Events
Click here to see upcoming events at Writers WorkSpace.
Past Events
2009
From the Editors — Fall 2009
A series of workshops for novice and seasoned writers alike. Learn how to make and save money in these challenging — but workable — economic times.
All workshops independently produced by WWS member Marianna Swallow of M. Runge & Associates. To register, call 312-391-8554 or email info@mrunge.com.
Workshop Titles
- Build A Successful Freelance Editorial Services Business: Oct. 3
- Demystify the Publishing Process: Oct. 24
- Save Money on the Road to Publication: Oct. 24
- Time Management for Writers: Nov. 7
- So You Want to Sell a Children's Book: Nov. 14
Workshop Details and Instructor Bios:
saturday, October 3, 2009, 9:30 a.m. – 11:30
a.m.
Build A Successful Freelance Editorial Services Business
Instructor: Meg Cox
With thoughtful skill development, strategic marketing, and diversification,
you can build a freelance editorial-services business that can withstand recession
and media meltdown.
Meg E. Cox has edited books and magazines, written feature articles and
curriculum, fact-checked history chapters, managed Web content, and indexed
books. And she has never had a freelance day without plenty of work in the
house.
Saturday, October 24, 9:30 a.m. – 11:30
a.m.
Demystify the Publishing Process
Instructor: Sara Wolski
Covering everything from how to query an agent through what an agent does
to turn your manuscript into the newest book display at Barnes & Noble,
this two-hour presentation is for writers who have a written a book, writers
thinking of writing a book, and anyone interested in the publication process.
Saturday, October 24, 2009, 1:00 p.m. –
3:00 p.m.
Save Money on the Road to Publication
Instructor: Sara Wolski
How much money does an aspiring author need to invest in a book in order to
get it published these days? Nothing. After accomplishing the enormous feat
of writing a book, it is only natural for writers to feel compelled to invest
in their monumental project. Learn how to educate yourself on the publication
process without going bankrupt, and when you *should* hire outside help.
Sara Wolski is the founder and president of Calliope Content, a full-service
literary agency. She is newly based in Chicago after spending four years in
the publishing industry in New York and London with the agencies Fletcher
& Company, Artists Literary Group, and Conville & Walsh. She enjoys
working with general fiction, educational books, children's literature, historical
fiction, thrillers, mysteries, literary fiction, memoir, narrative non-fiction,
and business books for the trade.
Saturday, November 7, 2009, 9:30 a.m. –
11:30 a.m.
Time Management for Writers
Instructor: Marianna Swallow
Juggling work and creative pursuits — as well as a life — often
leads to the important stuff falling through the cracks. Learn effective self-management
techniques that won't cut into the "but I'm a creative!" side of
your life. Gain more control over your days, and find some more time to work
on your art.
Marianna Swallow has been a time management instructor since 2001, and
has been writing longer than that. She writes the popular blog Etiquette Bitch.
Saturday, November 14, 2009, 9:30 a.m. –
11:30 a.m.
So You Want To Sell A Children's Book
Instructor: Wendy McClure
An introduction to the world of children's book publishing for writers. Writer-illustrators
are also welcome. Become familiar with the various genres, markets, and issues
unique to children's literature, gain insight into the manuscript submissions
process, and learn what to do (and what to avoid) when writing query and cover
letters. You'll have the knowledge to make informed decisions about submitting
your work to agents and publishers and have a better understanding of what
it takes to become a children's book author.
Wendy McClure has more than a decade of experience in children's publishing
and has edited more than seventy titles, including picture books and novels,
for Albert Whitman & Company. She's spoken at a number of conferences
and Editor's Day events for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.
In addition, she has published several books for children and adults and knows
about life on the other side of the editor's desk.
Enrollment: $45 per workshop, or take any 3 for $100.
These workshops are produced by M. Runge & Associates. To register,
call 312-391-8554 or email info@mrunge.com.
Friday, Oct. 16
STRONG MEDICINE: A Program of Fiction and Dance
Performances 7 - 8 p.m. / Doors open 6:30 - 9 pm
Free
Writers WorkSpace is pleased to host a free evening of fiction and dance in the spirit of October, featuring sound-and-movement duo Microgig and science-fiction writer William Shunn. On a mission to bring dance to places it's not normally found, Microgig members Asimina Chremos (dance) and Fred Lonberg-Holm (sound) will stage their haunting improvisations in this unusually close and intimate setting. Bookended by chilling short stories read live by the Hugo and Nebula Award-nominated Shunn, the evening will be one you won't want to miss. Space is limited, so arrive early. Light refreshments will be offered.
Saturday, August 29, 11 A.m.–12:30 P.M.
Author Coffee featuring Josh Neufeld, graphic novelist and author of A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge
$24
reserves seat and includes:
• signed hardcover copy of A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge
(Pantheon Books, 2009)
• refreshments and light brunch fare
• admission to Author Coffee (only 10 seats available)
Note: In recognition of the 4th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and New Orleanians' ongoing needs, Neufeld and WWS are donating all profits (40% of all book sales and registration) from this event to a NOLA charity.
Advance payment via check, cash, or credit card required. Spaces are reserved
on a first-come/first-served basis.
Register via phone (773-907-0336) or email info@writersworkspace.com.
In our unique and intimate Author Coffee series (structured as part conversation/part author presentation), a writing professional shares insights with a small group of writers. This time, NYC graphic novelist and featured guest Josh Neufeld will focus on the ever-changing possibilities for launching your writing or comix project and successfully navigating your relationship with a web magazine, an agent, a publicist, and all that comes next. He'll also talk about dealing with real-life subjects and can answer questions about how to respect a nonfiction subject's wishes while getting the story right.
A long-time and award-winning graphic novelist, Neufeld has embarked on numerous solo and collabortive projects with writers and artists. Neufeld will share insights, stories, and stimulating conversation. As always, participants are welcome to raise additional questions of personal interest during the Author Coffee.
Josh Neufeld is the writer/artist of the Xeric Award-winning graphic travelogue A Few Perfect Hours (and Other Stories from Southeast Asia & Central Europe). Shortly after Hurricane Katrina, Neufeld spent three weeks as an American Red Cross volunteer in Biloxi, Mississippi. The blog entries he kept about that experience turned into a self-published book, Katrina Came Calling, which in turn led to A.D. Neufeld works primarily in the realm of nonfiction comics. His work has been featured in The Vagabonds, Keyhole, and Titans of Finance, as well as in numerous comics anthologies, news papers, magazines, and literary journals. He is a longtime artist for Harvey Pekar’s American Splendor, and his art has been exhibited in gallery and museum shows in the United States and Europe. Neufeld lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife, the writer Sari Wilson, and their daughter.
All Author Coffee guests will receive one signed copy of Neufeld’s just released hardcover graphic novel, A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge (Pantheon Books, 2009) at the event. (Additional copies will be available for $24.95 each.)
The Writers WorkSpace will provide complimentary bagels, fruit, coffee, and tea.
Advance registration required. Space is limited to 10 writers. Call 773-907-0337 or email info@writersworkspace.com to register.
Sunday, March 29, 2-3:30
Author Coffee featuring Alice George, poet and author of This Must Be the Place
$12 reserves seat and includes:
- signed copy of This Must Be the Place (Mayapple Press, 2009)
- refreshments and light fare
- admission to Author Coffee (only 10 seats available)
Advance payment via check, cash, or credit card required. Spaces are reserved on a first-come/first-served basis.
Register via phone (773-907-0336) or email info@writersworkspace.com.
In
our unique and intimate Author Coffee series (structured as part conversation/part
author presentation), a writing professional shares insights with a small
group of writers. This time, local poet and featured guest Alice
George will focus on the questions of spiritual investigation (and doubt)
that arise for many of us during the writing practice.
How can we use our writing practice to explore spiritual questions and at the same time create well-crafted, unsentimental poetry, stories, or essays? How do our private investigations enrich the tone and content of the work we make public?
Alice will share some of her own work (including excerpts from her "Beautiful Atheist" sequence) and will also bring along favorite examples of authors who explore spiritual and philosophical content. As always, participants are welcome to raise additional questions of personal interest during the Author Coffee.
For 10 years, Alice served as an editor for Rhino magazine and is now on the Advisory Board of that award-winning magazine. She has published in numerous journals, including Diagram, Quarter After Eight, Seneca Review, and New Orleans Review. Recent work is posted online at Qarrtsiluni, Prick of the Spindle, and In The Mist. She currently teaches at the University of Chicago's Graham School and at Northwestern University's Center for Talent Development, and also works as a visiting poet in area schools and libraries. A graduate of Oberlin College, Alice received her MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
All Author Coffee guests will receive one, signed copy of Alice’s poetry collection, This Must Be The Place (Mayapple Press, 2009) at the event. (Additional copies will be available for $12 each from the author.)
The Writers WorkSpace will provide complimentary snacks, coffee, and tea.
Advance registration required. Space is limited to 10 writers. Call 773-907-0337 or email info@writersworkspace.com to register.
2008
Saturday, Nov. 15, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Author Coffee featuring Lisbeth Levine
RSVP required. Space is limited.
Chicago
author Lisbeth Levine will be the Featured Guest during our fall Author Coffee.
This intimate conversation between writers and Levine will focus on how to
create the space in your life to finish a big writing project, whether personal
or professional. Sharing hard-won tips, insights, and resources from her own
20-year writing career, Levine will help writers find ways to stay focused
and avoid the pitfalls that can arise during a big project. As always, participants
are welcome to raise additional questions of personal interest.
Levine is an award-winning journalist who spent ten years working at daily newspapers before launching a successful freelance career in 1995. She is a contributing editor at In Style magazine and has published extensively, including in The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, Newsday, Brides, Seventeen, and Chicago magazine. She recently wrote The Wedding Book: The Big Book for Your Big Day (Workman Publishing, 2008) with celebrity wedding planner Mindy Weiss, featured in September on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and in People magazine. (Levine’s book will be available for sale at WWS on Nov. 15.)
This event is free and open to the public. Bagels, coffee, and tea will be served. Space is limited. RSVP required. Call 773-907-0337 or email info@writersworkspace.com to reserve a spot.
Monday, June 9, 7:30 - 9:00 p.m.
Author Coffee: Stacy Bierlein of OV Books
Topic:
Submitting to and Editing Anthologies.
RSVP required. Space is limited to 10 writers.
An intimate conversation with local writer Stacy Bierlein, a Chicago-turned-L.A. fiction writer and the editor of OV Books' new literary anthology, A Stranger Among Us: Stories of Cross Cultural Collision and Connection, which has received rave reviews from Booklist, Library Journal, Utne Reader, and many others.
Depending upon participant interest, Bierlein may discuss:
- how to create and market a successful anthology
- how to expand your own literary resume by publishing in themed anthologies
- how/when to make the leap from writer to editor
- where you can discover new and established international authors
As always, participants are welcome to raise additional questions of personal interest.
Read reviews and learn more about the collection of international fiction edited by Bierlein at www.www.press.uillinois.edu/books. (Signed copies of A Stranger Among Us will be available from OV Books for $22.95 that evening.) This event is free & open to the public. Space is limited. RSVP required. Email info@writersworkspace.com or call 773-907-0336 with interest.
Sunday, March 30, 3 - 4:30 p.m.
Author Coffee featuring Susannah Felts
RSVP
required. Space is limited.
An intimate conversation with Susannah Felts, author of This Will Go Down on Your Permanent Record (Featherproof Books, 2008), and other writers in the Writers WorkSpace conference room. (Read the reviews of her novel at www.featherproof.com.)
Felts will discuss young adult literature, getting published, or anything else you want to discuss. As a special bonus, Featherproof Books has promised to provide one-time-only, super-secret-recipe baked feathergoods! The Writers WorkSpace will match them with coffee, tea, and good ambiance.
This event is free & open to the public. Space is limited. RSVP required. Email info@writersworkspace.com or call 773-907-0336 with interest.
Saturday, March 8, 10-11:30 a.m.
Author Coffee featuring
Ellen Blum Barish
RSVP required. Space is limited.
An
intimate conversation with local author Ellen Blum Barish
and other writers.
This Author Coffee will focus primarily on the way writers attempt to balance the tension between the artist/writer self with the role of parent. However, as always, the conversation might cover any additional ground participants choose.
Guests are strongly encouraged to read Blum Barish's new book, an essay collection called View from the Home Office Window: On Motherhood, Family, and Life ($14.95, Adams Street Publishing) in advance, or purchase a copy at WWS during the event.
This event is free & open to the public. Space is limited. RSVP required. Email info@writersworkspace.com with interest.
Friday, February 22, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Book Release Party for Planet of the Dates (The Permanent Press, 2008)
Hosted
by author Paul McComas with brief author readings on every half-hour and book
signing throughout the evening.
Come to WWS to celebrate the publication of Paul McComas's novel, Planet of the Dates, which Publishers Weekly calls "a likable mix of humor and charm."
Planet of the Dates follows the exploits of Phil Corcoran, a girl-crazed Milwaukee teen stumbling toward adulthood in the summer of 1980. His twofold quest: to find hot sex and true love, in no particular order. Phil's personal transition coincides with a cultural shift: from Carter to Reagan; from disco to punk; from the last gasp of the Age of Aquarius to the era of "Greed is good." As the story unfolds, Phil—himself very much a product of the '70s—winds up ushering in the new decade in some apt and telling ways.
William Hart says, "This Planet is populated by exactly what one wants in a romantic coming-of-age novel: believable, engaging characters; unschooled desires; hypnotic yearnings; impetuous acts begetting hilarious outcomes—and one 'main squeeze' too many. This is a tender, affecting tale of a clumsy quest, of a lucky first love, and of the pain young hearts must learn—all sustained delightfully by the vibrant prose of Paul McComas, whose special knack is for piercing both heart and funnybone with each deft stroke."
To learn more, visit the author's website at www.paulmccomas.com.
Advance copies and reviews available from the publisher, The Permanent Press ($28, hardcover, 224 pages).
This event is free & open to the public.
Saturday, February 9, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh (The Hearty Boys)
Location: HBTV, 3819 N. Broadway, ph. 773-244-9866
A
special cookbook release party for Talk with Your Mouth Full.
Recognize these guys? Here's your chance to meet Chicago's own Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh, stars of Party Line with the Hearty Boys on The Food Network.
The Writers WorkSpace has teamed up with Dan and Steve to celebrate their first cookbook—equally worth reading for its stories and recipes.
The party will include a cooking demonstration from Dan and Steve as well as tips and stories about writing a cookbook. Plus, they'll serve some of their signature snacks and beverages.
Signed copies of Talk with Your Mouth Full ($27.50, hardcover, 223 pages) will be available that evening, or order in advance. (WWS members receive $5 off each copy purchased at the party.)
This event will be held at The Hearty Boys' brand-new HBTV location, 3819 N. Broadway, www.heartyboys.com. It is free & open to the public. RSVP to info@writersworkspace.com.
Friday, January 18, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
Chicago City Network Event New Year's Kick-Off
Hosted by Jane Hertenstein and Esther Hershenhorn of SCBWI
Cost: $8 at door to SCBWI (includes pizza and refreshments)
Connect. Celebrate. Bring a manuscript or project to share. Even learn a thing or two! SCBWI invites local children's book writers and illustrators to kick off the year with colleagues who "get" children's books.
This event is open to the public as well as current SCBWI members.
The first 20 people to sign up (per guidelines below) will be able to share a current project with the group.
Contact Jane Hertenstein to register or for more information.
Guidelines: 6 minutes or 6 pages. Can either be a sample of a work in progress or an update on what you're working on. This is NOT A MANUSCRIPT CRITIQUE but an opportunity to share, network, and encourage one another.
2007
Friday, November 16, 6:45–10:00 p.m. (Reading begins at 7:30 p.m.)
Further Persons Imperfect: Multi-Author Reading & Reception Hosted by
Paul McComas
Seventeen skilled authors. Seventeen vivid stories. Seventeen fascinating first-person characters. Seventeen singular opportunities to lose yourself deep within the life of another.
Join
host Paul McComas—Further
Persons Imperfect editor (iUniverse, $12.95), local author
(Unplugged), and fiction-writing instructor—plus many of the
contributors to this compelling new short-story anthology. From 7:30–8:30
p.m., contributors will present excerpts of their work, answer audience questions,
and sign copies.
Further recently received Honorable Mention in a national competition at the DIY Book Festival in Los Angeles. Pioneer Press writes, "The stories' richness of content reflects the diverse backgrounds of the writers themselves. They have a lot of life experience to draw from and many insights to share."
A portion of all book sales goes to Boys Hope / Girls Hope, a not-for-profit network of group homes for high-potential, at-risk youth.
This event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
Saturday, November 3, 10:00–11:30 A.M
Author Coffee featuring Jonathan Messinger
Our
Author Coffee series offers an opportunity for a small group of writers to
gather for conversation, this time with Chicago author Jonathan Messinger.
Depending on the group's interest, Messinger may talk about what "self publishing" means in today's market, why he published his new short story collection Hiding Out with Featherproof Books (rather than seeking a corporate publisher), and how writers can get their books reviewed, schedule their own reading tours, and run a reading series.
Messinger is founder of Featherproof Books, books editor at Time Out Chicago, and host of the reading series The Dollar Store Show. Visit www.shootthemessinger.com to learn more about Hiding Out ($13.95) or this author.
This event is free & open to the public. Coffee, tea, and bagels provided.
RSVP required by phone (773.907.0336) or email (info@writersworkspace.com). Space is limited to 10 participants.
Monday, October 29, 7 p.m.
Nextbook Salon
RSVP required. Meeting of Nextbook members for a dinner and discussion on the topic of "Food." Contact Nextbook directly with interest in joining this group.
Thursday, October 25, 7:30 p.m.
Reading at Kate the Great's Book Emporium, 5550 N. Broadway St., ph. 773.561.1932
Free and open to the public. Author Bryan Alaspa will read from and sign copies of his new book Ghosts of St. Louis: The Lemp Mansion and Other Eerie Tales (Schiffer Books). This event is co-hosted by The Writers WorkSpace. Author reception to follow at The Writers WorkSpace, 5443 N. Broadway, after the reading.
Friday, October 19, 6:30–9:30 p.m.
Opening reception for current art exhibits
This event is free and open to the public.
"Chicago Show & Tell" by Lowell Thompson
Paintings
of life in Chicago "outside the Loop" by artist Lowell
Thompson, also known as "The Uptown Artist." This show combines
excerpts from classic Chicago writers with Thompson's own observations in
words and images. Thompson, an advertising professional for over 30 years,
recently was featured
in The Reader. His work has appeared at the Chicago Open Studio
and the Chicago Public Library's Bezazian Branch and is part of many private
collections.
"From Here to Cairo (IL)" by Mark DeBernardi
An
acclaimed series of black-and-white photographs and mixed media documenting
overlooked historical sites in Illinois. This showing of DeBernardi's series
includes new and returning work. DeBernardi's
art has been featured in The Reader, on the cover of books and literary
publications, and in shows at Flatfile Galleries, Las Manos Gallery, and numerous
other museums and galleries across the country.
Tuesday, October 9, 7:30 p.m.
Ragdale Visit & Tour
RSVP required. Opportunity for WWS members to tour The Ragdale Foundation in Lake Forest, IL, and talk with Ragdale staff about the residency application process.
October 5–7
Andersonville Arts Weekend
In celebration of the Andersonville Arts Weekend, advance viewing of new paintings by Lowell Thompson from his "Chicago Show & Tell" series, plus informal conversation with the artist. Contact Thompson directly at lowellt@hotmail.com or email info@writersworkspace.com.
WEDneSDAY, AUGUST 15, 7–9:30
PM
Writing & Marketing the Personal Essay with Carol LaChapelle
The personal essay thrives today because of its versatility of both subject and form. It can be funny, serious, scolding, or meditative. It can take the shape of a memoir or character sketch, book review or opinion piece, travelogue or nature essay.
In this one-night workshop, we'll talk about how to write and publish the personal essay. You are welcome to bring any of your essay ideas, first drafts, or completed mss. to the workshop. (However, please contact the instructor beforehand through WWS if you plan to bring a copy of your work.)
All workshop participants will receive a special guest pass to the WWS writing studio so participants can focus on finishing and submitting their essays, as well.
Workshop facilitator Carol LaChapelle is the author of the forthcoming book Finding Your Voice, Telling Your Stories (Marion Street Press, 2008). Her essays and articles have appeared in The New York Times, The Writing Group Book, and Chicago Wilderness. Carol regularly conducts workshops and offers private coaching in memoir and personal essay writing. To learn more about Carol's writing and teaching, visit her website, www.carollachapelle.com.
Advance registration and payment of $45 workshop fee are required. Email info@writersworkspace.com or call 773-907-0336 for more info or to register. Space is limited to 10 writers; 5 necessary for class to run. WWS members receive a 10% discount.
Friday, June 15, 6:30–9 pm
Publication party for Don Seiden's Artobiography, an unorthodox graphic novel illustrating a life's journey with art.
Join
us to celebrate this unique and beloved author who has inspired countless
artists and students during his tenure at the School of the Art Institute
of Chicago. Seiden is also the author of Mind Over Matter and has
worked as an educator and artist for over 50 years.
His
most recent book, Artobiography, already has received rave reviews
from readers of all ages and backgrounds. In this autobiographical graphic
novel, 79-year-old Seiden illustrates memories from his birth to the present,
including his childhood on Chicago's North Side, his tour of service in the
Navy during WWII, founding the School of the Art Institute's Art Therapy program,
and the death of 100-year-old mother. Seiden is professor emeritus at SAIC
and currently works as both an art mentor and lecturer in addition to writing
and making visual art.
Seiden will be on hand to sign copies of Artobiography and to discuss his experiences as an author, art therapist, and visual artist. This author is a founding member of WWS.
Tuesdays, 6 weeks, May 1 to June 5, 7 - 9:30 pm
Short-Short Fiction Workshop with Patricia Cronin
Call it “"flash," "micro," or "sudden."” Writing short-short fiction develops every aspect of your craft — from discovery to completion. In this six-week workshop, participants will explore the short-short form and tackle varying word-limits — from 100 to 2,000 — to create and hone new work as well as revise existing stories.
Discussion of published fiction along with in-session prompts and more elaborate take-home exercises will encourage writers to look closely at structure, effect, and technique. Workshop includes facilitator and peer feedback.
Cronin is co-director of The Writers WorkSpace. Her fiction has appeared in a variety of literary magazines including Fish Stories, Quarterly West, Jane's Stories II, and online at ContraryMagazine.com.
Advance registration and payment of $250 workshop fee are required. Email info@writersworkspace.com or call 773-907-0336 for more info or to register. Space is limited to 10 writers; 5 necessary for class to run. WWS members receive a 10% discount.
Saturday & sunday, June 9 & 10
Printer's Row Book Fair
Look for our table there.
Saturday & sunday, June 9 & 10
Andersonville Midsommerfest
Call ahead to arrange for a tour of WWS.
Friday, June 8, 7 – 8 pm
Reading at Kate the
Great's Book Emporium
5550 N. Broadway St., ph. 773-561-1932
Sandra
Scofield, author of The Scene Book: A Primer for The Fiction
Writer, will present her latest book. This event is co-hosted by The
Writers WorkSpace. A special tour of WWS is available after the reading.
Friday, May 18, 6:30 – 9 pm
Private Party/Member Salon
A private Third Friday event specifically for WWS members and their guests/families in recognition of the workspace's six-month anniversary.
Saturday, May 5, 10 – 11:30 am
Author Coffee for WWS Members
Conversation with a local author. Open to WWS members and their guests. Free. Includes coffee or tea and light breakfast.
Saturday, April 21, 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Walking & Reflection Workshop with Andrea Friedmann
Reiki Master and writer Andrea Friedmann will facilitate the “Trail of Beauty,” a walking and meditative workshop to be held at North Park Village Nature Center, 5801 N. Pulaski Road in Chicago.
Walking silently among prairie grasses and trees, you'll discover quotes from writers, philosophers, and other creative thinkers to inspire your own reflections. After the walk, move indoors to journal about the experience, and then discuss nature, the creative process, and what the walking meditation sparked for you.
This workshop is appropriate for participants with any level of writing or creative experience, and will be held rain or shine. (Rain should only enhance the experience.)
Friedmann is a writer, Spanish translator, Reiki Master, and founding member of The Writers WorkSpace. Her fiction has appeared in Fish Stories, Calyx, and Tropel. A native of Colombia, she currently resides in Chicago.
Friday, April 20, 6:30 – 9 pm
Poetry Reading featuring Roosevelt University Poets Janet Wondra & Regina Buccola, followed by an Open Mic hosted by the Chicago Writers Association.
Celebrate Poetry Month with featured readers Janet Wondra and Regina Buccola of Roosevelt University. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Featured readers will begin at 7:30 pm. Open mic session to follow from 8:15 – 9 pm. Open mic poets can sign up to read up to 3 poems of their own or another (credited) poet's work. This event is co-sponsored by Chicago Writers Association (www.chicagowrites.org). CWA is a community of established and aspiring writers dedicated to excellence and productivity in the writing arts.
Wednesday, March 21, 7 – 9:30 pmPublishing Your Fiction with an Independent Press
Local
editor/author Gina
Frangello of OV Books (and Other
Voices Magazine) and its newest author Corrina Wycoff
will lead this unique, intimate workshop to help published or aspiring fiction
writers navigate the world of independent presses. Frangello and Wycoff will
address the pros and cons of working with an agent and entering contests,
how to handle cover letters, the author/editor relationship, marketing independent
press titles, and additional questions as time permits.
The $45 workshop fee includes a signed copy of Frangello's novel My Sister's Continent (Chiasmus Press) and Wycoff's newly released collection of short stories O Street (OV Books).
Friday, March 16, 6:30 – 9 pm
Art opening and party for artists Heather Hancock and Ellen Wood
"Animated
Urban" features mixed-media mosaics in vitreous glass, smalti, and
grout with ceramic and hardware details by artist Heather
Hancock. This 10-part series explores Hancock's interest in
adapting an ancient medium to contemporary ideas. The show also includes
work from her Recall and Fuse series.
Hancock's artwork is available for purchase and will be on display through
May 2007. Call 773.907.0336 or contact
the artist directly to arrange for a viewing or purchase.
We're
also proud to announce WWS member and artist Ellen Wood will
display assemblage and other multimedia artwork in a personal show entitled
"In the Kitchen with Ellen." Both artists
will be on-hand to discuss their work.
Friday, Feb. 16, 6:30 – 9 pm
Schmoozapalooza!
Translation: A publication party for acclaimed local author Esmé Raji Codell. Meet Codell and celebrate her latest book, Vive La Paris, during this adult event. Set in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood, Codell's lyrical and moving coming-of-age novel portrays a young girl addressing subjects that include nonviolence and Martin Luther King, Jr.; the Holocaust; literacy; tolerance; gang-banging; and family. Vive La Paris already has won over adult as well as young adult readers and was recently awarded a Sydney Taylor honor from the Association of Jewish Libraries; was named a Notable Trade Book from the National Council of Social Studies; and is a Chicago Public Library "Best of the Best" selection. Codell is the author of seven books, including Educating Esmé, Sahara Special, and How to Get Your Child to Love Reading. In addition to being a local author, educator, and librarian (currently at Baker Demonstration School) with over 20 years experience in children's literature, she also is the founder of Planet Esme. Read reviews of Codell's book at Amazon.com and visit her website.
Tuesday, Jan. 30, 6:30 – 9 pm
Publishing Workshop for Fiction and Creative Nonfiction Writers
Want to find a home for your stories? In this one-night workshop, Columbia College-Chicago instructor and local publisher Jotham Burrello will lead a focused discussion of what editors want and will help you generate hands-on market research to fit your work. The $45 workshop fee includes a copy of the critically acclaimed multimedia DVD Submit!
Friday, Jan. 19, 6:30 – 9 pm
Fuel Your Writing Life
Use these hours to quietly de-stress from the holidays and return the focus to your creative life. Write in the main studio; read a good book in the lounge; experiment with artmaking materials; meditate on your new year's goals; or preview copies of the writing DVDs So, Is It Done Yet? and Submit!.
2006
Friday, Dec. 15, 5:15 – 9 pm
Private holiday party & potluck
For 5443 and WWS members and their families/guests. RSVP required.
Friday, Nov. 17, 2006, 6:30 – 9 pm
"From Here to Cairo (IL)" opening
This acclaimed exhibit by artist Mark DeBernardi includes thirty-six black-and-white photographs documenting often overlooked historical sites in Illinois. DeBernardi's artwork will be on display through February 2007. Call 773.907.0336 or contact the artist directly to arrange for a viewing or purchase.
