Events Mon Sep 26 2011

Literati Networking Event

By Megan E. Doherty

Next Tuesday, Oct. 4 from 6pm to 9pm, you can join Chicago's second ever Literati event, aimed at "building a community of authors, playwrights, and literary professionals."

You'll find far more than authors and theater folks, however. Founder and host of the event, publicist Dana Kaye, aims to include anyone involved in the making (or selling) of words: from publishers to sales reps, from journalists to filmmakers, and even those from the rad world of comics.

Dana Kaye

Mingle, gab, network, collaborate, eat, drink, win. Who doesn't like that?

The basic idea is this: While writing is often a lonely, solitary endeavor, it doesn't have to be. Before hosting her first event last February, Kaye knew Chicago was chock-full of writers — but many of them didn't know each other. She wanted to create an opportunity for diverse people in the industry to come together in a relaxed, bar atmosphere where everyone could let down their guard.

Featured speaker Byron Hatfield went to the first event last February, and was a quick convert. Writing is already a "withdrawn profession," and those who devote their lives to it may tend toward the "weird" side of things. Why not get all those weird people together and see what happens?

Byron Hatfield

Essentially, this is about putting people into the same room who would otherwise have never met, in a "no wall scenario" to encourage communication and collaboration.

For those of you getting ready to polish your manuscripts in the hopes of finding an agent — put them away. The goal of this event is not to get you a book deal, or a job. But it is about building up social capital, to see what may come down the road.

While this is only the second time she's held this event, Kaye knows what she wants to do in the future. Ideally, Chicagoans will be able to schmooze and brainstorm (at least in this setting) three times each year, and she also hopes to build an increasing presence of New York-based literary professionals at the gatherings.

Details:

Featured speakers include bestselling authors Jamie Freveletti (Running Dark) and Wendy Corsi-Staub (Hell To Pay), as well as director and playwright, Byron Hatfield (Bye Bye Liver).

Left: Jamie Freveletti; Right: Wendy Corsi-Staub

The Hidden Shamrock
2723 N. Halsted

$15 in advance, $20 at the door.
Appetizers and cash bar (with drink specials!)
You'll want to get a move on, because the first 30 people who register will get a coveted swag bag.

In fact, why don't you take care of that now?
Register here.