Chapter
Chicago & Online  ·  Invite Only  ·  Free

A creative community
for people who make things —
and the ones who are ready
to start. We explore art, culture,
and creativity together, and build
the kind of life that makes room for it.

“We go from ‘I want to make’ to ‘look what I made.’”

Create by Chapter is a small, intentional community of artists and creatively curious people who want to make more, explore more, and be around others doing the same. We meet, we make, we share what moves us, and we cheer each other on. Whether you’ve been creating for years or you’re just getting started — there’s room for you here. Chicago in-person and online.

Chicago chapter
6 of 25
19 spots remaining
Online chapter
2 of 150
148 spots remaining

Small by design. Chicago in-person, 25 members max. Online, 150 members max. Small enough that everyone knows everyone.

From the founder

I started this club because I missed being a best friend. Not just having one — being one. Choosing to show up for someone’s life on purpose, knowing their goals, celebrating their wins, being the person in the trench next to them. That kind of investment is mutual. It fills you up as much as it fills them up — and I think that part gets forgotten sometimes. I didn’t think I was the only one missing it.

Chan Marshall  ·  Founder, Create by Chapter
This month at Create by Chapter

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Create by Chapter  ·  Just a Note

Just a Note.

Thoughts, reflections, things worth writing down.

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Create by Chapter
What this is

Not a networking group. Not a mastermind. Not a course.

Most communities are built around talking about what you want to do, or charge you to be in community with like-minded people. Create by Chapter is built around actually doing it, and letting community naturally happen — free of charge.

This is a small, intentional community of artists and creatively curious people who want to make more and explore more, together. Whatever your medium — painting, writing, music, photography, ceramics, film, or something you haven’t discovered yet — and wherever you are with it, from seasoned to just starting, there’s room for you here. We’re all creatives. Some of us have just known it longer.

We meet, we make, we share what moves us, and we cheer each other on. Every month there’s a curated menu of books, films, and music to explore, a group activity or outing, an art class or paint n sip, and sketch hangouts online. Chicago in-person and online — same club, same creative rhythm.

Not a networking group

Although it could be. The connections happen naturally when people are actually building things together.

Not a mastermind

But who knows what sharing information between the right people will become.

Not a course

We may take a class or two together sometime though.

The rhythm

A creative rhythm you can actually keep.

Structured enough to keep you making, loose enough to feel like people who actually like each other.

Every month
  • ✓  A curated menu — books, films, albums, and a group activity or outing
  • ✓  An art class or paint n sip (Chicago) + sketch hangouts (online)
  • ✓  A monthly gathering and a mid-month check-in
  • ✓  A 12 week goal cycle with weekly scoring
Your accountability circle

A small group of 2–4 members working on adjacent things. Check in between gatherings. Share your weekly score. Not a mentorship. Just people in the trench next to you.

Small by design

Every new member changes the room.

Chicago in-person: 25 members max. Online chapter: 150 members max. Small enough that everyone knows everyone. The numbers are intentional — this is what can be done with quality. The goal is for those numbers to grow over time, but only when the room is ready.

Membership is by invitation only. It is earned, not purchased. If you were referred by a current member, reach out. If you found us on your own and something here feels like yours — same.

Chicago spots filled
Online spots filled
How it works

Here’s what happens when you join.

1
You get your member ID and password

Your welcome pack arrives with a member card, pledge card, activity card, and a note. Sign into the member hub at createbychapter.com.

2
You complete your profile

Tells us your medium, your skill level, what you want to make, your availability, and a bit about how you work. This is how we put together your first accountability circle match.

3
You sign the pledge

Not a contract. A commitment to yourself and to the room.

4
You show up

To the gatherings, the check-ins, your accountability circle, the activity menu every month. Pick what calls to you and come ready to talk about it.

5
You set your 12 week goal

One specific goal for the cycle. You track it weekly, score yourself on Sundays, and close the cycle with a summary that lives on your profile permanently.

FAQ

Things people usually ask.

What does the club actually do?
Every month there’s a curated activity menu — two books, two films, two albums, and something to do together. There are in-person and digital gatherings, a mid-month check-in, art classes and sketch hangouts, and an accountability circle of 2–4 members who make alongside you. The 12 week goal cycle keeps you moving forward between gatherings. The club is structured enough to keep you making and loose enough to feel like people who actually like each other.
Is this really free?
Yes. Membership is free. The welcome pack, the activity menu, the gatherings, the member hub — all free. The only thing that costs anything is if you choose to buy something from the store, which is completely optional.
What’s the time commitment?
Realistically — one gathering per month (2–3 hours), one digital check-in per month (1 hour), and whatever time you put into your 12 week goal on your own. The accountability circle check-ins are informal and happen on your own schedule. If you do everything it’s maybe 6–8 hours a month.
What if I miss a gathering?
Life happens. Missing one gathering occasionally is fine. Consistently not showing up is a different conversation. This club is built on the assumption that you’re actually trying to be here — not just holding a spot.
What does “invite only” actually mean?
It means you either were referred by a current member or you found us on your own and reached out. You fill out the short form, tell us what you’re building, and we follow up personally. If the timing is right and there’s space, you’re in. If not, you go on the waitlist.
Do I need to already be an artist?
No. Some members are working artists, some are hobbyists, some are just getting back into it, and some are still figuring out what their medium even is. If you want to make more and explore your creativity, you belong here. We’re all creatives — some of us have just known it longer.
What’s the difference between Chicago and Online membership?
Chicago members get everything Online members get plus in-person gatherings in Chicago and a physical welcome pack. Online members participate in everything digitally. Same club, same activity menu, same accountability.
What is the 12 week goal cycle?
You set one specific goal at the start of a 12 week cycle. Every Sunday you score yourself on how the week went. At the end you write a summary of what you accomplished. The summary archives to your profile permanently. It’s your record of what you built.
What happens if I want to leave?
You reach out and let us know. No hard feelings, no drama. Your spot opens up for someone on the waitlist. The only ask is that you actually tell us — ghosting takes a spot from someone who genuinely wants it.
Why is the membership so small?
Because quality over quantity is not just a saying here — it’s the whole model. Small enough that everyone knows everyone. Small enough that the accountability circle actually works. The numbers will grow when the foundation is strong enough to hold more people. Not before.
Who started this and why?
Chan Marshall, a visual artist, writer, and content creator from New York currently living in Chicago. She started the club because she missed being a best friend — not just having one, but being one. Choosing to show up for someone’s life on purpose. She didn’t think she was the only one missing it.
Can I bring friends or tell people about it?
Yes to both. Members are welcome to bring guests to the monthly hangout gathering — not to check-ins, which are members only. And yes, tell people. Every new member changes the room — so we trust you to refer people thoughtfully.
Curious what it looks like?

Take a look inside.

A preview of the member hub — the activity menu, the projects board, the goal tracker, the accountability circle. Nothing saves and no real member data is visible. Just a feel for the space.

Get in touch

Questions? Ready to request an invite?

Whether you have a question about the club, want to know if it’s the right fit, or you’re ready to request an invite — this form gets to us directly. Select what you’re reaching out about and we’ll respond personally.

If you’re requesting an invite and the chapter you want is full, you’ll be added to the waitlist. You’ll hear from us when a spot opens.

Create by Chapter  ·  Preview

This is a preview. Nothing you do here saves. Member data shown is fictional.

Founding Member
Your Name
Chicago Chapter
CM426001
Member since April 2026
Building
Something I’ve been thinking about for a while.
Getting started
Complete your profile info
Sign the pledge
Set your 12 week goal
Check out the member directory
Add your project to the board
Join The Chapter House on Discord
RSVP to your first gathering
Pick your welcome gift
Your circle
Marcus T.
Building: The Woodshop Collective
Priya K.
Building: Clarity UX Studio
April 2026
New Beginnings

This is where it starts. The first chapter. Show up as you are.

📚 Book of the month — pick one
American
The Wedding People
Alison Espach
A woman accidentally gets pulled back into life by a stranger’s wedding. Warm, funny, same energy.
British
The Midnight Library
Matt Haig
A library between life and death where every book is a different version of your life.
🎬 Film of the month
American
Paterson
dir. Jim Jarmusch · 2016
A bus driver writes poetry every day. Quiet, beautiful, and really good.
🎵 Album of the month — pick one
American
4
Beyoncé · 2011
French
Nakamura
Aya Nakamura · 2018

What members are building. Add your project, follow along, leave encouragement.

The Woodshop Collective
Marcus T. · Chicago

Building a small woodworking business. Goal this cycle: get a dedicated workspace and land 5 paid clients.

2 comments
Clarity UX Studio
Priya K. · Online

Transitioning from in-house UX to independent consulting. This cycle: close my first two paying clients.

1 comment
Sunday Sauce
Dominique W. · Chicago

A food blog that turned into a catering inquiry list overnight. This cycle: cook 3 private dinners and see how it feels.

4 comments
Current cycle — Week 6 of 12
Launch my portfolio site and get 3 client inquiries by week 12.
W1
90%
W2
75%
W3
60%
W4
85%
W5
90%
W6
Log this week’s score

How did you do on your goal this week? 0 is nothing, 100 is everything you planned.

0%

Your fellow members. Add anyone to your accountability circle from your profile page.

Photography · Woodworking
Marcus T.
Chicago · April 2026
Building: The Woodshop Collective
UX Design · Strategy
Priya K.
Online · April 2026
Building: Clarity UX Studio
Cooking · Event Planning
Dominique W.
Chicago · April 2026
Building: Sunday Sauce
Writing · Content Creation
Jordan A.
Online · April 2026
Building: A newsletter about Black pop culture history
Finance · Community Organizing
Simone R.
Chicago · April 2026
Building: Financial literacy workshops for young women
Music Production · Teaching
Andre M.
Online · April 2026
Building: An online music production course for beginners
RSVP
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