Twelve Arts and Lit Cleveland featured on TV 20
TV 20 Cleveland recently featured Twelve Literary Arts Incubator and Lit Cleveland on their weekly newscast. Click here to see Twelve Arts founder Daniel Gray-Kontar and Lit Cleveland Director Lee Chilcote talk about their organizations and the importance of a vibrant, connected, and supportive arts culture in Cleveland.
New! July Workshops
I’m Too Sexy for This Scene: Writing Better Sex w/Laura Maylene Walter ($65/$50 for members)
Hybrid workshop: begins Wednesday, July 12th from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., continues online, then concludes Wednesday, August 9th from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. In person workshops take place at Gordon Square Arcade, 6516 Detroit Ave., Cleveland
In this workshop, participants will read laughably bad sex scenes, consider what makes a sex scene successful, complete sex-tacular writing prompts, and share sex scenes for feedback. A final in-class meeting will bring all that knowledge to a satisfied literary conclusion. Both fiction and nonfiction writers are welcome, as is writing that depicts a diverse range of sexualities and perspectives.
How to Write a Book Proposal w/Gina Messina ($15/$12 for members)
Saturday, July 22nd from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Location TBD
Have you thought about submitting a book proposal for publication, but don’t know where to start? In this class, Gina Messina will share some tricks of the trade and offer a step by step guide on how to write a book proposal. This workshop will help you decide what elements are critical to include in your proposal, which publishers to reach out to, and how to ensure that your proposal gets to the right hands.
Coming Soon: June Workshops
Writing & Performing Poetry w/D.L. Ware (Free!)
Saturday, June 3rd, June 10th and June 17th, 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. at CPL Rice Branch, 11535 Shaker Blvd, Cleve.
Create original poetry, practice the art of performance, and compete in an informal poetry slam at this free workshop. Writers of all levels and backgrounds welcome.
Public Poetry Workshop at CPL (Free!) with Amy Bracken Sparks
Saturday, June 10th, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at CPL Main Branch, 325 Superior Ave, Cle. OH 44114
Participants will get hands-on poetry writing experience and will discuss ways to strengthen their craft. Open to writers of all ages, levels, and backgrounds. Please bring 10-15 copies of a poem.
Building a Better Blog w/Marchaé Grair, Kate Bigam, & Jill Miller Zimon ($30/$25 for members)
Wedsnesday, June 14th and June 28th, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at Loganberry Books, 13015 Larchmere Blvd., Shaker Hts. OH 44120
Don’t know how to start a blog? Not sure what to focus on? Don’t fret! This two-session writing workshop will guide you through the entire blogging process – from creating and setting up a blog to attracting readers and marketing your writing using social media.
Field of Dreams: Sports Memoir Writing w/Charlotte Morgan ($30/$25 for members)
Thursday, June 15th and June 22nd, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at Baseball Heritage Museum, 6601 Lexington Ave, Cleve. OH 44103
Learn to take your sports recollections and craft them into powerful nonfiction narratives. Participants will look at classic sports memoirs, some of which feature Cleveland sports legends like Lebron James, before beginning to write their own and receiving valuable feedback.
Get Social and Get Seen w/Marchaé Grair & Kate Bigam ($25/$20 for members and nonprofits)
Friday, June 16th, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. at the Gordon Square Arcade, 6516 Detroit Ave., Cleve.
Do you want to expand your organization’s voice on social media but don’t know where to start? Are you ready to be your own brand and become a social media influencer? In this workshop, attendees will learn the best practices for building a social media strategy from two experts in social media marketing and blogging. All skill levels are welcome. This workshop will be relevant for individuals, nonprofits and businesses.
Writing the Region: A Workshop w/Dos Madres Press ($18/$15 for members); Free reading to follow
Saturday, June 17th, 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. at Mac’s Backs Books on Coventry, 1820 Coventry Rd., Cleveland Hts.
How does the geographic region that shaped you help shape your writing? Join Dos Madres Press poets Richard Hague, Pauletta Hansel, Grace Curtis, Norman Finkelstein and Gerry Grubbs in this exploration of poetry and place. There will be the opportunity for drafting and sharing new work and for feedback on a “place-based” poem you bring with you. Free reading by Dos Madres authors at 7:00 p.m.
Buried Treasures: The Secret to Unearthing Hard to Find Information w/Wendy Koile ($15/$12 for members)
Saturday, June 24th, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at Loganberry Books, 13015 Larchmere Blvd., Shaker Hts. OH
Whether writing nonfiction, fiction, or family history, writers often run right into a brick wall when it comes to research. Author and Wendy Koile will break down the brick wall by demonstrating ways to utilize overlooked or obscure resources for your projects, and will offer advice on how to excavate the hidden treasure of information that will make your writing complete.
Check out Lit CLE’s podcast with D.L. Ware!
Our inaugural podcast features poet, community arts activist, and Buckeye-Shaker resident D. L. Ware. Tune in to hear Ware chat with Lit CLE’s Lee Chilcote about the healing potential of poetry, serving in the US Armed Forces, his hopes and concerns for his neighborhood, and more.
Follow us on Soundcloud to keep up with future podcasts and other content.
Crossing Borders: Immigrant Narratives (Free!)
Saturday, June 10th from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Near West Plaza, 6702 Detroit Ave., Cleve.
Join Literary Cleveland for a dramatic staged reading of immigration stories by local writers at Near West Theater’s outdoor plaza! Register & learn more about our Crossing Borders project here.
