Hello, and welcome to the Institute’s
Chat Room and Open Forum page.

Here in the Institute of Children’s Literature’s Chat Room, you can ask questions of established professionals in the world of children’s literature, discuss the joys and challenges in your writing life, or just talk to other writers about anything. We have both scheduled events and free chat time.

Be sure to catch our bi-monthly “live interviews” with well-known children’s writing professionals. These events fall on two Thursdays a month and last for two hours, beginning at 5 p.m., Pacific Time; 6 p.m., Mountain Time; 7 p.m., Central Time; 8 p.m., Eastern Time; and 9 p.m., Atlantic/Canada Time.  Go to our Scheduled Events page to check for the next guest interview.  Some of these chat events will come with special promotions and even prizes you can win. You are welcome to join us anytime during these interviews, so feel free to slip in even if you miss the beginning of the event.

During our Open Forum, we talk about the questions and issues you are facing as a writer for children. Open Forum meets every Tuesday afternoon for one hour at 11 A.M. Pacific Time; 12 noon Mountain Time; 1 P.M. Central Time; 2 P.M. Eastern Time; and 3 P.M. Atlantic/Canada Time--drop in if you can.

Or you may want to visit our Chat Room right now. Chances are you’ll find other writers talking, laughing, and otherwise taking a break from the loneliness and hard work of writing. So come on in right now and be sure to say “hey” to whomever is there-you won’t be interrupting. I try to pop in as often as I can. I’ll be using my real name--so feel free to ask me anything or just start up a conversation. I love to chat.

You’ve got friends waiting inside.

Jan Fields, 

Web Editor

P.S.  To help you get started we have posted a simple, helpful article about using the Chat Room.  You can refer to it at the following link: 

Using the New Chat Room Software