Upcoming Events
Chicago-North Romance Writers offers a full slate of professional programming for members.
Non-members can request one complimentary guest pass to a monthly professional development program (not a critique session or special event) or they can purchase an individual ticket to a monthly professional development program for $10.
Interested in becoming a guest speaker for one of our writing programs? Please contact us to receive a link to submit your programming idea.
Chicago In-Person Writing Sprints
Bad Coffee, 1801 W Berteau Ave, Chicago, IL 60613
Join fellow CNRW members at Bad Coffee for a few in-person sprints! Bad Coffee is located on the west side of Ravenswood - entrance is in the alley between Berteau and Warner. There’s a nice big table we can grab if we’re early enough : )
Yorktown Write-In
NOTE NEW DATE - Join us for a write-in at the Yorktown Mall every first Saturday morning of the month in the second floor business lounge.
Chicago In-Person Writing Sprints
Bad Coffee, 1801 W Berteau Ave, Chicago, IL 60613
Join fellow CNRW members at Bad Coffee for a few in-person sprints! Bad Coffee is located on the west side of Ravenswood - entrance is in the alley between Berteau and Warner. There’s a nice big table we can grab if we’re early enough : )
Yorktown Write-In
Join us for a write-in at the Yorktown Mall every first Saturday morning of the month in the second floor business lounge.
Chicago In-Person Writing Sprints
Bad Coffee, 1801 W Berteau Ave, Chicago, IL 60613
Join fellow CNRW members at Bad Coffee for a few in-person sprints! Bad Coffee is located on the west side of Ravenswood - entrance is in the alley between Berteau and Warner. There’s a nice big table we can grab if we’re early enough : )
Yorktown Write-In
Join us for a write-in at the Yorktown Mall every first Saturday morning of the month in the second floor business lounge.
Chicago In-Person Writing Sprints
Bad Coffee, 1801 W Berteau Ave, Chicago, IL 60613
Join fellow CNRW members at Bad Coffee for a few in-person sprints! Bad Coffee is located on the west side of Ravenswood - entrance is in the alley between Berteau and Warner. There’s a nice big table we can grab if we’re early enough : )
Yorktown Write-In
Join us for a write-in at the Yorktown Mall every first Saturday morning of the month in the second floor business lounge.
Yorktown Write-In
Join us for a write-in at the Yorktown Mall every first Saturday morning of the month in the second floor business lounge.
Chicago In-Person Writing Sprints
Bad Coffee, 1801 W Berteau Ave, Chicago, IL 60613
Join fellow CNRW members at Bad Coffee for a few in-person sprints! Bad Coffee is located on the west side of Ravenswood - entrance is in the alley between Berteau and Warner. There’s a nice big table we can grab if we’re early enough : )
Still Reading Romance: Identity and Engagement with Popular Romance Fiction - Josefine Smith and Kathleen W. Taylor Kollman
Kollman and Smith will discuss their book, the study that originated it, and its findings related to popular romance studies.
Yorktown Write-In
Join us for a write-in at the Yorktown Mall every first Saturday morning of the month in the second floor business lounge.
Chicago In-Person Writing Sprints
Bad Coffee, 1801 W Berteau Ave, Chicago, IL 60613
Join fellow CNRW members at Bad Coffee for a few in-person sprints! Bad Coffee is located on the west side of Ravenswood - entrance is in the alley between Berteau and Warner. There’s a nice big table we can grab if we’re early enough : )
Spring Fling Writers Conference
Spring Fling 2026, sponsored by Chicago-North Romance Writers, is scheduled for April 16-18. A hybrid event, it will take place at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in downtown Chicago—and online. This year’s keynote authors: USA Today bestselling author Adriana Herrera and NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Brenda Jackson!
As always, Spring Fling will feature plenty of workshops (webinars) for published and unpublished writers, keynote speeches by headliners
Yorktown Write-In
Join us for a write-in at the Yorktown Mall every first Saturday morning of the month in the second floor business lounge.
Chicago In-Person Writing Sprints
Join fellow CNRW members at Bad Coffee for a few in-person sprints! Bad Coffee is located on the west side of Ravenswood - entrance is in the alley between Berteau and Warner.
December Member Brainstorm Critique Night
Our monthly brainstorm and critique night for members, held via Zoom
Chicago In-Person Writing Sprints
Join fellow CNRW members at Bad Coffee for a few in-person sprints! Bad Coffee is located on the west side of Ravenswood - entrance is in the alley between Berteau and Warner.
HOT NIGHT
It’s everyone’s favorite meeting — HOT NIGHT! Does the chemistry between your characters sizzle? Let's find out! Members can sign up to read a short, intimate scene for critique. The heat level can be anything from a kiss to the sky's the limit! Be ready to offer critique on somehot scenes on a cold winter's night. This is an excellent chance to get feedback on a pivotal scene in your manuscript.
Critiques will consist of up to 5 double-spaced manuscript pages. Details for submission will come via groups.io.
November Member Brainstorm Critique Night
Our monthly member critique night, held online via zoom.
Chicago In-Person Writing Sprints
Join fellow CNRW members at Bad Coffee for a few in-person sprints! Bad Coffee is located on the west side of Ravenswood - entrance is in the alley between Berteau and Warner.
Introduction to Pink Couch Books with Lora Amigo
Updated DATE! Q&A with Lora Amigo, proprietor of Pink Couch Books.
November Writing Meetup - Chicago Suburbs
Casual writing meetup at Yorktown Center’s business lounge — 2nd floor around corner from Gloria Jean’s coffee. All are welcome for connection, camaraderie and sprinting. Can’t make it? Join us in our Discord chat to sprint with us virtually.
October Member Brainstorm Critique Night
Our monthly member critique night, held online via zoom.
How to Write a Satisfying Small-Town Romance with Anna Grace and Elle Douglas
Love, laughter, and a whole lot of hometown heart—How to Write a Satisfying Small-Town Romance is an interactive, craft-focused session for writers who want to make their fictional communities feel as real and irresistible as the love stories unfolding within them. Led by Harlequin and Tule authors Anna Grace and Elle Douglas, this workshop explores why small-town romances captivate readers—the nostalgia, belonging, and emotional warmth—and how to capture that magic without falling into cliché. Through insider tips, lively discussion, and a hands-on “Build Your Town in 10 Minutes” activity, participants will learn to make setting a living, breathing character that deepens conflict, heightens emotion, and delivers that heart-tugging sense of home.
October Writing Meetup - Chicago Suburbs
Casual writing meetup at Yorktown Center’s business lounge — 2nd floor around corner from Gloria Jean’s coffee. All are welcome for connection, camaraderie and sprinting. Can’t make it? Join us in our Discord chat to sprint with us virtually.
Size Does Matter: Writing Fiction Across the Lengths with Terri Brisbin
Presentation followed by September Chapter Meeting
September Writing Meetup - Chicago Suburbs
Casual writing meetup at Yorktown Center’s business lounge — 2nd floor around corner from Gloria Jean’s coffee. All are welcome for connection, camaraderie and sprinting. Can’t make it? Join us in our Discord chat to sprint with us virtually.