Midwest Muse
A Chicago Getaway for Writers
September 7–8, 2023
Join me in downtown Chicago, home of the American Writers Museum, for two days of discovery, conversation, fun, and planning the way forward for your writing journey!
Where?
Both days we'll be meeting at:
180 North Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60601
Isn't that where the American Writers Museum is?
Why, yes it is! I visited the American Writers Museum earlier this year, and I loved it! The whole time I was thinking I would love to bring a group of writers here to experience this. It's a small museum but full of interesting exhibits. I loved discovering writers and genres that were new to me and going deeper into the ones I already knew. Best of all, there's nothing like being in a place where the whole point is to revel in the beauty and power of words!
Where will we meet inside 180 North Michigan Ave?
We’ll be doing our workshop sessions on the twenty-first floor in a conference room. The American Writers Museum, which we’ll tour Thursday afternoon, is on the second floor.
What will the workshops be like?
You bring whatever question you have about writing, building an audience, or getting published. I’ll make a few opening remarks and then ask, “Who’s first?” Whoever's first will sit beside me and ask their question. I’ll ask questions about their question, offer thoughts, and help them get clarity about their way forward. Then the next person comes up with their question, and so on. Along the way I'll be sharing insights I've never shared before. A small group of writers from every walk of life all working together to get our books into the world!
What’s the schedule?
The main event takes place September 7–8, 2023. To avoid stress and enjoy the full experience, we encourage participants to arrive by September 6 and depart no earlier than September 9. Following is more detailed schedule:
Wednesday, September 6: Meet-and-greet 7–8:30pm at Cerise, the rooftop lounge at Virgin Hotel Chicago.
Thursday, September 7: First workshop session 9am–noon, break for lunch, American Writers Museum 2:00–5:00.
Optional for Thursday evening: Let's go to a stage theater production! Details to come.
Friday, September 8: Second workshop session 9am to noon, break for lunch, then our final workshop session 2:00–5:00. At 6:30pm we’ll conclude our time together over dinner at Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria at 439 N Wells, a 15-minute walk from the American Writers Museum.
Where do we stay?
Chicago has no shortage of places to stay—hotels, Airbnb's, hostels, take your pick!
Where do we eat?
There are lots of restaurants within a few minutes’ walk of the venue, as well as coffee and groceries. Friday night I’ll treat you to deep-dish Chicago-style pizza at Lou Malnati's on Michigan Ave. Chicagoans fight over who serves the best pizza. My favorite: Lou Malnati's, hands down.
Nearest airports?
ORD and MDW
How many spots are there?
23
Cost?
The cost is $495, which includes the workshops, admission to the American Writers Museum, and dinner Friday night. (Not included: airfare, transportation to/from airport, hotel stay, and meals with the exception of Friday night.)
What if I need to cancel?
You can get a refund (minus 5% for payment processor fees) up until ten days before the event, at which point it becomes a credit for a future event.
Your Host
Chad R. Allen is a writer, speaker, editor, and writing coach. A 20-year publishing professional, he has worked with such bestselling authors as Michael Hyatt, Caroline Leaf, Mark Batterson, and Phyllis Tickle.
He is the creator of BookCamp, a training center and community for writers, and Book Proposal Academy, an online course. His passion is helping writers get their books into the world, and he blogs at www.chadrallen.com.
He has been published in such online places as LifeHacker, The Accidental Creative, MichaelHyatt.com, Goinswriter.com, and The Good Men Project.
Chad holds a B.A. in English from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and an M.A. in Theology from the University of Notre Dame. He and his wife, Alyssa, live with their two children in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Interactive Workshops
Our workshops are specifically designed for a maximum of 23 participants. This allows us to offer personalized guidance for writers at all levels. Bring any question you have—about writing, audience-building, or publishing—and we'll tackle it together. The structure is simple: I'll make opening remarks, then the floor is yours. Here's what will set this experience apart:
- Interactive Learning: Each session will involve lively dialogues as we explore your question, with everyone benefiting from the discussions.
- Exclusive Insights: You'll hear tips and advice I've never shared before, offering fresh perspectives to push your writing career forward.
- Diversity: Writers from different genres and experiences all bringing their own enriching perspectives to the table.
- Collaborative Goal: We all want to get our books into the world, and together, we'll strategize to make this dream a reality.
Join us for this unique journey of shared learning and growth. Let's become better writers together and share our messages and stories with the world!
American Writers Museum
The American Writers Museum opened its doors to the public on May 16, 2017. Since then, it has been dedicated to celebrating and promoting American literature and writers, offering visitors an immersive and interactive experience to explore the rich literary heritage of the United States.
This video is about the museum's first anniversary and gives you a feel for the vibe of the place.
Chicago
Chicago is one of my favorite places in the world. It has all the energy and excitement of a big city, but I don't think it's as overwhelming as some cities. The mass transit is fairly straightforward, the people are generally friendly, and the attractions and food are amazing. I love this place, which is why I make the trip around Lake Michigan from my home in Grand Rapids, Michigan, at least once a year, often more than that.
180 North Michigan Ave
The building at 180 North Michigan Ave is a historic high-rise in the heart of downtown Chicago. Popularly known as the Clair building, it's a neighbor to many of Chicago’s most popular attractions, including the Bean (aka Cloud Gate), the Magnificent Mile, and the Art Institute of Chicago.
We'll do our workshops on the twenty-first floor in a conference room. We'll visit the American Writers Museum, located on the second floor, Thursday afternoon.
Meet and Greet
Plan to arrive on Wednesday, September 6, and join us anytime between 7:00 and 8:30pm up at Cerise, the rooftop bar and lounge at the Hotel Virgin Chicago. I'll be up there greeting everyone, and this will be a great opportunity to get to know your fellow writers while taking in some amazing views of the city.
Lou Malnati's Pizzeria
We'll wrap up our time together Friday evening with a Chicago-style deep-dish pizza dinner at Lou Malnati's. Just a 15-minute walk from our workshop venue, you are in for a treat. I love this stuff, and Friday's dinner is covered as part of your registration, so eat up! (Gluten-free and vegetarian options will be available.)
Founded in 1971 by the son of Rudy Malnati, who was instrumental in developing the recipe for Chicago-style pizza, Lou Malnati's has become one of the Chicago area's best-known local lines of pizza restaurants.
Go to a Show with Me!
Little-known facts about me: I was drama club president two years in a row at my high school, and my first major in college was, you guessed it, drama! In other words, I'm a huge live theater geek, and I LOVE going to shows in Chicago.
You'll have the option of attending a show with me Thursday evening. In the weeks leading up to the event, I'll research plays and let you know what the additional charge will be to attend. Completely optional, but if you like stage theater, this is going to be amazing!
Have a question?
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©2023 Chad R. Allen