Happy July 4th! Take a break for your barbecue and plan your summer creative writing class. Now through the end of the weekend, save 10% with discount code independence10! buff.ly/CaBD75L #writingcommunity

Applications for our four midyear Novel In A Year cohorts -- First Draft (in person and online), Revise & Launch (in person), and Speculative Fiction (online) -- are due one week from today, July 10. Take 15 minutes out of your weekend and apply now. No fee to apply! buff.ly/82dQLms #writers

Happy Independence Day weekend! Lets celebrate the best way we know how -- by exercising our freedom to write! This weekend (until Sunday 7/5 at midnight), take 10% off creative writing classes. Just enter the code independence10 when you check out. buff.ly/CaBD75L #writingcommunity

Happy Independence Day weekend! Lets celebrate the best way we know how -- by exercising our freedom to write! This weekend (until Sunday 7/5 at midnight), take 10% off creative writing classes. Just enter the code independence10 when you check out. buff.ly/CaBD75L #writingcommunity

Even magic must have a few rules! 🪄🔮 In this four-session online workshop with @ruthjoffre.bsky.social, learn how about magic and how it can shape your story. Starts August 4. Register now! buff.ly/JCecaCn #writingcommunity

Hello, July! That means StoryBoard Festival is NEXT MONTH -- August 15 at the Newberry Library. Join us for 15 classes and workshops from a star-studded lineup of instructors! Get your ticket here: buff.ly/24RWYi8 #writingcommunity

Just over two weeks (July 15) until our pay-what-you-can class beloved instructor with Sheree L. Greer. Welcome to the Party: Intro to Creative Writing asks participants to embrace and amplify their desire to write with excitement, affirmation, and possibility. Register here:

From Page to Stage: Crafting Poems for Performance with Faylita Hicks is a two-hour in-person workshop for writers to explore how poems transform when written for the ear as well as the eye. July 23 in person! buff.ly/R0IffmE #poetsofbluesky

Happy July, writers! Let's read books! The @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social has your 12 must-read books for July, including exciting new novels from Chicago writers Rowan Beaird and @kathleenmrooney.bsky.social! chireviewofbooks.com/2026/07/01/1...

Just over two weeks (July 15) until our pay-what-you-can class beloved instructor with Sheree L. Greer. Welcome to the Party: Intro to Creative Writing asks participants to embrace and amplify their desire to write with excitement, affirmation, and possibility. Register here:

Megan Stielstra kicks off our Summer Memoir and Essay Series on July 16 with a two-hour online workshop that will explore the unique craft elements of showing (place, character, purpose) and telling (explanation, reflection, argument). buff.ly/Y36lTag #writingcommunity

Our four-class Summer Novel Series (all online) kicks off July 8 with Chaitali Sen's workshop on POV. Register for each class (each about a particular aspect of craft) individually, or the whole four-class bundle (and save $60!). buff.ly/p2yOIc4 #authorsky

"Love the voice in this piece!" --your workshop mate, after you take this two-hour online Master Class with Traci Chee on July 7. Demystify voice in writing -- register for this workshop now! buff.ly/agTOonl #writingworkshops

Have you ever wanted your own personal writing mentor? Our next Intensive Coaching Cohort with writer @michaelzapata.bsky.social kicks off in August. This six-month program is designed for writers looking for a small cohort and plenty of one-on-one instruction. More info: buff.ly/30I3KSk #writers

Kickstart your writing practice this summer with a short story! Short and Sweet: Intro to Writing Short Stories is a 4-class online workshop that will give writers the foundation they need to write short stories...and more! Begins July 9: buff.ly/0e52mtY #writers

Applications for FOUR Novel In A Year cohorts (two in-person, two online) are due Friday, July 10 -- that's just 10 days from now. Speculative Fiction, First Draft (two cohorts), and Revise & Launch. Apply now! buff.ly/82dQLms #writingcommunity

Get your StoryBoard Festival ticket now and join us a full day of classes, social events, a book signing and cocktail party, and so much more. August 15 at the beautiful Newberry Library. Get your ticket now! buff.ly/kyckcOe #writingcommunity

Even if you're not coming to the Festival, you're invited to our free keynote kickoff event that happens Friday night, August 14 at the Driehaus Museum. 'Pemi Aguda will be in conversation with our Artistic Director Rebecca Makkai. 46316.blackbaudhosting.com/46316/StoryS...

I 💜 Rebecca Makkai and The Great Believers.

This is beautiful. Instructor @jeremyashley.bsky.social on @rebeccamakkai.bsky.social's THE GREAT BELIEVERS at @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social: chireviewofbooks.com/2026/06/29/t...

Writers! Today (June 29) is the last day to take advantage of the early bird discount of $25 for the StoryBoard Festival. Grab your ticket now for the August 15 event at the Newberry Library and join us a full day of craft, creative writing, and community! buff.ly/kyckcOe #writingcommunity

Tomorrow is the last day to get your $25 discount for an Early Bird ticket for StoryBoard Festival ... Grab your ticket now and join us August 15 at Newberry Library for 15 craft classes, social events, a book signing, and more! buff.ly/kyckcOe #chicagowriters

Novel In A Year applications for our four 2026-2027 cohorts are due TWO WEEKS from today -- July 10. Get yours in now and check it off your to-do list. buff.ly/82dQLms #writingcommunity

This week's StoryStudio newsletter is jam-packed with writerly goodness, including: 🎉StoryBoard Festival schedule is live! ✍️Just two weeks left to apply for Novel In A Year 📝Our next Intensive Coaching Cohort is open for registration ➕So much more! Read here: buff.ly/UPDHFKV #writersofbluesky

Our online pay-what-you-can Intro to Creative Writing class with Sheree L. Greer is coming up soon -- July 15. Grab your spot now and get your writing back on track this summer! buff.ly/3hCxYWw #writingcommunity

ICYMI, this happened yesterday. #groovy

Add some magic to your summer...and your writing! Writing Magic is all about how magic can shape a story. We’ll explore various magical systems to understand how they work and what impact they can have in our writing. Four sessions, online, begins Aug 4:

There is a lot to love in a short story, literature distilled in a punchy little package! Taking this four-session online workshop with Puloma Ghosh and explore the joys of short story writing. Begins July 9: buff.ly/0e52mtY #writingcommunity

ANNOUNCING: The lineup for the summer's hottest festival is here!  The official schedule for the StoryBoard Festival -- August 15 at the Newberry Library -- is now available for your perusing pleasure. Check out the 15 classes and get your ticket here: buff.ly/kyckcOe #chicago

There are still a few (but only a few) spots remaining in @debolinunferth.bsky.social's Master Class on the First Page -- TONIGHT, in person at StoryStudio. Register now: www.storystudiochicago.org/classes/clas... #writersofchicago

Thinking of attending this year's StoryBoard Festival? Make sure to grab your ticket by June 29 to get the $25 Early Bird discount. We can't wait to see you at the Newberry Library on August 15 for a full day of creative writing, craft, and community! buff.ly/kyckcOe #writingcommunity

Woooooohooo! Prepare your TBRs! @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social has a whole list of new books from Chicago authors coming out in the second half of 2026. chireviewofbooks.com/2026/06/22/n...

Thinking of signing up for this. #writingcommunity

The first class -- Show and Tell in Your Writing -- in our online Summer Memoir and Essay Series happens July 16 with the inimitable Megan Stielstra. Book your spot now! buff.ly/Y36lTag #writingcommunity

Our online pay-what-you-can Intro to Creative Writing class with Sheree L. Greer is coming up soon -- July 15. Grab your spot now and get your writing back on track this summer! buff.ly/3hCxYWw #writingcommunity

Grab your spot in this great online class now -- and make this the summer of short stories! www.storystudiochicago.org/classes/clas... #writersofbluesky

The application deadline for FOUR Novel In A Year cohorts is approaching -- July 10. Take a quick 15 minutes, tell us about your project, upload a sample, and make THIS the year you write your novel! buff.ly/NBrMSv6

Writers block is the worst! Take this four-session online class with Nina Li Coomes and learn how writing about topics like food, film, and family can help unblock your work. Starts July 7. buff.ly/YHbYu7K #writingcommunity

From your perfect beach read to captivating books that will carry you into the New Year, our Chicago writing community is bringing you something to enjoy through the rest of 2026 and beyond, our EIC @mbwwelch.bsky.social writes. Check those new books out below! chireviewofbooks.com/2026/06/22/n...

Writers! How do we choose the right point of view to unlock a story, sharpen its emotional impact, and give it the momentum it needs to truly take off? Take this two-hour online class July 8 and learn ALL THE TRICKS. 😅 buff.ly/LPcdEyY #writingcommunity

"Pokemon Philosophy" a typewriter poem by Jessica Kurkowski from @storystudiochicago.bsky.social StoryBall! poemswhileyouwait.tumblr.com/post/8201280...

nbd just hanging out at the Obama Presidential Center opening this weekend! 😍 We had a blast seeing so many writers -- and the energy was incredible!

Now just two weeks to get your Novel In A Year applications in (due July 10). Just tell us about your writing project and submit a sample -- that's it! There's no fee to apply! Make this the year you write your novel! buff.ly/NBrMSv6 #writingcommunity

Happy Friday, friends! Just a friendly reminder our next FREE Write-Out is this Monday, June 22 at 5:30 pm at Begyle Brewing. Join us for a few hours of writing and socializing. buff.ly/TlCF3vN

We're counting down the days (58, to be precise) until the 2026 StoryBoard Festival (August 15 at the Newberry Library). Join us for a full day of craft talks, classes, and community! buff.ly/DFLZgSu #chicagowriters

ANNOUNCING: Our next Intensive Coaching Cohort with instructor @michaelzapata.bsky.social is now open! ICC is specifically designed for writers who are actively putting words on the page (or want to be), and have the time and desire to spend six months writing. More info here: buff.ly/BV4DIgA

Wonderful interview here!

Applications for Novel In A Year: First Draft with @michaelzapata.bsky.social are open until July 10! This IN PERSON cohort meets once a month to give you the accountability and resources you need to make this the year YOU WRITE THAT NOVEL! Apply now: www.storystudiochicago.org/advanced-wri...

Bring me all the weirdness! You know I like them strange, dark, cosmic, political, violent, queer, gory, kinky, funny, multicultural, full of crime, packed with monsters, explosive, and hard to categorize. Last time I even took on a nonfiction book. Hah. Let’s write.

Our signature Creative Writing Essentials class kicks off July 6 on Zoom. For writers who want a refresher on the elements of all good fiction and nonfiction, this eight-session workshop will give you a refresher on the building blocks of all good writing. buff.ly/HtbL9uF #writingcommunity