We are thrilled to bring you the latest in literary events that have caught our attention. These events encompass a range of free and ticketed registration and are not affiliated with AWP. All times are in ET.

Friday, April 7

12—1 p.m. Hope at Hand, Inc presents The Poetry of Justice featuring Jennifer Wolfe. Chanel certain parts of your life into poetry and develop an understanding of how your personal experiences intersect with the larger world. Jennifer Wolfe is a writer, trained journalist, and publisher of the annual anthology, (a) river writing. She is the founder and executive director of Women Writing for (a) Change Jacksonville, a writing community that offers writing circles, art exhibitions, community events, annual publications, and community collaborations to bring writing and community together in Florida. Registration is free, and this event will take place online.

Monday April 10

1 p.m.— Join SPAM Press for Poetics of Cringe: A Workshop. In this workshop with Maria Sledmere, attendees will explore the queer art of cringe through desire, play, poemmaxxing and (dis)avowal. Working through forms and genres of cringe such as lyric, blogging, fan art and the pov or confessional, attendees will write and engage with work which positions cringe as a post-internet experience of queer intimacy, ekphrasis and reclamation. Registration is free, and this event will take place online.

Tuesday, April 11

5 p.m.— It’s time for another session of Virtual Writing Hour with the National Portrait Gallery! Pop in for a soothing virtual hour devoted to your craft. Writing prompts will be made available, but attendees are encouraged to bring other works-in-progress, as well. Attendees will write for approximately thirty minutes and the session will end with a discussion or reading. Hurry, these events fill up quickly! Registration is free, and this event will take place online.

7:30—9:30 p.m.— Learn why April is the cruelest month with Tuesday Night Book Club: T. S. Eliot's The Waste Land, hosted by Monmouth University. Registration is free, and this event will take place online.

Wednesday, April 12

9 p.m.— Foster City Library presents Poetry As Curiosity: Off the Page and Into the World. Join the San Mateo County Libraries and Foglifter for a virtual reading and panel exploring how curiosity drives poetry. Registration is free, and this event will take place online.

Thursday, April 13

6—7 p.m.— The Newberry presents Rebecca Makkai and Meg Wolitzer—Novelists on the Craft of Writing. Join award-winning authors Rebecca Makkai and Meg Wolitzer as they reflect on their work and growth as authors. Registration Is free, and this event will take place online.

8 p.m.— Looking to learn more about agents, querying, and the publication process? Agent Office Hours with Tobias Literary Agency Agents gives you the opportunity to delve into the many questions attendees may have about securing a literary agent. Registration is free, and this event will take place online.  

Monday, April 17

6 p.m.— The Literary Department Free Library of Philadelphia presents Monday Poets: Virtual Reading Series. Lilvia Soto and Carmen Amato Tejeda will be this session’s featured poets. Soto holds a Ph.D.; and is a poet, essayist, and independent researcher, was a professor of Spanish American literature at Harvard University and an administrator (Assistant Dean) at the University of Pennsylvania. Tejeda has a PhD in Hispanic American Literature from Arizona State University, a Diploma in Latin American Literature and Literary Criticism in Spanish at the UACJ, and a Master's Degree in Literary Creation at the University of Texas at El Paso. Soto and Tejeda both have numerous publications out in a variety of genres. Registration is free, and this event will take place online.

7 p.m.— The Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum presents Postmarks & Paperbacks: April Meeting, an online book club for postal history lovers, stamp collectors, and communications enthusiasts. Attendees should come prepared to discuss Going Postal by Terry Pratchett. Registration is free, and this event will take place online.

Tuesday, April 18

7 p.m. Celebrate the literary excellence of Toni Morrison with Toni Morrison Book Club – Paradise. Attendees should come prepared to discuss Paradise. Registration is free, and this event will take place online.

Saturday, April 15

11 a.m. —  Islamic Art & Material Culture Collaborative presents Art on the Streets: Human Rights, Feminism and South Asian Identity. This conversation will focus on the ways in which women experience public spaces, especially with respect to harassment and general safety. The goal of these sessions is to highlight the intersectionality and dynamism of art and activism by hosting conversations with contemporary artists from Islamic contexts who create works of art that demand social and political change. Registration is free, and this event will take place online.

12 p.m.— Join Hope at Hand, Inc for another spectacular session titled Haiku Immersion: Discovering the Essence of Japanese Poetry w/ Terri French. Explore the rich history of this centuries-old practice ranging from ancient Japanese court poetry to the contemporary haiku.  This is a free session, but any donations go towards poetry lessons for at-risk youth.