Illinois NETWORKS Click here to return to Main Page
NETWORKS offers Illinois SCBWI members easy, handy access to programs, writing groups, networking opportunities and other interested (and interesting!) writers and illustrators. Check below for your particular NETWORKS’ time, location and Shop Talk.
Interested in starting a NETWORKS group in your area? Contact NETWORKS
Coordinator, Alice McGinty ( 217-328-1994 /
alice@mcgintyzone.com).
**Please note, hovering your cursor or clicking on
representatives' names will display some brief biographical info about
them. This works only for the names that are highlighted as a link.
Summer 2009
| Chicago |
Representatives:
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Programs:
What: An absolutely fantastic SCBWI BBQ
When: Sunday, May 31, 1-5pm
Where: 1320 W. Webster Avenue, 60614 (street parking available, but also
very accessible by the el)
Why: Connect with SCBWI writers, re-energize your writing muse, and eat
good food!
Bring: A dish to pass (or white wine, as I’ve heard SCBWI-ers have
a penchant for it). We will supply hamburgers and veggie burgers; if you
want anything else grilled, feel free to bring it along. Don't forget
your business cards!
RSVP: to Crystal Chan by Wednesday, May 27, at chancm16@gmail.com Please
let me know if you are a vegetarian when you RSVP.
*June 6 and 7 - Printers Row--let's come up with a day and time to meet up, hopefully attend the panel discussion that usually features Esther and several other area authors!
Contact Jane or Crystal for details about these events.
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| Chicago - Hyde Park |
Representatives:
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Programs:
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Chicago's Southland
Representatives:
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For more information and current shop talk topics, visit the Chicago
Southland blog at http://scbwisouthchicago.blogspot.com.
Shop Talks:
Second Thursday of every month.
Daytime Talk: 9 a.m., Barnes and Noble, 105 Orland Park
Place, LaGrange Rd. (Rte. 45) & 153rd St. in Orland Park
Evening Talk: 7 p.m., Barnes and Noble, Orland Park
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| Northern Suburbs |
Cook County
Representatives:
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Shop Talk:
Second Wednesday of each month, from 7-8:45 p.m.
The Book Stall at Chestnut Ct., 811 Elm Street, Winnetka. 847-446-8880.
New members and visitors are always welcome to our monthly gathering of
children's writers and illustrators. We ask that participants contribute
$15 per season (September through August of the following year) towards
a general SCBWI fund that pays for honoraria for our speakers.
Programs:
“Informal Program” meetings will be networking, biz-chat,
idea-sharing opportunities. More informal than our program presentations,
our summer sessions at The Bookstall will allow lots of time for chat
and book-browsing. Join us!
June 10: Linda Diekman, our rescheduled guest from that blizzardy night in the winter will discuss “What Makes a Fourth Grade Book for Fourth (Not Third, Not Fifth) Grade?” Linda is Library Media Specialist at Central Elementary School in Lake Bluff, Illinois.
July 8: “New Writers’ Essential Resources”:
are you new to writing for children? Or new to the business of
trying to “do something” with your writing? Our July workshop
will give you the opportunity to ask all of your questions and get answers
from more experienced writers and resources to help you begin your journey,
and support you along the way.
August 12: Planning Meeting for Next Season: here’s
your chance to be part of the planning for our 2009-10 “season”
at The Bookstall. Join an end of the summer relaxed chat, and let us know
what your needs are for the year to come. This is truly important to all
of us!
Far Northern Suburbs
Representatives:
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Shop Talk & Critiques:
Meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month 7-9 p.m at the Barnes
& Noble on Rte. 60 & Milwaukee Avenue (Westerfield's Hawthorne
Shopping Mall in Vernon Hills).
Far Northwest Suburbs
Representatives:
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Open Critique
Third Wednesday of each month, 7 - 9 p.m. in the cafe of Barnes &
Noble, 590 W. Golf Road, Schaumburg. All meetings are open critiques with
the last half hour dedicated to answering any new writer questions.
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Dundee Area
Representative:
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Shop Talk/Critique Session
Second Thursday of the month 7-9 p.m., unless otherwise noted.
Barnes and Noble (at Spring Hill Mall), 1444 Springhill Mall Blvd. West
Dundee, 60118
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| Western Suburbs |
Oak Park and Near West Suburbs
Representatives:
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Shop Talk
Second Thursday of the month, 7 - 9 p.m.
Dole Library, 255 Augusta Blvd., Oak Park (708-366-9032)
June 11—informal shop talk and critique. Attendees
may bring a work in progress--either writing or art--for constructive
feedback. Critiquing guidelines will be reviewed.
July 9--Ann Gadzikowski will talk about writing for
the educational
market, giving an overview of the field and the types of publications
schools use. She will also address how to break into the field, as a
free lancer or as staff, based on her own experience.
August 13--informal shop talk and critique. Attendees may bring a work in progress--either writing or art--for constructive feedback. Critiquing guidelines will be reviewed.
Naperville Area
Representatives:
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Geneva Area
Representatives:
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Shop Talk
First Wednesday of each month, 7:00-
9 p.m.
Barnes and Noble, 102 Commons Drive, near Randall Road, Geneva
We have changed our meeting time on the first Wednesday of each month
to 7:00. And could we take off our Tuesday night 'extra' time? We keep
canceling it, so we don't want someone coming if we are not there.
Critiques
Fourth Tuesday of each month, 7:00 p.m. at the Barnes and Noble
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| Northern Illinois |
Freeport/Rockford Area
Representatives:
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Critique Session/Shop Talks:
Second Monday of each month, 6 - 9 p.m.
Highland College Conference Center, Freeport
Third Thursday of each month
Gallery Café, Freeport Public Library, 4-6 p.m.
Fourth Saturday of each month
Freeport Public Library 10-1 p.m.
Please contact Lee or Debbie to verify dates/locations. Watch for information regarding our Spring 2009 Family Book Fest III, dates and details to be announced.
DeKalb Area
Representatives:
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Shop Talk & Critique Session
Last Wednesday of the month
At 7:30 PM at Border's on Rte 23 in DeKalb.
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Central Illinois
Central Illinois (Champaign-Urbana)
Representatives:
217-423-3529 (r.siburt@comcast.net)
|
Shop Talks:
Third Thursday of each month, 7 p.m. Place TBA
Contact Clyde Gabriel, Shop Talk Coordinator, for more information:
cgwoodwrite@comcast.net
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| Bloomington/Normal (Near-Normal Writer’s Group) |
Representatives:
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| Springfield Area |
Representatives:
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Writing Group/Shop Talk:
First Monday of each month, 6:30 p.m.
Barnes and Noble in the Children's Section.
3111 South Veterans Parkway, Springfield, Illinois 62704
During summer months, holidays, or if you are wanting to inquire about
the group, please contact Cynda Strong for details at cynda@eosinc.com.
Program:
So You Want to Write a Children’s Book!
When: Saturday June 20, 2009, 9 a.m. – approx. 3:30 p.m. (Registration begins at 8:15 a.m.)Presenters:
Where: Lutheran High School, 3500 W Washington St., Springfield, IL 62711
Cost: $ 50.00 for SCBWI Members; $ 55.00 for Nonmembers (includes pizza and salad lunch)
- Esther Hershenhorn, Writing Coach, Children’s Book Author, Teacher, and Regional Advisor of SCBWI-Illinois
- Julia Durango, Picture Book Author, Novelist and School Librarian
Manuscript Critique/ Private Coaching Sessions: (Optional)
Manuscript Critique by Julia Durango. Critique of an original manuscript, (either the first four pages of a novel for children, or a picture book manuscript, up to 700 words), should be submitted, double spaced, 12 pt font , 1” border. Please send a separate check for $30 made out to SCBWI-IL along with your manuscript to Kim Hutmacher, P.O. Box 464, Illiopolis, Il, 62539, by May 20.
Private Coaching Session by Esther Hershenhorn. Participants can choose a 10 minute one on one session with Ms. Hershenhorn, an experienced writing coach, who will provide detailed answers to one question submitted before the workshop. Topics could include: how to get unstuck, how to plot, where to go for inspiration, what books should an aspiring children’s writer be reading, how to find my voice, where to submit a particular story - whatever problem or issue you're grappling with. Individual coaching sessions are $30. Your question, along with a $30 check made out to SCBWI-IL should be submitted by May 20, to: Kim Hutmacher, P.O. Box 464, Illiopolis, Il, 62539. Coaching sessions are limited so send your question by May 30 to participate.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS JUNE 1, 2009. Click to download Registration Form.
Email questions to: kiddos@warpnet.net or cynda@eosinc.com
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| Southern Illinois |
Representatives:
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Monthly Critique Meeting:
Third Wednesday of the month , 7 p.m.
Barnes & Noble in Fairview Heights
Summer Program:
Saturday, July 25th, 9 to 5
2nd Annual Southern Illinois Network Summer Critique-nic
…With a special morning workshop led by award winning picture book
author Jennifer Ward.
Date: Saturday July 25, 2009
Time: 9:00 to 5:00 (registration begins at 8:30)
Location: Carrington Place Clubhouse in Swansea, IL (minutes from St.
Clair
Square in Fairview Heights)
Price: SCBWI members - $20 Non-members - $25
Sandwiches and drinks provided...Bring a picnic dish to share!
Registration limited! For more info or to register, contact:
Sherry Randle 618 234-6272 email: slrandle@wisperhome.com
Anastasia Ely 618 659-4676 email: anastasia.l.ely@gmail.com
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| Chicago-area Illustrators Network |
Representatives:
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Monthly Meeting: Des Plaines Library, 9:30 a.m. until
12:00 p.m.
We discuss topics, go on field trips, or host presenters. We also critique
each other's work at the end of most meetings if time allows. Everyone
is welcome. For directions to the Des Plaines Library, check their website:
http://www.dppl.org/
June --No meeting
July 11, Field Trip. American Library Association convention,
McCormick Place, Chicago. This is almost better than going to
New York. All the children’s book publishers under one roof at one
time! A must-do, inexpensive, one-of-a-kind learning opportunity for children’s
book creators interested in seeing first-hand the children’s books
being published today! The show attracts over 25,000 attendees. The annual
ALA conference is the oldest, largest and best-attended show for the library
marketplace. A ($25) floor pass, available for purchase through ALA at
McCormick Place, entitles members to visit the Exhibits July 11 –
14. Email Terri Murphy (above) closer to the date for car-pools, or meet-ups.
August meeting--TBA
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| Downstate Illustrators Network |
Representatives:
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The SCBWI-IL Downstate Illustrator’s Group meets four times a year
alternating between Decatur and Urbana, IL. Meetings are USUALLY held
on the second Saturdays of January, April, July and October typically
from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.* (Email before you come, to get an update.)
We frequently have lunch together after the meeting. At our meetings we
discuss markets, critique each other's work and share our journey. Everyone
is welcome.
Programs:
Saturday, July 11, 2009, 10a - 2p Note
extended hours.
Picnic and Sketching at Prairie Farm, 2202 W. Kirby Ave., CHAMPAIGN, IL.
Bring a sack lunch/drink and sketching materials. We will have the farm
to ourselves for a few hours to sketch before it is open to the public.
Critics are planned after lunch. Prairie Farm is a replica of a turn-of-the
century farm complete with barns, farmhouse, pond, pasture, & flower
garden. The Farm features traditional farm animals such as sheep, pigs,
goats, horses, cows, chickens, and geese. Must wear tennis shoes
or boots in animal enclosures. Contact Louann Brown: newlou2008(at)hotmail.com
if you plan to attend.
Sunday, October 25, 2009 at 12- 4 Note extended hours.
Lunch and Historic House Sketching Tour: Decatur. Note: Admission fees
for the historic homes will be $2.00e. We will meet at the Decatur Public
Library, 130 N. Franklin, Decatur at one, do lunch nearby with an informal
meeting and critic, and then travel together to the James Milliken Homestead,
125 North Pine Street, Decatur, (www.millikin.edu/millikinhomestead) and
Richard J. Oglesby Mansion, 421 West William Street, Decatur, (www.maconcountyconservation.org)
for house tours and sketching. Contact Louann Brown: newlou2008(at)hotmail.com
if you plan to attend.
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