Woooohoooo! We love hanging out with you all at Begyle Brewing so much, we just scheduled our next FREE Write-Out. This one happens Monday Oct. 27 and registration is now open. Come write with us! www.storystudiochicago.org/write-ins-wi...

HUGE CONGRATS! This is so well-deserved!

Begins TONIGHT! Are you registered? #writingcommunity

We are so thrilled to announce the shortlist for 2025 CHIRBys!!! Congratulations to all of our finalists 🥳🥳🥳

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

If you’re not a procrastinator, are you even a writer? 😂 But maybe now is the time! 👇👇👇

Oh, hey, opening night is a week from today!

Plans tonight? Check out this awesome book event -- writer Peter Mountford, author of the new short story collection DETONATOR, will be in conversation with our Artistic Director @rebeccamakkai.bsky.social at Book Cellar at 7pm. More info and RSVP here: www.bookcellarinc.com/peter-mountf...

There are still a few spots (but only A FEW) in @chrisbohjalian.bsky.social's class on choosing the best POV for your fiction. This class is TONIGHT! It's two hours, online, beginning at 7 pm CT. Don't miss it. www.storystudiochicago.org/classes/clas... #writingcommunity

👀👀

Registration is now OPEN for our next retreat at beautiful Ragdale. The retreat happens January 18-23 with instructor @cynthiapelayo.bsky.social The theme for the week-long retreat is: "The Creative Way: A Week of Creative Restoration" Book your spot now: buff.ly/RMr4PYY

Today's affirmation. KEEP GOING, WRITERS! The world needs your art.

Scholarships available for this @storystudiochicago.bsky.social class!

Lots to look forward to in September, book-wise -- including instructor Lara Ehrlich's new novel BIND ME TIGHTER STILL and @jasondiamond.bsky.social's Chicago-set debut, KAPLAN'S PLOT. @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social has the full list here: chireviewofbooks.com/2025/09/02/1... #books #booksky

Oh, hey, have you signed up yet for my @storystudiochicago.bsky.social online copyediting (but not just copyediting) series? It's going to be, if I say so myself, super-duper fun.

Seriously, this is your sign to devote the weekend to your writing! 🪧 👈

*21 😄

ANOTHER NEW EVENT ALERT 😀: On Thursday, August 14 at 6:30 pm CT, please join us at @roscoebooks.bsky.social (2142 W. Roscoe St.) at 6:30 pm CT for our StoryBoard Fellows Reading. Hear each of our esteemed StoryBoard Fellows read work. This is a free event and no need to register.

Congrats @michaelzapata.bsky.social !

@storystudiochicago.bsky.social’s annual Writers Festival has evolved into something exciting and new this year, and I wrote about the TOP SIX differences. You won’t believe #4!! (You will actually totally believe #4.) mailchi.mp/storystudioc...

No. 3 will make you lose your mind! (You won't lose your mind -- but you'll be excited lol)

Writers, far & wide... Sign up for @storystudiochicago.bsky.social's festival in Chicago—we'll be your guide! What else rhymes with -ide? If you're not there, rumors has it that we'll have CRIED! We aren't poets and we know it, but if we caught your eye: The fest will be great, & that's no lie!

Have you ever heard the story about how the founder of the Newberry Library died at sea and was preserved in a barrel of rum? No?! Check out our newsletter this week for this story, a deal on online classes, and more! #writingcommunity

If summer to you is more about staying indoors and away from the bone-melting heat, we have a deal for you! Register now until July 5 for any online class in our summer term and take 10% off with the code SUMMERDISCOUNT10. Here's the full list: buff.ly/IBmj0D4 #writers

Behold! The beautiful, historic Newberry Library: Our venue for this year's StoryBoard Festival. The Newberry Library has been free and open to the public since it opened in 1887. We're so excited to spend the weekend here (Aug. 16-17) for the Festival. Get your Fest tix now: buff.ly/3xUvZE5

Less than 8 weeks away - grab your ticket! @storystudiochicago.bsky.social

Can you believe it? StoryBoard Festival is TWO MONTHS from today -- we cannot wait to see all your writerly faces at Newberry Library Aug. 16-17. Grab your tickets now for this two-day festival with more than 20 classes and panels on craft and publishing. buff.ly/mcxsphy

Scholarships are available for the @storystudiochicago.bsky.social StoryBoard Festival! More details on our website + you can fill out the application here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Remember Starter Packs? 😉😃 Here was one of ours! go.bsky.app/VN2bfPQ

Our fearless leader @jesskeller42.bsky.social is this month's guest on @chicagowriterspod.bsky.social talking about the short story 'Nocturnal Creatures' by Saïd Sayrafiezadeh. Give it a listen here: chicagowriterspodcast.libsyn.com/s2-ep-07-noc...

AMAZING.

So excited to see the Newcity Lit 50 issue online -- so many friends and familiar faces in this year's list. Congratulations to everyone! Chicago truly is the BEST literary and #writingcommunity. buff.ly/hI2sYLi

We’re doing the @storystudiochicago.bsky.social Festival a little differently this year… 🧵

We highly recommend you get your hands on the new issue of Newcity Lit — the June Lit 50 issue features some familiar faces. 😁 That’s our Executive Director @jesskeller42.bsky.social and Program Curator @anandalima.bsky.social and EIC of the @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social, @mbwwelch.bsky.social

What're you reading this weekend? If you need a recommendation, here are some ideas from your hard-working StoryStudio staff:

@jesskeller42.bsky.social & @anandalima.bsky.social in Newcity's Lit 50! @newcity.bsky.social @storystudiochicago.bsky.social

Attend craft talks, make writerly connections, take lots of notes and drink lots of coffee... @storystudiochicago.bsky.social Writers Fest is coming up quick. Get your tickets today!

EXCITING "MONDAY" ANNOUNCEMENT: Tickets are now on sale for our StoryBoard Festival, Aug 16-17 at the Newberry Library. Join us for a weekend of craft and publishing panels, classes, and social events. More info, including the full schedule, is available here buff.ly/MKKWEsH #writingcommunity

The Conversation is TONIGHT (!) at 7pm and you can still register to join us to talk Resistance & Freedom of Speech… This event is via @storystudiochicago.bsky.social and Women & Children First, and we'll be at the WCF Bookstore in Andersonville (Chicago)! www.eventbrite.com/e/the-conver...

Still time to RSVP for this *free* event! @storystudiochicago.bsky.social

There are no rules for writing, but you do have to read. —Carmen Maria Machado, on her advice for writers.

Nothing's better than a real book by a real human!

Sharing my (real!!) summer reading list along with the @storystudiochicago.bsky.social staff.

On Monday, June 2, we're holding our first Write-Out at Begyle Brewing. The concept is the same as our famous Write-Ins. We'll gather for a few hours to write, and then have a drink or two after. This is a FREE event -- you can RSVP here: buff.ly/5iZans8

I made you a REAL summer reading list of fifteen REAL books by REAL authors— books that might not be on your radar. Some old, some newer. Here it is. rebeccamakkai.substack.com/p/fifteen-re...

Calling all Chicago poets. The application deadline for the City of Chicago Poet Laureate is May 29. You can apply here: buff.ly/x0GDaCm #poets

Huge thanks to Newcity Lit and @rubyprosenthal.bsky.social for this terrific piece on our Writers on Writing series, curated by @rebeccamakkai.bsky.social:

Okay, yes, this story is absolutely bonkers.

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! You helped us raise more than $30k for the Chicago Stories Project. We're ever so grateful. And if you'd still like to make a tax-deductible donation, you can do so here: buff.ly/MaO89HN

Now THIS is the one we want...we can't wait to see everyone at StoryBall tomorrow night!!