Join our Near West Suburban Network together with the Chicago Southland Network for a discussion with special guest Sara Latta on writing for the educational market. We meet on Thursday, March 27, 2025, 7:00 PM via Zoom
News & Events
Crushes and Chemistry – Writing Romance for Young Readers
On Valentine’s Eve, in our SCBWI Illinois network we’ll be thinking about kidlit romance. How do you create believable romance in YA? How is romance used as a subplot in different genres? And what about middle grade? We’ll look at excerpts and talk about technique. Join us and share your kidlit romance thoughts and recommendations, too. We meet online at 7 p.m. on Thursday February 13th. Click this link and scroll down to the Near West Suburban Network section to access the Zoom meeting details.
Launch Your Middle Grade Novel
I am hosting this free online event for SCBWI Illinois networks. Join us to hear about the Middle Grade Escapaders’ journeys to publication and tips on navigating life as a debut author.
Join us if you dare!
Our new season of SCBWI network events starts this week…
Looking forward to hosting this free online event. All are welcome!
Field Trip to the Butler Children’s Literature Center
Join us and visit the Butler Children’s Literature Center in River Forest! Curator, Jen Clemons, will explain how the Butler Center’s selection of newly published books and special permanent collections can be used by kidlit authors and illustrators and also share some tidbits from her upcoming trip to Bologna Children’s Book Fair.We’ll try out some writing exercises using books from the collection, and there will be plenty of time to browse. The Butler Center is a wonderful local resource!
When? Thursday, April 11, 2024
When? 7:00 PM
Where? Dominican University – River Forest Campus at The Butler Children’s Literature Center is housed in Rebecca Crown Library, Rm 214, 7900 W Division St, River Forest, IL 60305.
It’s Prompt-a-Palooza!
For our March SCBWI-IL network event, we’ll try out a mix of prompts designed to get your words flowing. You can experiment with voice, characters, settings and even new story starts. We will be meeting in person so bring something to write with. We’ll focus on writing during our meeting but leave some time at the end for those that want to share. When? Thursday March 14, at 7 p.m. Where? Meeting Room 1, Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library, 3541 Park Ave, Brookfield, IL 60513.
A Day in the Life of a Children’s Librarian
Looking forward to welcoming Rose Hopkins-LaRocco to our SCBWI network on Thursday for a free online event. Join us if you can! Click this link and scroll down to Near West Suburban Network to connect via ZOOM.
Kidlit Community
This month, I was proud to be part of the organizing committee for the SCBWI Illinois conference, Prairie Writer’s and Illustrator’s Day.
This was the first time we’d had an in-person conference since the pandemic and I am still feeling the happy after effects.
The key takeaways?
- Plenty of story craft advice.
- Inspiring keynotes by Michael Leali and Adriana Hernandez Bergstrom about mastering the ups and downs of the artist’s journey.
- The opportunity to chat to publishing industry professionals including art directors (Maryn Arreguin from Sourcebooks and Brian LaRossa from Scholastic), editors (Hannah Hill from Delacorte Press and Kelly Delaney from Crown Books for Young Readers), and agents (Sartiza Hernández from Andrea Brown Literary Agency and D. Ann Williams from Emerald City Literary Agency).
- Individual feedback and a selection of panels and workshops to choose from.
- Best of all, connecting with my supportive, creative, lively kidlit community. A huge thanks to the team on my organizing committee, especially Committee Chair, Jenny Wagh. Roll on next year.
