Spring 2024 NETWORKS
Updated April & May
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Anyone can attend any Network,
anywhere at anytime!
Live, in-person and online meetings are free and open to all! Networks focus on craft and industry programming and are our first point of outreach with the wider creative community.
Scroll down to see the complete list
of networks and offerings!
Network Representatives are valued SCBWI-IL volunteers.
Contact them with your questions about attending any of our programs.
Interested in starting a NETWORKS group?
All Network times are CST
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FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA |
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SCBWI-IL Members: You can also join in the fun at our SCBWI Illinois Illustrators Network Group on Facebook – request to join here.
SCBWI member illustrators please make sure you are on the illustrator Google Group! To be added please email Allan Woodrow
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Chicago-Area Illustrators’ Network |
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Join us in-person at the Itasca Community Library for our last meeting of the season!
Where: 500 W. Irving Park Rd, Itasca, IL 60143
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Show Your Work!
We’ll visit, get to know each other better, and share our work. If you would like feedback on some artwork, want to share something like your new book publication or an illustration in a magazine, or you filled out a sketchbook and just want to share it, bring it along for this in-person gathering. Don’t forget your sketchbook and favorite easy-traveling art supplies!
When: Saturday, May 18, 2024
Time: 10:30 AM
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Email Network Co-Reps Sarah Tobias and Denise Holmes for more information:
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Midstate Illustrators' Network |
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Join us on Facebook:
This Network maintains a Facebook page (SCBWI-IL Midstate Illustration) for critiques and information sharing between meetings. If you’d like to join us, send us a request via Facebook or email one of the network reps. At our meetings we typically discuss markets, critique work and share our journey. Everyone is welcome.
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Email Network Co-Reps Louann Brown and Jerry Barrett for more information.
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Equity & Inclusion Network |
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MEET THE ILLUSTRATOR
Jacqueline Alcántara
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When: Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Time: 7:00 PM
via Zoom
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Jacqueline Alcántara is a freelance illustrator and educator spending her days drawing, writing, walking her dogs and planning her next adventures. She is fueled by dance music, carbs and coffee. Jacqueline studied Secondary Art Education and taught high school art and photography before transitioning to illustration.
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Diversity Network Meetings create a space where writers and illustrators who’ve traditionally been left at the margins in children’s publishing can get together. At these meetings we’ll build community, share stories of hurdles and successes, work to dismantle barriers, improve diversity and inclusion in children’s literature and SCBWI-IL, work on our craft and improve our writing and/or illustrating careers.
Our focus on diversity springs from the #WeNeedDiverseBooks movement: We recognize all diverse experiences, including (but not limited to) LGBTQIA, Native, people of color, gender diversity, people with disabilities, and ethnic, cultural, and religious minorities. Because of the breadth of this focus, we will be particularly conscious of the intersectionality of oppressions and identities. Allies are welcome. (An ally is a person who supports, empowers, or stands up for another person or a group of people.)
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If you need additional ADA support such as sign language interpreter or other resources, please email Network Representative Donna Beasley in advance.
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Chicago Southside Network |
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South Side Network Critique Group |
Come enjoy a cup of tea, good company, and useful feedback! You do not need to bring writing to participate, but if you are looking for a critique of your work please upload no more than 500 words to our Google Folder one week before our meeting date to give others time to read your submission.
You can read about our critique guidelines and submit your work using this link: Google Drive
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We will meet at Robust Coffee Lounge, 6300 S Woodlawn Chicago, IL 60637.
Mark your calendars for 11:00 AM on:
Saturday, May 4, 2024
Saturday, June 1, 2024
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Addie is looking for a co-rep to help bring programs to Hyde Park, if you are interested, please reach out. Email Addie for more information:
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Chicago Northside Network |
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Email Chicago Northside Network Representative Mary Jo Gugliemo for more information.
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Chicago's Southland Network |
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Southland's Network will be discussing chapters 6-9 of the book WHAT'S YOUR STORY? by Marion Dane Bauer
When: Thursday, May 9, 2024
Time: 7:00 PM
via Zoom
The meeting will be via Zoom. Please contact Jim Danielson for the links.
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Email Chicago's Southland Network Representatives Linda Dryfhout or Jim Danielson for more information.
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FIRST PAGES PEER CRITIQUE |
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Join us for a First Pages Peer Critique. Send in the first page of anything that you would like to get feedback on. We will read them during the meeting and anyone participating can offer constructive feedback.
Please send your first page to Carolyn at Crims@aol.com THIS WEEK and note anything specific you would like feedback on.
When: Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Time: 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Via Zoom
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Email North Suburban Network Representatives Carolyn Crimi, Anny Rusk and Ilana Ostrar for more information.
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Far North Suburban Network |
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Author Q&A
Our own little network has several authors that have published a book or about to be published! They want to share their experience and knowledge with you! If you have a question about publishing, writing, pretty much anything ... please attend this meeting
When: TONIGHT! Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Time: 7:00 PM
Where: Cook County Library Meeting Room, Aspen Drive Library, 701 Aspen Dr., Vernon Hills, IL 60061 and Zoom
via Zoom and In-Person
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Email Far North Suburban Network Representatives, Kim Oclon and Nicole Hewitt for more information:
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Far Northwest Suburban Network |
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OPEN CRITIQUE
If you'd like to share pages and receive feedback, please bring one picture book manuscript or no more than five double spaced pages of a novel excerpt.
We will meet at 6:30 PM the third Wednesday of the month from January to November at the Café in Barnes and Noble, 1470B E. Golf Road, Schaumburg, IL 60173.
Mark your calendars for 6:30 PM on:
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
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Email Network Co-Reps Veronica Rundell and Liz Searle for more information:
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Email Network Rep & Co-Regional Advisor Jennifer Wagh if you are a first-time attendee.
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Near West Suburban Network |
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The Right Path for Your Picture Book: Prose, Poetry, or Something In-Between?
Award-winning picture book author and poet Michelle Schaub will share her journey in writing her most recent picture books A Place for Rain and Leafy Landmarks: Travels with Trees. She’ll discuss the decisions she made along the way to find the right form for these projects, which both started in prose and diverged into poetry and something in-between. She’ll share tips and pitfalls for writing in rhyme and discuss how using poetic language can add pep to any picture book project.
Michelle Schaub is the author of A Place for Rain (Norton 2023, a Junior Library Guild Selection) and Leafy Landmarks: Travels with Trees (Sleeping Bear Press, 2023.) Her other books include Fresh-Picked Poetry: A Day at the Farmers’ Market (Charlesbridge, 2017, winner of the Growing Good Kids and Northern Lights Book Awards), Dream Big, Little Scientists (Charlesbridge, 2020), and Kindness is a Kite String (Cardinal Rule Press, 2021.) Michelle loves helping writers get their rhyming and lyrical picture books in tip-top shape through her critique service, The Rhyme Doctors. Learn more about Michelle and The Rhyme Doctors at www.michelleschaub.com and www.rhymedoctors.com.
When: Thursday, May 9, 2024
Time: 7:00 PM
via Zoom
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Email Network Rep Sarah Hammond for more information.
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Bolingbrook-Naperville Network |
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Email Network Co-Reps Catherine Velasco and Mary & Rich Chamberlin for more information:
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CRITIQUE TIME - GET FEEDBACK
In-Person and Zoom!
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The Geneva Network critiques in person at 7:00 PM on the first Wednesday of the month at Barnes & Noble, 102 Commons Drive, Geneva, IL 60134. Subject to weather.
Mark your calendars for in-person:
TONIGHT! Wednesday, May 1, 2024
They also critique via Zoom on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:00 PM. Email Janet or Cheryl for Zoom information.
Mark your calendars for Zoom meetings:
Tuesday, May 28, 2024
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Email Network Co-Reps Janet Riehecky and Cheryl App for more information:
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Synopsis Tips and Tricks
Learn how to write a synopsis that will intrigue an editor or agent.
When: Thursday, May 9, 2024
Time: 6:00 PM
via Zoom
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Galena-Freeport Area Network |
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FREE CRITIQUE OR SHARE TIME |
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To accommodate creators who work during the day, Network Rep. Jamie Petras said they are trying a new time for their unique critique meetings.
Each person gets 15 minutes to show their work or art, and get feedback. Or discuss any topic they want, sharing an article or illustration.
Mark your calendar for 6:30 to 8:30 PM:
Tuesday May 28, 2024
Want to join the fun? Please contact Jamie for the Zoom link.
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Email Network Rep Jamie Petras for more information:
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East Central / Champaign-Urbana Network |
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Summer is almost here! Join your local network of children's book creatives for fun conversation, sharing about the creative process, and of course, enjoying tasty food at Riggs Brewery on Sunday, May 5 at 2 pm, located at 1901 S High Cross Rd, Urbana, IL 61802. For those of you who haven't been to Riggs, it is a beautiful setting and relaxed atmosphere for good conversation. Weather permitting we will be outdoors. There are alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. There is a food truck from 1-7 pm that day. Here is the website for more information: https://www.riggsbeer.com/
Let me know if you plan to attend so I can save you a seat! Feel free to invite others who may be interested.
Where: Riggs Brewery 1901 S High Cross Rd, Urbana, IL 61802320
When: RESCHEDULED FOR SUNDAY, May 5, 2024
Time: 2:00 PM
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Email Network Rep Elaine Bearden for more information:
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Springfield Area Scribes Network |
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The Springfield Area Scribes Network meets Tuesdays at 6:00 pm via Zoom
Mark your calendars for:
Tuesday: May 7, 2024
Have 5 pages of Middle Grade, Young Adult or entire Picture Book ready to critique.
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Email Network Rep Debra Daugherty for more info.
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The Network meets from 6 to 8 PM on the third Wednesday of the month at Books-A-Million, 6601 Edwardsville Crossing Drive in Edwardsville.
Mark your calendars for:
and Wednesday: May 15, 2024
Bring 5 pages to critique! We do in-person critiques but have traditionally asked that writers new to the group wait until their second meeting to submit work for critique. New writers welcome!
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Email Network Juli Caveny for more information:
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SCBWI-IL NETWORK POLICIES |
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And, as always:
—Networks are free and open to all. You may attend any Network at any time, not just the one in your area.
—Special Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: If you have a disability and need any special assistance to enjoy the event’s online programming, please email the Network Representative or Co-Regional Advisor to ask for assistance for your particular needs.
—A recording of online programs may be offered for a small convenience fee on our Recordings BY REQUEST page.
—Recordings BY REQUEST are available in February, May, August and November. Your convenience fee gives you unlimited viewing all month long.
—Your attendance fees support NETWORKS and other free Regional opportunities like scholarships and mentorships.
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Please find below the COVID protocols from SCBWI HQ. (Updated 3/23)
Please note: SCBWI-IL Networks are in no way obligated to hold in-person events but if they do...
Comments regarding this policy should be directed to SCBWI headquarters by mailing
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QUESTIONS about SCBWI-IL Networks?
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