Summer 2024 NETWORKS
June, July & August
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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 | |
The Chicago Area Illustrators' Network has merged with Midstate Illustrators' Network and together they are now the 'SCBWI Illinois Illustrator's Network.
Illustrators and writers are all welcome to the meetings in-person and online. The team looks forward to seeing everyone in the Fall for new programming!
In the meantime you can join our SCBWI Illinois Illustrator's Network group on Facebook here as well as subscribe to our newsletter by emailing Sarah Tobais stating that you would like to be included! Enjoy the summer!
-Denise + Sarah
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Email Network Co-Reps Sarah Tobias and Denise Holmes for more information:
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Midstate Illustrators' Network | | |
The Midstate Illustrators' Network as merged with Chicago Area Illustrators' Network and together they are now the 'SCBWI Illinois Illustrator's Network.
Illustrators and writers are all welcome to the meetings in-person and online! The team looks forward to seeing everyone in the Fall for new programming!
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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 | |
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 | | |
South Side Network Critique Group |
Come enjoy a cup of tea, good company, and useful feedback! You do not need to bring anything to participate, but if you are looking for a critique of your work please bring a page of writing or artwork.
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 calendar for 11:00 AM on:
Saturday August 3, 2024
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Chicago South Side Writers Network would like to introduce our new co-network rep: Carol Fisher Saller!
Carol Fisher Saller is a longstanding member of SCBWI and author of both indie and traditionally published children’s books, including Maddie’s Ghost, Eddie’s War and The Bridge Dancers. Honors for her books include Bank Street Best, Kirkus Best, Horn Book Recommended Verse, the Midland Authors Award for Children’s Fiction, the Carl Sandburg Award for Children’s Literature, and Chicago Public Library’s Best Teen Fiction. Carol is also the author of the adult nonfiction title The Subversive Copy Editor and a contributing editor to The Chicago Manual of Style.
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Email Addie or Carol for more information:
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Chicago Northside Network | |
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Cloak and Harken First Pages
Join us for First Pages with a twist! Participants will submit in advance their first pages which will be read by the moderators. Authors will not be identified (Cloak) and are encouraged to listen (Harken) to how it sounds when someone else reads their story and absorb the feedback from the group. We often know what we are trying to say, but do readers actually understand. This process gives the author a chance to get some unfiltered feedback and impressions that hopefully provides a useful perspective.
When: Monday, July 15, 2024
Time: 7:00 PM
via Zoom
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Email Chicago Northside Network Representative Mary Jo Gugliemo for more information.
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Chicago's Southland Network | |
Email Chicago's Southland Network Representatives Linda Dryfhout or Jim Danielson for more information.
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Live Secrets of Story Podcast: Capturing the Nature of Childhood with hosts James Kennedy and Matt Bird, and special guest
Betsy Bird
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Join us for a the first ever live taping of the Secrets of Story Podcast! Regular co-hosts Matt Bird and James Kennedy will be joined by special guest Betsy Bird to discuss ways in which authors can capture the nature of childhood.
Do the kids who reach children’s books want to read about little adults or actual oddballs like themselves? A little bit of both! All three authors have written for children and adults and will address what authors can do to make child characters feel authentically odd but universally relatable.
When: Wednesday, September 4, 2024
Time: 6:30 - 7:45 PM
Where: The Book Stall, 811 Elm St, Winnetka, IL 60093
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James Kennedy is the author of the horror thriller BRIDE OF THE TORNADO, which the Chicago Tribune named one of the "Top 10 Books of 2023." James' previous books include the sci-fi novel DARE TO KNOW, which was named by the Times Saturday Review as their "Best Sci-Fi Book of 2021," and the young adult fantasy THE ORDER OF THE ODD-FISH. In addition, James is the founder of the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival, an annual video contest in which kid filmmakers create short movies that tell the entire stories of Newbery-winning books in about 90 seconds. He also hosts the Secrets of Story podcast with Matt Bird. James lives in Chicago. You can find out more about James at jameskennedy.com
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Matt Bird is the author of the bestselling writing guide THE SECRETS OF STORY: INNOVATIVE TOOLS FOR PERFECTING YOUR FICTION AND CAPTIVATING READERS and the recent follow-up THE SECRETS OF CHARACTER: WRITING A HERO ANYONE WILL LOVE. He has an MFA in writing from Columbia University. He lives in Evanston, Illinois, with his wife, the author Betsy Bird, and two wonderful children. Find out more about Matt at secretsofstory.com.
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Betsy Bird is currently Evanston Public Library’s Collection Development Manager. She has served on Newbery, reviewed for Kirkus, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she’d love to tell you about but that she’s sure you’d find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Most recently she wrote the middle grade novel LONG ROAD TO THE CIRCUS, with illustrations by Caldecott Award winning artist David Small. You can follow Betsy on Twitter @FuseEight or email her at fusenumber8.
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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 | |
Critique Night
If you'd like to receive feedback on your work please email no more than five double spaced pages or a picture book manuscript to Kim when you get the meeting reminder.
Zoom link will be sent out before the meeting.
When: Wednesday, August 7, 2024
Time: 7:00 PM
via Zoom
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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 | |
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 | |
Email Network Rep Sarah Hammond for more information.
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Bolingbrook-Naperville Network | |
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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Email Network Co-Reps Janet Riehecky and Cheryl App for more information:
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Email Network Reps Gina or Karin for more information:
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Galena-Freeport Area Network | |
FREE CRITIQUE OR SHARE TIME | |
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To accommodate creators who work during the day, Network Rep. Jamie Petras
schedules the critique meetings from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm.
Each participant gets fifteen minutes to share their WIP, query or synopsis and get feedback, or ask questions about the writing process.
Mark your calendar for 6:30 to 8:30 PM:
Tuesday, July 23, 2024
Tuesday, August 27, 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 | |
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 calendar for:
Tuesday: August 6, 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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Email Network Juli Caveny for more information:
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