Lit News

The '26-'27 Food for Thought book discussion series kicks off with our summer read, On Morrison, by Namwali Serpell. We will meet Thursday, September 17 at 5:30pm at Noble Creature, 126 E. Rayen. This book is available from bookshop.org , and to purchase a hardcopy for a special price from POP! Art Books Culture, please visit the quick sign-up here . Toni Morrison, Nobel Laureate and one of our most beloved writers, has inspired generations of readers. But her artistic geni

Gather in a safe space with other writers. All genres, experience levels, and ages are welcome. Any children under 13 should be accompanied by an adult. Socialize, share tips, experience, and events. Become part of a community that understands both the joys and the struggles of the writing life. We will meet from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00pm. at the Boardman Library . Critique hour will take place from 11:00am - 12:00pm. If you would like feedback on a short work or excerpt from a l

For the final title in this round of Food for Thought book discussions, we will meet at 5:30pm on the 2nd Thursday at Noble Creature, 126 E. Rayen. Haven't read the book yet? No worries. State of Wonder by Ann Patchett is available at the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County, and POP! Art Books Culture via Bookshop . State of Wonder is a 2011 novel by Ann Patchett about pharmacologist Marina Singh, who travels to the Amazon rainforest to find her former mentor, Dr

Check out these marvelous literary offerings for our first online auction . Extra thank you to the amazing members of our literary community for their creative generosity. Betsy Mars will fund an online writing workshop for you at ONE ART. Mary Quade will take you on a poetry hike at the Hiram College Field Station. Jennifer Sutherland will read your poetry manuscript and meet with you online to offer her feedback. Bonnie Proudfoot will mail to you a handcrafted kiln

First Wednesday Reader Series presents Youngstown historian Ben Lariccia of Philadelphia & Abby Vandiver of Cleveland on Wednesday, May 6 at 7:00pm at the Westside Bowl, 2617 Mahoning Ave. Elyssa Pallone will co-host with an open mic to follow. Meagan Albani will provide ASL interpretation. The First Wednesday Reader Series receives support from POP! Art Books Culture. This reading will be upstairs by the main stage and fully accessible. Ben Lariccia is a native of Youngstown

This writing workshop is designed for adults experiencing grief. Sessions will include group poetry readings, peer-led discussion, thought-provoking prompts, and the opportunity to share work. All poems selected for group readings are indirectly related to grief. The group will meet in-person on Tuesday evenings at 6pm April 28, May 5, 12, 19, 26, and June 2 at the Youngstown Main Library (305 Wick Ave). This workshop is free and open to the public. Seating is limited and reg

The Ohio Arts Council Arts Impact Conference in Cincinnati, May 12-14, is a great opportunity for literary arts nonprofit administrators from throughout Ohio to meet for conversation. Many thanks to the OAC for making a space for us! Lit Youngstown and Literary Cleveland invite you to Fiona's on Wednesday, May 13 at 6:00pm in the lobby of the Graduate by Hilton, 151 Goodman St, Cincinnati, OH 45219. Fiona's offers a cash bar and dinner menu. Please let us know if you are com

Check out these marvelous literary offerings for our first online auction . Extra thank you to the amazing members of our literary community for their creative generosity. Betsy Mars will fund an online writing workshop for you at ONE ART. Mary Quade will take you on a poetry hike at the Hiram College Field Station. Jennifer Sutherland will read your poetry manuscript and meet with you online to offer her feedback. Bonnie Proudfoot will mail to you a handcrafted kiln

Thank you again to everyone who presented or participated in our 2026 Winter Writing Camp. We so enjoyed spending the day with you and look forward to seeing you all again next year!

Gather in a safe space with other writers. All genres, experience levels, and ages are welcome. Any children under 13 should be accompanied by an adult. Socialize, share tips, experience, and events. Become part of a community that understands both the joys and the struggles of the writing life. We will meet from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00pm. at POP! Art Books Culture (6949 Market St, Boardman, OH 44512) . Critique hour will take place from 11:00am - 12:00pm. If you would like feedb

Join us for Lit Youngstown's Food for Thought book discussion on the 2nd Thursday, Sept.-May, at 5:30pm at Noble Creature, 126 E. Rayen. Haven't read the book yet? No worries. The April title is Perma Red by Debra Magpie Earling. This book is available at the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County, and POP! Art Books Culture via Bookshop . On the Flathead Indian Reservation, summer is ending, and Louise White Elk is determined to forge her own path. Raised by her Gra

This year, we’re putting together a team of volunteers to represent Lit Youngstown at Youngstown CityScape's annual Planting Day, May 30 from 9am-Noon. The day begins with a free continental breakfast at Penguin City at 9am. From there, we’ll head to our assigned area to get our hands dirty before heading back to Penguin City at noon for a free lunch. To be assigned to the same area, we’ll need to register as a group. Click here to let us know you’re coming! Youngstown CityS

First Wednesday Reader Series presents poets Sean Thomas Dougherty of Erie & Ben Gulyas of Cleveland on Wednesday, April 1 at 7:00pm at the Westside Bowl, 2617 Mahoning Ave. Erin Stubbs will co-host with an open mic to follow. This reading will be downstairs in the Trophy Room, accessible only by stairs. Meagan Albani will provide ASL interpretation. The First Wednesday Reader Series receives support from POP! Art Books Culture. Sean Thomas Dougherty’s books include Death Pre

It's your favorite raffle of the year, a chance to win a gorgeous sculpted birdbath by Tony Armeni! This, THIS is your year. We will draw the winning ticket Sunday, July 12 at the 2026 Summer Festival of the Arts in downtown Youngstown. Good luck! We will ship or deliver to you (in the lower 48) at no cost. We are so grateful to friend of Lit Youngstown and local sculptor Tony Armeni for handcrafting a sculpted bird bath for our annual raffle.​ ​ Tickets are 2 for $5, av

This writing workshop is designed for adults experiencing grief. Sessions will include group poetry readings, peer-led discussion, thought-provoking prompts, and the opportunity to share work. All poems selected for group readings are indirectly related to grief. The group will meet in-person Thursday evenings from 6-7:30pm April 2-May 14 with the exception of April 16. This workshop is free and open to the public. Registration is required. Session leader, Alex Abruzzi, is a

Lit Youngstown is a proud sponsor of this year's Sun & Moon Poetry Festival! The Ohio Poetry Association (OPA), in partnership with Miami Valley Astronomical Society, presents the fifth Sun & Moon Poetry Festival, May 15–17, 2026, in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Poets and poetry lovers are invited to explore the theme, “Navigate with Poetry,” during a weekend of writing workshops, readings, stargazing, and other activities that culminate in a celebration of poetry and the cosmos. Ke

In this workshop, participants will reflect on selected poetry works, develop and edit poems and design a chapbook to house them. The workshop will allow participants to engage in social commentary and explore complex emotions and topics through a positive and supportive learning community. The workshop will meet Saturdays March 14 through April 21 from 10am-12pm at Oak Hill Collaborative. Participation is free and open to the public and registration is required. Please regis

Registration Closed We're looking forward to seeing you Saturday, campers! Many thanks to our host the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County, and our funding partners William Mullane, the Pollock Personal Foundation, Christine & Elliot Legow, Elizabeth Kauffman, Lisa Gates and Linda Baker, and donations from Aladdin’s in Boardman, Giant Eagle, and Cornersburg Sparkle Market. We couldn't do it without you. And a huge thank you to our Valley and regional teaching artis

Youngstown, Ohio, has left an indelible impression on many writers who have called Youngstown home. This annual series features those in our proud literary legacy. Join us for an unforgettable reading by Youngstown-lived poets Nin Andrews and Nancy Krygowski. To watch the free live stream, visit Lit Youngstown's YouTube channel and click on "Live." Nin Andrews’ poetry has appeared in many reviews and anthologies including four editions of Best American Poetry . Her work has

Join Lit Youngstown's Ticket Club on Sunday April 12 at 2:00pm for Hopewell Theatre's performance of Silent Sky . Silent Sky by Lauren Gunderson tells the true story of 19th-century astronomer Henrietta Leavitt and explores a woman’s place in society during a time of immense scientific and heart-bound discoveries. With music and math bursting forth onstage, Henrietta and her female peers change the way we understand both the heavens and Earth. Purchase your general seating t