Welcome

We look forward to seeing you on September 11-12 for the twelfth annual Inkubator Writing Conference. See the information below for details to help plan your visit.

Schedule Overview

Sept 9-10

Virtual Event: Toni Morrison Panel

Wed · Sept 9 · 7:00–8:30PM ET · Virtual

We are launching this year’s free Inkubator Writing Conference with a discussion about the life, literature, and legacy of Toni Morrison as part of Ohio Celebrates Toni Morrison, a yearlong statewide project led by Literary Cleveland and Ohio Humanities. This event will feature six of the authors who have written introductions to the new editions of Toni Morrison’s novels: Julia Alvarez, Sasha Bonét, Honorée Fanonne Jeffers, Imani Perry, Danzy Senna, and Kevin Young. Together we will explore Toni Morrison’s craft and use of aesthetic forms, how her writing reshaped American literature, and how she continues inspire writers today.

Kickoff Mixer at Zygote Press

Thurs · Sept 10 · 5:30–8:00PM ET

Celebrate the start of our 2026 in-person Inkubator Writing Conference with a free mixer at Zygote Press (3907 Perkins Ave) from 5:30-8:00PM in connection with the opening of their exhibition of art inspired by Toni Morrison. Meet and mingle with fellow writers, enjoy light food and drink, and connect with those working in similar genres. Whether you're a longtime writer or brand new, joining us from out of town or a lifelong Clevelander, we'll have a chance for you to connect with others writing similar work to help you find your people.

Fri · Sept 11

Book Fair 10:00AM–5:00PM ET

Meet the independent booksellers, literary journals, publishers and presses, writing groups, and literary organizations.The book fair will be open from 10:00am-5:00pm on Friday and 9:00am-5:00pm on Saturday at the conference and will feature local independent booksellers, literary journals, publishers and presses, writing groups, and literary organizations.

Lit Fits

Show off your bookish style at Inkubator this year and you could win a prize! At this year’s festival come dressed in your best literary-related outfit (Lit Fit): from a book dress or paper tie to a full Edgar Allen Poe outfit complete with a live raven. Get your photo taken by photographer Kenneth Cody and at the end of the conference we will vote on best Lit Fits and the winners will receive a free portrait session, membership and more.

11:00AM–12:30PM ET

Fiction
“Trans-ing the Narrative”: Trans Fiction Then & Now / Willow Campbell, Benvolio Nichols

Nonfiction
I Like, I Hate, I am Bored to Death With: The Art of the List in Creative Nonfiction / Mallory Donoghue

Poetry
The Thing & the Other Thing / Paula J. Lambert

Publishing
Managing Your Social Media Gracefully / Panel

Beyond
Playing the Long Game: The Evolution of a Book Project / Panel

Genre Fiction
Horror in the Hidden Bits: Creating Tension by Withholding Information / Carter Keane

Lunch Break 12:30–1:30PM ET

During the lunch break, prepaid box lunches and free ice cream from Mitchell’s will be available in the outdoor reading garden at Cleveland Public Library. Plus join Poetry Free Cleveland to participate in a community typewriter poem.

1:30–3:00PM ET

Fiction
Designing the Midpoint: Story Structure from the Inside Out / Joseph Celizic

Nonfiction
Write What You Carry: Voice, Memory & Story / Charisse Bailey

Poetry
Love Poems & the Art of Liberation / CHIMI, Matthew Thompson

Publishing
Pathways to Book Publishing / Kyle Winkler

Beyond
Writing New Worlds in the Shell of the Old / Panel

Genre Fiction
Writing Sci-fi & Fantasy Stories that Imagine Hope / Johnny Caputo

3:30–5:00PM ET

Fiction
Non-Protagonist-Centered Writing: Beyond the Individual / Caren Beilen, Jon Conley, Semyon Khokhlov

Nonfiction
Our Stuff, Ourselves: Flash Nonfiction Inspired by Objects / Hattie Fletcher

Poetry
“Look how the fish mistake my hair for home”: Writing Grotesque Poetry / Hannah V. Warren

Publishing
Many Paths, One Craft: Navigating a Career With or Without an MFA / Panel

Beyond
Thriving on Paper, Broken in Practice: Black Women, Non-Binary, and Femmes Writing Through Harm in Cleveland / Panel

Genre Fiction
How to Get Away with Writing Murder / Gary Earl Ross

Please Note

We do not have any Friday evening programs this year so that those who wish can celebrate Rosh Hashanah.

Sat · Sept 12

Book Fair 9:00AM–5:00PM ET

Lit Fits

9:00AM–10:30AM ET

Fiction
Bad First Drafts: On Freewriting and Failure / Maggie Su

Nonfiction
Race & the Urban Outdoors / Desiree Cooper

Poetry
Bridging the Historical Gap: Poetry for Difficult Times / Sara Moore Wagner

Publishing
Writing in the Age of GenAI / Panel

Beyond
The Diasporic Writer: A Time Traveler Between the Past and the Future / Sara Abou Rashed

Genre Fiction
Who's Afraid of a Haunted House? / D.M. Pulley

11:00AM–12:30PM ET

Fiction
Uprooted: Geography as Muse & Place as Character / Hillary Behrman

Nonfiction
Writing Ancestry / Rachel Jamison Webster

Poetry
Poetic Placekeeping / Stephanie Ginese

Publishing
Standout Query Packages for Landing Agents / Jody Gerbig

Beyond
On Genre, Gender & More: Aubrey Hirsch & Virginia Konchan in Conversation / Aubrey Hirsch, Virginia Konchan

Genre Fiction
Worldbuilding in this World and Others / Lincoln Michel

12:30–1:30PM ET

Kenyon Review Writing Room 1:30–4:30PM ET

Inspired by the conference and want a quiet place to write? Want to make progress on your project? Need to clear your head and draft some ideas (or just escape the crowd)? Stop in the Kenyon Review Writing Room managed by staff and associates from the legendary Kenyon Review. They will have prompts, snacks, writing materials, and anything else you need to outline, write, revise. Join anytime and leave anytime, set a goal, or just sit down for a minute. The Kenyon Review Writing Room is here for you.

1:30–3:00PM ET

Fiction
Ticking Clocks: Time and Interruption in Fiction / Danielle Evans

Nonfiction
Mining the Past: Techniques and Tools for Excavating Memories / Wilbert Cooper

Poetry
SoulCare 313: Writing & Movement Workshop / jessica Care moore, Kamau Ayubbi

Publishing
A Celebration of Poetry & Independent Publishing / Panel

Beyond

The Craft of Poetry with Kevin Young / Kevin Young, Kortney Morrow

Genre Fiction
The Romantasy Cauldron: Genre Bending and Blending / Mir Benitz

3:30–5:00PM ET

Fiction
Fiction Reading

Nonfiction
Creative Nonfiction Reading

Poetry
Poetry Reading

Publishing
Practical Advice from Literary Agents / Panel

Beyond
Revise, Surprise & Alchemize: How to Coax Glimmer & Brilliance from Our Leaden First Drafts / Annmarie Kelly

Genre Fiction
Make Darkness Matter: Four Revision Lessons for Dark Fantasy / Michelle Park Lazette

Keynote 6:30–8:00PM ET

Keynote / Colson Whitehead

Sept 9 · 7:00–8:30PM

Virtual Event

Full Schedule

Location & Map

In-Person Conference

The Literary Cleveland Inkubator Writing Conference takes place Friday and Saturday, September 11-12 in-person at the Cleveland Public Library Louis Stokes building (525 Superior Ave, Cleveland, OH 44114). The Keynote with Colson Whitehead will take place Saturday evening September 12 at the Cleveland Public Library Martin Luther King Jr. branch (10601 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106). Stay tuned for a map of conference locations within the library. Registration opens August 10.

We can’t wait to see you in Cleveland. Here’s some information we’ve gathered to help you plan your visit.

Lodging

Literary Cleveland has reserved a block of rooms for presenters and visitors at the Hampton Inn (1460 E 9th St, Cleveland, OH 44114) at a reduced rate. Space is limited and we will aim to open more rooms if possible. Contact info@litcleveland.org for more information. Other nearby hotel options include the ‍Hyatt Regency Cleveland At The Arcade and the Drury Plaza Hotel.

Parking

Nearby parking garages include:

‍ABM Rockwell Garage
Memorial Plaza
200 Public Square Garage

Additional details for parking in downtown Cleveland:

Paid street parking is enforced Monday to Saturday, 7AM to 10PM (Sunday is free, except in Special Event Zones)
Standard Rates are $1.50 per hour with no hourly session cap in many zones (ideal for long-term affordable parking)
Progressive Rates (4-hour session cap in high-demand areas)
- 1st and 2nd hour: $1.50 per hour
- 3rd and 4th hour: $3.00 per hour
Special Event Rates $8.00 per hour (in select zones, enforced on Sundays)
Zones activate 2 hours prior to event

You can find more information and a map here.

Transportation

We encourage the use of public transit to attend the conference. The Cleveland Public Library is a 0.2 mile (6 minute) walk from the Public Square bus terminal and Tower City rapid station.

Registration & Check-In

Plan to arrive early at the downtown Cleveland Public Library to check in and receive your conference materials before attending your first session.

Check in Friday, September 11 from 10:00-11:00am and Saturday, September 12 from 8:00-9:00am. The check in desk will be open until 3:30pm each day of the conference.

Conference map and program coming soon.

Food & Drink

Coffee and water will be available for free at the conference. Literary Cleveland will offer box lunch options for purchase both days (stay tuned for the link to order lunch).

You are welcome to bring snacks or food (please just eat in designated areas). Nearby breakfast options include Rising Star Coffee, 1890 Restaurant, Club Room, Addy's Diner, Emily's, and chains like Dunkin'. Nearby lunch and dinner options include Ohio City Burrito, Citizen Pie, Phở Thắng Café, Barrio, Masa & Agave Cantina, Winking Lizard, Mabel's BBQ, chains like Shake Shack, Potbelly, and more.

Sights

Downtown visitors are within walking distance from Public Square, Tower City, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Great Lakes Science Center, Playhouse Square, sports arenas, the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie. Further afield we recommend visiting the West Side Market, Edgewater Park, Wendy Park Coast Guard Station, and the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Plus, no trip to Cleveland is complete without stops at indie bookstores. We recommend Visible Voice Books, Loganberry Books, Mac's Backs Books, Third Space Reading Room, and Hexagon Books. Nearby bookstores include The Browsing Room Bookstore downtown, Parallel Universe Books in Hingetown, and Horizontal Books in Ohio City. Also in our area are great shops like Book Brothers, The Checkered Shelf, Fireside Book Shop, Flame and Fable, The Learned Owl, The Reading Room CLE, Under the Covers, The Viridian, The Wandering Lantern, and more. Snag a Cleveland Bookworm Challenge map for more places to visit.

Cleveland Book Fest

Literary Cleveland's Inkubator Writing Conference is just the beginning of Cleveland Book Fest. Be sure to check out the Great Lakes African American Writers Conference (GLAAWC) on September 5 and the Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards ceremony and events September 18-19 as well as events with Cleveland Public Library, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Lake Erie Ink, Writers in Residence, and more. See the full schedule at clevelandbookfest.com.

Conference Accessibility

Literary Cleveland is committed to making the Inkubator Writing Conference as accessible as possible.

Public transportation is available near the Cleveland Public Library with a rapid station at Tower City, a central bus terminal at Public Square, and bus stops on Superior Ave.

There are elevators in all multilevel event spaces.

The venue’s sidewalks, pathways, and doorways are accessible, and there is zero-step entry to the Cleveland Public Library Louis Stokes wing.

Accessible restrooms are located on the second floor (where the conference will be held) as well as the lower level near the auditorium.

All rooms at the conference are wheelchair accessible. Workshop spaces will have seats in the first row and back row marked as reserved for individuals with accessibility needs. Please use these accommodations if you need them and we ask that no one question anyone’s use of this accommodation as some disabilities are invisible.

Library signage is in Braille.

Large format versions of the program schedule will be available.

Speakers will have text outlines of their workshops, talks, or panels available on request.

ASL interpretation will be provided for the Keynote address.

Closed captioning will be provided for virtual events held online September 11-12.

To request accommodation or accessibility support, please contact ADA Coordinator Michelle Smith at 330-622-0606 or send an email no later than 14 days before this event.

Past Conferences

Check out our past conferences below.

Inkubator 2019
Inkubator 2020
Inkubator 2021
Inkubator 2022
Inkubator 2023