Literary Cleveland Loads Up 2023 Inkubator Conference

This September, Literary Cleveland will host the ninth edition of its Inkubator Writing Conference: a free, hybrid event featuring dozens of literature-focused events in Northeast Ohio — and dozens of well-known, bestselling and critically acclaimed authors from Ohio and around the country.

First are three virtual panels, running Sept. 18-20, featuring live discussions with Hanif Adburraqib, Lydia Davis, Hafizah Augustus Geter, Clint Smith and more.

Then, Sept. 22-23, the downtown Cleveland Public Library will host in-person events. The docket includes a speech from keynote speaker Elizabeth Acevedo, craft talks, a book fair and teen programs, according to a news release. Presenters include Peter Ho Davies, Sean Thomas Dougherty, Mauel Iris, Rakesh Satyal, Elissa Washuta and more.

Five days, 47 events and 70 hours of programming — phew. Inkubator has grown to become one of the biggest free literary events in the country, and it happens right here in Cleveland every year. (While it's free, attendees must register at Literary Cleveland's website.)

There’s more: This year, Literary Cleveland will also incorporate a few community-focused events into its conference festivities. A poetry bike ride is set for Sept. 10, a literary pop-up will take over the West Side Market on Sept. 24 and, throughout September, Literary Cleveland will team up with Loganberry Books to distribute drink coasters to local bars featuring writing by Northeast Ohio authors for an initiative called “Coaster Stories.”

Oh, there's still more: Inkubator is a part of Cleveland Book Week, which also includes the Great Lakes African American Writers Conference (Sept. 29-30) and the Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards. This year, the awards honor Geraldine Brooks, Lan Samantha Chang, Matthew F. Delmont, Charlayne Hunter-Gault and Saeed Jones. Winners will be celebrated on Sept. 28 at the Maltz Performing Arts Center.

Find all the details for all the reading and writing fun at litcleveland.org.

Read more about the AWBA 2023 winners. 

Read more: Literary Cleveland Turns the Page to a New Location