Blog

Images of the Sheffield's fundraiser

Chicago Writers Association — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 03:53:26 +0000

The snow has mostly melted, but the memories remain. Many who wanted to be there couldn't because of the wintry weather that night. Still, many braved the elements and made it a warm, unforgettable evening inside. For those who may have over-indulged in the free-flowing Chimay beer and lost a few memories, these photos will help to refresh your bank. Many thanks to those who did come out that night to make the night a huge success. We truly appreciate your support.

Check out JoAnn Fastoff's images of the Sheffield's fundraiser.

Check out Danny Smith's other images of the Sheffield's fundraiser.

Sheffield's fundraiser flyer

Chicago Writers Association — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:01:15 +0000

Silent Auction

Chicago Writers Association — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 04:11:43 +0000

We're so giddy about the tremendous response we've received for our silent auction call for donations that we just had to share it with you. The collection of items that will be auctioned or raffled at our Jan. 7 Sheffield's fundraiser keeps growing, and we hope it continues to grow up until the day of the event. Below are the items donated or pledged so far. Many, many thanks to our generous donors.

Signed books

Peter Abresch - If They Ask for a Hand, Only Give Them a Finger & Easy Reading Writing, Easy Reading About Writing Easy Reading
Arnie Bernstein - Bath Massacre: America’s First School Bombing
Cynthia Clampitt - Waltzing Australia
Scotti Cohn - It Happened in Chicago and One Wolf Howls
Stump Connolly – The Long Slog: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the White House
Don De Grazia- British and American 1st edition hard covers of American Skin
Stuart Dybek - 1st Edition hard cover of Brass Knuckles
Donald G. Evans et al. – Cubbie Blues: 100 Years of Waiting Till Next Year
JoAnn Fastoff – The Gordian Knot and The Pact
Neil Gaiman - Newbery Award winner The Graveyard Book
Jane Hamilton - A Map of the World
Libby Fischer Hellman –1st edition hard covers of Doubleback and Image of Death and limited edition chapbook of the story, "The Murder of Katie Boyle"
Alex Kotlowitz
Maureen Lipinski – A Bump in the Road
Rachel Madorsky - Create Your Own Destiny - Spiritual Path to Success and Symphony of Your Karma: Healing Destiny of Your Soul
John McNally - 1st edition hard cover of Ghosts of Chicago
Audrey Niffenegger - 1st edition hard cover of Her Fearful Symmetry
Bayo Ojikutu – 47^th Street Black and Free Burning
Marcus Sakey – 1st edition hard cover and audiobook of The Amateurs
William Savage
Mary T. Wagner – Heck on Heels
Robert W. Walker - 1st edition hard cover of Dead On and paperback of Shadows in the White City
Rick Kogan and Charles Osgood - 1st Edition hard cover of Sidewalks ii: Reflections on Chicago
Sharon Rendell - Living with Big Cats
Monte Irvin and 5 other Negro League players - Few and Chosen: Defining Negro Leagues Greatness

Miscellaneous items

Gift certificate for two for the Chicago Dramatists' production of Jade Heart by senior network playwright Will Cooper
Pair of gift certificates for Black Ensemble Theater
Pair of tickets for an upcoming Chicago Bulls game at the United Center
Collection of vintage fountain pens donated by Paul Neilan - three vintage Esterbrook fountain pens (ca. 1950s), all in good - excellent condition, working, with a retail value of around $40-50, as well as some vintage pen nibs (1920s) from the Chicago Public Schools. The nibs are embossed with "CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS."
Handmade jewelry by Star Girl Jewelry
One-year membership to the Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park
Two certificates to have your manuscript evaluated by The Knife Editing Services donated by Robert W. Walker
Two certificates to have your name in Robert W. Walker's next book
Beer packages from Chimay, Hofbrau and Founders donated by John Freyer
Manuscript evaluation by The Word Bird Editing Services donated by Kelly O'Connor McNees
"Royko and the Goat" DVD donated by Stump Connolly
One-hour blog consultation donated by Marcie Hill
The Ultimate Oliver Stone Collection: CD set featuring 12 of the director's films
1 hour air time on WRMN-1410 AM Elgin

Deck the Hall

Chicago Writers Association — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 03:19:30 +0000

The Chicago Writers Association invites you to join us Thursday, Jan. 7, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., at Sheffield's, 3258 N. Sheffield Ave., Chicago, for a post-holiday celebration to benefit the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame.

We'll have special guest authors, readings, a silent auction and a raffle. Tickets are $25 for members, $30 for non-members. Your ticket gets you unlimited specialty beer selections (Founders, Chimay and Hofbrau) and hearty appetizers (hot wings, grilled cheese bites, hot spinach and cheese dips, and a vegetable tray). An appetizer-only, cash bar option is also available at a discounted ticket price of $15 for members and $20 for non-members.

We encourage you to buy tickets in advance. All tickets are $5 more if purchased at the door.

Money raised will help to build the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame. The funds will go to pay: basic infrastructure cost such as Web site development and maintenance; planning and production of the first induction ceremony; acquisition of literary artifacts for the traveling exhibit; and marketing. The Chicago Literary Hall of Fame is a project of the Chicago Writers Association, a federally-registered 501(c)(3) voluntary, not-for-profit organization. Visit the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame Web site for more information.

STOCKYARD Magazine seeks writings, interns

Chicago Writers Association — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:57:13 +0000

STOCKYARD is an American online cultural magazine that focuses on society, politics, art, and literature. While the magazine’s articles often center on its native Chicago, STOCKYARD fascinates readers from across the nation and around the world. It publishes highly stylized reportage, commentary, reviewing, fiction and poetry, satire, narrative nonfiction, and art.

Launched in 2008, the magazine takes its name from the Union Stockyards, whose cleavers helped the City of the Big Shoulders hack its way to national import. In this spirit, STOCKYARD reports on a variety of both gritty and glamorous urban interests; a genuinely Chicago publication, it tackles both the high and the low—stripping the city, and America, all the way down.

Writing

STOCKYARD accepts previously unpublished pieces of narrative nonfiction, fiction and poetry, and humor. All prospective contributors should direct their submissions to the Department of Writing.

The subject line of all submission emails should indicate the genre(s) of the work(s) attached. STOCKYARD prefers to receive only three submissions per author semi-annually, and only through electronic submission.

Internships

Stockyard Media, Inc. is always looking for talented and discerning individuals who want to learn the art, and who don't fear the madness, of crafting a magazine in Chicago. Those who wish to apply for our unpaid internships should contact the Department of Human Resources for more information

While Stockyard Media, Inc. is not actively hiring any full- or part-time employees, individuals interested in those types of positions should submit an inquiry to the Department of Human Resources.

Meet the Authors

Chicago Writers Association — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 03:52:51 +0000

Check out the photo journal from Meet the Authors Day, held October 17, 2009 at the Beverly Library in Chicago. Thanks to the participating authors: Cynthia Clampitt, Mary Wagner, Michael Weeks, Michael Gardner, Jeff Lyon, Gracie Hill, Rachel Madorsky, Susanna Lang and JoAnn Fastoff. And special thanks to Jennifer Brown Banks for making this event happen. It was not only educational; it was a lot of fun.

The Chicago Literary Hall of Fame

Chicago Writers Association — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:39:31 +0000

Web site launched, nominees announced

Who are Chicago’s all-time literary stars?

That’s the question the newly launched Chicago Literary Hall of Fame is trying to answer.

"Chicago has such a deep and rich literary tradition, and we felt that it was long overdue to properly honor the literary heavyweights whose words best captured the essence of this great city," said Randy Richardson, president of the nonprofit Chicago Writers Association, which is spearheading the project.

The group kicked off the project with the unveiling of a new Chicago Literary Hall of Fame Web site, www.chicagoliteraryhof.org, and announcement of the 27 writers nominated for induction into the inaugural class, scheduled to take place a year from now, in the fall of 2010.

Out of those 27 nominated, six will be inducted. The job of whittling it down is in the hands of the five-member selection panel consisting of some of Chicago's greatest living writers and scholars including Achy Obejas, Haki Madhubuti, Stuart Dybek, William Savage and Rosellen Brown.

Thirteen leaders of Chicago's literary community chose the writers who are in the running for induction. The only criteria were that the writers could not be living and must have had a strong connection to Chicago.

"We wanted this first induction class to honor only those writers who have completed their lives and careers," said Donald G. Evans, chairman of the Hall of Fame Committee. "The Chicago Literary Hall of Fame plans to host an annual induction ceremony to honor selected writers, with the ceremony expanding each year to include living writers, popular writers, children’s writers, and other important contributors to the city’s rich literary heritage.”

On the list of nominees this year are names synonymous with Chicago. They have streets and awards and foundations in their names.

Gwendolyn Brooks received the most support among all nominees, being named on eight ballots. Nelson Algren and Saul Bellow were next (seven ballots each), and then Richard Wright (six). Studs Terkel, Harriet Monroe and Mike Royko each receive five nominations, with Carl Sandburg and Lorraine Hansberry garnering four and Ben Hecht three. Shel Silverstein, Jane Addams, Leon Forrest and Theodore Dreiser and Ernest Hemingway each received two nominations.

Rounding out the nomination class of 2010 were 12 writers, each receiving a single nomination: James T. Farrell, Ida B. Wells, John Callaway, Edna Ferber, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Edgar Lee Masters, Sherwood Anderson, Franklin Rosemont, Fenton Johnson, Oscar Brown, Jr., Cyrus Colter and Norman Maclean.

Book donations for literacy

Chicago Writers Association — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:39:34 +0000

Our friends at the Florida Writers Association are holding a silent auction to raise funds to promote literacy and are looking for book donation from authors. This is from Shara Smock, FWA Secretary and also CWA member:

“We would love if you could contribute one or more of your books (especially signed ones, if possible). Florida Writers Foundation is sponsoring the tote bags for the entire conference, so if you’d like to add anything to the tote bags (catalogs, coupons, etc), we’d be happy to do that for you. We anticipate a crowd of 250 people at the Florida Writers Conference October 23-25.

We are advertising the donors by linking a photo of the book with the donor’s URL. It’s posted on this year’s Silent Auction website.”

All funds collected go to the cause. If you are an author that can help them out, please do. Anyone interested can contact the Florida Writers Association for details.

Speaker's Event: Author Gary W. Moore

Chicago Writers Association — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 02:37:38 +0000

Playing for success: First-time author to share how he overcame the odds to land the book and movie deal

Playing with the Enemy author Gary W. Moore will be sharing the inspiring story behind his bestselling book and how he got Hollywood to make it into a movie at Sonoma Café, 2845 W. 95^th St., Evergreen Park, on Saturday, November 14, 2009, from 4:00-6:30 p.m.

The speaker’s event, co-sponsored by the Chicago Writers Association and the DuPage Writers Group, provides guests a chance to interact with the award-winning author in a casual setting. The Bourbonnais author will reading from his work, sharing his unlikely success story and fielding audience questions. He will also have books on hand for sale and signing.

Driven by word of mouth and the author’s heroic efforts to tell the world his father’s story, Playing with the Enemy was a surprise hardcover hit for a small press that found a second life when publishing powerhouse Penguin bought the rights and reissued it. Moore’s debut won the 2006 Military Writer’s Society of America Book of the Year and is currently being made into a film by Academy Award winning producer Gerald Molen. The film cast includes Gary’s son, Toby Moore (“A Separate Peace”), who will play Gary’s father.

The film and book is about Gene Moore, Gary’s father, a baseball prodigy who lost his dream of becoming a major league ballplayer to war and injury, but overcame heartbreak and adversity to become a successful businessman and father. Gary’s father taught him so much but hid his baseball career from Gary until the day before he suddenly passed away from a heart attack.

Publisher’s Weekly gave Playing with the Enemy a starred review, calling it “[A] 20^th-century epic that demonstrates how, sometimes, letting go of a dream is the only way to discover one’s great fortune.”

"Gary Moore's Playing with the Enemy is an incredibly moving and inspiring story about his father," said Randy Richardson, Chicago Writers Association president. "But Gary's own personal success story is just as inspiring and one that all writers should hear and take to heart. He had a little book that he believed in and never stopped believing in. You can't help but be inspired by his story of the little book that could – and did."

For more information about Gary W. Moore, read an interview he did for CWA's The Write City e-zine and visit his websites at www.garywmoore.com and www.playingwiththeenemy.com.

Playwright's Studio Classes

Chicago Writers Association — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:41:59 +0000

Register for Chicago Dramatists' Fall 2009 Playwright's Studio Class

Chicago Dramatists boasts a diverse class offering, designed to build a strong foundation for the first time playwright, or challenge the seasoned professional with focused, specialized classes. Learn side by side with our top resident playwrights on all aspects of playwriting, from mastering the fundamentals to developing a script with professional actors voicing your work. Take our Screenwriting Fundamentals class to understand both the art and business behind screenwriting, or discover the many elements involved in devising your own solo show. Try our new class, Story into Song, and examine best practices to building your own musical. Gain hands on experience, participating in writing exercises and interacting with your current scripts and scene work. Or challenge your skills with award winning playwright Migdalia Cruz’s Master Class, incorporating movement, yoga and writing into a dynamic, two day workshop. Read full class descriptions and sign up today online or call 312-633-0630.

Chicago Dramatists is now offering special discounts, including 10% off for first time enrollments, 40% for students, 15% off for college and high school teachers, 5% off for senior citizens, and $20 off for Network and Resident Playwrights. Do you qualify? If so, enroll today and learn more for less!

Experiment, broaden and nurture your writing with our wide range of course offerings, and find out first hand why Chicago Dramatists continues to be the playwrights’ home for over 30 years.