Literary & Writing

Literary & Writing Programs

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Email Jamie Lyn Smith-Fletcher at knoxwrites1@gmail.com

RESOURCES FOR WRITERS

Authors Anonymous meetup returns to the Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County in January 2024, welcoming all writers age 18+ to join us twice a month for creative writing community, craft tips, workshops, and conversation. The group is open to writers at all stages of experience, including newbies! We'll meet on the following Thursdays from 6pm-7:30pm in the Main Library Solarium: January 11, January 25, February 8, February 22, March 7, March 21, April 4, and April 18. Attendees should bring something to write with or on, other materials and snacks provided. As with all library programs, Authors Anonymous is free of charge and open to the public. For more information, visit www.knox.net, email knoxwrites1@gmail.com, or call (740) 392-2665 ext. 259.

Teen Writing Program Spring 2024 schedule, Mondays, 4:30-5:30pm Main Library Solarium. January 22, 29, February 5, 12, 26, March 18, 25, April 15, 22, 29. No registration necessary. Open to all creative writers age 13-18. Fun workshops in poetry and prose. Free snacks and swag. For more information email Knoxwrites1@gmail.com or call 740-392-2665 ext. 259.

Join us for Poetry Potluck at the Brown Family Environmental Center, 9781 Laymon Road in Gambier on Saturday, April 27 from 2pm -4pm. Guest poet Frances Cannon will read some of her poems and lead a generative writing workshop. As with all Library programs, this event is free and open to the public. Snacks and notebooks provided, and all are welcome. For more information, visit www.knox.net, email knoxwrites1@gmail.com, or call (740) 392-2665 extension 259. About Our Guest Poet: Frances Cannon is an interdisciplinary writer, editor, educator, and artist. She is the Mellon Science and Nature Writing Fellow at Kenyon College, 2023 – 2025. She teaches at Burlington City Arts and edits for Green Writers Press, Onion River Press, and Maple Tree Press. She recently served as the Managing Director of the Sundog Poetry Center in Vermont. She has taught at the Vermont College of Fine Arts, Champlain College, the Vermont Commons School, the University of Iowa, and as a visiting lecturer at Middlebury College and the University of Vermont. She has an MFA in creative writing from Iowa and a BA in poetry and printmaking from the University of Vermont. Her published books include: Walter Benjamin Reimagined, MIT Press, The Highs and Lows of Shapeshift Ma and Big-Little Frank, Gold Wake Press, Tropicalia, Vagabond Press, Predator/Play, Ethel Press, Uranian Fruit, Honeybee Press, Sagittaria, Bottlecap Press, and Image Burn, a self-published art book, and Fling Diction, forthcoming with Green Writers Press. She has worked for The Iowa Review, McSweeney’s Quarterly, The Believer, and The Lucky Peach. Her writing has been published in The New York Times, Poetry Northwest, The North American Review, The Iowa Review, The Green Mountain Review, Vice, Lithub, The Moscow Times, The Examined Life Journal, Gastronomica, Electric Lit, Edible magazine, North American Review, Fourth Genre, Rhino Poetry, and The Kenyon Review.

Authors Anonymous will continue to meet May-September, 2024 from 6:00-7:30pm in the Main Library's Multipurpose Room on the following Thursdays: May 2 May 16 June 6 June 20 (NO July 4) July 18 August 1 August 15 September 5 September 19 The group is open to writers at all stages of experience, including newbies! Attendees should bring something to write with or on, other materials and snacks provided. As with all Library programs, Authors Anonymous is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.knox.net, email Knoxwrites1@gmail.com, or call (740) 392-2665 ext. 8259.

Local Literary Partners

Please support our local literary partners.

The Kenyon Review

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

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.

Ohioana Library Association/Ohioana Book Festival

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.

Colonial Books & Kids Shelf

We are a family run business of 37 years. We provide excellent service with years of experience and knowledge. We sell books and specialty toys for people of all ages.