Updated 11/21/22
There are many great literary events around Indiana. Looking for something to do? Below are just a few ideas.
Many events are virtual. Please confirm with the venue for scheduled events listed here.
To be featured in our “Literary Events Around Indiana” monthly events blog, email the details to mail@indianawriters.org.
First Friday Artist Pop-Up: Rebecca Belu-Henss
Rebecca has been an Art Educator since 1996. For the past 15 years, Rebecca taught art at Westfield Washington Schools in Westfield, Indiana, and prior to that she was an art teacher in Albuquerque, New Mexico public schools. In addition to her work in the classroom, Rebecca was the Related Arts Team Leader, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion School Trainer and Before- and After-School Programs Founder at Shamrock Springs Elementary School in Westfield. She earned a B.A. from Indiana University, Bloomington with a major in Sculpture and minor in Art History, and a Master of Art Education from IUPUI Herron School of Art and Design.
Friday, November 3 · 4 – 7pm EDT Reserve a Spot
Tomorrow Bookstore 882 Massachusetts Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46204
First Friday Artist Pop-Up: Sarah Layden
November 4, 11am – 1pm Reserve your spot
Tomorrow Bookstore 882 Massachusetts Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46204
Sarah Layden is the author of Imagine Your Life Like This (University of Wisconsin Press, 2023), The Story I Tell Myself About Myself, winner of the 2017 Sonder Press Chapbook Competition, and Trip Through Your Wires (Engine Books, 2015), a novel. She is co-author with Bryan Furuness of The Invisible Art of Literary Editing (Bloomsbury Academic, 2023.) Her short fiction can be found in Boston Review, Stone Canoe, Blackbird, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, the anthologies Best Microfiction 2020, Welcome to the Neighborhood, and Sudden Flash Youth, and elsewhere. Her recent nonfiction work has appeared in The Washington Post, Newsweek, Poets & Writers, Salon, River Teeth, The Millions, The Humanist, and Indianapolis Monthly.She earned a B.S. in journalism from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, and an MFA in fiction writing from Purdue University. She is an Assistant Professor of English at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.
Tomorrow Bookstore: Midnight Release Party
First Friday Artist Pop-Up: Sarah Layden
Tomorrow Bookstore 882 Massachusetts Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46204
November 6 · 11pm – November 7 · 12:30am EST Reserve Your Spot
Join us at Tomorrow Bookstore for a midnight release party! Get ready to dive into Rebecca Yarros’ latest Empyrean series, “Iron Flame.” We’ll host a reading of the final chapter of “Fourth Wing” – to get everyone in the mood – before unveiling the brand new Iron Flame! Each ticket comes with a pre-ordered copy of Iron Flame ??? Learn more at: https://www.rebeccayarros.com/books/iron-flame/
Poets at Tomorrow: Poetry Event
Tomorrow Bookstore 882 Massachusetts Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46204
Tuesday, November 7 · 7 – 8:30pm EST Reserve Your Spot
Butler University Visiting Writers Series: Lauren Redniss
| Lauren Redniss seamlessly combines art, design, and in-depth historical research along with her beautiful prose to create unique works of visual non-fiction. As noted by the National Book Foundation,“Redniss’ achievement is a celebration of the essential power of books to inform, charm, and transport. In marrying the graphic and visual arts with biography and cultural history, she has expanded the realm of non-fiction.” |
| Her books have won numerous awards, while she has been a Guggenheim fellow, a fellow at the New York Public Library’s Cullman Center for Scholars & Writers and the New America Foundation. She was Artist-in-Residence at the American Museum of Natural History in 2013 and, in 2020, created an 8000 square foot installation at Lincoln Center for New York City Ballet. She teaches at the Parsons School of Design in New York City. |
Midwest Mystery Conference
The venue is fully accessible and registration includes a tote bag full of books and goodies!
Click here for more information
Kellogg Writers Series Reading: Rebecca McKanna
- Wednesday, November 15, 2023 7:30 PM 8:30 PM
- Schwitzer Student Center1400 Campus Drive, Indianapolis, IN (map) Google Calendar ICS
Join Rebecca as she reads at the University of Indianapolis’ Kellogg Writers Series. Learn more here.
Butler Visiting Writers Series: Lydia Millet
Tomorrow Book Club
Meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month, is meeting NEXT week, on November 29, because of Thanksgiving. We’ll get started at 7:30, but y’all are welcome to come early and chitchat 
Here’s the RSVP form for bookclub! We know space will be a long term issue, and we’re still working on a solution. Updates to come!
Thinking ahead to December? So am I! We’ll be jumping into Sarah J Maas’s Crescent City series, starting with House of Earth and Blood. You can grab a copy at Tomorrow if you haven’t read it yet.
VOCAB (Monthly)
Hosted by Cory Ewing & Januarie York with sounds by DJ Cleopatra
Door 8pm, Show 9pm General Admission *$10 at the door / advance tickets here
White Rabbit Cabaret, 1116 Prospect Street, Indianapolis, United States
Spoken Word ELEVATED: Black Excellence
Rhythm & Poetry Open Mic at PHIRI Art Gallery (Weekly)
Come Experience the Ultimate Vibe with LIVE performances by some of your favorite artists! RHYTHM & POETRY THURSDAYS is also an awesome way to network with like-minded creatives and business professionals from around the city, so be ready to connect with other amazing individuals!
DO0RS OPEN AT 7PM***LIVE PERFORMANCES AT 8:00PM
**ALL ATTENDEES WILL RECEIVE:
* Discounts on Photoshoots*
*Discounts on venue rentals
* Discounts on Upcoming Events at Phiri
* Discounts on all services at PHIRI
INFO 404.759.0530 ** 120 East Market Street, Indianapolis
An Evening with the Authors (Monthly)
Every first Thursday of the month
*Fake Authors. Fake Books. Real Funny.
Where literary satire meets sketch comedy.
Comedians take the stage posing as accomplished authors reading from their most recent works.
Featuring: Sam Griswold, Pauline Shypula, Jonathan Pfendler, Stephen Vincent Giles, Gwen Sunkel, Eric Sablan, Mariah Davison and guests
White Rabbit Cabaret 1116 Prospect Street Indianapolis, IN 46203
Tea’s the Artist Youth Open Mic Night (Monthly)
Thurs Dec 16 (every third Friday)
Our 3rd Friday is BACCCKKKKK!!! You won’t want to miss the Open Mic night centered around youth & teens and very family centric!!
Calling all youth, teenagers and adults to the stage to share your talents with us. From singing to dancing. Poetry to Spoken Word. Piano to Saxophone. Whatever your talent is, AS LONG AS IT’S FAMILY appropriate, we want YOU!
Tea’s Me Cafe Indy (140 E. 22nd Street, Ste. B, Indianapolis, IN 46214)
Writers Helping Writers (Monthly)
Hancock County Public Library has a writing group that meets on the third Wednesday of each month. Join us!
Brick Street Poetry (monthly)
Off the Bricks, a Poetry on Brick Street Podcast
Poetry on Brick Street Series
We meet the first Thursday of every month at 7:00 pm at Sullivan Munce Cultural Center, 225 West Hawthorne Street, Zionsville, IN 46077.
The next month’s Guest Poet: Poets from the Haiku for Hikers anthology reading with accompanying PowerPoint.
Margarita Mondays Open Mic
Welcome to Margarita Mondays Open Mic Night where you too can be a star
ILLUSIONS 3661 W 86th st
We welcome all comedians rappers poets and singers. Doors open at 8pm
Admission is free. Hosted by Aisha the Comedian and Mic Shaw.
Irving Theater Weekly Poetry Open Mic
Every Thursday night
7:00p – 9:00 PM EST
LOCAL POETS * ORIGINAL POETRY * COME READ OR LISTEN]
A completely nonjudgmental and safe space to share poetry! Every Thursday on the deck at the Irving Theater in the Summer, inside all Winter. Performances are broadcast live on our Facebook page (link below). Come enjoy original poetry and readings from local and regional artists, or present your own poetry.
This event is free.
FACEBOOK LIVE LINK
For more information, visit the Irving Theater’s website
Books & Brews Open Mic
9402 Uptown Dr Suite 1400
Indianapolis, IN 46256
phone: (317) 288-5136
mothership@booksnbrews.com