What makes a person different than a rock (and different from every other inanimate object)? Or are we so different after all? Isn't the human body nothing more than a machine which is ultimately comprised of mere molecules and atoms? In what sense, if any, does a person consist of more than his or her physical body? Does a person have a soul? If so, then what do we mean by “soul” and what might the nature of a soul be? In short, what is the phenomena that we call “consciousness?” Moreover, how …

CWN is a group of serious writers who are committed to furthering their work through a workshop-style critique process. We meet on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Please be sure to read CWN's Critique Guidelines under the Pages tab before you submit your first piece for critique.

If you like to write and want a supportive environment in which to write join us! Each week, a member volunteers to provide writing prompts to spark our creativity. It can be a first line, an object, a picture, a situation. For about 10-15 minutes we write and if we feel like sharing we read our creation aloud. This is not a critique group - only positive feedback is encouraged. We usually fit in 3-4 prompts in an evening. Member ages range from young adults to octagenarians. You do not h …

I am forming this group to have a fun place to gather, work on our own projects of whatever kind and chat, please join if you do crafts, write, or other art forms

Hi, I'm starting a group just for awesome WordPress.com users. If you're already using WordPress.com or you're interested to learn more about how WordPress.com is a great way to start a website blog, please join my group!

Busy adults looking to meet people in the city with similar interests to talk about.  Nurses, Doctors, Massage Therapist, Physical Therapists, Healthcare office managers, insurance billers, ect. or just anyone interested in wellness and health.  Or anyone that would like to learn.  Come meet up, talk, and share who you are and what you like.  Everyone is welcome both Male and Female.

I'm a 27 year-old New York transplant (born here, nice to be back) looking for some cool comrades of any age to share/workshop with in a relaxed setting (my apt. has killer views!) with the record player turning and the libations flowing. I'm a published poet working on my second chapbook and I'm heavily influenced by Patti Smith, old-school punk rock, the beauty in the gritty and vinyls. If you like that kind of stuff--awesome. If not--awesome. I'd also like to do a poetry "book club," where we …

Are you a food blogger or food writer? Food photographer or stylist? Let's meet and be inspired, encouraged and exchange successes, failures, tips and, yes, eat!

This is a book club dedicated to exploring great writings about the environment. We will discuss both the great past works and their influence on society as well as explore the pioneering notions and ideas found in the present literature.  Field trips, lectures and other activities will supplement the reading (or provide a way for our fellow Naturalist Book Lovers to get to know each other better).

We have changed this group again.  Now we write and share poetry and do some mime. and cartoon  Bring in poems and cartoons you are working on.  We meet at Panera in Evanston in the meeting room. We also meet at the Unity Center at 3339 S. Halsted in Chicago and at the Unity Church at 1545 Morse in Rogers Park.   Panera is at Sherman and Church Streets.  Suggested donation for the mime is $10.00.

Have a book that's ready to publish? Want to learn more about how self-publishing works? Have you discovered great tactics for marketing your books, and want to share with other authors who have done the same? Then this group is for you! We do NOT focus on the writing process; rather, the purpose of this group is to connect with other authors who have finished their books and are now hard at work with the self-publishing process.

This is a group for people who are working on writing a novel, short story, and poem. We'll get together once a week at different locations in Chicago, depending on what's most convenient and give each other constructive criticism and ideas on our literary pieces. Looking forward to meeting all of you!

Want a few dedicated novelists who want to critique their novel on a regular basis, once a month. I have finished a historical fiction novel that I want advice on.

What is Off Campus Writers’ Workshop? Ever since 1946, OCWW has encouraged and inspired Chicago-area writers in developing their writing avocations. OCWW meets every Thursday morning from September to May. A variety of speakers will elevate your writing technique with a diversity of topics, amongst which can be genre fiction, nonfiction, children’s lit, contemporary simmerings of romance fiction, poetry, publishing and the implication of ebooks. Here, you will achieve your individual writing goa …

We hope to critique each other's drafts of all sorts in a mutually supportive and awesome environment. This group is invite-only to ensure that we stay tiny (hence the name). We meet about twice a month and share drafts to read a few days in advance. We're into all sorts of writing styles, from humorous to serious to abstract. Many of us are sex-positive feminists; if you're not down with that please don't apply.

Meeting to discuss our own poetry. Working out chinks in the armor, making improvements, listening for sounds, searching for themes and generally becoming more self-aware as a writer, as well as learning to become better self-critics. And of course a good place to chat with other poets and find community, and lay it on thick with pet peeves regarding the state of poetry. We would also go to occasional readings and maybe if everyone is up to it to an Open Mic as well. We will begin by meeting o …

Calling all inspired memoir writers who need a community of writers to put their inspiration into action. Procrastination can be our enemy. Often we need deadlines to kick us into gear to put the pen to paper. All levels are welcome from novice memoirists to published authors. The only requirement is to actually turn in work and respectfully comment on each other's manuscripts.

Feeling stuck, in a rut? Has life become dull or purposeless? Need a boost to your creativity? Just want to unearth your creativity? Join me for The Artist's Way. Based on Julia Cameron's book of the same title, we will create a very safe, nurturing community in which to discover and/or rejuvenate your creative self.