KidzHelp Digital Writing Project: Writing with a purpose Kids creating digital stories for seniors! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Are you interested in joining our digital writing for kids and seniors volunteer project right here in Streamwood / Elgin? (Run by Jessica, Braden and Bridgette Nicholson) Most kids love using technology and multimedia. Used wisely, digital writing can help kids improve their writing and help them create writing that …

These are the voyages of the Western Suburban Science-Fiction Book Club... Our continuing mission: to seek out the most compelling, discussion-provoking science-fiction (and occasionally, fantasy) novels and gather together to chat about them over dinner. It's a pretty good mission. Reading sci-fi suggests certain nerdish... leanings, but don't be afraid: our group is all-inclusive. Yes, I'm sure a few of us qualify as geeks, but we're all socially well-adjusted and reasonably freshly showered t …

First and foremost: We are not a critique group. We are not a workshop group. We are a group of writers who get together to...just write. This is a group that meets to WRITE, to socialize, and to offer encouragement and inspiration to others as we practice our craft. We're focused on the process, not the product.  Writing can be a solitary activity...but it doesn't have to be. This is a group where the focus is actually on DOING the work as opposed to critiquing already finished works. I found s …

Ours is a book club on the old model: a long-term, ongoing group of women that reads and discusses a variety of books and enjoys great friendships. We're now just over a year old, and while people have come and gone, a core group is in the process of forming. Our meetings are fun, boisterous affairs where lots of interesting and often diverging views are aired. The books we read span a wide spectrum: fiction, biography, non-fiction, classics, etc. We don't read self-help or how-to books, and w …

CWN is a group of serious writers who are committed to furthering their work through a workshop-style critique process. We meet on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Please be sure to read CWN's Critique Guidelines under the Pages tab before you submit your first piece for critique.

We are a cozy women's book club that meets on the third Tuesday of every month except December.  Currently, we are a closed group.

This is a group designed for writer's in the area. The best way to improve the craft is through practice, so why not have a writer's circle where we can share our work and offer positive criticism? This is for anyone who loves to write, whether it's your vocation or just a hobby. All writing is welcome, fiction and non-fiction.  Anyone who loves to put pen to paper, or more accurately fingers to keyboard, this is the group for you.

You are not alone.  You are a part of a multitude of free thinkers, purveyors of the eccentric, odd and out of sorts.  You are bohemian, you are insufferable, you are difficult, you are creative... and you are meticulous.  You my friend, you are a writer.  You were born this way.  You were observing, criticizing, organizing, partitioning, petitioning, complimenting, hiding for years and no one saw it and you didn't see it.  But there you were, writing in some notebook at 2 in the morning laughin …

Phandemonium is a Chicago based non for profit organization who's primary directive is to hold the annual Science Fiction convention Capricon. But along with Capricon we also hold other events throughout the year, this meetup group is to keep Chicago area Fandom updated with our events.

This group started in May 2011, and we've read novels by Joyce, Malraux, Kafka, Wright, Mishima, Faulkner, Nabokov, Unamuno, Ellison, Hamsun, Woolf, Biely, Gide, and many others.  We try to have a good time discussing the books without descending to small talk, think critically without descending to pedantry, etc. Also, as the title shows, we've expanded our reading list since the group started.  We don't really want to title the group something as vague as "Chicago Literature Group," etc., and …

Are you an avid reader who'd like to get together with other women regularly to discuss books over some fine wine? The aim of this group is to expand our thoughts and perceptions through great discussions about books. We all bring our own experiences, culture, and filters into the perception and understanding of literature, and hopefully these discussions will all enrich us. We'll choose serious fictional and non-fictional books that are fairly recent releases (within the last 20 years for the m …

We decide as a group what to read/discuss. We read one book per month (or try, anyway). We meet up in Logan Square.  No themes, no restrictions on membership -- anyone is welcome (even if you don't live near the Logan Square neighborhood). Who's with me??

Hi guys. This is a (newer) group which is meant to be a meeting group for sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and comicbook fans, (of movies, books, artwork, etc) and creators in Lake County/McHenry Counties (for example, writers, artists, movie makers, etc, are welcome too!) since the only groups I've been able to find like that, all seem to be in Chicago. This group is going to work best for those with a more flexible weekend schedule since I plan on scheduling a meetup for this group on at least one Sat …

Hello and welcome to Critique This, a Meetup group for serious writers with serious goals. If you're looking for encouragement, direction, interesting discussions and writing support, you've found it! When a writers' group really works, it can be the highlight of your week. I belonged to another writers' group for five years. Having others read and critique my work has contributed more to my growth as an author than any class or workshop. Reading and critiquing others' work, and the camaraderie …

This is a group for people interested in Steampunk with some passion for science fiction, history, and sane, intelligent conversation. We are kindred spirits with an interest in alternate historical imaginings. We will watch movies, read books, listen to Steampunk music, talk ideas, and find places, primarily in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago, to dress as and explore our characters. Inclusive, welcoming, but not kinky.  We are travelers of time and the imagination.

Inspired by Kinna Reads' Africa Reading Challenge, I decided to create an offline space to share my newfound appreciation for African literature. If you are interested in reading books from the African diaspora (with emphasis on authors from Africa and the Caribbean), join us! Check us out on Tumblr: http://CHI-ReadingAfrica.tumblr.com & on GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/87568-chicago-reading-africa

Are you looking for a low pressure environment to meet other singles that share your passion for geeky things? No need to hide your love of whatever it is in order to meet people. Any jerk can love a thing. It’s the sharing that makes geekdom awesome. The key here is low pressure. And no event costs. Just meet, have a couple of drinks (if you are so inclined) and play board games. Focus on having fun and meeting interesting people and perhaps the rest will follow.

This is a group for people who are working on writing a novel, short story, and poem. We'll get together once a week at different locations in Chicago, depending on what's most convenient and give each other constructive criticism and ideas on our literary pieces. Looking forward to meeting all of you!

The Chicago area chapter of ACFW - The American Christian Fiction Writers gathers published and aspiring fiction writers of faith in a variety of genres. We currently meet the first Friday of every month. Interested writers may attend meetings twice as a guest before formalizing their membership in the national organization and local chapter. For more information about the national organization, visit http://www.acfw.com/

What is Off Campus Writers’ Workshop? Ever since 1946, OCWW has encouraged and inspired Chicago-area writers in developing their writing avocations. OCWW meets every Thursday morning from September to May. A variety of speakers will elevate your writing technique with a diversity of topics, amongst which can be genre fiction, nonfiction, children’s lit, contemporary simmerings of romance fiction, poetry, publishing and the implication of ebooks. Here, you will achieve your individual writing goa …

Hey, let's read and discuss some good books. I'll keep this meetup simple.  Anyone can suggest a book.  The more popular the book, the faster it will get on the list, with some exceptions.  For instance, if we have a streak of books on politics, I may  toss in a medical or philosophy title to break it up.  And to really mix it up, we may even take on the occasional piece of fiction, perhaps a banned book or two.  Discussions will be very informal, but if someone would like to take the lead on an …

This a book club based around the Persephone Books series from the UK (for more info: http://www.persephonebooks.co.uk/). If you're not familiar with Persephone Books, they are fiction and non-fiction books written by forgotten female authors of the twentieth century and they are amazing! If you are into feminism, literature, history and/or anglophilia, you should join us! PLEASE NOTE: Participation in the club will probably require a small investment in purchasing the books each month (they are …

A book club for readers and fans of fantasy fiction of all stripes, from urban to epic. The little sister of the Western Suburban Sci-Fi Book Club, the Suburban Fantasy Book club is for those of us who don't need as much science in their fiction. We'll be meeting once a month on the first Tuesday of each month for dinner and discussion. Generally we'll meet in the Western suburbs, though we may also meet in the city, and I'll make a steady effort to pick locations accessible via public transport …

Let's get together to discuss some excellent books over fantastic food. We'll meet monthly on a weeknight in the Evanston/Rogers Park area. No background in lit crit necessary, but we will all try to read the books and have thoughtful insight. And a joy of eating is perhaps a must. Fiction and non-fiction are on the table. Initial book ideas include Fic: The Known World (Edward P. Jones) Tenth of December (George Saunders) Telegraph Avenue (Michael Chabon) Vampires in the Lemon Grove (Karen Russ …

A group for writers in Lake Conty, IL. Write-Ins held on various days at various times and locations. This is not a critique circle, just a group for people with an interest in or passion for writing to get together and write.  All levels welcome from newbies to published authors.

Writers space, individual studio spaces with Internet access , writers and creatives in a collaborative space, On the new Bloomingdale bike trail at Kimball. Auto parking lot and bike racks. This is new so I'm looking for input.

Do you love to read science fiction and fantasy? This is the book club for you! We meet once per month in various Naperville area locations. Join us to meet other sci-fi/fantasy book lovers and have a blast discovering new books.

Many hobbies of our youth have had a resurgence: classic tv is on Youtube and Netflix, classic sports like kickball have their own leagues, and classic games even have a couple of their own bars. But it seems like classic young adult fiction--which was a huge part of our youths--has been slightly forgotten. This club will meet monthly over drinks to discuss a classic YA book from the '70s, '80s, or '90s. Think along the lines of E.L. Konigsburg, Louis Sachar, Beverley Cleary, Lois Lowry, and …