creative writing groups in chicago

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7 Top Writing Groups in Chicago

By Kevin Chan

Do you need help in finding writing groups in Chicago? We’ve summarized 7 for you in the list below.

1. The Chicago Writers Circle

The Chicago Writers Circle is a writing group located in Chicago. Writers of all genres, including professionals, amateurs and aspiring writers, are welcome to join the writing group’s regular meetings. Group leader David Woods helps manage The Chicago Writers Circle and several other co-organizers.

Writing meetings happen every day at 9 in the morning. Join some of the 6,000+ members of The Chicago Writers Circle to start the day off with a stretch of time dedicated to writing before getting back to the busyness of the rest of the day. Participants can look forward to getting advice from other writers, building relationships and advancing their own pieces of writing.

Speak to The Chicago Writers Circle!

2. Edge Writers Workshop

Located in Chicago, Edge Writers Workshop is a writing group led by group organizer Samuel Durr. Writers of all genres and backgrounds are welcome to join Edge Writers Workshop’s writing meetings, which take place every two weeks. Writing meetings are usually held in person at local venues in the Edgewater area of Chicago, but have been moved online for the time being to make it more accessible and comfortable for all participants.

Meetings start out with a quick writing activity and move into critique sessions. Interested participants are more than welcome to join Edge Writers Workshop’s next discussions, where they can get an idea first-hand of what goes on at Edge Writers Workshop’s writing group meetings.

Learn more about Edge Writers Workshop!

3. Independent Writers of Chicago (IWOC)

Independent Writers of Chicago (IWOC) is a writing group in Chicago. Today, Independent Writers of Chicago has over 1,200 members of local writers. Independent Writers of Chicago is led by president Laura Stigler. Writers will benefit from some of the special features Independent Writers of Chicago offers members, including work and networking opportunities and presentations by writers and publishing professionals.

Independent Writers of Chicago meetings are held on the second Tuesday of every month. Writers will be able to gain knowledge on different topics, including writing about other people, learning to grow a following and community, and legal tips for writers. Independent Writers of Chicago meetings are held online and in person; information regarding specific events can be found on their Meetup.com webpage.

Contact Independent Writers of Chicago!

4. Shut Up & Write! Chicago

Shut Up & Write is a writing group that is represented nationwide by many chapters, including one in Chicago. Shut Up & Write! Chicago members will be able to connect with some of the 800+ writers who make up Shut Up & Write! Chicago. Writers working on books, blog articles, essays, dissertations or poetry are welcome to join Shut Up & Write! Chicago at one of their future meetings.

Shut Up & Write! Chicago’s group meetings are regularly held every other week on Monday evenings, along with additional meetings on different days of the week. Meetings are organized with short introductions, an hour-long period of personal, focused writing, followed by free time for networking with other writers or additional writing.

For more information about Shut Up & Write! Chicago, check out their Meetup.com webpage .

5. Accio Beer! Writers of Fantasy / Sci-Fi / Fiction Critique Group

Accio Beer! Writers of Fantasy / Sci-Fi / Fiction Critique Group is a writing group that welcomes writers of all backgrounds and genders who are passionate about writing about fantasy and science fiction. The writing group is led by organizer Cody Frovarp and his co-organizers. Interested participants are encouraged to join the waitlist if there are no spots for the writing group you wish to join.

Accio Beer! Writers of Fantasy / Sci-Fi / Fiction Critique Group runs a number of ongoing meetings during the week, some of which meet in person and others online. Writers are encouraged to share their work-in-progress and can benefit from the positive criticism and encouragement they will receive from other participants.

Connect with Accio Beer!

6. You Know You Can Write Chicago

Based in Chicago, You Know You Can Write Chicago is a writing group established by group organizer Patrick Waldron. In addition to his commitment to running, You Know You Can Write Chicago, Patrick himself has studied writing for over 20 years and organizes online meetings for writers.

You Know You Can Write Chicago meetings are held online on Zoom and cover topics like creating a beat sheet, outlines and writing scenes. Meetings are held on Fridays and Sundays every week. Patrick leads the group through different writing exercises, discussions and analyses of different texts. Join You Know You Can Write Chicago and build relationships with other writers, ideas, and inspiration for your writing.

Check out You Know You Can Write Chicago.

7. Just Write Chicago

Just Write Chicago is a writing group serving writers in Chicago. Today, the writing group has over 5,000 active members who are a part of this collective of writers who simply write. There are no special events to attend or membership fees to pay for interested writers.

Just Write Chicago organizes writing groups in different areas across Chicago on most days of the week. The purpose of this writing group is to be a supportive community of writers who welcome writers of all experience levels looking for professional companionship along this solitary journey. Writers who are passionate about any number of different genres, from fiction to non-fiction.

Find out more about Just Write Chicago.

The Writing Place

Resources for writers in the chicago-area, greater chicago plays host to numerous events, workshops, services, and spaces for writers of all types. below is an annotated list of some of our favorites..

If you are aware of other Chicago-area resources you’d like us to highlight, email us at [email protected] .

Literary Organizations & Writers’ Workshops

Chicago dramatists  .

Through workshops, residencies, and classes, Chicago Dramatists assist aspiring playwrights and producers to develop and hone their craft. And for those who just love going to the theatre, their  Saturday Reading Series  is open to the public.

The Chicago Writers Association

The Chicago Writers Association is made up of both published and amateur writers of all types and is open to anyone who wishes to join. Members can participate in the CWA’s annual speakers bureau, enter the association’s Book of the Year contest, and may be published in the  Write City e-zine  or  Windy City Writer’s blog . Members are also able to interact in the CWA’s e-group to share publishing and marketing materials or in one of its critique groups.

Evanston Writers Workshop

The Evanston Writers Workshop sponsors events and workshops for a diverse array of writers. Their workshops include prompt and critique workshops, as well as an annual “In the Trenches” conference, where attendees can learn quickly about the ins and outs of writing and publishing in various genres and arenas. Members in the Evanston Writers Workshop receive priority admission to conferences and events, as well as promotion and marketing of their writing and other literary events.

Guild Literary Complex

The Guild Literary Complex sponsors writing programs featuring diverse writers and subjects. Past events have included bilingual poetry nights and marathon readings of Illinois-native Gwendolyn Brooks’ work. They solicit open submissions for their Annual Prose Award in both fiction and non-fiction categories, and sponsor several other contests throughout the year.

The Newberry Library

This world-renowned research library is open to the public. And, in addition to its extensive historic and literary resources, the Library also sponsors  writing workshops and series  on topics as diverse as memoir writing or writing childrens’ books.

The Poetry Center of Chicago

The Poetry Centerof Chicago is one of the nation’s largest promoters of poetry through readings, workshops, residencies, and arts education. Their  workshop series  are competitively priced, and aspiring poets can also work with the organization as volunteers or interns.

Story Studio Chicago

With locations in both Chicago and Winnetka, Story Studio offers classes in both creative and business writing. Additionally, they offer one-day workshops and write-ins to accommodate the schedules and needs of writers of all types. Check their current list of  classes and events  (some free) to sign up.

Writing Meetups and Work Spaces

Colab evanston.

Located on Chicago avenue near the Main El, CoLab Evanston provides shared workspace for individuals and groups. Full-time, part-time, and “floater” memberships are available, all of which come with discounts to on-site networking events.

Just Write Chicago

Just Write Chicago is a meetup group of writers who meet in several locales around the city several days a week to write together. With a focus on the writing process, not its product, they work together to inspire and motivate regular writing. There are currently over 1000 writers in the group, it costs nothing to join, and you can RSVP to attend a meetup whenever the time and place is convenient for your schedule.

The Writers Workspace

Located between Edgewater and Rogers Park, The Writers WorkSpace provides writers with a comfortable environment where they can write away from the distractions of their home or office. Both part- and full-time memberships are available.

Courses & Certificate Programs

The graham school.

The University of Chicago’s Graham School of Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies offers certificate programs in creative writing, as well as professional development courses in writing and speaking for business professionals. They also offer several open-enrollment creative writing courses that don’t require advance application or registration to participate.

Oakton Community College

For international students hoping to improve their English writing and speaking, Oakton Community College offers both credit and non-credit ESL courses on their Skokie campuses. Many courses meet in the evening to accommodate students who have other responsibilities during the day.

Editing and Proofreading Services

Mb writing and editorial services.

Run by a Medill grad, this editing service has extensive experience copy editing doctoral dissertations and other academic work.

“A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.”

Jerry Cleaver’s

The Writers’ Loft

Chicago’s longest running and most successful writing workshop Featuring Mary Carter , Loft graduate & NY Times bestselling author

THE WRITERS LOFT WORKSHOP IS NOW AN ONLINE COURSE. FIRST CLASS IS FREE TO TRY. To get started email me at: [email protected]

You want to write but you have no time.

When you do find time, you just can't drag yourself to the desk.

If you do get going, your writing starts strong, but becomes such a mess you don't know whether to keep working or dump it all and start something new.

You write lots of bits and pieces, but none of them fit together into a meaningful whole.

You have training (workshops, college courses, or even a degree in creative writing) but little or nothing you write gets published.

You haven't taken a class because you're not sure where to turn or what to do first. One thing you do know is you want to get the right start so you don't waste a lot of time working on things that don't matter.

GET SOLUTIONS to these and any other writing problems.

Jerry in China

Jerry’s book, Immediate Fiction , is the bestselling writing book in China. Here’s the banner they used on his book tour to Beijing and Shanghai where he gave student seminars at the five major universities plus special professional writers and writing professors conferences and writing teachers' workshops.

Stay up to date with me and my new books at:

Only one workshop (originated in chicago) has mentored 40+ novels and 5 nonfiction titles into print by major publishers — plus an emmy winner..

"Simply brilliant. Brilliantly simple." Donal Harding, winner of Paris Afton Bonds Screenplay Award

"I recommend it to everyone who writes." Linda Lael Miller, NY Times bestselling author, 12 million+ books in print

"Simply the best workshop ever." Nicole Hollander, nationally syndicated cartoonist, creator of Sylvia

"Proves there is method to this madness." Tim Kazurinsky, Saturday Night Live writer, screenwriter

"Better than all my writing classes combined." Donald Catherall, Back from the Brink (Bantam)

"The best storyman ever." Jane Leder, Brothers and Sisters (St. Martins), Dead Serious (Atheneum)

"A powerful motivator." Laura Caldwell, Burning the Map and A Clean Slate (Red Dress Ink)

"Demystifies the story process." Michele Fitzsimmons, winner of Illinois Arts Council Award

Taught by NY Times bestselling author Mary Carter, The Writers’ Loft gives writers of all levels the crucial skills that make every story and every writer a success. Learn everything you need to unlock your imagination and bring your ideas to life on the page, stage, or screen.

MORE THAN A WORKSHOP, The Writers’ Loft is a writer's community. It's a place for you to be with other writers, have your work presented, and get the support, guidance, and coaching you need to write successfully in all genres and all media, including novels, short stories, screenplays, stage plays, biography, memoir, nonfiction. Plus you get insider help and advice on how to market your work and how to make those all-important connections to agents, editors, and publishers.

Jerry Cleaver created The Writers’ Loft 20 years ago. It’s been turning out published authors ever since.

Jerry cleaver.

Teacher of Professional Fiction at Northwestern University for ten years.

Teacher of special seminars for Writer's Digest, published articles in the Writer's Digest Magazine, and featured in the Writer's Digest Yearbook.

Creator of the worldwide "Write Your Novel Now" online course (students in Alaska, New Zealand, Turkey, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, Ireland, England, Canada, India).

Creator and leader of the Fiction Writing for Lawyers seminar series.

Very sadly, Jerry is no longer with us. He is greatly missed by his family, friends and students. (Read more here .)

At the request of Jerry and his family, writer and teacher Mary Carter has come to Chicago to carry on his work at the Writers’ Loft.

Author — published in various magazines, and ghostwritten for several books.

Mary Carter

I followed Jerry Cleaver’s unique course when I was writing my first novel, She'll Take It (Kensington Books). It was published in 2006 and since then I have published over 22 titles and have become a USA Today bestselling author under my pen name Carlene O'Connor. My work has been translated into 7 languages, and my anthologized novellas were New York Times bestsellers for several weeks in a row. You can read more about me at  marycarterbooks.com or carleneoconnor.net

I received personal training from Jerry in his Writers’ Loft workshop methods, and since then I have been leading successful workshops in New York and Wilmington, North Carolina. Jerry continued to train, coach and mentor me the whole time.

I am honored and thrilled to be chosen as the only person other than Jerry ever to teach at the Writers’ Loft. I feel a special responsibility to Jerry — and to Writers’ Loft students.

I follow Jerry's methods closely because I know from my own experience as a writer that they work. And I know from my experience as a teacher that they can work for you. That's why I strive to match the dedication, enthusiasm, empathy and insight that Jerry showed me — and every student.

Here's the thing — you can try The Writers’ Loft workshop with me for free. Just come to the first class and see what you think. You don't pay anything unless you return for the next class. So why not? To sign up, email me at [email protected] . Sessions fill up fast!

"After being stuck for years, I am now 150 pages into my first draft. Mary created just the right atmosphere." Martin Gavin, President of NYC's StarCom

"Mary Carter is a gifted writer and incredibly talented coach/mentor/instructor." Megan Cunningham, CEO/Founder of Magnet Media, Inc

"Mary efficiently revived my writing career." Craig Dixon, author of "Notes by a Nomad" and "Shorts"

Six 2 1/2 hour workshop sessions, plus all the help you need outside of class.

Each session meets from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM. Each class consists of three things:

Specific story techniques presented and explored through examples and discussion.

Presentation of writing with feedback and coaching using Jerry's innovative feedback techniques. Mary reads your writing to the class, anonymously, so no one is put on the spot or forced to present their own writing.

In-class writing. The last half hour is committed to writing, using your own idea or one of the dramatic setups provided.

Each class ends with this half hour of writing to put you into the process of writing, get you loosened up, and create some momentum that will carry over to the outside. One Writers’ Loft student took a class exercise and expanded it into a novel ( The Leaving Summer by Donal Harding) that was published by William Morrow. Another student entered 21 pages of her in-class writing in the Illinois Arts Council Awards and won $7,000.

Sample the Course

A good story cannot be denied. Like falling in love, it's irresistible. It touches your heart before it reaches your head. You're drawn in — whether you want to be or not. And you're not asking yourself, "Is it good?" or "Is it real?" because you're part of the story, living and feeling it with the characters. That's the kind of story you'll learn to write in The Writers’ Loft. The craft and techniques you'll learn are those used by all great writers.

Fine. But how does it work?

A Touch of Craft

Here's an example that will give you a feel for the most critical story ingredient of them all. It's the single force that will turn any idea into a dramatic story every time. Without it no story, no matter how beautifully written, can succeed. I can do this in a couple of ways. I can give you a definition, a concept, a model. But, stories aren't ideas. They're not concepts or definitions. They're experience. So, rather than tell you how a story works, I'm going to show you—show you by giving you a little story to see how much of an experience I can cause you to have. Here's the story:

My wife and I have a friend named Larry who just went through a horrendous divorce. My wife ran into him at the mall. He looked terrible—sad and despondent. He sounded even worse than he looked, so she invited him over for dinner to try to cheer him up.

Larry's an old friend, so we know what he likes. My wife cooked his favorite food and I bought a bottle of his favorite scotch. We had a nice dinner and let Larry know we would be there for him whenever he needed us. He could call anytime night or day. No matter what, we would be there to help him through this. Larry felt better. We felt better. He went home happy. We went to bed happy. It was a great night, all around, for everybody. That's the end of the story.

How was it? Moving? Compelling? Dramatic? Did you identify? Were you gripped? Did you have the kind of experience you want from a story?

The answer, of course, is NO. You did not have an experience. You did not connect. You did not identify. You could not. The reason you could not was: I purposely gave you a dead story. So, the effect was boredom and maybe irritation. The cause was a dead story. I presented you with an experience that left you cold, with a mistake. Why? Because mistakes are what we start with.

We make mistakes, constantly. First drafts are loaded with them. Hemingway said, "The first draft is shit." If Hemingway's first drafts were shit, you shouldn't be expecting any better from yourself. Expecting too much is the surest way to get discouraged and blocked. The other reason I started with a mistake is: We learn more from our mistakes than our successes—not from the mistakes themselves, but from fixing them. Experiencing perfect writing will not teach you what you need to know. If it did, all you would have to do is read great writers and you'd be a great writer. I know people who read great literature all the time but can't write worth a damn.

Fine. So where do we go from here? Well, if I'm right, if I know what I'm doing, I should be able to show you how to turn this mistake into an involving story. But, before I do, consider...

Next: Making It Happen

Making it happen.

What's needed to turn this dead story into something with some energy, some drama? Detail, dialogue, emotion? Well, I could give you reams of detail and keep it as dull as it is. Dialogue? I could have them talking all night and far into the next day and you would be even more bored than you were. Emotion? Well, it has emotion. We're happy, satisfied, fulfilled. How much more do you want of happy, happy, happy?

Before I give you my answer, why don't you work on one of your own. See what you can do to give this dead story some energy. Think about what you could do, or you can actually write it out. You can write the whole thing out or you can just jot down some general ideas about how it should go—plan it out without doing it word for word.

Here's another version of the same story. See if I can get you more involved. In this version...

I've got a touch of bronchitis or flu the day Larry is coming for dinner. I'm not feeling great, so I stay home to rest up so I won't let Larry down.

Now, the flu is a minor detail, but I want you to decide whether you want it in or out. You don't have to have a reason—just a feeling. A few people usually go for the flu, but not many. Remember, this is not flu we're talking about. This is story and in story, everything counts. Nothing is along for the ride. So, the flu is in.

Larry comes over. We have a few drinks. He and my wife are both smokers. Before we get to dinner, they run out of cigarettes. "I'll go get them," I say. "I want to get out of this haze and clear my lungs."

Smokers is the next element. Yes or no? A few more go for it than the flu.

OK, so I head out for the corner store to get their smokes. It's a nice walk. I get their cigarettes and head back, but instead of walking up the front walk, I decide to take the shortcut down the alley.

OK, next item: Alley in or out? Pretty much everybody goes for the alley. Why? The answer to that is at the very heart of successful storytelling. It's not alley, not flu, not smokers. It's story.

So, I'm walking down the alley, relaxing, breathing fresh air, looking at the yards. Now, our kitchen sticks out from the back of the house and has a window in which I can see Larry and my wife. As I come through the yard, I see they're having a rather intense conversation. My wife is especially lively. I haven't seen her that bubbly in months.

OK, what's on your mind right now? What are you thinking? Let me guess. You're thinking, hanky-panky, fooling around, touching, embracing, kissing, etc. Right? Not only are you thinking it, but you're wanting it. Oh, yes. Not only do you give me the flu, make me walk down the alley, but you throw my marriage into crisis by making my wife unfaithful. Maybe not in reality, but in story, we prefer cheating to loyalty—always. We want chemistry, passion, fireworks! You don't go to the amusement park to ride the merry-go-round. You go to ride the roller coaster.

Next: The Active Ingredient

< previous

The Active Ingredient

I knew what you were thinking, not because I read your mind, but because I know how people work and how stories work. I led you there—with story. I gave you an experience that hooked you in. Something you can learn to do every time by mastering the story craft.

Fine, so far, but where do we go from here? We left me standing there, watching my wife talking to Larry. What's next? Well, I've raised your expectations, so I have to give you what you want—or something better. Let's go with the kiss.

My wife says something. Larry laughs, opening his arms. They embrace and have a nice long kiss.

What now? She kisses Larry. End of story. Yes? No? Why not? I'm sure you know in your heart, it's not over. Your heart is a good guide. It might be enough for an obvious example like this—might be. But when it's not obvious, when it gets subtle and tricky, when you get lost, it's never enough. To be a successful storyteller, you have to know in story terms, why it's not over. So, what has to happen to complete this story, to give it a bang-up ending? How about this:

I figure, "Heck with it. What do I care? Everybody cheats. Look at Clinton." Then I go in, we have a nice dinner, pledge our friendship to Larry, and wind up good friends just like before.

A satisfying ending? Maybe the characters are satisfied, but we are not and no reader will be either. All right. If this story is going to hold someone, I have to care, to feel betrayed, and go in and do something about it. Stories are about doing, always. It could go like this:

"Hi, guys," I say happily as I come in. "Here's the smokes."

They thank me and both light up. Larry pours himself some scotch.

"How'd it go while I was gone?" I say, flopping into a kitchen chair.

"Fine," my wife says.

"How about you, Lar? Enjoy yourself in my absence?"

He glances at my wife. "I did," he says.

"Good. I was worried you might get lonely. But when I saw you through the window, I could see you didn't need me to entertain you."

"Well," Larry says. "We both missed you and we're glad you're back."

"That's right, honey," my wife says. "It's not the same without you."

"Of course not," I say. "Say, hand me the butcher knife, darling."

"Butcher knife, what for?"

"No reason. I just feel like holding it."

"Don't be silly," she says.

"No, really. Indulge me."

"Will you stop," she says.

"Stop what? You don't trust me with a knife? What is this: No sharp objects for the lunatic?"

"Very funny," she says.

Larry stares at me, smiling weakly.

"Afraid I'll hurt myself — slit my wrists — or my throat? What do you think, Lar? Can I be trusted with a knife in my own kitchen with my best friend and my loyal wife?"

"Of course, you can," Larry says flatly, then downs his scotch.

"Damn right. Hear that, angel? Larry trusts me. He trusts you. We all trust each other. So pass me the knife, sweets."

Next: The Crucial Difference

The crucial difference.

LIFEBLOOD OF EVERY STORY — AND EVERY WRITER

All right, let's stop here. The story's not over yet. It can go in many directions. Each writer will do it his or her own way. But no matter which way it goes it must fulfill the basic story requirements or it will fail.

For now, the question is: what's the difference between this last version and the first? Can you see it? It's not details. It's not dialogue. It's not emotion. I left it out when I raised this question earlier so you could experience it first. The first version — happy, happy, happy — left us cold. The last — trouble, trouble, trouble — got to us. What does that tell us?

It tells us that you must have conflict to create an engaging, compelling story. Conflict. We all know what conflict is, right? Your wife calls you an insensitive slob. You get run off the expressway on the way to work. Your boss tells you you'd better get your work up to par or you'll be out of a job. Your mother disinherits you.

Well, guess what, none of those is conflict, our kind of conflict — dramatic conflict. Oh, those examples are troubling, disturbing, upsetting, but none of them is what's needed to set a story in motion. They're false conflict. Trying to create a story from false conflict is like dragging a dead horse around a racetrack: You might get to the finish line, but you'll never win a race.

Even though every writing teacher and every writing book will tell you that conflict is the necessary ingredient, it remains the single, most misunderstood, most deceptive part of all storytelling. It's the reason why writers write as many duds as hits and why there are so many feeble stories limping around.

Conflict is deceptive because: All conflict is trouble but all trouble is not conflict. What we think of as conflict in everyday experience — disagreements, arguments, insults, shouting matches, even fistfights — are not dramatic conflict. They can be turned into dramatic conflict — anything can, once you know how — but dramatic conflict is a different creature entirely. Dramatic conflict is made up of several elements. Get one wrong, and no matter how brilliantly you write, your story will fall flat.

Because it is the source of everything that happens in story, understanding, creating, and using dramatic conflict is at the heart of The Writers’ Loft.

Conflict is critical but how your story is presented on the page is also critical. That brings us to our last example.

Next: You Can Do This

Experience vs. ideas.

If I said, Francesca was uncomfortable in her marriage especially when it came to sex, it might get your attention, but only because you'd want to know more. If that statement, that idea, were as far as it went, it wouldn't be very satisfying because it's an idea about her marriage and not the experience of it. If I wanted to give you the experience of her and her marriage, I would have to put it in Francesca's personal terms, give you her specific experience, which is what every successful story must do. Here's how one of my students did it:

Sex had never been Francesca's forte. In fact, she had to admit to her rather drab reflection in the bathroom mirror as she stood brushing her teeth, sex wasn't even her mediumte — if there were such a word. No. She paused in her brushing, listening for the sound of Jack's snoring, hoping for the snoring, waiting for the snoring.

No snoring.

Francesca began brushing again. No. The fact was she wasn't good at sex at all. Never had been. And, as she looked again at her reflection — gray hair mixed freely with the brown, lines fanning out from the corners of her eyes, the sag underneath her chin-she realized now that she was 43, she was never going to get good at it. She spit in the sink and listened again for the sound of snoring. In vain.

It wasn't that she wanted to be this way.

And hadn't she enjoyed Jack — his kisses, the warm feel of his body in bed, the simple touch of his hand with the swirled scar from the time he went over the handle bars of his bike at 12 and landed with a stick piercing his palm?

Yes, she had enjoyed Jack, at one time at least. But that had been, what? A year ago? Two? Maybe two and a half.

Maybe she just needed to adjust her attitude.

"Hey, what's going on in there? Did you drown yourself?" Jack called.

Yes, adjust her attitude — be positive. Maybe sex would be…nice for a change.

"Did you flush yourself down the toilet?" Jack called again. "I sure hope not 'cause big daddy is out here waiting for you."

Positive attitude. Francesca smiled to the mirror, flicked off the bathroom lights, and stepped into the bedroom.

"There you are," he said, looking up from the Outdoor Sportsman magazine he had in his hand.

"Here I am." Francesca kept smiling. He had already pushed all the covers down to the foot of the bed — the way she hated — and was lying on top of the top sheet in nothing but his boxers and round-framed glasses.

"Big daddy's ready for some fun." He smiled and wiggled his thin hips on the bed.

"I've told you I don't like it when you say that."

"Say what?" he grinned.

"What?" He patted the side of the bed next to him.

"Big daddy," Francesca said through her teeth. "It's really not a turn on." She walked around his scattered clothes — shirt, pants, half curled-up belt — on the floor.

"Big daddy," he said, smiling.

by A. C. Paterson

There you have it. Which hits home, the idea or the experience? (Notice also that there's conflict throughout.) Being able to create an experience in this way is another of the several essential tools you must master to succeed as a writer. All of them are at the heart of The Writers’ Loft.

You Can Do This

That's the most important thing to keep in mind. Storytelling is an acquired skill and not an inborn talent. You don't have to be brilliant or write a brilliant story. You just have to master enough craft to tell a good enough story. Plenty of writers of average intelligence are making lots of money writing mediocre stories. Look around. They're not hard to find. Unlike the other arts (music, painting, dance, etc.) where you must have an inborn ability, to be a successful storyteller, you have what you need already. You don't have to know how to play the piano or paint a portrait to get along in the world, but you'd better understand yourself, how people work, how the world works if you're going to make it in this life. In fact, if you've survived this long, you have at least 10 novels in you. You have a full set of emotions and plenty of dramatic, painful, and exciting experience to draw on. That doesn't mean you have to write about yourself. Even if you're creating Martians, it all comes from your imagination. They're your Martians and your Martians are unlike all others.

You have what you need already, but you must learn how to use it. That means developing the skills to get in touch with your imagination and to bring it to life on the page. So, it's not what you have, but learning how to use it. All you need is the desire. The Writers’ Loft gives you everything else.

Classes are now forming. To register or for more information please email me at [email protected] or call 206.618.3747.

You Also Get

Audio files that cover the critical elements of storytelling. Play them as you ride in your car or on your phone or iPod. The more you listen the more you learn. A great way to perfect your skills and technique while you're doing other things.

STORY HELP LINE. Call any time for help with any writing problem. Get the help you need when you need it. No need to wait until the next class. Call any time for personal help with any and every writing problem whether it's trouble with your story or yourself. Don't sit there and suffer. Remember no writing problem is too big to conquer and no problem is too small to disable you. This is Mary's specialty. Call any time and let Mary get you back on the track.

PERSONAL CONFERENCES. Unlimited personal conferences. Personalized help tailored to your needs of the moment and the future. Help finding your subject, setting your goals, and dealing with any other writing problems.

OUTSIDE WRITING HELP. Get feedback and coaching with outside writing. If you already have a story, you will get the coaching and guidance you need to get it into shape and off to market.

The first class is free. Any time you miss a class you are able to attend that class the next time it is presented.

FULL MARKETING STRATEGY. Taking one Writers’ Loft workshop entitles you to full marketing help and guidance - even if you're no longer in the workshop. Whenever you have a novel, short story, screenplay, or stage play ready, Mary will give you everything you need to market your work and help you short cut the submission process and get your story a serious read by agents, editors, and publishers.

How You Learn, What You Learn, and More

What You Learn

STORY CRAFT AND TECHNIQUE. Plot, character, dramatic momentum. The source of all drama. The few dramatic forces that will turn any idea into a compelling story.

THE CREATIVE PROCESS. Overcoming doubt, fear, and panic. Techniques to overcome resistance, stop fighting yourself, and get the flow going the moment you sit down.

SELF-COACHING AND SELF-EDITING. Learn to stop torturing yourself when it doesn't come out the way you wanted. Learn to trust your own emotional radar to find that dramatic potential that's always in your work and learn how to use it to bring your story to life on the page every time.

REWRITING TECHNIQUES. Turning drudgery into excitement and inspiration. Rewriting is the best part. Once you know how, rewriting becomes re-exciting.

THE ESSENCE OF CHARACTER. What's needed to bring characters to life in all their depth and complexity. How to make the deepest, most personal connection to your characters.

SHORT STORY TO NOVEL, STAGE PLAY OR SCREENPLAY. How to turn any short story or story idea into the longer form without stressing, straining, or padding. Plus the easiest (and hardest) kind of novel to write and the easiest (and hardest) kind of novel to sell. What makes literature literature (exactly what it takes to write literary fiction.) How to write a bestseller. And how to write down-and-dirty, commercial fiction with the least pain and most pleasure in the least amount of time if that's your goal.

UNIVERSAL PLOT FORMS. Aristotle, quoted in nearly every writing book and by every writing teacher, said there were six fundamental plots. Learn what even Aristotle didn't know — but Shakespeare did and so did Tolstoy, Steinbeck, Fitzgerald and many, many others. Learn how simple and easy it is to create compelling plots.

ORIGINALITY. What is it? Do you have it? (In a word: Yes. It's already there inside you. All you need are the tools to uncover it.) You're full of original ideas. You'll see how originality, this often intimidating concern, is easily achieved when you learn how to unlock your imagination and turn it loose on the page.

WORK METHODS. How to approach your story idea. (Should you outline, know the end first, write straight through before revising, have a plan, just jump in and go, write from a premise, have a theme in mind, etc). What you need to know before you start and what you don't.

MANAGING TIME. Where to find it (yes, it's there) and how to use it. Learn how you can write the first draft of a novel in just minutes a day in one year, regardless of your busy schedule and have fun doing it.

POINT OF VIEW. The ins and outs of this often confused and poorly explained story dimension made simple.

DEAD-WEIGHT. Learn the things that sound good but only serve to confuse, impede, or even disable you. Advice and misconceptions that many writers hold dear and struggle against that you need to be aware of and ignore.

Next: How You Learn

How you learn.

LECTURE AND DISCUSSION. In the first part of each workshop session, a specific technique is presented using concrete, clear-cut examples so you can see and apply these techniques directly to your writing. This approach demystifies the process, eliminates the guesswork, and puts the pleasure and satisfaction back in.

IN-CLASS WRITING. We end each session by writing for the last half-hour. Putting words on the page is what it's all about so we end by putting you in the process to get you loosened up and create some momentum that will carry over to the outside. This is your time to write anything you want, but a number of dramatic, provocative scene and story setups are given each time to help you get going if you need them.

WORKSHOP OF THE WRITING. It's not just feedback. The single, best way to master the story craft. Special techniques for actually practicing your craft and developing your skills and your ideas while considering some one else's work even though you're not putting words on the page. You will not be required or pressured to present your own work. All writing is presented by Jerry and is presented anonymously so the members can be relaxed and focus on the craft. Emphasis is on your own immediate, spontaneous response, which is where every story lives or dies. Like falling in love, you shouldn't have to be mulling it over or asking yourself, Is it working? Again, it's all about learning to trust your emotional radar and use it to turn any idea into a dramatic, compelling story.

STORY HELP LINE. Mary is a full time writer and workshop leader. She's around all the time, which means you can call any time and get the help you need without waiting until the next class. Getting the help when you need it is a great catalyst in developing your skills.

PERSONAL CONFERENCES In-person conferences about any and all writing problems. Get help with picking ideas, setting goals, scheduling, etc, to make sure you're not working against yourself and setting yourself up for failure with unrealistic expectations.

Next: Do You Have What It Takes?

Do you have what it takes.

What does it take to be a successful writer? Two things: motivation + story craft. I know you've heard about talent and of course it does exist but you don't need it to be successful, even very successful, in this art. Unlike the other arts (music, painting, dance, etc.) where you must have a special inborn talent to succeed, no special talent is needed to be a successful writer. How can that be? That's because the very skills you need to get along in the world are exactly what you need to be a successful storyteller. You don't have to know how to play the guitar or paint a landscape to survive, but you must know how people work, how you work, and how the world works. If you didn't, you wouldn't have made it this far. And because you've made it this far, you've got at least ten novels in you. You may not feel it. But trust me, they're there.

They're there because you have a full set of emotions, plenty of dramatic and exciting experience, and a rich imagination. Getting in touch with what you have is what The Writers’ Loft workshops are all about. Your emotions, your experience, your imagination, and the desire to write are all you need to create successful novels, short stories, screenplays, stage plays, biographies, memoirs, and nonfiction - plus one more critical skill. Story craft and technique. That's what you get at The Writers’ Loft in the quickest, easiest, most enjoyable way possible.

Now I'm not knocking talent. It does exist and if you have it, it's a bonus. But talent alone, talent without craft, will never do the job. I've had many talented, gifted writers who don't take the time to master the story craft and because they don't, they never bring their ideas to life on the page and they never get published. Beautiful writing will not save a dead story. A beautiful corpse is still a dead body. No matter how pretty you make it, it's never going rise up and do something exciting.

And of course talent comes into play if you're trying to win a Pulitzer Prize or the National Book Award. But few writers win those prizes - just as few actors ever win an Oscar but still go on to make fortunes in the movies.

Also, you may have noticed when you read novels or go to movies, there are plenty of average writers writing mediocre stories and making lots of money doing it. The competition isn't that tough. You can do it. You have what you need already. Come to the Writers Loft and get the skills to unlock your imagination and bring your ideas to life on the page, stage, or screen.

Next: Philosophy

It's not just a philosophy but a method — a method that works. A method that has produced many successful, prize-winning writers. At the heart of this method is the understanding that there is no such thing as a bad idea. Every idea has potential and dramatic possibilities. How can that be true? It's true because any and every idea can be shaped, reshaped, added to, subtracted from until it becomes dramatic and compelling.

If you don't believe me, Sample the Course for a demonstration of exactly how it's done. Also, to survive (to do your best work and have a good time doing it), you must cultivate a state of mind in which you're always looking for the possibilities and potential in your writing and not beating yourself up because it didn't come out the way you wanted. You must address the weaknesses, but the question must always be "What do I have and what can it become" "How do I make this work?"

In Printers' Row, just south of the Loop.

Important update: due to the current covid-19 pandemic all classes will be held over zoom meeting.

New Address. The Writers Loft is now located in Printers Row in downtown Chicago.

The Pope Building 633 South Plymouth Court #1002 (10th Floor) Chicago, 60605

Close to all train lines at Harold Washington Library stop at State/Van Buren and close to the Harrison Red line stop. Also close to the Metra. Parking lot across the street or metered street parking. Ask Mary for more details.

And guess what? It really does meet in a loft!

The Writers Loft has moved out of Chicago, but don’t fret, I will be starting Zoom workshops!

See yellow box for next date and email [email protected] to register. First class free to try, for those continuing the tuition is $575. Six consecutive weeks.

Can’t wait?

The Writers Loft Workshop—Solo

Do The Writers Loft program solo through pre-recorded videos Take as long as you want through it up to one year Zoom meetings as necessary to check-in and answer questions Unlimited e-mail contact Assignments with critique 10-page critique at the end Same cost of $575—1st workshop is free

Story problem consult via Zoom—The “Writers Couch” $95 40 min Zoom, let’s talk it out

10-page critique $95

Query letter critique $15

The best measure of a workshop is the success of its students.

Loft Successes: more than 40 novels*, 5 nonfiction titles*, plus an Emmy winner *All major publishers. Self publishing doesn’t count at the Loft.

How do you judge a workshop?

You may have never had a workshop and may have little or no idea what to look for. Or you may have had a workshop or two or even a bunch and still not be sure what you need and what works. Or you may feel you know what you need, but how can you tell if that's what you'll get from any particular workshop?

What is the best way to choose? What's the best measure of a workshop's effectiveness?

If your goal is to be a successful writer, then only one thing matters: Results. Learning the right skills to get you there as quickly and as painlessly as possible. And that can only be measured by the accomplishments of the students who have studied at that workshop.

Here is what a few of those who have studied at The Writers’ Loft have to say:

I recommend it to everyone who writes." Linda Lael Miller, author of eight New York Times bestsellers. Over 12 million books in print.

"The best there is." Michael Harvey, Emmy winner, writer for Academy Award nominated documentary Eyewitness , novelist.

"Without Jerry I never would have published at all." Josh Landsman, playwright, author of Frank Talk About Matters Big and Small (Organic Theatre, Chicago).

"A powerful motivator." Laura Caldwell, author of Burning the Map and A Clean Slate (Red Dress Ink), The Year of Living Famously (November, 2004), Look Closely (June, 2005).

"Simply brilliant. Brilliantly simple." Donal Harding, author of The Leaving Summer (Wm Morrow) and winner of the Paris Afton Bonds Screenplay Award.

"The best storyman ever." Jane Leder, author of Brothers and Sisters (St. Martins - nonfiction) and Dead Serious (Atheneum - nonfiction - rated one of the top ten books of the year by The National Library Board).

"Demystifies the story process." Michele Fitzsimmons, winner of $7,000 Illinois Arts Council Award for 21 pages of The Writers’ Loft in-class writing.

"Better than all my English and writing classes combined." Donald Catherall, author of Back from the Brink (Bantam).

"Simply the best workshop ever." Nicole Hollander, nationally syndicated cartoonist, creator of Sylvia .

Here are some endorsements from those who have the expertise to know:

"Plainly gifted." C. Michael Curtis, senior editor of The Atlantic Monthly .

"A true story master." Bernard Sabath, Broadway playwright, author of The Boys in Autumn , starring George C. Scott and John Cullum.

"Proves there is method to this madness." Tim Kazurinsky, Saturday Night Live writer and performer, screenwriter for About Last Night (Tri Star), For Keeps (Tri Star), and The Cherokee Kid , HBO special.

"Stretches your limits." Bob Condor, Columnist, Chicago Tribune .

We meet on Zoom. The cost for the entire course is $575.  You can put it on a charge card if you want.  If you charge it, you can spread the payments out over five months.  Five payments bring it down to $115 a month.  If you were to take a course like this at Northwestern or another university, the cost would be over $6,000.

The right coaching and guidance is critical to your writing success. So, come try it and see. You have nothing to lose and much to gain.

To try the first class for free, email [email protected] or call Mary Carter at 206.618.3747.

CHICAGO WRITERS ASSOCIATION is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. P.O. Box 6505, Evanston, IL 60204.

Literary Diversity

As an organization which believes in the power of words, we realize we haven’t said enough about the Black Lives Matter movement, racism, police brutality and in support of Black writers in our community and beyond. Within our organizing board, we have received feedback on how we can do better. We have been taking the time to listen, to learn more, and to compile a list of resources to begin the conversation.

As writers, there’s only one sentence we could write to begin: Black lives matter, have always mattered, and we need to do whatever we can to support the Black community.

CLICK HERE for our full statement, and a list of resources.

Resource Topics

• Advertising/Promotional Items: Business cards, bookmarks, postcards, t-shirts, etc.

Book Design Services

Book reviews, book/library locators, chicagoland publishing houses, chicago literary agents.

• Chicago’s Lit Scene — Indie book stores, cafes, clubs, and other writer-friendly places

Conferences/Writing Groups

Editing & publishing services.

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Finding an Agent

Formatting your manuscript, mfa programs, promoting your book/manuscript, publishing opportunities, recurring chicago reading series, self-publishing tips, style guidelines, and grammar and punctuation tips, starting a blog, submitting your manuscript: query and pitch tips.

Let's Just Write! An Uncommon Writers Conference

Northwestern Summer Writers' Conference

Midwest Mystery Conference

Earl Hall Studio

Evanston Writers Workshop's In the Trenches with the Writer Conference

Chicago Writers Association (Join us on Facebook ; follow us on Twitter )

For Love of Writing (FLOW)

Off Campus Writers Workshop

Writer’s Studio at the University of Chicago

Illinois Woman’s Press Association

The Guild Complex

DuPage Writers Group

Sisters in Crime Chicago Chapter

Windy City Chapter of Romance Writers of America

Independent Writers of Chicago

Society of Midland Authors

Midwest Writers Association

Chicago Women in Publishing

Young Chicago Authors

The Chicago Poetry Center

Poetry Foundation

Chicago Screenwriters Network

The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Illinois Chapter

Naperville Writers Group

Chicago Dramatists

Illinois State Poetry Society

Poets & Patrons

Horror Writers' Association Chicago Chapter

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Chicago’s Lit Scene

Indie book stores, cafes, clubs, and other writer-friendly places.

Chicago Literary Hall of Fame

American Writers Museum

NewCity Magazine

Writer’s Studio at the University of Chicago : Offers downtown and online writing classes as well as community events around Chicago

City Lit Books

StoryStudio Chicago : We strive to teach the art, craft, and business of writing in a positive, open, and encouraging setting where students can discover their unique voices

One Book, One Chicago

826 Chicago

Community Media Workshop

Printers Row Lit Fest

The Cliff Dwellers

Hypertext Magazine

Literacy Chicago

TriQuarterly

The Book Cellar

Quimby’s Book Store

Chicago Literary Club

Chicago Literary Readings

Tenx9, a Monthly Storytelling Event

Story Sessions

SUNDAY SALON CHICAGO , last Sunday/month FREE

Sunday Reading Series

Blue Hour , a  free monthly online reading series and generative writing workshop presented by Chicago Poetry Center

This Much Is True : 2nd Thursday of Every Month, Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro, 3905 N Lincoln Ave., Chicago, 7:30 PM (Doors at 7:00) FREE

Story Lab Chicago : 3rd Thursday of Every Month, Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro,  3905 N Lincoln Ave., Chicago, 7:30 PM (Doors at 7:00) ​FREE

Do Not Submit : a series of free open mics around Chicagoland

Columbia College

Northwestern University

School of the Art Institute

Chicago State University

Roosevelt University

DePaul University

Novel-in-Progress Bookcamp : The Novel-In-Progress Bookcamp & Writing Retreat offers a pair of parallel residential writing programs led by published authors and editors designed to help you reach your publishing goals. One registration fee includes room, board, and all program expenses.

Writer’s Studio at the University of Chicago : Offers downtown and online writing classes as well as community events around Chicago.

Hypertext Studio: Study at any level, from beginning writer to expert writer. Hypertext Studio is for writers who are serious about honing their storytelling skills but aren’t interested in pursuing a degree.

DePaul Writing Center

Chicago Dramatist’s Playwrights’ Studio

D iscovery Center Writing Classes

Midwest Writers Workshop .

Off Campus Writers’ Workshop . Weekly workshops Thursday mornings in Winnetka.

StoryStudioChicago

The Writers Loft

Chicago Writes Podcast

American Writers Museum Podcast

Chicago Writers Podcast

Agate Publishing

Muse Literary

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Switchback Books

Osbey Books

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Silverthought Press

Light Quarterly

Browne & Miller Literary Associates

Publishers Marketplace

Agent Query

reedsyblog: The Best Literary Agents Seeking Submissions

reedsyblog: 5 Agent-Approved Query Letter Examples

AgentQuery: How to Write a Query Letter

Duotrope : a subscription-based service for writers that offers an extensive, searchable database of current fiction, poetry, and non-fiction markets, a calendar of upcoming deadlines, a personal submissions tracker , and useful statistics compiled from the millions of data points we’ve gathered on the publishers we list.

William Shunn’s Guide to Proper Manuscript Format

The Elements of Style

Chicago Manual of Style

Word Tips' A Guide to Grammar and Punctuation

Evil Editor

reedsyblog: How to Write a Query Letter in 7 Simple Steps

How to Pitch Your Book to an Agent: Step-by-Step Guide

How to Pitch a Story with Steps, Template and Example

Windy City Reviews

Chicago Book Review

Advertising/Promotional Items: Business cards, bookmarks, postcards, t-shirts, etc.

Earthly Charms: Specializing in Promotion for Writers

Litnuts.com : get 25% off with discount code CWA25

E Author Solutions

Lisa Wagner's Ground Orchid : (book) editing, (ghost)writing and (ESL and English Lit.) tutoring

Christina Rodriguez Online : web design, writing and editing, web content management, social media management, graphic design, poetry editing and consulting services

JEM Edits : proofreading, copyediting, developmental editing, book review, and writing services

The Book Don : editorial support to writers at all stages of the process

Conspire Creative : offers coaching, consulting, conflict management, project management, editorial, and publishing services for solo pros, creatives, authors, small business owners, multipreneurs, and anyone interested in defensive entrepreneurship.

Prideaux Press : editing and publishing services for authors

Kim Bookless

Word Life Editorial Service

The Write Malloy : Book Coach & Historian

OutofControlEmail : Chicago-based freelancer Jason Pettus offers to manage people's email accounts and his skills in coding, copy-editing, personal assistant work, ebook creation, etc.

Janina R. Williams : Writer/Editor/Consultant

Word Bird Editorial Services : manuscript evaluation, content editing, copyediting, editorial evaluation

Byrd's World : writing coach

Start Blogging Online

The Blog Starter

First Site Guide

How to Start a Blog That Makes Money

WorldCat.org : world’s largest library catalog

Chicago Underground Library

BookCrossing : find books, share books, and meet fellow book lovers.

Newberry Library

The Great Books Foundation

IngramSpark: How to Self-Publish a Book

reedsyblog: How to Self-Publish a Book in 2022

Jane Friedman: Start Here: How to Self-Publish Your Book

Anderson Graphics

TLC Graphics

99 Designs – Book Cover Designs

You can search the Member Directory here .

Chicago Writers Association [email protected]

Make a Difference!

Chicago Writing Conferences, Retreats and Writing Groups

Chicago writing conferences.

Let’s Just Write! An Uncommon Writers Conference

Northwestern Summer Writers’ Conference

Writing Groups

Chicago Dramatists

Chicago-North Chapter of Romance Writers of America

https://chicagonorthrwa.org/

Chicago Screenwriters Network

https://www.chicagoscreenwriters.org/

Chicago Women in Publishing

https://www.cwip.org/

Chicago Writers Association

https://www.chicagowrites.org/resources

DuPage Writing Group

https://dupagewriters.wordpress.com/

Evanston Writers Workshop

http://www.evanstonwritersworkshop.org/

For Love of Writing (FLOW)

https://flowauthors.com/

Horror Writers Association Chicago Chapter (a.k.a. Chicago Horror Writers)

http://www.hwachicago.org/

Illinois State Poetry Society

http://www.illinoispoets.org/

Independent Writers of Chicago

https://iwoc.wildapricot.org/

Meetup (Community building platform that lists writing groups among others.)

https://www.meetup.com/cities/us/il/chicago/writing/

Midwest Writers Association

http://www.midwestwriters.com/

Naperville Writers Group

https://napervillewritersgroup.org/

Off Campus Writers Workshop

https://ocwwinfo7333.wildapricot.org/

Poets and Patrons

https://www.poetsandpatrons.net/

Sisters in Crime Chicago Chapter

https://www.sincchicago.com/index.html

Teen Writers and Artists Project

https://www.twaap.org/

The Chicago Poetry Center

https://www.poetrycenter.org/

The Illinois Woman’s Press Association

https://www.iwpa.org/

The Society of Midland Authors

https://midlandauthors.com/

The Writers’ Loft

http://www.thewritersloft.com/

Windy City Chapter of Romance Writers of America

http://www.windycityrwa.org/

Write by Night

https://www.writebynight.net/illinois/

Writer’s Studio at the University of Chicago

https://grahamschool.uchicago.edu/academic-programs/liberal-arts/writers-studio

Young Chicago Authors

https://youngchicagoauthors.org/

Upcoming Events

Past Events

Fuller Awards

Productions.

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Support CLHoF

About CLHoF

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Sign up for CLHoF Announcements

Chicago Literary Hall of Fame Email: Don Evans 4043 N. Ravenswood Ave., #222 Chicago, IL 60613 773.414.2603

Writer’s Studio

A haven for writers of all genres and ambitions, the Writer’s Studio offers engaging courses taught by eminent practitioners.

Hone your craft. Tell your story.

The Writer’s Studio at the University of Chicago is home to a community of writers and instructors passionate about the written word. Through classes, events, and workshops, the Studio connects writers of all genres and ability levels in creative writing.

• Creative writing courses include fiction, memoir, playwriting, poetry, short story, prose, novel-writing, and more. Introductory courses and advanced courses are labeled so that students can select the courses that are right for them and their writing goals.

Classes are designed to support, inspire, and challenge writers across experience levels. Whether you are a new or veteran writer, the Writer's Studio will help you take your craft to the next level. 

Courses in the Writer’s Studio are offered in a mix of online and in-person formats. All courses are capped at 14 students to promote deeper conversation and provide ample time for review of written work.

Our methodology is inspired by more than 130 years of leadership at the University of Chicago in the craft of writing. 

The Writer’s Studio community is comprised of students, alumni, distinguished authors, and eminent instructors. In addition to our courses, we also offer ongoing events to encourage new relationships and sustained learning. Students and alumni of the Writer’s Studio are also warmly welcomed into larger Graham School community events and opportunities.

Related Articles

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The Adopted Writer

A search to find her biological parents – and a learning journey at the Writer’s Studio fuel Julie Ryan McGue’s unexpected literary career.

August 7, 2023

The Tales of Two Writers

Ignited by passion and propelled by courses at the Writer’s Studio, Monique Demery and Deborah Keene enter the ranks of published authors.

May 24, 2023

Writing from Life: Poetry as Story

In a new writing workshop designed to elevate diverse voices, Writer’s Studio instructor Dr. Dipika Mukherjee champions poetry and the too often discounted value of personal experiences.

March 2, 2023

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Creative Writing Club

​The Creative Writing Club is an eclectic community of writers and lovers of the written word. We meet each week to share and discuss our own work in an encouraging environment, which allows for growth and varying perspectives to come forth. We work with Harold Washington College to reinvent the power of the written word through weekly and monthly events, catering to various forms, styles and categories of writing. We offer a safe environment for you, your words and ideas, with the aim of helping you share and express yourself the best we can.      

Want to learn more? Email the club at [email protected]

       

Officer Requirements

Officers must be in good standing, enrolled in at least six (6) credit hours, and must maintain a minimum cumulative 2.3 GPA each semester the student is an officer.      

Member Requirements      

Members must be enrolled in at least six (6) credit hours each semester with a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA.  Membership is open to all students.      

Club President Sum Kim [email protected]

Club advisor .

​[email protected]​

Fall credit classes start August 22 Fall ESL & GED/HiSET prep classes start August 26

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5 Best Creative Writing Classes in Chicago

Showing 5 courses that match your search.

How to Get Published

Chicago Writing Workshop

This is a special one-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop at the Congress Plaza Hotel. In other words, it’s one day full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. We’ll discuss your publishing opportunities today, how to write queries & pitches, how to market yourself and your books, what makes an agent/editor stop reading your manuscript, and more.

Website: https://chicagowritingworkshop.com/

Categories: Publishing

Start date:

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Form & Content: Experimenting with Prose Structures with Ploi Pirapokin

Story Studio Chicago

In this 2-hour course, we’ll borrow inspirations from poetic forms, genre conventions such as time limited devices, and learn six common traditional and unconventional story structures by weighing the risks and rewards of each form.

Website: https://www.storystudiochicago.org/classes/

Categories: Memoir, Book, Fiction, and Short Story

September, 2024

Deep Revision with Katey Schultz

This four-session workshop empowers writers with revision techniques applicable to memoir, essays, flash, short stories, or novels. It covers thematic, sentence-level, and structural revision, providing practical feedback using participants' works.

Categories: Book and Fiction

August, 2024

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Let's Just Write! An Uncommon Writers Conference

Chicago Writers Association

Scheduled for March 22-24, 2024, at the Warwick Allerton Hotel in Chicago, this event is a dynamic gathering for aspiring writers. It includes a welcome reception, two days of workshops, panels, pitch sessions, master classes, and more. The conference aims to inspire and educate, covering a range of topics for writers of all levels. Registration includes meals and a banquet dinner, with an option for agent/publisher pitch sessions.

Website: https://cwa12.wildapricot.org/event-5383207

Categories: Fiction, Essay, Poetry, Nonfiction, Short Story, and Book

March, 2024

Experimenting with Tense and Perspective

The course focuses on analyzing how different combinations of narrative perspectives and tenses impact a novel's tone, style, and emotional resonance. Participants will engage in close readings and generative exercises to set intentions for their writing.

So you’re looking for creative writing classes in Chicago

In the early twentieth century, critic H.L. Mencken made a case in The Nation that Chicago was the “literary capital of the United States of America.” Though many things have changed about this towering city since then, this aspect hasn’t: Chicago has inspired authors for decades, and will continue to do so in the future. So what better way to ride that wave than to take a writing class in Chicago?

This directory of the best writing courses in Chicago is meant to help you locate the right one for yourself.  We’ve included filters for price and genre so that you can quickly sort through the writing classes. And before you commit to any one writing class, consider the following questions:

• Who is the instructor?
• What is the price of the writing course?
• How far away is the writing course in Chicago? Is there a remote alternative?
• How long could the course last?

Got any questions about finding the right writing class in Chicago for you? Feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] . Good luck!

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The Researched Memoir with Melissa Febos

In four weekly sessions, bestselling memoirist and essayist Melissa Febos will lead participants through the stages of writing a researched memoir from conception to publication.

The Short Story Toolkit: Four Lessons on Form, Content, and Brevity with Rebecca Makkai

Writer and StoryStudio Artistic Director Rebecca Makkai presents four online lectures on the craft of the short story, with discussions of drafting, revision, and publication.

What I Really Mean to Say: Monologue, Liveness, and Honesty with Connor Shioshita Pickett

In this workshop, students will write and perform personal essays in the style of a live-lit or variety-hour show. Through a combination of in-class exercises and writing homework, we will create a number of shorter works and then a final 3-5 minute monologue.

SINGLE SESSION

PJ Seminar: Founded in Truth, Realized By Imagination – A Master Class on Poetic Craft in Fiction with JoAnna Novak

This master class will focus on poetic elements like imagery, figurative language, repetition, and others, investigating how these writers incorporate them into narratives.

Creative Nonfiction Series: Turning Your Trips into Tales – The Art of Travel Writing with Suzanne Roberts

Have you ever wondered how to become a travel writer? If so, this generative workshop will help you write about your journeys and adventures, past and future.

PJ Seminar: Revision: The Sequel! with Peter Ho Davies

In this class we’ll draw the act of revision into the light, calling on examples from life, literature and pop culture, as well as offering a range of strategies for how to re-see re-vision.

MASTER CLASSES

PJ Seminar: Maintaining Discovery: A Master Class on Revision as an Act of Autonomy with Marie-Helene Bertino

This nuts-and-bolts PJ Seminar will offer practical, guiding questions to help writers move toward a better understanding of how to maintain discovery during revision.

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YOUTH SUMMER CAMPS

Online & In-Person for Summer 2024

StoryStudio is proud to offer multiple week-long writing workshops for young scribes. With our talented instructors, young writers can expect to learn elements of writing, build friendships and community with fellow peers, and get feedback on their creative works. Check out our different sessions, a mix of online and in-person, and covering grades 5 through 12.

Please subscribe to our Youth Newsletter to get first updates on camp information.

5th – 8th Graders Online

June 24 – 28, 2024 10am – 12pm CT

For 2024, we’re pleased to welcome back instructor Zac Ginsburg for this week-long creative writing camp.

Price: $325

7th – 11th: The World’s a Vast Stage Writing & Performing IN PERSON

June 24 – 28, 2024 9am – 12pm CT

We’re pleased to introduce Mike Zapata to the Studio for this in person writing and performance-based camp.

9th – 12th Graders IN PERSON

July 8 – 12, 2024 9am – 12pm CT

For 2024, we’re pleased to introduce Kris Gevorgyan to the Studio for this in person high school level camp.

7th – 11th: Sci-Fi/Fantasy Online

July 22 – 26, 2024 10am – 12pm CT

Instructor Zac Ginsburg returns for this genre-specific camp for writers who want to build their own worlds.

6th – 8th: Fiction IN PERSON

July 22 – 26, 2024 9am – 12pm CT

Instructor Denise Santomauro returns for this genre-specific camp for in person camp for middle-schoolers.

StoryStudio is pleased to offer full scholarships to students who are unable to meet the tuition requirements. If your child would like to apply for a scholarship, please ask them to fill out this form.

Want to Donate?

Are you interested in donating to our Summer Camp Scholarship Fund? Help students like Amy and other young writers participate in a week full of creative writing and community building. All donations go directly to funding scholarship spots in all of our summer camps.

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