Digging into your family history
Writing about family history is more than creating a tree. It’s about becoming a detective and historian. That was one of the main takeaways of Lit Cleveland’s recent “Writing Your Family History” workshop, held on Saturday, February 4th from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm at Lake Erie Ink.
Check out the full blog post here.
Lit Cleveland featured on WKYC’s “We The People”
Lit Cleveland director Lee Chilcote was interviewed on WKYC’s “We the People” last Friday. Check out this clip to see Lee talk about Lit Cleveland’s mission and our upcoming “Crossing Borders: Immigrant Narratives” project. Big thanks to Margaret Bernstein, Tiffany Tarpin and our friends at WKYC for having us on the show!
This Thursday: Lit Cleveland Open Mic at MIX!
MIX: Expression on Thursday, February 9th, 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. at Cleveland Museum of Art
Explore the power of words and art in this special Thursday MIX – we’re opening the museum up just for MIX attendees. Share your poems, stories, and more at an open mic in the galleries led by poet Damien Ware and presented in collaboration with Literary Cleveland, and check out the new special exhibition Basquiat: The Unknown Notebooks.
MIX is an 18 and over event. $10.00 advance/$15.00 day of. CMA members free. Open mic at 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. – sign up on the spot.
Stories wanted for Crossing Borders: Immigrant Narratives
Literary Cleveland is seeking submissions of original work by Cleveland area writers on the theme of immigration. We especially encourage submissions from individuals who may not consider themselves writers but have a story to tell. The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, February 15th. Please email info@litcleveland.org with any submissions or inquiries.
Buy tickets for the Sat. March 18 and Sun. March 19 performances here.
Upcoming February Workshops
Public Poetry Workshop w/Meredith L. King (Free)
Sat. February 11th, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., CPL Main Branch Literature Dept., 325 Superior Ave., 2nd Floor, Cleveland
Sharpen your craft and receive comments and suggestions on your poetry in a friendly group format! Writers of all levels and backgrounds welcome. Please bring 10-15 copies of a poem.
Make the Leap into Writing Persona Poems w/Mimi Plevin-Foust ($30.00/$25.00 for members)
Thursday, February 16th & 23rd, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., Loganberry Books, 13015 Larchmere Blvd., Shaker Hts.
Do you want to write poems that help you stand out from the pack, tell stories, build your imagination, and create social change? Writing persona poems – poems in another’s voice – can do all that and more. Come with notebook or paper, a pen you love, and your imagination. Beginners to experienced poets are all welcome.
Winter Fictionfest: A Mini-Conference ($28.00/$23.00 for members)
Saturday, February 18th 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. at Loganberry Books, 13015 Larchmere, Shaker Hts.
- Whether you’re new to weaving stories or just published your newest book, this half-day conference will give you the inspiration to take your writing to the next level.
- 1:00 – 1:45 p.m.: Q&A with Mary Doria Russell, award-winning author of Doc, The Sparrow and other novels, and author Susan Petrone
- 2:00 – 4:30 p.m.: Workshops w/NE Ohio authors*
- Workshop A: Beyond Motive, Means and Opportunity: How to Plot Your Mystery w/ Casey Daniels & Shelley Costa
- Workshop B: Turning History into Fiction w/ D.M. Pulley
- Workshop C: Science Fiction: Not Just for Kids Anymore! w/ Geoffrey Landis & Mary Turzillo
- *Participants will be able to choose to attend 2 of 3 workshops when they register.
Digging Up the Bodies: Writing About True Crimes in History w/Jane Turzillo ($15.00/$12.00 for members)
Wednesday, February 22nd, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., Gordon Square Arcade, 6516 Detroit Ave., Cleveland 44102
If you want to write about true crimes in history, this is the class for you! We’ll talk about how to spot an interesting subject and where to uncover the evidence, photographs and more. Then we’ll talk about how to turn what you’ve found into a compelling read. If time permits we’ll look at some markets. Bring ideas or works in progress. This event is co-sponsored by Sisters in Crime Northeast Ohio.
Between the Lines w/Kazim Ali, author of Uncle Sharif’s Life in Music
Wed. February 15th, 7:00 p.m., at Happy Dog at the Euclid Tavern, 11625 Euclid Ave (Free)
Join Literary Cleveland for an evening with award-winning poet, novelist, translator, and professor Kazim Ali. The author will read from his forthcoming short story collection “Uncle Sharif’s Life In Music”, discuss other upcoming works in conversation with writer Justin Glanville, and take questions from the audience.
Read Ali’s complete bio and publication list here.
Winter Mixer: Tues. February 28th at The Spotted Owl
Lit Cleveland Winter Mixer ($8.00 ticket/2 for $15.00/Free for members)
Tuesday, February 28th 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., The Spotted Owl, 710 Jefferson Ave., Cleveland
Enjoy drinks and networking with Lit Cleveland members and fellow writers. Several experienced writers will discuss the benefits of writing groups and how you should go about creating your own. We’ll close out the evening with local writers Cindy Washabaugh and Diane Vogel Ferri performing their original work.
