Literary Cleveland

Fostering excellence, amplifying diverse voices, and building a vibrant literary community.

[Literary Cleveland @litcleveland]

🎉The Cleveland Poetry Festival is BACK April 25-27.

Three days of readings, workshops, panel discussions, open mics, plus a new POETRY CRAWL on indie bookstore day.

Space is limited so get your tickets early:
https://t.co/2TaZtof04Y

#ClePoetryFest

[FreshWaterCLE @FreshWaterCLE]

In case you missed it, the largest free writing conference in the country takes place this September in Cleveland! 📝🌟

@litcleveland's twelfth annual Inkubator Writing Conference at the @Cleveland_PL is three days of writing workshops, panel discussions, presentations, a Kickoff mixer, a Keynote speaker, and much more.

This year, the conference is part of Ohio Celebrates Toni Morrison.

To learn more about Inkubator, tap below. ⬇

https://t.co/QnIIENQpXr

[FreshWaterCLE @FreshWaterCLE]

Grab your pen and paper! @litcleveland’s twelfth annual Inkubator Writing Conference begins in early September. 📄🖊️

This is the largest free writing conference in the country full of free panel discussions, workshops, presentations, a Kickoff mixer, a Keynote speaker, and more. This year's conference is presented as part of Ohio Celebrates Toni Morrison, a yearlong program celebrating one of Northeast Ohio’s most influential writers. 

Inkubator takes place virtually on Wednesday, September 9th and in-person at the main branch of the @Cleveland_PL from Thursday, September 10th through Saturday, September 12th. 

To learn more about this highly-anticipated event, tap below. ⬇️

https://t.co/QnIIENPS7T

[Literary Cleveland @litcleveland]

Read the new issue of GSR!
https://t.co/KfypVWvumj

[Literary Cleveland @litcleveland]

Our own @GordonSquareRev is back!
Issue 15 is out today with 17 new pieces showcasing writers from Cleveland, Cincinnati, Boston, Portland, San Francisco, India and more.
Read on for new poetry, fiction, and nonfiction about sacrificial sisters, fleas and conspiracies, epigenetics and Modern Standard Arabic, Jackie Chan and Chick-Dumpling’s Chief Accounting Officer.
Link below.

[Ohio Center for the Book @cplocfb]

Listen to Page Count to hear Mary Grimm discuss her new story collection, why she loves teaching writing, her foray into experimental fiction & ghost towns and more. Then, come to @litcleveland's Plum City Reading on 2/26 at Loganberry Books to hear Mary & others read!

[Literary Cleveland @litcleveland]

Holding your hand while we say this...

The office is closing until January 6th, 2025. Our staff is taking a much-needed break after an incredible year! Response times might be slower, but don’t worry—we’ll be back soon, refreshed and ready for an even better 2025. 🌟 Thank you for understanding! 💖 You get some rest too! #HoldingSpace

[Literary Cleveland @litcleveland]

✨ Devote a day to your writing! ✨ Join us for the Winter 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟭𝘀𝘁, 𝟭𝟭𝗮𝗺-𝟱𝗽𝗺 𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆'𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻.

Whether you're working on a novel 📕, poem, essay, or just getting started, we’ve got everything you need to make progress: writing prompts, community support, food & drink, and writing time in poetry, nonfiction, and fiction.

💰 Pricing:
$75 - Full Conference Registration
(Non-Members) / $50 - Full Conference Registration / (Lit Cleveland Members) / $25 - 50% off for low- or limited-income (Email for scholarships)

📅 Schedule:
𝟭𝟭:𝟬𝟬𝗮𝗺: Check-in
𝟭𝟭:𝟯𝟬𝗮𝗺: Welcome & orientation
𝟭𝟮:𝟬𝟬𝗽𝗺: Genre prompts (Poetry, Nonfiction, Fiction)
𝟭𝟮:𝟭𝟱𝗽𝗺: Writing sprints
𝟭:𝟬𝟬𝗽𝗺: Break
𝟭:𝟯𝟬𝗽𝗺: Prompts & writing sprints
𝟯:𝟬𝟬𝗽𝗺: Break
𝟯:𝟬𝟬𝗽𝗺: Prompts & writing sprints
𝟰:𝟬𝟬𝗽𝗺: Share time  in the large hall 

📍 Cleveland State University Mather Mansion
🎟 Limited to 100 participants
✍️ All genres, all levels welcome!

🔗 Register:  Link in bio

https://t.co/8wwwRT2S9Y

Scholarships available for NE Ohio writers. Email [email protected] for more info.

#WritingRetreat

[Literary Cleveland @litcleveland]

Before Literary Cleveland, @Jen_martinezzz wasn’t sure she could find the support she needed to complete her first poetry collection. Now, she’s achieved the incredible milestone of being published in The Kenyon Review—an accomplishment she reached on her very first attempt—thanks to the guidance of her mentor, @DannyCaine, who she says played a pivotal role in refining her craft.

Hear it from Jenna herself:

“𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐧𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐨𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐩𝐨𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐫, 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐲, 𝐠𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭, 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞, 𝐂𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐲𝐚𝐧 𝐝𝐨 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐎𝐡𝐢𝐨!”

If you're able to help, your support keeps opportunities open for writers like Jenna. Please click the link in bio to give 🔗 https://t.co/XfwqjbkdPO

And even if now’s not the time, thank you—Lit Cleveland thrives because of amazing fans like you! ❤️‍🔥

[Literary Cleveland @litcleveland]

Giving thanks is meaningful 🙏🏻, but giving back is transformative ✨.

Rachel McGill is a #mother 🍼, #veteran 🎖️, and #writer ✍️ who found her creative home with us! 🥲❤️

She opened up in Dr. @Naazneenerd's Grief Writing class 📖 and shared her stories with bravery at Veterans' Voices. All thanks to a #scholarship 🎓 that made it possible.

𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗲𝗱?
Every gift to our fund drive, no matter the size, brings us closer to helping writers like Rachel take their craft to the next level. For example, $100 can fund a free program that reaches up to 50 people or provide a scholarship for a 5-week class.

𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲. Thank you!
https://t.co/XfwqjbkdPO (link in bio)

~ And hear it from Rachel herself:

"𝘚𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳, 𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘊𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥'𝘴 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩. 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘉𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘭𝘺!"

[Literary Cleveland @litcleveland]

What happens when seniors are given a platform to share their stories? 🤔 At Council Gardens, the answer is a vibrant celebration of creativity and life. 🌸✨

Since 2019, the writing club at Council Gardens has partnered with Literary Cleveland 📚 for weekly workshops, culminating in a collection of memoirs, essays, and poems created by the residents. ✍️💫

Last Wednesday, Council Gardens held a “Reading in the Garden” event 🌿🎤 where senior residents shared their stories and poems featured in Writing in the Gardens: Volume 3. 📖❤️

Situated on 8 acres in Cleveland Heights 🌳, Council Gardens is an affordable senior living community 🏡, consisting of one mid-rise and eight garden buildings, as highlighted in the book.

[Literary Cleveland @litcleveland]

Give a gift here. Thank you! https://t.co/MG8PhDMSrD

[Literary Cleveland @litcleveland]

❤️‍🔥 Danielle didn’t expect that teaching for Literary Cleveland would mean watching people light up when they saw their own stories with fresh eyes. Teaching "Writing People Using Objects" was a highlight of her year. Hear it from Danielle herself: 

𝑶𝒏𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒑 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 "𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒃𝒖𝒍𝒃" 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒂 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏'𝒔 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅- 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒑 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆'𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏'𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒂 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍.

𝑰𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒚𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒚 𝒖𝒏𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒘𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒑 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒂 𝒑𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒕 𝒐𝒌 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒑𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒑𝒉𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆.

𝑰𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒔𝒐 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒑𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒑. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒖𝒏𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒄𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒊𝒏 𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆.

If you're able to help, a monetary gift keeps opportunities open for teachers like Danielle. Please click the link in bio to give 🫶🏽 And even if now’s not the time, thank you—Lit Cleveland thrives because of amazing fans like you!

[Literary Cleveland @litcleveland]

Psyched about this class!!

[Avitus B. Carle (she/her) @avitusbcarle]

Want to learn about and create some flash with me?

Registration is now open for my virtual workshop, TO LIVE: GIVING VOICE TO THE NONHUMAN NARRATOR, hosted by @litcleveland.

When: April 7, 2025

Learn more and register here:

https://t.co/5Ylus93Rmh

[Literary Cleveland @litcleveland]

🎉 Today we celebrate the one and only @mattweinkam, our fearless Executive Director and the heart of Lit Cleveland!

On a recent group call, someone posed a question to the staff: What’s your favorite part of working at Lit Cleveland? Each answer underscored the same thing: the warm, supportive environment that you’ve created—a space where emotional intelligence, collaboration, and creativity thrive. This atmosphere is a reflection of your leadership, Matt, and it allows all of us to do our best work.

We hope you enjoy a well-deserved day off today, filled with love and maybe a long walk to soak in the good vibes you’ve put out into the world.

Everyone, please drop a 🎉 in the comments to help us celebrate this amazing human!

[Joline ScottRoller 🇺🇦 @JScottroller]

Check it out, #parenting AND #WritingCommunity friends! Join me to hear about some ways we can balance it all with @litcleveland and @PenParentis

[Literary Cleveland @litcleveland]

👶✍️ Calling all writer-parents! Balancing creativity and parenting can feel impossible—but it doesn’t have to be. 

On Nov 20 we are thrilled to partner with @penparentis for a craft talk led by Pen Parentis Leader @JolineScottRoller, where we’ll explore strategies to make room for writing amidst the chaos of parenthood. 

This Listening Tour workshop offers:
✨ Expert advice to nurture your creative practice
✨ Stories and tips from writer-parents like you
✨ A chance to ask questions & crowdsource solutions

📅 Reserve your spot now—link in bio.

🔗 https://t.co/fc34rLd7Mv
#WritingAsAParent

[Literary Cleveland @litcleveland]

Congrats to our board member @gmehok on his debut novel GOING DARK out today! Happy publication day!

https://t.co/6Hua9fmkWh

[Literary Cleveland @litcleveland]

🌎 Hi everyone, let’s talk about what’s next for writers in our city.

We know that many are feeling deeply after the election, and now, more than ever, coming together to process, write, and create will be vital as we move into the years ahead.

That is why we’ll be #extending our 4 FREE in-person monthly Library Writing Groups at the Cleveland Public Library into 2025. These Saturday morning groups are open to everyone and focus on helping us create fiction, nonfiction, and poetry together in community ⤵️

🔵 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩
      Every 1st Saturday @ Rice Branch
🔵 𝐍𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩
      Every 2nd Saturday @ Hough Branch
🔵 𝐏𝐨𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩
      Every 3rd Saturday @ South Branch
🔵 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩
      Every 4th Saturday @ Lorain Branch

In addition, we are in the process of developing 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐀𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐬 to create sanctuaries of solidarity and creativity for writers navigating challenging times. These groups will provide dedicated spaces for connection, expression, and support within specific communities, including the 🔴 BIPOC writers, 🔴LGBTQIA+ writers, and 🔴 immigrant writers (details coming soon).

🟠 Lastly, we are continuing Early Ink, our #free virtual morning silent writing group that meets online daily from 6-8am via Zoom to write together in community.

We hope these groups become a place for you to share your story, gain support and inspiration, explore bold ideas, and find strength through the written word.

Learn more about Monthly In-Person Writing Groups or Early Ink online daily.
Links also in bio. 

🔗https://t.co/grRfXlPLCu
🔗https://t.co/dE6DGNQcY1