Writer’s Resource Calendar

Word Up Next

Word Up Next is a listing of writers’ events in the North Shore. All recurring writing meet-ups and open mics are listed at the bottom. Want to add something to the calendar? Email ltmcneill@comcast.net

March

Thursday, March 26, 7:30-8:30 pm
Writers Series: Javier Zamora and Brian Brodeur
Salem State University, Ellison Campus Center, 1 Meier Dr, Salem

Javier Zamora was born in El Salvador and migrated to the United States in 1999 when he was nine—travelling unaccompanied 4,000 miles, across multiple borders, from El Salvador to the US to be reunited with his parents. Unaccompanied (Copper Canyon Press, 2017), his first poetry collection, explores how immigration and civil war have impacted his life and family. This collection won the 2018 North California Book Award, the 2018 Firecracker Award, and was a finalist for the 2019 Kate Tufts Discovery Award. He is also the author of the chapbook Nueve Años Inmigrantes/Nine Immigrant Years, which won the 2011 Organic Weapon Arts Contest.
Brian Brodeur is the author of five poetry collections, including Every Hour Is Late (Measure Press 2019) and the chapbook Local Fauna (Kent State University Press 2015). New poems and essays appear in Hopkins Review, Gettysburg Review, Kenyon Review, Pleiades, Times Literary Supplement, and The Writer’s Chronicle. Founder and Coordinator of the digital interview archive “How a Poem Happens,” as well as the Veterans Writing Workshop of Richmond, Indiana.

Tuesday, March 26th, 6:30-8:30 pm
Writers and Illustrators Meet & Greet with The Room to Write
Staples Spotlight Space, Reading

Come connect with other area writers and illustrators and share ideas, motivation while sharing with The Room to Write what types of programming and creative support you would like to see in the north of Boston region. We will have coffee/tea and something for your sweet tooth along with the usual welcoming atmosphere we get when we invite writers and illustrators of all genres and abilities to connect in a casual way. For More Info

Friday, March 27, 7:00 – 10:00 pm
Roll the Dice and Write, Using Dungeons & Dragons to Unleash Creativity
Salem Athenaeum, 337 Essex St, Salem

Writers tend to be perfectionists. Their natural inclination to control the narrative and get everything just right, from plot to dialogue to punctuation, can become a barrier that leaves some writers unable to finish a project as they continue to perfect it.
But what happens when your story is subject to chance?
With the rise of tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons, writers are discovering a new way to hone their craft. All the trappings of control go out the door when the story depends on multiple players and random dice roles to carry it forward. Join us for this session to learn how playing story-based games can help you develop characters, improvise scenes on the fly, overcome story obstacles and plot holes, and more.
Author Patrick Rothfuss wrote, “Being an author is kinda like playing D&D with yourself.” But what can writers learn when they invite others to join in? Join us on March 27 and roll the dice to find out.
Matthew Phillion is the author of the YA superhero novel series, the Indestructibles and a member of the Salem Athenaeum Writers Committee. A lifelong tabletop roleplaying game fan, he has often used techniques from those games to craft his novels and characters – and even launched a new litRPG series, the Dungeon Crawlers, in 2019. When he’s not writing, he Matt can usually be found prepping for one of the several D&D games he DMs in the Salem area for both experienced and new players alike. For More Info

Friday, March 27, 6 – 8 pm
Bookseller Birthday Party
Copper Dog Books, 272 Cabot St, Beverly

The Third Annual Bookseller Birthday Party! The last two hours of the night is all a celebration of Meg and 20% of all the sales go to Meg’s favorite charity: The Book Industry Charitable Foundation. Good times are always had by all!

Join us March 27th from 6-8pm and eat cake, buy books, and help booksellers in need! Can’t make it but love booksellers and want to support BINC? Web and phone orders totally count! For More Info

Sunday, March 29, 2 – 3 pm
Balletball Story Time with Erin Dionne
Copper Dog Books, 272 Cabot St, Beverly

Come celebrate author Erin Dionne’s new picture book, Balletball! Story Time is open to all on Sunday, March 29th at 2pm.

Balletball is the story of a little girl named Nini who loves ballet, but when her Mom signs her up for baseball after ballet classes end, she’s less than thrilled. When Nini makes a game-winning catch using her ballet moves, she realizes that change might not be so bad after all, and ballet and baseball have more in common than she thought. For More Info

Sunday, March 29, Details Given at Registration
Scribbler’s Ink Writing Retreat
Kennebunkport, Maine

Need a jumpstart to your writing? Have you been wanting to try out a new style, a different voice, take your work in a different direction, or just plain see if you have it in you to be a writer at all? Come join us Scribbler’s at our weekend retreat in picturesque Kennebunkport, Maine.

Gift yourself with some time to write, to re-connect with your forgotten or lost muse and brainstorm with other writers of all levels with a writing prompt workshop guaranteed to get your creative flow moving.
Please feel free to share with all your writing friends!

Retreat details can be found at: http://scribblersink.com/retreatsworkshops

Tuesday, March 31, 7-8:30 pm
Rachel Slade: Into the Raging Sea
Salem Athenaeum, 337 Essex St., Salem

Boston-based journalist and author of Into the Raging Sea, Rachel Slade, tells the gripping account of the sinking of the American cargo ship El Faro. For More Info

April

April 3-5
DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS FESTIVAL 2020
Salem, MA

A celebration of the beauty in darkness.
Welcome to Daughters of Darkness, a weekend-long festival in Salem, Massachusetts designed to recognize women artists and entrepreneurs who specialize in the peculiar, the obscure, and the downright odd. Full ticket info and schedule can be viewed on our website SalemDaughtersofDarkness.com
As always, we will be raising money to donate to HAWC Northshore! (Please note vendor jurying has been completed and we are no longer accepting applications to vend at the 2020 market)

Schedule Includes:
Friday, April 3rd 2020- Panels & Workshops for artists and entrepreneurs + a huge kickoff party & wearable art show, plus a few extra special surprise performances!
Saturday, April 4th 2020- Day 1 of the dark arts market, morning heavy metal yoga with Black Widow Yoga, and an exciting new immersive dining experience, Feast, with Intramersive! Black Widow Yoga and Intramersive satellite events require separate tickets.
Sunday, April 5th, 2020- Death Cafe, Death Panel, + Day 2 of the dark arts market & closing out the weekend with a band showcase at Koto Grill! (Separate door fee for Koto, discounted for weekend pass holders!)
Monday, April 6th, 2020- Just added! Flash Tattoo Day at Helheim Gallery Tattoo! Details TBA!

Complete details and tickets can be found on our website: SalemDaughtersofDarkness.com Please note that some satellite events (events planned by partner businesses) require separate tickets.

Saturday, April 4, 10 – 11 am
Author Visit with Lori Houran
Ipswhich Public Library, 25 North Main St, Ipswich

Meet Ipswich author, Lori Houran, who will be sharing her newly released children’s book! Recommended for ages 4 to 7. For More Info

Thursday, April 16, 7-8 pm
An Evening with Author Edwin Hill
Hamilton-Wenham Public Library, 14 Union St, South Hamilton

Edwin Hill, author of the critically-acclaimed Hester Thursby mystery series, will speak about his new novel, The Missing Ones. His debut novel, the psychological thriller Little Comfort, introduced us to Hester Thursby, a Harvard librarian who uses her research skills to find missing persons. The Missing Ones finds Hester dealing with the trauma of her last case and questioning her interest in searching for those who don’t want to be found. Author Edwin Hill teaches courses on writing literature and publishing at Emerson College; previously, he served as the vice president and editorial director for Bedford/St. Martin’s, a division of Macmillan Learning. He has written for such publications as LA Review of Books and Publisher’s Weekly, and his first novel was an Agatha Award finalist. Books will be available for sale and signing after the talk. For More Info

Saturday, April 18, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Writing Workshop: Visitations: Stanley Kunitz’s Strange Guests
Salem Athenaeum, 337 Essex St, Salem

A poem-generating workshop inspired by the poetry of Stanley Kunitz.

Examining Stanley Kunitz’s “The Darned Man” and “The Wellfleet Whale,” and other poems, J.D. Scrimgeour will explore the idea of “visitation” in poetry and will help participants write their own poems of visitations. Why does one get visited? How does that visit alter a household or landscape? How might that visit connect us to history, personal and communal? Discussion will focus on both uninvited and surprising visits to generate poems about unforeseen arrivals of those lost, longed-for, and unexpected. For More Info

Recurring Meet-Ups, Critique Groups & Open Mics

Below is a listing of writing groups and writing meet-ups happening in the area. We do our best to keep this up-to-date but please click the link to confirm weekly meeting times with the group’s web page. Want to add your group? Email ellorelizabeth@gmail.com.

Amesbury Library Writers’ Group
Dates/Times: Monthly on the 1st Wednesday at 6:30 pm
Location: Amesbury Public Library, 149 Main St, Amesbury

The Amesbury Library Writers’ Group is an open group of writers who are currently working on writing projects. The purpose of the group is to meet to read and critique the writings of each group member. Each member is to be actively and regularly engaged in submitting their own work in progress for review, regularly reading the submissions of other members of the group, and regularly meeting in person to discuss their writings and the writings of the other group members. Writers in all genres are welcome to attend.

The group will meet on the first Wednesday of every month. This group is open to anyone who would like to participate and an individual must attend two consecutive meetings of the group to have their work critiqued. This group will be run and facilitated by volunteers

The library hosts a monthly poetry series with an open mic. Each month there will be a featured poet followed by a discussion, an open mic and light refreshments. Stephen Wagner, Amesbury Poet Laureate, hosts this event.
For More Info

Amesbury Poetry Open Mic
Date/Time: Last Tuesday of the Month 6-7 pm
Location: Amesbury Public Library, 149 Main St, Amesbury

Beverly Farms Library Memoir Writing Group
Dates/Times: First Saturday of the month, 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Beverly Farms Branch Library, 24 Vine St, Beverly

Have you always wanted to start your story? Are you in the middle of a memoir? Join the library’s new writing group on the first Saturdays of each month for support and critique. Bring copies of your work to share with the group. All are welcome. Learn More

Ipswich Poetry Group
Dates/Times: 2nd and 4th Wednesday at 6:30 PM
Location: Ipswich Library, Collins Room, 25 N Main St, Ipswich

The Ipswich Poetry Group meets to share poems in progress and give and receive feedback. All are welcome! Email ipswichpoetrygroup@gmail.com with questions or call Sarah at 617-584-7025. For more info

North Shore Poets’ Forum Meetings
Dates/Times: 3rd Saturday of the month at 11 am – 1:30 pm
Location: Beverly Public Library, 32 Essex St, Beverly

Members are asked to bring a little bit of food or a beverage to share (cookies, little sandwiches, cheese, whatever). Each meeting will feature a presentation on a poet, movement or form that should be of general interest to members. After the program, members are encouraged to bring an original poem and six to 10 copies for members to offer gentle critique. For More Info

Open Mic
Dates/Times: 1st Monday of the month, 7:30 – 9:30 PM
Location: Gloucester Writer’s Center, 126 East Main St, Gloucester

Read for five minutes. Bring your words. Get heard. For More Info

Powow River Poets Reading Series
Dates/Times: Bimonthly, 2nd Saturday at 3 pm; next up Nov. 10
Location: Newburyport Public Library, 94 State St, Newburyport

The bimonthly series, is free and open to the public, and includes an Open Mic. Poetry enthusiasts are urged to attend. The Open Mic is limited to ten poets, so come early to the library to sign up. The time limit is one poem or two minutes, whichever is shorter, so please time your reading when you rehearse. For More Info

ReachArts First Friday Open Mic
Dates/Times: 1st Fridays at 7:00 pm
Location: ReachArts, 89 Burrill St, Swampscott

Featuring a kaleidoscopic line-up of poets, musicians, storytellers, and oddballs, ReachArts in Swampscott hosts a First Friday Open Mic that has gained a loyal local following. Each month, hosts Larry Power and Lee Eric Freedom invite newbies, seasoned performers, and all others (15 years or older) who wants to come to come and have way too much fun with a mic in hand.

Readers & Writers Guild
Dates/Times: 3rd Friday of select months at 7:30 pm
Location: Christ Church, 149 Asbury Street, South Hamilton

Our Readers & Writers Guild meets to hear a featured reader as well as share open mic time, peruse attendee’s books for sale, and enjoy pot luck refreshments. Check website for upcoming dates. All are welcome! For More Info

River Bards Fall Poetry Series & Open Mic
Dates/Times: First Friday of the month at 7 pm
Location: Battle Grounds Coffee Company, Haverhill

Creative Haverhill’s River Bards present Fall Poetry Series and Open Mic nights at Battle Grounds Coffee Company! Each event will begin with a featured poet, followed by the open mic portion of the evening. Participants should limit their readings to 3-5 minutes. Sign ups are first come, first served on the night of the event. Food and drink are available for purchase! For More Info

Salem State Veteran Writers Workshop
First Tuesday of the month
Location alternates monthly between Salem State and Salem VFW Post 1524

A monthly writing workshop that provides military veterans and civilians an open forum in which to explore writing among peers. Writing prompts will be given, followed by workshopping and conversation. Our location alternates monthly between Salem State and Salem VFW Post 1524. For More Info

Salem Writer’s Group
Date/Time: 1st & 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7:30 pm
Location: Salem Athenaeum, 337 Essex St, Salem

All are welcome to bring work-in-progress to share with the group for feedback. The group is facilitated by J.D. Scrimgeour, Professor of English, Salem State University. For more info

South Branch Writing Group & Lecture Series
Date/Time: Every Thursdays 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Location: Peabody Library, 78 Lynn St, Peabody

The group is for experienced and beginning writers. Come and stay, write a little.

Speak Up Open Mic
Date/Time: Wednesdays at 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Location: Walnut Street Cafe, 157 Walnut St, Lynn

One of the most beloved and highest attended poetry circles on the North Shore, the Walnut Street Café in Lynn regularly draws a crowd of poets, storytellers, comedians, local eccentrics, community activists, and overall creative people. Anybody is welcome to attend, whether to read or perform (all skill levels welcome) or listen.

Winter Street Writer’s
Date/Time: Last Tuesday of the Month 9:30 – 11 am
Location: Beverly Public Library, 32 Essex St, Beverly

We are a Beverly-based writing group.
For inquiries, please contact winterstreetwriters5@gmail.com

Witch City Writers’ Workshop
Dates/Times: 3rd Monday of the month at 6:30 pm
Location: Varies between Beverly Library and the Cummings Center

Join our workshop! Please review submissions before you attend and be ready to offer feedback (written feedback is always welcome). Please also review the workshop guidelines in the drop-off folder. You are welcome to bring food/drink (no alcohol). Please bring a $2 cash contribution to workshop meetings to participate. If you prefer, you can bring $30 cash for a full year of no-fee workshops. For More Info

Writer’s Open Studio
Dates/Times: Every Tuesday at 8:40 am – 11:30 am
Location: Salem Athenaeum, 337 Essex St, Salem

Weekly Writing Studios at the Salem Athenaeum. The building will be open from 9:45-12:00 every Tuesday (unless announced otherwise). Feel free to come by and write in a quiet peaceful setting. Come for as long as you’d like–for 20 minutes or all three hours. For More Info

Zumi’s Open-Mic Poetry
Date/Times: Every 3rd Saturday 6-8 pm
Zumi’s Espresso, 40 Market St, Ipswich

Celebrate poetry, coffee and community at our legendarily friendly open-mic! Bring a poem to share, tell a story, or sing a song. Listeners and creative types of all stripes welcome! Contact Sarah Vickery at Ipswichpoetrygroup@gmail.com.