte Poets (Poetry)
Huntington, WV — The Patchwork Writers (All Genres)
Huntington, WV — Society of the Lark (All Genres)
Huntington, WV — Wicked Wordsmiths of the West (All Genres)
Jefferson County, WV — The Mountain Scribes (All Genres)
Martinsburg, WV — Athens on the Opequon (Poetry)
Martinsburg, WV — Martinsburg Writers Group (All Genres)
Morgantown, WV — Morgantown Writers Group (All Genres)
Parkersburg, WV — Sacred Way Poets (Poetry)
Point Pleasant, WV — The Point Pleasant Writers Guild (All Genres)
Princeton, WV — Appalachian Pen Works (All Genres)
Ripley, WV — The Appalachian Wordsmiths (All Genres)
Romney, WV — Ice Mountain Writers (All Genres)
Shepherdstown, WV — The Bookend Poets (Poetry)
Spencer, WV — Women’s Writing Circle (All Genres)
St. Albans, WV — St. Albans Writers Group (All Genres)
Triadelphia, WV — Ohio Valley Writers Group (All Genres)
Armery, WI — Northern Lakes Writers’ Guild (All Genres)
Balsam Lake, WI — Poco Penners (All Genres)
Black River Falls, WI — BRF Writers Group (All Genres)
Door County, WI — Door Pens (All Genres)
Eau Clair, WI — Writers’ Group at the Library (All Genres)
Eau Clair, WI — Western Wisconsin Christian Writers Guild (Spiritual)
Frederic, WI — Northwest Regional Writers (All Genres)
Hayward, WI — Yarnspinners (All Genres)
Janesville, WI — Janesville Area Writers Club (All Genres)
Kenosha, WI — Kenosha Writers’ Guild (All Genres)
Kewaskum, WI — Moraine Writers Guild (All Genres)
Madison, WI — Tuesdays with Story (All Genres)
Manitowoc, WI — The Lakeshore Writers (All Genres)
Menomonee, WI — Chippewa Valley Writers (All Genres)
Milwaukee, WI — Red Oak Writers (All Genres)
Multiple Locations in WI — Wisconsin Writers Association (All Genres)
Nekoosa, WI — Home Town Players/Writers Group (All Genres)
Oshkosh, WI — Oshkosh Area Writers Club (All Genres)
Pinney, WI — Pinney Writing Group (All Genres)
Portage, WI — Pauquette Wordcrafters (All Genres)
Portage, WI — The Writers at the Portage (All Genres)
Solon Springs, WI — St. Croix Writers of Solon Springs (All Genres)
Stevens Point, WI — Aspiring Authors of Stevens Point (All Genres)
Wausau, WI — Writers of Wausau (All Genres)
Wauwatosu, WI — Writer’s Voice (All Genres)
West Bend, WI — Washington County Writers’ Club (All Genres)
Riverton, WY — WyoPoets (Poetry)
Sundance, WY — Bearlodge Writers (All Genres)
Critique Circle (All Genres)
Inked Voices (All Genres)
Pen Parentis (All Genres)
Writer’s Café (All Genres)
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OUR MISSION
826CHI is a non-profit creative writing, tutoring, and publishing center dedicated to amplifying the voices of Chicago youth.
Our storefront invites our neighbors to learn about our work. Every purchase supports 826CHI’s tuition-free programs.
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OUR PROGRAMS
Writing gallery, thankful / agradecido.
I’m thankful for family great friends people who care about me
An education that will help me get as smart as Einstein
Love / Amor
Love, why are you so complicated?
Whenever I feel you, I don’t know how to say that I do.
When I try to express you, the words leave my mouth with each nerve-wracking breath.
Bored / Aburrida
When I have nothing to do, you could say that I’m like an apple rotting.
I’m as bored as a seagull sitting all day who can’t catch a fish.
I liked that this workshop was very open to ideas and opinions. You were safe to say anything and express any emotions. ISABELLA, STUDENT
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Your Guide To The Chicago Writing Scene
Chicago is an industrious city that manages to blend three distinctive sectors into a melting pot of activity. From the blue collar workers that established Chicago to the entrepreneurs who are developing its booming tech sector, the creative world of writing manages to settle neatly into place between them. Writers who aspire to have a career with the written word could not find a better market to call their home.
Making a Living as a Chicago Writer
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , the Chicago metropolitan area is remarkably friendly to writers and authors. Individuals pursuing a career in writing can expect to earn an average of nearly $67,900 per year on the high end of the spectrum. According to data compiled by Projections Central , the long-term growth of writers in Chicago and the surrounding area is projected at 3.4% over the next ten years.
While Chicago is renowned for being a creative market, due in large part to its association with famous companies like the Steppenwolf Theater and Second City Chicago, there are also many technical writing jobs available. According to Indeed , copywriters can earn up to $70,000 per year while content marketing managers will earn north of $85,000 at the right company.
From Lake Shore Drive to the far reaches of tiny suburbs like Woodstock, opportunity is abundant for people looking to pursue a career in writing. Online job networks like Indeed and Glassdoor are almost always filled with postings for freelance, part-time, and full-time positions in a number of different specialties. To put this in as simple of terms as possible, Chicago locals and future transplants can depend on job opportunities in a number of writing-related fields.
Educational Opportunities for Writers to Advance in Chicago
Chicago is a world-class destination and it should surprise no one that the city also offers premier education. There are over 100 different public and private colleges in Chicago and the immediate surrounding area. Aspiring writers should have no problem landing in a university that fits their career aspirations.
Nestled in the beautiful suburbs of Evanston, Northwestern University claims the top spot as one of Chicago’s most prized learning institutions. Northwestern’s campus touts 21,000 students with a graduation rate of 93%.
Aspiring writers who want to experience the inner workings of the city while they pursue their education might find the University of Chicago to be an inspired choice. The University of Chicago is a prestigious school located near Hyde Park and Woodlawn.
At the end of the day, no matter which direction your education leads you, Chicago will have a learning institution to fit your needs. Outside of the classroom, writers can also engage in a number of professional and recreational networking and skill development opportunities.
Writing Meet Up Groups in Chicago
- Just Write Chicago , ongoing. One of the most popular writing groups in the city , Just Write Chicago serves up a full slate of events and group writing activities with a focus on inspiring writers to get their work done. Regular meetings are on Mondays.
- The Chicago Writers Circle , ongoing. Regular meetings on Friday’s take place at the Next Door Cafe. Focus here is on pushing your craft to the next level while connecting with like-minded individuals.
- The Creative Impostor: Chicago Women’s Collective , ongoing . Focused on providing an outlet for creative expression, the CWCC provides a platform for writers throughout the area. This meet up group is specifically focused on writing from a female perspective.
Chicago Conferences for Writers to Consider in 2019
- Let’s Just Write! An Uncommon Writers Conference , March 16 – 17, 2019, at the Warwick Allerton on N. Michigan Ave. This invigorating event is designed to put storytellers in the room with publishers and established authors. 12 presenters, book signings, and Q&A panels are just a few of the highlights of this event.
- 2019 Writing Workshop of Chicago , June 29, 2019, at the Congress Plaza Hotel. This one-day event is focused on teaching aspiring writers what they need to do in order to navigate the tumultuous publishing world. Attendants will get to meet professional literary agents and editors from several major publishing houses.
- TEDxChicago , May 1, 2019, at Venue SIX10 on S. Michigan Ave. The TEDx movement is taking over the world and Chicago is getting involved. Featuring 10 live speakers and an array of performers, TEDxChicago seeks to bring energy and enthusiasm to your front door.
- Digital Summit Chicago , August 28 – 29, 2019, location TBA . This two-day event focuses on the people who are currently shaping the digital marketing landscape. Attendees will get to attend panels, learn about new technology and marketing techniques, and connect with the leaders of this rapidly evolving industry. Therea re plenty of networking opportunities, as well.
Workshops, Classes and More for Writers in Chicago
If you want to develop your craft in a structured environment, Chicago offers a variety of different options for you to explore. Mark your calendars and grab your laptop, you have some learning to do!
- The Writers’ Loft , check website for dates. The Writers’ Loft offers a 6-course workshop that lasts for 2.5 hours per session. You’ll explore specific writing techniques, present your work, and receive feedback from a panel of experienced and published writers. Located in Printers’ Row, this workshop is easily accessible from the Loop.
- StoryStudio Chicago , dates vary . Founded by Jill Pollack, StoryStudio Chicago is a full-fledged institution for learning the ins and outs of writing. There is a full collection of coursework to choose from and you’ll be able to tailor your courses to your schedule.
- Chicago Writers Studio , dates vary . Sign up for online classes or head down to the historic Beverly neighborhood in order to hone your craft. You can sign up for their free newsletter in order to stay apprised of upcoming events and activities.
The Best Places for Writers to Write in Chicago
Chicago is a beautiful city that is easy to traverse thanks to a variety of public transit options including the famous L train. If you are looking to get out of your office in order to write in a new environment, right alongside your fellow writer, you have countless options to choose from. Grab your laptop and a cup of coffee and try out any of these wonderful writing locations in the city of Chicago:
- Murray-Green Library, Roosevelt University
- Mansueto Library, University of Chicago
- Limitless Coffee & Tea
- Chicago Athletic Association Hotel Lounge
We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention a few of the magnificent writing-friendly cafes and bars that dot Chicago’s bustling landscape. From the literary-themed Wilde Bar and Restaurant in East Lake View to the Volumes Bookcafe in Wicker Park, you’re going to have a great environment conducive to your work. If you want to enjoy some delicious sandwich while you are working on your next piece, consider checking out Sawada Coffee or Dollop Coffee & Tea .
Community Groups for Writers in Chicago
Chicago is a city that prides itself on coming together as a community. As a result, you’ll find many different community writing groups. Listed below, you’ll see just a sample of what the city has to offer.
- Chicago Writers Association is a non-profit writing group that was established in 2003. The goal of the Chicago Writers Association is to encourage, inform and inspire writers to pursue their passion in life.
- Writer’s Studio is a formal writing group that offers a home for artists of all skill levels. With free community events and a slate of paid classes, there is something for everyone.
- Shut Up & Write is an international collective with groups located in over 80 different cities across the planet. Free weekly events inspire writers to hone their craft and to network with other professionals in the city.
- Independent Writers of Chicago provides writers with professional resources, free events, and posted job listings. This writing group reaches out to both sides of the aisle as they also operate as a hiring platform.
Local Companies Hiring Chicago Writers
Thanks to the continued importance of the internet and the information that is on it, writers are enjoying a massive boost to their industry. Whether you are a freelance writer, content marketing professional, journalist or copywriter, Chicago offers many different avenues to a rewarding career.
Digital Marketing Agencies
Digital marketing agencies are the lifeblood of the information age that we are currently living in. These agencies help businesses to get their ideas and concepts out in front of their fans, readers, and competitors. If you are pursuing a career in online marketing, these companies may be ideal recruiters for your services.
- Digital Third Coast
- Marcel Digital
- Social Media 55
- Straight North
- Over The Top SEO
Content Platforms
- WriterAccess . That’s us! Our Boston-based content marketing platform is among the best in the business, providing writing services to more than 25,000 customers by way of 15,000 freelance writers, editors, content strategists, and translators. We’re always on the hunt for freelance professionals who have the skills and expertise to keep our clients’ companies growing organically—the content marketing way. We plan to expand into five countries in the next few months, so APPLY NOW !
- Scripted is a content marketing platform that offers job opportunities for every level and style of professional writer. As a collaborative network, writers will be able to use their personal background in order to craft content for clients at a variety of different levels. Scripted has been featured by LinkedIn, L’Oreal, LoanMe, and Eventbrite.
- Upwork is another digital content creation platform that focuses on providing freelance writers the reach that they need in order to connect with businesses looking for writing talent. Writers can control their profile, craft a portfolio, and connect with any number of businesses and agencies that are interested in content creation.
Join Chicago’s Rich History of Incredible Writers!
If following in the footsteps of literary giants inspires you, Chicago can offer a wealth of motivation and inspiration. In fact, Chicago is home to one of the most iconic authors of all time in Ernest Hemingway. Hemingway may have risen to fame for his work in Paris in the 1920s, but he sharpened his teeth as a teenager from Oak Park, right outside of Chicago. Edgar Rice Burroughs was also born and raised in Chicago. In fact, before Burroughs was tied to the character Tarzan, he was writing copy for a marketing company in Chicago. The Windy City was also home to literary giants such as Shel Silverstein, Sandra Cisneros, and Gwendolyn Brooks.
Randall is a heavy consumer of all things entertainment: from the dregs of the Hollywood gossip tabloids to the latest, breaking news in the world of sports. Working in such industries has taught Randall the importance of timely editing, quick turnarounds, and a ‘do it right the first time’, approach. Randall is a lover of family, fiction, and friends. He’s a full time writer, a full time sports enthusiast, and a regular actor in the Chicago media market.
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Creative Writing
Concentrations, in the classroom, publications, outside the classroom, internships, related programs.
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Creative Writing (BA)
You’re a writer, and you want to write. In the Creative Writing bachelor’s degree program at Columbia College Chicago, you’ll write from day one, immediately discovering your creative process as you craft stories, poems, essays, and hybrid texts.
Diversity: it’s the name of the game in creative writing at Columbia, where we push boundaries and redefine borders. During your time here, you’ll study works by writers from many different cultures, and you’ll develop your own writing alongside a diverse group of students and faculty members. You’ll choose a concentration in fiction, nonfiction, or poetry to focus on your favorite literary form. But you’ll work within all genres, developing transferrable skills that will help you become a more effective writer. And through our Writer’s Portfolio class and a thesis project, you’ll begin to identify career opportunities as you create a substantial manuscript.
As a Creative Writing major at Columbia College Chicago, you’ll choose from one of three concentrations:
Flex your storytelling muscles as you build a wide-ranging creative practice in writing. You’ll study classic and contemporary novels and short stories as well as experimental texts. By studying a diverse range of authors, you’ll develop critical reading and writing skills.
Learn the history, forms, genres, and techniques of nonfiction writing. As you create your own body of work, you will study the evolving role of nonfiction writing in literature.
Discover your poetic voice and develop your craft as you write the poems that are meaningful to you. By the time you graduate, you’ll be grounded in the history of poetry and poetics and will have mastered a variety of writing techniques.
Your First Year
Your introduction to the Creative Writing bachelor’s degree program at Columbia College Chicago starts with two courses: Foundations in Creative Writing and Beginning Workshop. Here, you’ll lay the groundwork for successful writing by experimenting with a number of different writing styles and forms. And it’s not just about writing. Critical reading in literature courses informs your creative work and helps you become a more effective writer.
Other Courses You’ll Take
As a Creative Writing major, you’ll take 18 hours of core workshop courses and at least 12 of those will be in your chosen concentration. In the Writer’s Portfolio, a required junior-year course, you’ll reflect on the body of work you’ve created at Columbia.
In your capstone courses, you’ll learn what to do with the body of work you’ve made so far. You’ll complete a substantial manuscript in your Thesis Workshop class and use what you have learned in professional development courses to prepare for careers that interest you.
Along the way, you’ll have opportunities to take elective classes in the visual and performing arts, in new media, and in other areas. Combined with your writing workshops, these electives will open your eyes to the many ways writing enables you to participate in contemporary conversations on social and cultural change.
Program Snapshot
Creative Writing Program from Columbia College Chicago on Vimeo .
Like our students, our faculty members are diverse in every sense of the word. They are practicing, publishing writers; they are artists who teach.
Combining different literary backgrounds and experiences with a willingness to experiment, faculty members encourage you to produce your best work, no matter where you fit into the literary scene.
View Department Faculty
You can work on Columbia’s literary journal, Allium , A Journal of Poetry & Prose. Not only can you submit your own work, you can take classes that provide hands-on experience with editing and producing this nationally distributed professional publication.
You’ll also gain the skills needed to create reading series, journals, or presses of your own.
As a student, you’ll have a front-row seat for the prestigious The Efroymson Creative Writing Reading Series , which gives students the chance to interact with award-winning writers of different genres.
You can also participate in the Writers at Lunch program, which strengthens Columbia’s writing community by bringing together undergraduate students from all disciplines for readings, panel discussions, and meetings with professionals in the field.
Employers in many fields look for strong communicators. The Creative Writing bachelor’s degree program at Columbia College Chicago can help you land internships at newspapers, marketing agencies, trade magazines, publishing houses, personnel firms, legal firms, education providers, television companies, advertising agencies, nonprofit organizations, and more. Companies and organizations get your strong writing skills, and you make professional contacts and create a portfolio of real-world work at places like The Daily Show, Disney, Pitchfork, and Time Out Chicago .
Learn more about how Columbia’s Career Center can help you find the right internship.
Our Creative Writing alumni know that they write the story of their own success, taking what they’ve learned and creating a place for themselves in the real writing world. Here are just a few of our successful alumni:
- Christine Mangan ’04 published a book, Tangerine , which, according to Entertainment Weekly , sold to HarperCollins for more than $1 million and was optioned for a film by George Clooney.
- Jacob Saenz ’05 has been awarded the 2018 American Poetry Review/Honickman First Book Prize for his manuscript Throwing the Crown . This year’s guest judge, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Gregory Pardlo, selected Saenz’s manuscript from more than 800 submissions.
- Bailey Heille ’17 was accepted to Columbia University’s prestigious MFA program.
Chicago: A Thriving Live Lit Scene
Living and studying in Chicago means you’ll have many opportunities to participate in the literary community here. The city has one of the country’s best live literary scenes, with a diverse range of styles and genres and a welcoming environment for new writers.
Creative Writing Minor
With a Creative Writing minor , you can combine your major field of study with workshop classes and writing courses that will improve your reading, writing, listening, speaking, and problem-solving skills—a natural boost for any creative professional. You’ll enjoy all the benefits available to Creative Writing majors: experienced resident and visiting instructors, the ability to work on student-produced literary magazines, and other special programs.
Professional Writing Minor
The Profesional Writing minor offers a wide range of literature courses. You will gain valuable career skills in research, critical thinking, idea development, and analytical writing. You will also study the relationships between literature and the diverse aesthetic, historical, and cultural contexts in which it is written and read. The flexible curriculum allows you to tailor the minor to your interests.
Complementary Minors for the Creative Writing, BA Program
- Creative Advertising
- Interactive Media Development and Entrepreneurship
- Live and Performing Arts Management
- Theatre Directing
- Writing for Performance
Open Enrollment
Writer’s Studio
A haven for writers of all genres and ambitions, the Writer’s Studio offers engaging courses taught by eminent practitioners.
Hone your craft. Tell your story.
The Writer’s Studio at the University of Chicago is home to a community of writers and instructors passionate about the written word. Through classes, events, and certificate programs, the Studio connects writers of all genres and ability levels in creative and effective writing.
- Creative writing courses include fiction, memoir, playwriting, poetry, short story, prose, novel-writing, and more. Introductory courses and advanced courses are labeled so that students can select the courses that are right for them and their writing goals.
- Effective writing courses include storytelling for business, close reading for writers, grant writing, compelling business communications, and more.
Classes are designed to support, inspire, and challenge writers across experience levels. Whether you are new to creative writing or polishing your professional prose, the Writer's Studio will help you take your writing to the next level.
Courses in the Writer’s Studio are offered in a mix of online and in-person formats. All courses are capped at 14 students to promote deeper conversation and provide ample time for review of written work.
Our methodology is inspired by more than 130 years of leadership at the University of Chicago in the craft of writing.
The Writer’s Studio community is comprised of students, alumni, distinguished authors, and eminent instructors. In addition to courses and certificate programs, we also offer ongoing events to encourage new relationships and sustained learning. Students and alumni of the Writer’s Studio are also warmly welcomed into larger Graham School community events and opportunities.
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Black Writers Collective
- FOUNDED 1998
AN INNOVATIVE COMMUNITY OF BLACK WRITERS AND EDITORS
Writing can be a solitary endeavor, but it doesn’t have to be with Black Writers Collective. We connect you with a network of fellow creatives for inspiration and feedback and support you in numerous ways.
BOOKS BY BWC MEMBERS
#blackwritersmatter, what we offer.
online community
Our innovative, private critique and interest groups for writers of fiction and nonfiction are the core of our online community. We also host monthly meet-and-greets, support groups, and live weekly writing sessions for all members.
Black Writers Collective brings together a selection of programs to help you in conquering writers block, developing the writing habit, gaining constructive feedback, and getting advice on writing and publishing your books, plus referrals to vetted freelance editors and publishing consultants to help you avoid wasting time and money.
We offer resources that include digital downloads on the craft and business of writing, free beta reader queries, calls for submissions, and book promotional opportunities to help make it easier for you to reach your goals.
WRITING JOBS & OPPORTUNITIES
We distribute job leads and writing gigs, calls for submissions, grant and fellowship calls, awards, and more at no charge from organizations and individuals seeking applicants of color to our members-only announcement list, offering employers the option of sharing to our 21K organic following on Twitter.
WHAT'S NEW!?
Here's what's going on with BWC and our members
New writing coach-led 12-week accountability and support group with check-ins, S.M.A.R.T. goal planning, scheduling, meetings, and support with overcoming obstacles. Max: 18. » Learn more
Kaneisha Grayson was recently accepted into GrubStreet's Novel Generator with a combined 80% scholarship. The Novel Generator is a selective nine-month program designed to help student complete the first draft of their novel. Seventy percent of tuition was covered by GrubStreet's general scholarship fund based on Kaneisha's application to the program. A Boston Writers of Color Literary Stipend covered an additional 10 percent.
Kaneisha is studying in the Novel Generator under celebrated novelist Marjan Kamali, author of the novels The Stationery Shop and Together Tea. The novel Kaneisha is working on will be her first novel and focuses on themes of neurodivergence (specifically ADHD), race, and class.
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Connecting the community, hire black writers.
Got a freelance, part-time or full-time opening for which you’d like to consider diverse applicants? Reach our network of writers and editors by submitting a job opening below.
Share a Call for Submissions
Get the word out about your contest, award, or publishing opportunity via our free announcement distribution service.
Join Our Editors Network
Are you an experienced editor looking to connect with our audience? We have opportunities for outstanding editorial professionals to join our network and co-operative advertising directory.
THE FIRST ONLINE COMMUNITY FOR BLACK WRITERS
Founded in 1998 as the african american online writers guild, bwc was the first nonprofit 501c3 literary arts association to organize online for black writers., what we're about.
While the organization has transitioned significantly since its inception, the core principles, values and mission have remained the same. We strive to empower writers throughout our community to help further their chances of success, by whatever their measures of success may be, lending support, nurturing, encouragement, guidance, feedback, and facilitating the sharing of opportunities with and within our member base.
Learn more about our benefits of membership and join us today!
OUR SPONSORS
Book trailer credit: Gwyn Jordan, Refiners writing group coach, developmental editor and literary agent, Gold Dust Editing
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Creative Writing
Two programs within the umbrella of the Department of English focus on particular aspects or genres of literary endeavor.
The purpose of the Creative Writing program is to give students a rigorous background in the fundamentals of creative work by providing them with the opportunity to study with established poets and prose writers. The program is committed to interdisciplinary work while also teaching the elements of creative writing that underlie all genres. Creative Writing sponsors events , workshops , and lectures and also schedules many undergraduate and graduate classes in writing. Visiting writers each quarter provide a dynamic component to the curriculum, with authors ranging from George Saunders to Susan Howe. English faculty member John Wilkinson is currently the Director of the Program in Creative Writing and the Program in Poetry & Poetics, and several English faculty members, including Rachel Cohen, Edgar Garcia, Srikanth Reddy, Jennifer Scappettone, and Vu Tran, regularly teach both creative and critical classes.
- Creative Writing Website
- Upcoming Creative Writing Events
Minor in English and Creative Writing
Undergraduate students who are not majoring in English may enter a minor program in English and Creative Writing. These students should declare their intention to enter the minor program by the end of Spring Quarter of their third year. Students choose courses in consultation with the Program Manager in Creative Writing and must submit a minor program consent form to their College Adviser in order to declare the minor. Students completing this minor must follow all relevant admission procedures described in the Creative Writing website. Courses in the minor may not be double counted with the student's major(s) or with other minors and may not be counted toward general education requirements. Courses in the minor must be taken for quality letter grades, and all of the requirements for the minor must be met by registering for courses bearing University of Chicago course numbers.
Requirements for the minor program:
- 2 Creative Writing courses (at least one at the Special Topics or advanced level)
- 3 Creative Writing or English electives
- 1 portfolio/projects workshop (or advanced workshop depending on genre) to be taken in the Winter Quarter of the students' fourth year
- A portfolio of the student's work to be submitted to the Director of Undergraduate Studies by the end of the fifth week in the quarter in which the student plans to graduate. The portfolio might consist of a selection of poems, one or two short stories or chapters from a novel, a substantial part or the whole of a play, two or three non-fiction pieces, and so forth.
There is no minor solely in English. The Minor in English and Creative Writing for Non-English Majors is the only minor available through the Department of English.
Poetry and Poetics
This program aims to coordinate the University's various curricular approaches to the creative and critical practice of poetics. The Program supports the History and Forms of Lyric series, an ongoing series of lectures by prominent scholars, and a graduate workshop that focuses on work in progressfrom students, faculty, and visitors. The discussions enabled by the Program are intended to help students at all levels to pursue work that crosses disciplines and discourses. The Program also supports collaboration among faculty members in the form, forexample, of team-taught courses, conferences, and lectures. The Program is overseen by an ad-hoc committee of faculty from various departments, including the Department of English.
The Program in Poetry and Poetics
Affiliated Departments
The University of Chicago in general, and the Department of English in particular, are known for the interdisciplinary and theoretically driven work of their faculty and students. Many English faculty members have joint appointment in other programs at the University, including Comparative Literature, Cinema and Media Studies, Art History, Theater and Performance Studies (TAPS), and the Divinity School, among others. Interdisciplinary work is encouraged in the Department of English--both graduate and undergraduate students take classes in a variety of University departments and programs. Students in these programs, in turn, enliven English classes with their perspectives. Listed below are links to some of the departments with which the Department of English works closely.
- Cinema and Media Studies
- Department of Art History
- Department of Comparative Literature
- Department of Philosophy
- Divinity School
- Theater and Performance Studies (TAPS)
Creative Writing
The Program in Creative Writing takes a comprehensive approach to the study of contemporary literature, criticism, and theory from a writer’s perspective, and provides rigorous training in the fundamental practices of creative writing. In our courses, students work with established poets and prose writers towards these pursuits, and both the major and minor in Creative Writing provide ample opportunities for interdisciplinary work across University departments. The program’s commitment to interdisciplinary work and academic rigor, coupled with an emphasis on teaching the elements of creative writing that underlie all genres, accounts for the program's vitality and explains why Creative Writing at Chicago is currently the largest initiative in the humanities for the College. The Program in Creative Writing offers workshops and seminars in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, as well as an increasing number of translation workshops.
Students who graduate with the bachelor of arts in Creative Writing will both be skilled in writing in a major literary genre and have a theoretically informed understanding of the aesthetic, historical, social, and political context of a range of contemporary writing. Students who are not English Language and Literature or Creative Writing majors may complete a minor in English and Creative Writing.
- Creative Writing in the College Catalog
- Minor in Creative Writing in the College Catalog
- Creative Writing Home Page
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Independent Writers of Chicago 1,334 Members Creative and Memoir Writing Group 46 Members Calumet River Creative Writing Group 50 Writers American Writers Museum Educators Group 55 Educators American Writers Museum Fundraising Group 37 Members West Suburban Writers, Artists & Musicians 3,343 creative folks The North Side and Evanston Writer's Group
The Chicago Writers Association is a creative community of Chicagoland writers established in 2003 and federally registered as a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization in 2008. We span many genres, styles and levels of experience.
Story Studio Chicago With locations in both Chicago and Winnetka, Story Studio offers classes in both creative and business writing. Additionally, they offer one-day workshops and write-ins to accommodate the schedules and needs of writers of all types. Check their current list of classes and events (some free) to sign up.
Find Creative Writing Events & Groups in Chicago, IL Events Groups Creative Writing Events near Chicago, IL Any day Any type Any distance Any category Sort by: Relevance Wed, Dec 21 · 4:00 PM PST Atomic Sketch December Event!! Chicago Creative Collaborators • Chicago, IL New Group 3 attendees Sat, Dec 17 · 3:00 PM PST
Collecting, Organizing, and Transforming Ideas into Fiction with Chaitali Sen In this single-session class, we'll tap into our curiosity to generate story ideas. The aim is to accelerate the process from first spark to finished draft. Creative Writing Essentials with Sarah Terez Rosenblum
Best Creative Writing Classes near me in Chicago, Illinois Sort:Recommended Price Open: Now Online Booking 1. StoryStudio Chicago 36 Specialty Schools Lakeview "I took creative writing I at Story Studio in Jan/Feb 07 My instructor was very good and..." more 2. The Writers Loft 1 Adult Education Special Education South Loop
The Chicago Writers Circle is a writing group located in Chicago. Writers of all genres, including professionals, amateurs and aspiring writers, are welcome to join the writing group's regular meetings. Group leader David Woods helps manage The Chicago Writers Circle and several other co-organizers.
The program offers an undergraduate major in Creative Writing; a joint minor in English and Creative Writing that includes a creative portfolio; and a formal Creative Writing Option through the Master of Arts Program in the Humanities. Stay Informed Join our mailing list to learn about course updates, writing opportunities, and events!
Only one workshop in Chicago has mentored 40+ novels and 5 nonfiction titles into print by major publishers — plus an Emmy winner. "Simply brilliant. Brilliantly simple." Donal Harding, winner of Paris Afton Bonds Screenplay Award "I recommend it to everyone who writes." Linda Lael Miller, NY Times bestselling author, 12 million+ books in print
Writer's Studio at the University of Chicago : Offers downtown and online writing classes as well as community events around Chicago City Lit Books StoryStudio Chicago: the center for writing and related arts with locations in Chicago and the North Shore One Book, One Chicago Open Books 826 Chicago Community Media Workshop Printers Row Lit Fest
Cultivating artistic development, social and emotional learning, and academic success in Chicago's youth. Overview Education Special Projects Open Mic Open Workshops Summer Programs Rooted & Radical Poetry Festival BRING YCA TO YOUR SCHOOL Book YCA YCA On Campus Featured Video About Young Chicago Authors
Regional Writing Groups: The Fellowship of Southern Writers (All Genres) Midwest Travel Writers Association (Travel) New England Science Writers (Science, Technology, and Journalism) Northwest Science Writers Association (Science) Science Writers Association of the Rocky Mountains (Science, Photography) Society of Southwestern Authors (All Genres)
826CHI is a non-profit creative writing, tutoring, and publishing center dedicated to amplifying the voices of Chicago youth. Our storefront invites our neighbors to learn about our work. Every purchase supports 826CHI's tuition-free programs. visit the supply co. February 17, 2023.
Chicago Writers Association is a non-profit writing group that was established in 2003. The goal of the Chicago Writers Association is to encourage, inform and inspire writers to pursue their passion in life. Writer's Studio is a formal writing group that offers a home for artists of all skill levels.
As a Creative Writing major at Columbia College Chicago, you'll choose from one of three concentrations: Fiction Flex your storytelling muscles as you build a wide-ranging creative practice in writing. You'll study classic and contemporary novels and short stories as well as experimental texts.
The Writer's Studio at the University of Chicago is home to a community of writers and instructors passionate about the written word. Through classes, events, and certificate programs, the Studio connects writers of all genres and ability levels in creative and effective writing.
SUPPORT. Black Writers Collective brings together a selection of programs to help you in conquering writers block, developing the writing habit, gaining constructive feedback, and getting advice on writing and publishing your books, plus referrals to vetted freelance editors and publishing consultants to help you avoid wasting time and money.
Creative Writing. The purpose of the Creative Writing program is to give students a rigorous background in the fundamentals of creative work by providing them with the opportunity to study with established poets and prose writers. The program is committed to interdisciplinary work while also teaching the elements of creative writing that ...
The program's commitment to interdisciplinary work and academic rigor, coupled with an emphasis on teaching the elements of creative writing that underlie all genres, accounts for the program's vitality and explains why Creative Writing at Chicago is currently the largest initiative in the humanities for the College.