Chicago Writers Association

08/19/2026

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08/12/2026

Calling all James Bond fans!

Ian Fleming wrote 14 Bond books during his lifetime, launching one of the most successful espionage franchises in literary and film history.

At the inaugural CWA Winter Retreat, Raymond Benson will present “The James Bond Phenomenon,” a 90-minute multimedia presentation and Q&A exploring:

- The life of Ian Fleming
- The history of 007 in literature and film
- Raymond’s own involvement in the legendary franchise

Raymond is the third—and first American—author commissioned by the Fleming Estate to write original James Bond novels.

Don’t miss this fascinating look inside the world of 007. Registration is open, and spots are filling quickly!

https://www.chicagowrites.org/calendar/cwa-winter-retreat

08/12/2026

A little catching up from 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:
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 over three years.

Available from Eckhartz Press:
eckhartzpress.com/shop/the-write-city-review-volume-5
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08/11/2026

The Chicago Writers Association is looking for readers for our next Live Lit event on October 10 at Sulzer Regional Library.

Live Lit brings writers from across Chicagoland together to share their work with a live audience. Writers of every genre are welcome, whether you write fiction, poetry, nonfiction, memoir, or something entirely your own.

As a Live Lit reader, you’ll have the opportunity to:

Share your work
Connect with fellow writers and readers
Sell copies of your books, when applicable

Interested in reading? Live Lit is open to current CWA members. Visit our website to join CWA and submit an interest form: chicagowrites.org/live-lit

08/10/2026

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

08/09/2026

Step away from the everyday and make space for your writing.

Join the Chicago Writers Association for the CWA Winter Retreat, November 13–16, 2026, at the beautiful Allerton Park & Retreat Center in Monticello, Illinois.

Four days. A private room. Plenty of time to write.

The weekend is designed to give writers something that can be surprisingly difficult to find: uninterrupted time to focus on the work. Along the way, you’ll also have opportunities to connect with fellow writers, join writing sprints, enjoy meals and activities together, and recharge your creative energy.

Your registration includes a three-night stay in a private room with its own bathroom, select meals and receptions, writing activities, guest programming, and plenty of space in the schedule to simply write.

Early registration is $795 through Sept. 30.�
After Sept. 30: $850.

Space is limited, so reserve your room and start planning your writing getaway.

Register at chicagowrites.org/calendar/cwa-winter-retreat

08/08/2026

A new chapter for the Chicago Writers Association is here. Our new website is officially live!

We’ve created a fresh, welcoming home for Chicago’s writing community, making it easier to discover CWA programs, events, contests, publications, resources, membership opportunities, and more.

This launch is also part of our larger brand refresh, bringing a new look to CWA while staying rooted in what has always mattered most: Supporting writers and building community.

We’d love for you to take a look, explore, and let us know what you think.

Visit https://www.chicagowrites.org

07/25/2026

One more week to submit your book for the Book of the Year contest! Submit before Aug. 1!

CWA's 16th Annual Book of the Year contest is open for submissions. Check out the website for the entry form and contest rules.

Visit: https://www.chicagowrites.org/book_of_the_year
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07/25/2026

Would you like to help plan the 2027 Let's Just Write! conference? We'd love to hear from you
!

Email from Chicago Writers Association Call for Volunteers   Greetings! You're receiving this email because you have attended Let’s Just Write! Chicago Writers Association Conference. If you enjoyed t