Lit Youngstown is announcing a series of February programs, including a gallery exhibit, an all-day writers retreat, and a Winter Writing Camp. Program descriptions, dates and locations for events appear below.
Words Made Visible. The Soap Gallery, 117 S. Champion St., Youngstown. This public-art project is a collaboration between literary and visual artists. The month-long show will feature poems and stories that have been hand letter-pressed into broadsides by Jason Vaughn of the Cranky Pressman, and graphically designed into posters by graphic artist Laura Garvin. YSU art students will showcase work that responds to poems and stories, through painting, ceramics, and digital media. Represented writers from the Mahoning Valley and beyond will read at the opening reception and art will be available for purchase. Lit Youngstown is currently seeking volunteers for its gallery opening/reception. Email
Li***********@gm***.com
… for more information. Opening reception: 2-5 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 3.
All Day Writers Retreat. St. John’s Episcopal Church, 323 Wick Ave., Youngstown. This special event will feature an unstructured day of writing. Seats are limited; no children. RSVP Lit Youngstown by Feb. 1. 1-7 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 4.
First Wednesday. The Soap Gallery, 117 S. Champion St., Youngstown. Lit Youngstown welcomes YSU English Professor Stacey Graber and essayists published in “CROW: College Review of Writing,” edited by YSU Writing Center Director Angela Messenger. Graber is an assistant professor of English at YSU. Her research interests include popular culture, pedagogy, critical theory, and semiotics. Her work has appeared in The ALAN Review, The Doctor T.J. Eckleburg Review, Gravel Literary Magazine, Hamilton Stone Review, Storm Cellar, Modern Times Magazine, and YA Wednesday. (There will be no open mic this month.) Doors open at 7:15 p.m. 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 7.
Food for Thought. Cultivate Cafe, 901 Elm St., Youngstown. Features a discussion on the award-winning “Citizen” by Claudia Rankine. Participants wanting dinner are advised to arrive well before the ordering counter closes at 6 p.m. 6-7 p.m., Wednesday Feb. 14.
Writers Circle. St. John’s Episcopal Church, 323 Wick Ave., Youngstown. Would you like feedback on new work? The Writers Circle will meet at Lit Youngstown’s office at St. John’s. Bring five copies of one poem or story excerpt, maximum five pages. Participants should come to the door on the right, under the arch, and ring the doorbell. 5:30-7 p.m., Thursday Feb. 15.
Winter Writing Camp. Public Library of Youngstown & the Mahoning Valley and St. John’s Episcopal Church, Youngstown. This all-day event features activities for writers and readers of all ages and experience levels. It’s free with registration, and includes sessions for children, teens, adults, and child-adult pairs. (Children under 12 should be accompanied by an adult.) Free registration includes lunch and child care, infant to age 5. (Participants should register each person in their party.) If you would like to register a group, email
Li***********@gm***.com
…. The registration deadline is Thursday, Feb. 15. Lit Youngstown is also seeking volunteers for the camp. Email
Li***********@gm***.com
… for information. The event is underwritten by Liz Hill, The Supplyroom and Harrington, Hoppe & Mitchell. 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 24. Winter Writing Camp session options appear below.
Session 1 – 10-10:45 a.m.
Option A: Adult Beginner Poetry. Presented by Anne Garwig. This workshop is specifically for adult beginners.
Option B: Reading Children’s Books. Presented by Terry Benton. For adults, teens and accompanied children. Features a brief discussion of the importance of reading for children and parents followed by a discussion of tips and strategies for finding fun and interesting books at the library, along with examples.
Option D: Creative Writing Toolbox for Tweens. Presented by Allison Graf.
For upper elementary to middle school. Learn techniques to help write stories during this creative writing session.
Session 2 – 11-11:45 a.m.
Option A: Let’s Get Personal. Presented by Kris Harrington. For high school through adult. Focuses on creating personal non-fiction writing that tells a story and speaks to a larger theme. Read and hear samples of personal writing from The Sun and The Moth, and then create short personal, theme-based pieces.
Option B: Being Seen: Attracting Your Ideal Readers. Presented by Stacey Schneider. For high school through adult. Feature an interactive workshop.
Option C: Writing Together. Presented by Ginny Taylor. For adult and middle school. Discover fun and creativity in this collaborative writing workshop designed for middle-schoolers and adults. Together, write poems, a story, and do journaling. All supplies are included.
Option D: Writing Together. Presented by Terry Murcko. Parent and child become an authoring team in this workshop for children ages 4 to 10. If possible, each child should bring a parent to maintain a one-on-one environment.
Pasta Bar & Open Mic: Noon-1 p.m.
Session 3 – 1:15-2 p.m.
Option A: There’s an App For That! Presented by Robin Wesson. For high school through adult. Explore writing platforms for sharing your work, including WordPress, Facebook and Amazon Kindle.
Option B: Flash Fiction, Prose Poetry, and Other Cross-Pollinations: An Exploration of Hybrid Forms. Presented by William R. Soldan. For high school through adult. Discuss various “cross-genres,” study examples, and experiment.
Option C: Plan Your Novel. Presented by Rebecca Barnhouse. For middle school through adult. Looks at strategies for developing a novel, as well as tips for getting a draft written. For writers at any stage who have a novel in mind, or a novel already begun.
Option D: Children Writing. Presented by Nicole Robinson. For elementary school. Participants will read and write poems through a variety of playful approaches. Each child will leave with at least one completed poem and a page of ideas for future writing.
Session 4 – 2:15-3:15 p.m.
Session A: Writing Your Imaginary Journey. Presented by Mari Alschuler. For high school through adult. Using your imagination, assorted words and writing prompts, write about someplace you’ve been, never been but want to visit, or a magical or imaginary realm. Write in prose or poetry.
Session B: Writing Children’s Literature. Presented by Nikki Ericksen. For high school through adult. This class is for beginning and experienced writers, readers, and listeners. Participants will learn about the different categories within Children’s Literature and discuss the target audience and age for each. Features current and classic works.
Session C: Writing on Illness. Presented by Tom Pugh. For high school through adult. Pugh will conduct a session on writing about illness from a nonfiction perspective. Maybe your experience with illness was tragic and brings you to the verge of tears, maybe your experience with hospitals and doctors is hilarious. Put that experience into words.
Option B: Writing a Poem in Five Images. Presented by Terry Murcko. For middle school through adult. Shows how a poem can condense narrative, characterization, and dialogue to tell a whole story in one swift scene.
3:30 p.m. – Cookies & Metaphors
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