SPRING 2022-2023 NETWORKS
March, April & May
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Anyone can attend any Network,
anywhere at anytime!
Live, in-person and online meetings are free and open to all! Networks focus on craft and industry programming and are our first point of outreach with the wider creative community.
Scroll down to see the complete list
of networks and offerings!
Network Representatives are valued SCBWI-IL volunteers.
Contact them with your questions about attending any of our programs.
Interested in starting a NETWORKS group?
See SCBWI’s COVID-19 policies at end of page
All Network times are CDT
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SCBWI-IL Members: You can also join in the fun at our SCBWI Illinois Illustrators Network Group on Facebook – request to join here.
SCBWI member illustrators please make sure you are on the illustrator Google Group! To be added please email Allan Woodrow
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Chicago-Area Illustrators’ Network |
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MARCH
Online
Mentor Texts
Whether you are illustrating a book written by someone else, creating a series for a portfolio, or illustrating your own work, looking at published picture books will help you improve your work.
Spend some time before our meeting looking through books in your genre. Look at layout and design, art style, pagination, page turns, words on a page. Bring a couple of your favorite, best and/or worst examples to the meeting to share.
We will discuss how the books help us become more clear on our own projects, and share potential mentor text titles with the group.
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APRIL
Online
Adding Movement & Emotion to Your Illustrations
The more your artwork shows movement and emotions, the more you have to offer as an illustrator of children’s books.
Let’s talk a little about anatomy and how the body moves, and then we’ll practice together. Have your art supplies and sketchbook with you.
Let’s get our characters moving before we take our field trip to Chicago for observational drawing.
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MAY
In Person
Observational Drawing
at the Zoo
Bring your supplies! Let’s meet at the fountain at the Lincoln Park Conservatory to start our session of observational drawing. We’ll review the concepts we learned at our last meeting, warm up with some quick gesture sketches, and then spread out and fill our sketchbooks with moments we notice at the zoo.
After time spent drawing, we’ll gather together again and share what worked, what didn’t, and what we would try next. (We will have an alternate location in case of bad weather, TBD.)
Bring a picnic lunch and we can hang out and get to know each other better.
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Email Network Co-Reps Sarah Tobias and Denise Holmes for more information.
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Downstate Illustration Network |
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MARCH
In Person
Bookmaking
We are having a demonstration on bookmaking by Don Gruber, one of our members, in the Library Board Room
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MAY
In Person
TBD
Add description here.
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Join us on Facebook
This Network maintains a Facebook page (Downstate Illinois SCBWI Illustrators) for critiques and information sharing between meetings. If you’d like to join us, send us a request via Facebook or email one of the network reps. At our meetings we typically discuss markets, critique work and share our journey. Everyone is welcome.
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Email Network Co-Reps Louann Brown and Jerry Barrett for more information.
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Equity & Inclusion Network |
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Stay tuned for programming in Summer 2023 |
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Diversity Network Meetings create a space where writers and illustrators who’ve traditionally been left at the margins in children’s publishing can get together. At these meetings we’ll build community, share stories of hurdles and successes, work to dismantle barriers, improve diversity and inclusion in children’s literature and SCBWI-IL, work on our craft and improve our writing and/or illustrating careers.
Our focus on diversity springs from the #WeNeedDiverseBooks movement: We recognize all diverse experiences, including (but not limited to) LGBTQIA, Native, people of color, gender diversity, people with disabilities, and ethnic, cultural, and religious minorities. Because of the breadth of this focus, we will be particularly conscious of the intersectionality of oppressions and identities. Allies are welcome. (An ally is a person who supports, empowers, or stands up for another person or a group of people.)
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If you need additional ADA support such as sign language interpreter or other resources, please email Network Representative Donna Beasley in advance.
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Chicago Southside Network |
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Stay tuned for programming in Summer 2023 |
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Email Network Co-Reps Kate Hannigan and Natasha Tarpley for more information.
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Stay tuned for programming in Summer 2023 |
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Email Network Rep Mary Jo Gugliemo for more information.
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Chicago's Southland Network |
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APRIL
Online
How to Write a Pick Your Own Quest Book
SCBWI Southlands is pleased to have author P. J. Hoover speak to our group about creating books where the reader not only becomes the main character, but makes decisions that impact the outcome of their story. P. J. has written a series of eleven pick your own quest books under the name Connor Hoover with main characters from King Tut to Alice in Wonderland.
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Email Network Co-Reps Jim Danielson and Linda Dryfhout for more information.
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MARCH
Online
Dreams, the Unconscious,
and a Writer's Life
Join us and author Jarrett Dapier as he talks about the role of dreams and the unconscious in his life as a writer and why he thinks both are important for writers to pay attention to when writing for children.
NOTE 3/7: This event has been postponed due to family emergency and will be rescheduled at a later date.
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MAY
Online
Writing Collaboratively:
A talk with Keir Graff
Too many aspiring authors believe the writing process rests solely on their own shoulders; working writers know it takes a village to make a book. Veteran collaborator Keir Graff discusses the many roles editors, agents, coauthors, and others can play in improving your work--and how you can let them help.
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Email North Suburban Network Representatives Carolyn Crimim Anny Rusk and Ilana Ostrar for more information.
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Far North Suburban Network |
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MARCH
In Person
Critique Night
If you'd like to receive feedback on your work, please bring no more than one picture book manuscript or 5 double spaced pages of a novel excerpt. 6-8 copies should be enough.
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APRIL
In Person
Critique Night
If you'd like to receive feedback on your work, please bring no more than one picture book manuscript or five double spaced pages of a novel excerpt. 6-8 copies should be enough
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MAY
In Person
EOY Reading
It's been another interesting and challenging year but we still managed to write some words! Let's celebrate that! Bring a picture book manuscript or 2-3 pages of a novel and share your success with us. No feedback, just applause..
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Email Far North Suburban Network Representatives Kim Oclon and Nicole Hewitt for more information.
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Far Northwest Suburban Network |
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MARCH
In Person
Open Critique
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APRIL
In-Person
Open Critique
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Email Network Co-Reps Veronica Rundell and Liz Searle for more information.
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MARCH
Online
Critique Night
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APRIL
Online
Critique Night
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MAY
Online
Critique Night
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Email Network Reps & Co-Regional Advisor Jennifer Wagh if you are a first-time attendee.
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Oak Park & Near West Suburban Network |
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MARCH
Online
Sailing the Sea of Story
A night of writing exercises inspired by Ursula Le Guin's book, Steering the Craft.
Sarah and Sallie will create several writing exercises. Come to the Zoom meeting with paper and pen.
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APRIL
Online
Ask Anything About
Nonfiction
Q&A Panel
Want to know more about writing trade non-fiction children's books or work-for-hire series? Then join us for a nonfiction panel with award-winning authors Alice McGinty and Suzanne Slade, where you can get answers to all your questions (we mean ALL!).From picture book biographies to narrative nonfiction to expository nonfiction books, the authors are happy to discuss any and all topics such as tips for submitting, working with editors, revising, research, generating great story ideas, interviewing experts, and much more.
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MAY
Online
Critique Night
Manuscripts, art, or submission materials (queries, proposals, cover letters) will be thoughtfully and respectfully considered. Time will be apportioned evenly among participants. If we have more than 10 people with work to share, we will consider the first 10 to arrive and reserve a spot for any others for the next critique. Screen-sharing your work is helpful but not required. Even if you do not have work to share, you can learn a lot by hearing others' work and weighing in with your thoughts
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Email Network Rep Sarah Hammond or Sallie Wolf for more information.
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Bolingbrook-Naperville Network |
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MARCH
Online
Word Playdate
Hey authors and author/illustrators, have you ever attended a word playdate?
We are piggybacking on Rebecca Gardyn Levington's debut book, BRAINSTORM! (Sleeping Bear Press, 2022).
Together we will play with sound and rhythm to create
a specific mood or emotion that resonates in your next powerful story.
Join us in this literal brainstorm of words and writing. It's appropriate for all genres, but please bring a notebook to collect and play with all those new words and ideas.
For more info on Rebecca's method, check out the following: https://taralazar.com/2023/01/15/storystorm-2023-day-15/
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APRIL
Online
Embracing
Tough Topics in Fiction
Is there a tough topic that you have personally faced? OCD? Anxiety? Shyness? Concussions?
How can you weave your personal experience into children's fiction without sounding like a medical journal? And, without spoon-feeding that lesson to the reader?
Author Natalie Rompella will show us how to present an issue in a fun way to children during her talk, Embracing Tough Topics in Fiction from 10 a.m. to noon April 8th.
Natalie Rompella is the author of more than sixty books and other resources for children, including MALIK'S NUMBER THOUGHTS: A STORY ABOUT OCD, a picture book addressing obsessive number thoughts and COOKIE CUTTERS & SLED RUNNERS, a middle grade novel about OCD.
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Email Network Co-Reps Catherine Velasco and Mary & Rich Chamberlin for more information.
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MARCH
Online
Critique Night
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APRIL
Online
Critique Night
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MAY
Online
Critique Night
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Email Network Co-Reps Janet Riehecky and Cheryl App for more information.
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MARCH
Online
Craft Book Discussion: Save the Cat Writes a Novel
Please join us for a discussion of Jessica Brody's Save the Cat Writes a Novel. We'll be discussing:
Chapter 3: Genres
Chapter 4: Whydunit
Chapter 5: Rites of passage
We'll summarize the chapters to give everyone a chance to discuss, even if you didn't have time to read. All are welcome!
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APRIL
Online
Craft Book Discussion: Save the Cat Writes a Novel
Please join us for a discussion of Jessica Brody's Save the Cat Writes a Novel. We'll be discussing:
Chapter 6: Institutionalized
Chapter 7: Superhero
Chapter 8: Dude with a problem
We'll summarize the chapters to give everyone a chance to discuss, even if you didn't have time to read. All are welcome!
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MAY
Online
Craft Book Discussion: Save the Cat Writes a Novel
Please join us for a discussion of Jessica Brody's Save the Cat Writes a Novel. We'll be discussing:
Chapter 9: Fool triumphant
Chapter 10: Buddy love
Chapter 11: Out of the bottle
We'll summarize the chapters to give everyone a chance to discuss, even if you didn't have time to read. All are welcome!
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Stay tuned for programming in Spring 2023 |
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Email Network Co-Reps Karen Blaski and Gina Buckles for more information.
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Galena-Freeport Area Network |
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MARCH
Online
Open Critique
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APRIL
Online
Open Critique
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Email Network Rep Jamie Petras for more information.
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East Central / Champaign-Urbana Network |
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MARCH
In-Person
First Pages
Calling all children's and young adult writers and illustrators! Bring the first pages of your manuscript for peer feedback.
Bring the typed first page or two of a manuscript you have been working on. You will have the opportunity to receive peer feedback in a supportive and constructive environment.This program is a great way to meet others who are passionate about writing for youth and to learn about resources to assist you on your writing journey.
This program is presented in collaboration with The Urbana Free Library. No registration is necessary and it is open to everyone - feel free to join us even if you don't regularly attend network events.
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Email Network Rep Elaine Bearden for more information.
Elaine Bearden
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Springfield Area Scribes Network |
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MARCH
In Person
Critique Night
The Scribes will meet at the Chatham Library to exchange pages for critiques.
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APRIL
In Person
Critique Night
The Scribes will meet at the Chatham Library to exchange pages for critiques.
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MAY
In Person
Critique Night
The Scribes will meet at the Chatham Library to exchange pages for critiques.
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Email Network Rep Debra Daugherty for more information.
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MARCH
In Person
Open Critique
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APRIL
In Person
Open Critique
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MAY
In Person
Open Critque
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Email Network Reps Juli Caveny for more information. Thanks to Bonnie Swanson, stepping down after years of service!
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SCBWI-IL NETWORK POLICIES |
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And, as always:
—Networks are free and open to all. You may attend any Network at any time, not just the one in your area.
—Special Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: If you have a disability and need any special assistance to enjoy the event’s online programming, please email the Network Representative or Co-Regional Advisor to ask for assistance for your particular needs.
—A recording of online programs may be offered for a small convenience fee on our Recordings BY REQUEST page.
—Recordings BY REQUEST are available in February, May, August and November. Your convenience fee gives you unlimited viewing all month long.
—Your attendance fees support NETWORKS and other free Regional opportunities like scholarships and mentorships
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Please find below the COVID protocols from SCBWI HQ. (Updated 3/23)
Please note: SCBWI-IL Networks are in no way obligated to hold in-person events but if they do...
Comments regarding this policy should be directed to SCBWI headquarters by mailing
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QUESTIONS about SCBWI-IL Networks?
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