New York City is the home of literature in America, and it's not just because we have Poets House and The Center For Fiction (although it's pretty dope that we have both of them).
It's not just because the majority of America's literary agents, publishers, and writers are based in NYC, although I'm sure it's a cause and effect sort of situation.
But the reason NYC is home to so much of America's literature, the nucleus of the cell if you will, is because of all the amazing literature venues here.
There are so many people in NYC who believe in the power of the written word, and are dedicating their lives to advancing it.
If you're a burgeoning NYC writer and you're looking for a place to have your talents honed and sharpened, read on my writer friend. You've come to the write city (pun intended).
1. The Nuyorican Poets Café (26 East 3rd Street)
Do you like the feeling of power washing your soul, like your psyche is a gritty sidewalk, and like screamed spoken-word-poetry is the hose?
Well, come to the historically-landmarked Nuyorican Poets Café on a Friday night ($15 entry), and your life will never be the same again. Never again will you accept the status quo, never again will you doubt the power of human voices to articulate the truth in a powerful and artistically nuanced way.
Do you write and read your own poetry? Great, then I challenge you to come to here on a Monday or Wednesday night ($8 entry) and participate in the Open Slam.
You have to be within the first twenty people to participate, but whatever your excuse is, stop believing it. You don’t have to memorize your poem, and I promise you’ll feel empowered and transcended afterward.
2. Poets House (10 River Terrace)
Way downtown in Battery Park lives the most glorious, gorgeous library.
It’s called Poets House, and it stands a bright fixture of books, its floor-to-ceiling windows and white cement columns and tables and chairs, and the Hudson River sings out from outside its windows.
Oh, also, it’s the largest collection of poetry in America, and also features a host of workshops and events. So if it’s during the day on a weekday, and you want to rub spines with the living tradition of poetry inside poets house, poets who, in heart-snapping, beautiful language, articulated every facet of the human experience, then head downtown to poets house.
3. Center for Fiction (17 East 47th Street)
This historic library, formerly known as the New York Mercantile Library, gives NYC writers a home base a place to call home.
It’s the only nonprofit literary organization in the United States dedicated solely to fiction. With readings, workshops, conversations, and lots of books, this library is beautiful, essential, and historic. It’s been a literary resource since 1820, and continues until the present day.
If you’re looking for like-minded people to discuss the craft of fiction, if you want to take a focused, demanding and brilliant workshop, or just hear your favorite author read from her book, the Center for Fiction is probably for you.
4. Brooklyn Public Library (10 Grand Army Plaza - Brooklyn)
Can’t afford one of the workshops at Poets House and the Center for Fiction? I feel you.
I don’t really have $300 to spare either. The great news is that the Brooklyn Library has free workshops open to the public every Monday from 3-5 p.m. Which is super dope.
They also have free guitar workshops, resume help, author talks, poetry discussions, and lots and lots of books. They also have over 1,000 internet connected computers, which are also free and available to the public.
,5. KGB Bar (85 East 4th Street)
Ever felt like one of those literary introverts who just doesn’t fit in at the bar scene?
Well, come to KGB Bar-- it’s a place where even the introvert of all introverts, Emily Dickinson, would’ve fit in. And, if you love literature and you just love the bar scene, don’t worry.
There are breaks between each reading where you get to let your extroverted self shine.
But, you’ll also get to hear awesome readings that will swirl inside your mind alongside your Lagunitas IPA, words that will fill your bloodstream more adequately than your jack-and-coke ever could.
Also, I know I’m not alone in stating I could never fall in love with someone who didn’t love books as much as I do, so, this is a great place for all of us bookworms to go and meet our next sexual partner while getting wasted.
There are fiction readings, poetry readings, readings from both emerging and established writers. Just check out their calendar of events here.
6. Lost Lit (82 Bond Street - Brooklyn)
Lost Lit believes, “no matter how lost you are, you can always find yourself through writing,” which I find to be a completely accurate, healing mantra.
Plus, the people here are absolutely amazing, friendly, and the space could not be better.
With an open, airy room full of couches and chairs, leading out into this completely picturesque, magical garden, there really isn’t a better place to discover the field of daisies waiting to be uncovered in your mind. Or, field of whatever it is you have hiding in your brain folds.
Lost Lit is a literary arts space that offers writing workshops as well as arts events with their partner Grumpy Bert.
7. NY Writers Coalition (80 Hanson Place - Brooklyn)
Interested in taking writing workshops at a place that believes in social justice, in addition to the power of the written word? Then NYWC is perfect for you-- they provide free workshops for people from groups that have been historically deprived of voices in American society.
This means programs for people in jail, for the visually impaired, for people with physical and mental disabilities, for people living with cancer, for people recovering from drug addiction, and for everyone else.
They host workshops at the Brooklyn Public Library Central Branch on Mondays from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. and from 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. They also publish their participants’ work and organize public readings of this work, foster an atmosphere of respect and acceptance so their participants can gain confidence and a stronger sense of selves, and gain agency of their own voices.
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