Science fiction, fantasy and speculative fiction fans getting together to have fun! Isaac Asimov, Harry Potter, Dr. Who, Pern, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, Battlestar Galactica, Valdemar, Star Wars... the list of our interests and enthusiasms goes on and on. Come join us at our monthly social at Dave and Busters to meet fans from all over Chicago and suburbs who have equally wide-ranging interests. Order off the menu, pay before you leave and have fun! Our focus is relaxed socializing. We …

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/

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 …

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 …

Chicago's original & largest Science Fiction & Fantasy Meetup! Our monthly meetup is on the first Tuesday of each month. It's a great place to meet folks and talk about random fandom with long time members and newbies in a relaxed setting with no timetable. The rest of the month join us for movies, dinners, and geeky gatherings of all types! We are an eclectic group into all aspects of Science Fiction and Fantasy including books, movies, TV, gaming and conventions. You are welcome if you've just …

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.

Do you like conventions about Science Fiction? Fantasy? Gaming? Anime? Horror? Odd stuff in general? The Chicago Conventions group is designed to get people together at conventions and at certain other related events to meet and have fun. Check out the Calendar! Note posts will be created on the calendar about all of the conventions (that I know of) in the Chicago area. If you know of other conventions not listed, send a message to the organizer Leane with whatever details you have and it will g …

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 …

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.

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 …

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 book club dedicated to exploring great writings about the environment. We will discuss both the great past works and their influence on society as well as explore the pioneering notions and ideas found in the present literature.  Field trips, lectures and other activities will supplement the reading (or provide a way for our fellow Naturalist Book Lovers to get to know each other better).

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 …

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.

I've yet to find a writing group that really clicks for me, so I thought I'd start my own. This would be a group for writers of all stripes who want to meet up on a regular basis to share their work, exchange constructive criticism and most likely drink a beer or two. I want this to be a fun and casual group, but I also want it populated with people who are passionate about words and the arrangement thereof. Whether it's a poem, essay, short story or novel, I just want to do the damn thing and s …

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 …

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 …

Meet kindred book lovers in a local Meetup Book Club! Fiction or non-fiction, paperback or hardcover, you'll read a new book every month. Come to laugh, share stories and make new friends!

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 …

We are an established book group that is looking to expand our membership. We meet at 2:00 p.m. on the first Sunday of the month. We are co-ed; most current members are over 40 but we welcome members of any age. We read fiction and non-fiction; usually books are chosen by group consensus.

A book club for mystery lovers! We will read new authors as well as the classics. Explore what makes a great mystery. Socialize and have fun.

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.

Mystery, Thriller, Romantic Suspense and Dark Fiction Conference. The Coolest Crime Scene Happens Every February in Chicago - Plead Guilty and Be There. For writers - February in Chicago is the hottest time of the year! Agents, publishers, Master Classes, forensic professionals, weapons experts, essential panels, presentations, and elbows to rub--the perfect antidote for whatever ails writers at every level. Love is Murder--be freezin' for a reason and come ready to advance your career and …

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.

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

Meet other local people who love children's and young adult books well into adulthood. Talk about books you loved as children and the latest children's literature to hit the shelves. Learn about the history of children's literature. Go to book signings and talks by children's book authors and illustrators.

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.

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!