Lit News

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

Thank you again to everyone who braved the cold to join us for our winter gala. We had a blast and hope to see 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 March title is Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar. This book is available at the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County, and POP! Art Books Culture via Bookshop . A newly sober, orphaned son of Iranian immigrants, guided by the voices of artists, poets, and kings, embarks on a remarkable search for a f

First Wednesday Reader Series presents journalist Vince Guerrieri of Cleveland and academic essayist Daphne Carr of Youngstown on Wednesday, March 4 at 7:00pm at the Westside Bowl, 2617 Mahoning Ave. Craig Duster and Betty Coss 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. Daphn

Baby, it's cold outside! Join us for the evening of warmth and fun that we deserve. Doors open at 6:15pm with our famous charcuterie and desserts, and jazz by the Catro Trio at Culturati Studios, 350 E Federal St. We'll begin the program at 7:00pm. Tickets cost $55 online (until Jan. 28), $65 at the door.  Click here for ticket ordering information.  This fun evening will include Jazz by the Catro Trio's Dave Kana, Glenn Schaft & Mark DeWalt Charcuterie and desserts with glu

We are making progress! We have two chapters sketched in. We are in awe of the submitted work, and we'll continue to chip away on building this beautiful book while we keep our other plates spinning. We are still months away from making announcements. With apology, we are unable to respond to individual queries; when we announce our selections, if you'd like to withdraw a piece then, we invite you to do so. If you decide to publish with us, we hope you'll feel it was worth th

𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗘: The February meeting will be held at the 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆, located at 7680 Glenwood Ave, Boardman, OH 44512. 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 9:00 a.m. to 1:00pm. at PO

Join us for Lit Youngstown's Food for Thought book discussion. We meet each month Sept.-May, at 5:30pm on the 2nd Thursday at Noble Creature, 126 E. Rayen. Haven't read the book yet? No worries. The February title is There's Always This Year  by Hanif Abdurraqib. This book is available at the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County, and POP! Art Books Culture via Bookshop . There’s Always This Year is a triumph, brimming with joy, pain, solidarity, comfort, outrage, an

First Wednesday Reader Series presents Cleveland poets Conor Bracken & Lindsay Turner on Wednesday, February 4 at 7:00pm at the Westside Bowl, 2617 Mahoning Ave. Jenny Tullis 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. Conor Bracken’s latest translation is of Jean D'Amérique's

Join us for Lit Youngstown's Food for Thought book discussion. We meet each month Sept.-May, at 5:30pm on the 2nd Thursday at Noble Creature, 126 E. Rayen. Haven't read the book yet? No worries. The January title is the speculative novel Bewilderment by Richard Powers. This book is available at the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County, and POP Arts, Book, Culture via Bookshop . AN OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB SELECTION An Instant New York Times Bestseller Shortlisted for the

We're moving this reading upstairs! First Wednesday Reader Series presents Cleveland fiction writers Nicole D. Miller & Candice Zee on Wednesday, January 7 at 7:00pm at the Westside Bowl, 2617 Mahoning Ave. Kara Zone will co-host with an open mic to follow. This reading will be fully accessible, upstairs by the main stage. Meagan Albani will provide ASL interpretation. The First Wednesday Reader Series receives support from POP! Art Books Culture. Nicole D. Miller is a 5x’s

Baby, it's cold outside! Join us for the evening of warmth and fun that we deserve. Doors open at 6:15pm with our famous charcuterie and desserts, and jazz by the Catro Trio at Culturati Studios, 350 E Federal St. We'll begin the program at 7:00pm. Tickets cost $55 online (until Jan. 28), $65 at the door.  Click here for ticket ordering information.  This fun evening will include Poets Kortney Morrow & Philip Terman Jazz by the Catro Trio's Dave Kana, Glenn Schaft & Mark DeW

Our New Year's resolution is to see more plays by our wildly talented theater community. Our first pick is "Emma" at the Trumbull New Theatre in Niles, in honor of Jane Austen's 250th birthday. Grab a friend, buy your tickets online (or at the box office the night of the show), and meet us at the theater on Friday, January 16 at 7:15pm for the 7:30pm performance. Click here  to let us know you're coming! This comedy/romance is directed by Allison Bye, and stars Sydney Stalne