Chicago Writers Association

A new chapter for the Chicago Writers Association is here. Our new website is officially live! Visit www.chicagowrites.org #cwa #chicagowritersassociation #chicagowrites #newchapter #website

Retreat attendees: Bring your story into focus at the 2026 CWA Winter Retreat. Docha Photography will offer complimentary professional headshots and optional lifestyle and branding sessions for $249. Learn more at chicagowrites.org/writing-retreat

The Write City Magazine is excited to publish a poem by Tushar Sen. You can #read the #poem at: chicagowrites.substack.com/p/the-city-p... #thewritecitymagazine #litmag #poetry

Your next read is waiting at Write City Magazine. Find the latest fiction at: chicagowrites.substack.com/s/write-city-ezine #writecitymagazine #litmag #fiction

Join us this Saturday, Oct. 10 at 2 P.M. for Live Lit, the Chicago Writers Association’s reading series, at the Sulzer Regional Library (4455 N. Lincoln Ave). Spend the afternoon hearing 12 featured writers share their work. Learn more: www.chicagowrites.org/live-lit

Are adjectives and adverbs really the enemy? The latest Write City Blog explores when modifiers weaken your writing and when they can actually make it better. Where do you stand in the debate? chicagowrites.substack.com/p/the-good-the-bad-and-the-overdone #writecityblog #writingtips #blog

Meet the guest speakers joining us at the CWA Winter Retreat! Nov. 13–16 Allerton Park & Retreat Center | Monticello, Illinois $795 through Sept. 30 | $850 beginning Oct. 1 Learn more: chicagowrites.org/writing-retreat #writingretreat #writersretreat

Only 9 more days to submit to our First Chapter Contest! Don't forget to submit your first chapter.

Join CWA at the 41st Annual Printers Row Lit Fest! Stop by Tent JJ on South Dearborn Street to meet CWA members, browse books from local authors, and learn more about the Chicago Writers Association. Sept. 12–13 printersrowlitfest.org See you there!

Catch up on some of our latest #poetry & more from the CWA writing community. Explore the latest: chicagowrites.substack.com/s/write-city-ezine Have new work? Submit to Write City Magazine: chicagowrites.substack.com/p/submission-guidelines #WriteCityMagazine #litmag #submit

Calling Chicagoland writers! CWA is looking for readers for our next Live Lit, Oct. 10 at Sulzer Regional Library. Share your work live Meet writers & readers Opportunity to sell your books Open to CWA members. Interested? chicagowrites.org/live-lit #livelit #readingseries

Calling all James Bond fans! At the inaugural CWA Winter Retreat, Raymond Benson—the first American commissioned by the Fleming Estate to write original Bond novels—will present “The James Bond Phenomenon,” including a Q&A. Spots are filling quickly! www.chicagowrites.org/calendar/cwa...

Could your first chapter be an award winner? Enter CWA’s 11th Annual First Chapter Contest for a chance at publication, cash prizes & a writing workshop scholarship. Sept. 30 deadline $20 entry fee CWA members only chicagowrites.org/first-chapter #firstchaptercontest #writingcontests

Give your writing the time it deserves. Join us Nov. 13–16 for the CWA Winter Retreat at Allerton Park & Retreat Center in Monticello, IL. Four days of dedicated writing time. Early registration: $795 through Sept. 30 chicagowrites.org/calendar/cwa-winter-retreat #writingretreat

One more week to submit your book for the Book of the Year contest! Submit before Aug. 1!

#Read the latest #poems, #shortstories, and more from the Write City Magazine: chicagowrites.substack.com/s/write-city... #writecitymagazine #litmag #poetry #fiction

The Write City Magazine is excited to #publish a poem by Snehal Bhadani. You can #read the poem at: chicagowrites.substack.com/p/i-am-the-b... #thewritecitymagazine #litmagazine #literarymagazine #poetry #poems

Our fifth volume of The Write City Review is hot off the presses! It’s a 200-page #anthology of #poetry, #shortstories, #essays, and #bookexcerpts drawn from our online publication, The Write City Magazine. Buy now from Eckhartz Press: eckhartzpress.com/shop/the-wri...

The Write City Magazine is excited to publish a poem by Clara Burghelea You can #read the #poem at: chicagowrites.substack.com/p/spill #thewritecitymagazine #litmag #poetry

Learn how to #protect yourself and your art from #fraud. They Said They Had My Manuscript—They Didn’t #Subscribe and #read now: chicagowrites.substack.com/p/they-said-... #blog #writecityblog #scams #writingadvice

CWA's 16th Annual Book of the Year contest is open for submissions. Check out the website for the entry form and contest rules. Visit: www.chicagowrites.org/book_of_the_... #bookoftheyearcontest

#Subscribe to the Write City Magazine and the Write City Blog on #Substack chicagowrites.substack.com You'll get to read the latest in #writing, from creative works in #fiction, #nonfiction, and #poetry, to #articles on the craft and business of writing and book publishing. #litmag #blog

The Write City Magazine is excited to #publish a short story by Lisa Sharon. You can #read the #story at: chicagowrites.substack.com/p/yellow-sat... We also have exciting news! The Write City Magazine is now on #Substack: chicagowrites.substack.com/s/write-city... #writecitymagazine #litmag

Join us at Pilsen Community Books (1531 W. 18 St) for our next Live Lit reading event on June 17 at 7 P.M. The event will feature a selection of writers reading from their #poetry, #novels, #shortstories, and personal #essays. We plan to have twelve readers. #reading #livelit

Hosted by: VocaTales, Beyond the Margins, Conspire Creative, and the Chicago Writers Association Free. Open to writers of all stripes. No agenda except a good argument and better stories. RSVP now: facebook.com/events/s/the...

Here are some tips for building relationships with your audience through a well-crafted newsletter. What Substack Gets Right #Subscribe and #read now: chicagowrites.substack.com/p/what-subst... #writecityblog #writingadvice

An ISBN is a 13-digit code that identifies your book’s publisher, edition, and print format. So, how does a self-published author go about getting one? Navigating ISBNs #Subscribe and #read now: chicagowrites.substack.com/p/navigating... #writecityblog #writingadvice

#Writing improves the same way anything else does: through regular, deliberate practice. Not every session needs to produce a finished or publishable draft. 5 Writing Exercises You Do Daily #Subscribe and #read now: chicagowrites.substack.com/p/5-writing-... #writecityblog #writingadvice

The Goodman Theatre is currently presenting a stage production of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, by our conference keynote speaker, Junot Díaz. Go watch the play at The Goodman: www.goodmantheatre.org/show/the-bri... Register for the conference: chicagowrites.org/conference.

Join us at After-Words Bookstore (23 E Illinois St.) to see the Chicago Writers Association’s first public Live Lit reading event on March 26 at 6 P.M. #events #reading #livelit

How to Build an AI-Free Writing Ecosystem #Subscribe and #read now: chicagowrites.substack.com/p/how-to-bui... #writecityblog #blog #writingadvice

The Write City Magazine is excited to #publish an excerpt by Faylita Hicks, a winner of the 2025 Book of the Year Awards. You can #read the excerpt at: www.chicagowrites.org/write_city/1... #writecitymagazine #poetry #bookoftheyear

CWA member Nick Ulanowski writes about Robert Macauley and the Book of the Year Awards. Thank you for writing about us and this moment! starvingauthor.substack.com/p/robert-mac...

The Write City Magazine is excited to #publish an excerpt by Jim Slusher, a winner of the 2025 Book of the Year Awards. You can #read the excerpt at: www.chicagowrites.org/write_city/1... #writecitymagazine #nonfiction #bookoftheyear

5 Universal Writing Exercises for Prose and Poetry #Subscribe and #read now: chicagowrites.substack.com/p/5-universa... #writecityblog #blog #prose #poetry #writingexercises

Join Gina DiPonio for a conversation on using generative AI in approachable ways as a support, not a replacement for voice, craft, or care. cwa12.wildapricot.org/event-6526566 #AI #onlineclass

The Write City Magazine is excited to #publish an excerpt by Heidi Bell, a winner of the 2025 Book of the Year Awards. You can #read the excerpt at: www.chicagowrites.org/write_city/1... #writecitymagazine #fiction #bookoftheyear

Some pictures from the 2025 Book of the Year Awards The full album can be found on Facebook: www.facebook.com/share/p/1DbD... #bookoftheyear

The Role of Conflict in Stories #Subscribe and #read now: chicagowrites.substack.com/p/the-role-o... #writecityblog #blog #writingadvice

The Write City Magazine is excited to #publish an excerpt by Syed Afzal Haider, a winner of the 2025 Book of the Year Awards. You can #read the excerpt at: www.chicagowrites.org/write_city/1... #writecitymagazine #fiction #bookoftheyear

The 2026 Speakers Bureau Program is now available! Find the next speaker for your 2026 events with 75 original programs from 34 local presenters. View the program list: chicagowrites.org/speakers_bur... #speakersbureau #speakingengagements

The Write City Magazine is excited to #publish an excerpt by Robert Macauley, a winner of the 2025 Book of the Year Awards. You can #read the excerpt at: www.chicagowrites.org/write_city/1... #writecitymagazine #nonfiction #bookoftheyear

The Write City Magazine is excited to publish a poem by Albert DeGenova. You can #read the #poem at: www.chicagowrites.org/write_city/1... #thewritecitymagazine #litmag #poetry

Congrats to the winners and honorable mentions of the 2025 Book of the Year Awards! Join us for the awards ceremony on January 23, 2026, at 6 P.M. at The Book Cellar. Learn more at chicagowrites.org/book_of_the_.... #bookoftheyear2025 #winners #fiction #nonfiction #poetry

Why writing fewer words, focusing on clarity, and editing more is a better resolution than just “writing more.” Your "New" New Year’s Resolution: Write Less #Subscribe and #read now: chicagowrites.substack.com/p/your-new-n... #writecityblog #blog #tipsandtricks #writingadvice

The Write City Magazine is happy to #publish an excerpt: Last Sunset in San Miguel by Rita Dragonette, a #winner of the 2025 First Chapter Contest. You can #read the excerpt at: www.chicagowrites.org/write_city/1... #thewritecitymagazine #litmagazine #firstchaptercontest #fiction

The Write City Magazine is happy to #publish an excerpt: Cool Like Maverick by Jennifer Chapman, a #winner of the 2025 First Chapter Contest. You can #read the excerpt at: www.chicagowrites.org/write_city/1... #thewritecitymagazine #litmagazine #firstchaptercontest #fiction

We are delighted to announce the #winners of the Chicago Writers Association’s 10th Annual First Chapter #Contest. Learn more about the winning entries and prizes: chicagowrites.org/first_chapter

In this episode of the Chicago Writes Podcast, we continue the conversation with author Paul Roach. We also say goodbye to Bill Turck and this run of the podcast. #Listen to this #episode on Podbean: chicagowrites.podbean.com/e/one-final-... #chicagowritespodcast #podcast #interview

#Registration is now open for the 2026 Let's Just Write! Chicago Writers Association Conference. We can't wait for you to join us! Learn more at chicagowrites.org/conference. #letsjustwriteconference #conference #JustWrite2026