Chicago Writers Association

10/07/2026

Your next read is waiting at Write City Magazine.

New fiction has been landing in your inboxes and on our Substack, so consider this your invitation to catch up on anything you may have missed.

Swipe through for some of the latest work from writers in the CWA community, then head to Write City Magazine to keep reading.

Find the latest at:
chicagowrites.substack.com/s/write-city-ezine

And if you’d rather turn some pages offline, The Write City Review – Volume Five brings together 200 pages of poetry, short stories, essays, and book excerpts originally published in Write City Magazine.

Available from Eckhartz Press:
https://eckhartzpress.com/shop/the-write-city-review-volume-5/

Have new work? Consider submitting to Write City Magazine: https://chicagowrites.substack.com/p/submission-guidelines
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10/07/2026

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:

David W. Berner
Amanda Berthault
Ben Broeren
Nancy Davis
Acamea Deadwiler
Sheila Elliott
Thomas Gallaher
Karian Markos
Debora Masterson
Justina Means
Victoria Noe
Shaun Rouser

Come discover new voices and connect with Chicago’s writing community.

Learn more: https://www.chicagowrites.org/live-lit
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09/23/2026

What’s new in Write City Magazine:

New poetry and fiction have been landing in your inboxes and on our Substack, so consider this your invitation to catch up on anything you may have missed.

Swipe through for some of the latest work from writers in the CWA community, then head to Write City Magazine to keep reading.

Find the latest at:
https://chicagowrites.substack.com/s/write-city-ezine

Have new work? Consider submitting to Write City Magazine: https://chicagowrites.substack.com/p/submission-guidelines

And if you’d rather turn some pages offline, The Write City Review – Volume Five brings together 200 pages of poetry, short stories, essays, and book excerpts originally published in Write City Magazine over the past three years.

Available from Eckhartz Press:
https://eckhartzpress.com/shop/the-write-city-review-volume-5/
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09/22/2026

Writers are often told to cut them. Choose a stronger verb. Find a better noun. Delete anything that doesn’t earn its place.

But is getting rid of adjectives and adverbs really the answer?

In the latest Write City Blog, “The Good, the Bad, and the Overdone” explores when modifiers can weaken your writing, when they can sharpen it, and how they can help create atmosphere, sensory detail, and pacing.

Read the latest from the Write City Blog:
https://chicagowrites.substack.com/p/the-good-the-bad-and-the-overdone

09/22/2026

Meet the guest speakers joining us at the CWA Winter Retreat!

This November, we're making space for more than uninterrupted writing time. Our featured programming is designed to help you reset, experiment, get unstuck, and find new ways into your work.

Bridget Rose will help us begin with a grounding breathwork experience.

Anastasia Lindsey will guide writers through Core to Creation™, her poetry-based creative wellness experience.

Raymond Benson joins us for Diamonds, Danger & Intrigue, a special Saturday evening of cocktails, dinner, and conversation on the history of Ian Fleming and the James Bond Phenomenon.

Ekta R. Garg will sit down with writers for individual 15-minute sessions to brainstorm questions, challenges, and creative roadblocks.

And between it all? Plenty of time to write.

November 13–16, 2026
Allerton Park & Retreat Center | Monticello, Illinois
$795 through September 30 | $850 beginning October 1

Space is limited. Learn more and register at chicagowrites.org/writing-retreat.

09/21/2026

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

Every novel begins with a first chapter. Could yours be an award winner?

The Chicago Writers Association’s 11th Annual First Chapter Contest is now accepting submissions!

Submit the opening chapter of your novel, up to 10 pages, for the chance to earn recognition, publication, cash prizes, and more.

Grand Prize: A full scholarship to a Novel-in-Progress Bookcamp & Writing Retreat workshop, plus publication in Write City Magazine.

Second Place: $150 + publication
Third Place: $75 + publication

Deadline: Sept. 30
Entry fee: $20

The contest is open exclusively to current dues-paying CWA members.

Ready to put your first chapter to the test?

Learn more and enter at chicagowrites.org/first-chapter

08/31/2026

In case you missed it...

New poetry and more have been landing in your inboxes and on our Substack. Consider this your invitation to catch up. Swipe through for some of the latest work from writers in the CWA community, then head to Write City Magazine to keep reading.

Find the latest at:
https://chicagowrites.substack.com/s/write-city-ezine/

Have new work? Consider submitting to Write City Magazine: https://chicagowrites.substack.com/p/submission-guidelines

And if you’d rather turn some pages offline, The Write City Review – Volume Five brings together 200 pages of poetry, short stories, essays, and book excerpts originally published in Write City Magazine over the past three years.

Available from Eckhartz Press:
https://eckhartzpress.com/shop/the-write-city-review-volume-5/
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08/31/2026

Join us for the 41st Annual Printers Row Lit Fest! Under Tent JJ on South Dearborn Street, you will find CWA members signing and selling their books. You'll also get to learn more about the Chicago Writers Association and what we have to offer. Make sure to check for updates on printersrowlitfest.org.

If you have questions about your time slot as an author under the tent, email [email protected].

See you there!
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08/31/2026

There’s more to the writing life than what happens on the page. The Write City Blog explores the people, ideas, experiences, and conversations that shape our writing community.

Swipe through for a look at some of our recent posts, then visit the blog to discover what else you may have missed.

Subscribe and read the Write City Blog: https://chicagowrites.substack.com/s/write-city-blog
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