Literary & Writing Programs
On November 1, The Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County will kick off a series of virtual events for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). For those new to the challenge, NaNoWriMo organizes participants to complete a 50,000-word novel-length book project each November. Last year, 38 Knox County writers participated in Library activities during National Novel Writing Month. “I’ve participated in NaNoWriMo a couple of times, and even though I have never made the 50,000-word goal, it’s been well worth it. If you can’t commit to writing an entire book, and you only write 15,000 words, you still end November with 15,000 more words than you started with.” says local writer Amanda Aimhoff, one of the volunteers who founded the Library’s writers’ group, Authors Anonymous. “I would encourage anyone who wants to write, to try it!”
Because the COVID-19 Pandemic has put all in-person programs on hold, the Library plans to implement events that aspiring authors can participate in online. #KnoxWrites NaNoWriMo Registration opens on Sunday, November 1st via the Library’s web page, https://www.knox.net/literary-writing.html. The first fifteen patrons to register for #KnoxWrites activities will receive an official National Novel Writing Month Swag kit.
Monday Meetups for writers are scheduled for November 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th at 6:00pm for Teens (age 13-19) and 7:00pm for Adults (age 19+). The Meetups consist of NaNoWriMo project check-ins, writing tips, prompts, and encouragement. Monday Meetup participants receive weekly “Perseverance Prizes” that include small gift certificates to local coffee shops. At the final Monday Meetup, all registered attendees will participate in a raffle for a number of prizes, including subscriptions to The Kenyon Review, and gift certificates to Paragraphs Bookstore.
National Novel Writing Month is in its twenty-first year of helping writers jump-start books and projects. To date, over fifty thousand people have registered on the organization's website, https://nanowrimo.org/, which serves as an international hub for aspiring authors. Library Development and Writing Program Manager Jamie Lyn Smith-Fletcher suggests that people start there, because “The website is full of guides and strategies for everyone from absolute beginners to experienced writers. They have planning sheets and pep talks and classes from established writers-- some really terrific and inspiring resources anyone can access from home.”
Participation in the Knox NaNoWriMo Hub is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Please visit the library website at www.knox.net or contact Literary and Writing Program Manager Jamie Lyn Smith-Fletcher at knoxwrites1@gmail.com for more information.
Because the COVID-19 Pandemic has put all in-person programs on hold, the Library plans to implement events that aspiring authors can participate in online. #KnoxWrites NaNoWriMo Registration opens on Sunday, November 1st via the Library’s web page, https://www.knox.net/literary-writing.html. The first fifteen patrons to register for #KnoxWrites activities will receive an official National Novel Writing Month Swag kit.
Monday Meetups for writers are scheduled for November 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th at 6:00pm for Teens (age 13-19) and 7:00pm for Adults (age 19+). The Meetups consist of NaNoWriMo project check-ins, writing tips, prompts, and encouragement. Monday Meetup participants receive weekly “Perseverance Prizes” that include small gift certificates to local coffee shops. At the final Monday Meetup, all registered attendees will participate in a raffle for a number of prizes, including subscriptions to The Kenyon Review, and gift certificates to Paragraphs Bookstore.
National Novel Writing Month is in its twenty-first year of helping writers jump-start books and projects. To date, over fifty thousand people have registered on the organization's website, https://nanowrimo.org/, which serves as an international hub for aspiring authors. Library Development and Writing Program Manager Jamie Lyn Smith-Fletcher suggests that people start there, because “The website is full of guides and strategies for everyone from absolute beginners to experienced writers. They have planning sheets and pep talks and classes from established writers-- some really terrific and inspiring resources anyone can access from home.”
Participation in the Knox NaNoWriMo Hub is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Please visit the library website at www.knox.net or contact Literary and Writing Program Manager Jamie Lyn Smith-Fletcher at knoxwrites1@gmail.com for more information.
Authors Anonymous
Wednesdays, September 9-December 9, 7:00-8:00 PM
Authors Anonymous is an informal meetup for writers age 18 and up. All are welcome. We will talk about craft, discuss current projects, share opportunities for writers and occasionally offer feedback on "Snippets" of new work.
Join us for an hour on Wednesdays, September 9-December 9, 7:00-8:00 PM. Meetings are held virtually- registration is required. To get registered or for more information please contact Literary and Writing manger Jamie Lynn Smith-Fletcher at knoxwrites1@gmail.com.
Authors Anonymous is an informal meetup for writers age 18 and up. All are welcome. We will talk about craft, discuss current projects, share opportunities for writers and occasionally offer feedback on "Snippets" of new work.
Join us for an hour on Wednesdays, September 9-December 9, 7:00-8:00 PM. Meetings are held virtually- registration is required. To get registered or for more information please contact Literary and Writing manger Jamie Lynn Smith-Fletcher at knoxwrites1@gmail.com.
KnoxWrites Writing Clinic
KnoxWrites Writing Clinics are held virtually on Wednesdays, September 9-December 9, from 2:00-3:00 PM. Writing clinics are short, 20-minute limited sessions for short projects. All writing programs are delivered remotely: online via Google chat, Zoom, over the phone, etc. Registration is required for writing clinic. Please fill out the online form with the required information.
If you are unable to meet Wednesdays from 2:00-3:00 PM, please write in the comment section of the registration form at least three dates/times you are available during KnoxWrites office hours, 11am-7pm, Monday-Friday. You'll receive an email from knoxwrites1@gmail.com within 2-business days to make arrangements.
NOTE: If you are visiting the Writing Clinic for a consultation about publishing, graduate school, test preparation, or other writing resources, please briefly describe in the comment section of the registration form your purpose of the visit. You may also share any comments you have about your upcoming appointment. For example, "I need some help with proofreading this letter" or "I need to write marriage vows and have writers' block..."
If you submit a document as a shared Google document: If you are working in Google Docs, please click the email address for Literary and Writing manager Jamie Lyn Smith-Fletcher to share your document with knoxwrites1@gmail.com
If you are unable to meet Wednesdays from 2:00-3:00 PM, please write in the comment section of the registration form at least three dates/times you are available during KnoxWrites office hours, 11am-7pm, Monday-Friday. You'll receive an email from knoxwrites1@gmail.com within 2-business days to make arrangements.
NOTE: If you are visiting the Writing Clinic for a consultation about publishing, graduate school, test preparation, or other writing resources, please briefly describe in the comment section of the registration form your purpose of the visit. You may also share any comments you have about your upcoming appointment. For example, "I need some help with proofreading this letter" or "I need to write marriage vows and have writers' block..."
If you submit a document as a shared Google document: If you are working in Google Docs, please click the email address for Literary and Writing manager Jamie Lyn Smith-Fletcher to share your document with knoxwrites1@gmail.com
Teen Writing Program BreakBread Literacy Project
This fall TWP partners with Breakbread Literacy project to offer a series of virtual linked writing workshops for young creatives.
Each workshop will have two sessions:
"Fiction with Katherine Norris"
Saturday, November 14, 2020, 3:00-4:00 PM
Zoom Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIpcu-qqjkrGNyYQaw5kSdQHOcOCZIdSoPb
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. If you have questions, contact Development & Writing Program Manager Jamie Lyn Smith-Fletcher at knoxwrites1@gmail.com.
These special events for young writers features a star-studded lineup of readers: Hanif Abdurraqib*, Charlie Eskew*, David Hall*, Richie Hofmann, Crystal AC Salas, Raena Shirali, Paige Webb* and Shelley Wong, as well as numerous BreakBread editors and select high school age writers. Writers age 13-19 are welcome to share their work with a national audience. Again, if you want to register email knoxwrites1@gmail.com.
Each workshop will have two sessions:
- a generative workshop (participants meet a guest author and complete a writing prompt) and;
- a Peer Workshop (Participants get feedback from workshop group).
"Fiction with Katherine Norris"
Saturday, November 14, 2020, 3:00-4:00 PM
Zoom Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIpcu-qqjkrGNyYQaw5kSdQHOcOCZIdSoPb
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. If you have questions, contact Development & Writing Program Manager Jamie Lyn Smith-Fletcher at knoxwrites1@gmail.com.
These special events for young writers features a star-studded lineup of readers: Hanif Abdurraqib*, Charlie Eskew*, David Hall*, Richie Hofmann, Crystal AC Salas, Raena Shirali, Paige Webb* and Shelley Wong, as well as numerous BreakBread editors and select high school age writers. Writers age 13-19 are welcome to share their work with a national audience. Again, if you want to register email knoxwrites1@gmail.com.
Local Literary Partners
Please support our local literary partners.
The Kenyon Review is a literary magazine based in Gambier, Ohio, US, home of Kenyon College. The KR frequently hosts a diverse roster of world-reknowned authors in its reading series https://www.kenyonreview.org/reading-series-2018-19/ and hosts a free literary festival each November. https://www.kenyonreview.org/programs/literary-festival/
Paragraphs Bookstore is the pride of downtown Mount Vernon and hub for avid readers. Paragraphs offers classes for elementary and middle-school age writers in collaboration with The Kenyon Review. Paragraphs also sponsors readings and author visits.
Founded in 1929, the Ohioana Library Association collects, preserves, and celebrates Ohio literature and other creative endeavors. We are a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit literary organization serving the state of Ohio. For more information, visit www.ohioana.org.
We are a family run business of 23 years. We provide excellent service with years of experience and knowledge. We sell books and specialty toys for people of all ages.