Celebrate a next generation of writers with us who've recently come out with new books. This showcase aims to highlight local writers and their new/upcoming work. Join us for a community reading featuring local Chicago writers: Meredith Nnoka Noa Fields Meghan Malachi Lisa Low Noel Quiñones Kameryn Carter Natasha Mijares
Write That Down! Mag invites you to “Show & Tell” presented by Chicago’s Guild Literary Complex. Write That Down! is back with a special edition of our Show & Tell...
Join us during National Poetry Month for a special online workshop series with 5th Illinois Poet Laureate, Angela Jackson! Poem as Autobiography is a virtual course designed to explore and...
The Guild Complex’s 35 Writers to Watch list celebrates the Guild’s 35+ years of innovative programming by featuring local writers whose careers represent the future of the literary arts in...
Join us for an evening of musical and lyrical magic, courtesy of Nikki Patin and friends. Excerpts of Patin’s biomythography, Working On Me, will be performed against a live soundtrack along with new pieces making their debut before a live audience. Presented and produced by Guild Literary Complex and Nikki Patin. Signed copies of Working...
Write That Down! is having another Show & Tell at Elastic Arts in Avondale/Logan Square! WTD!’s Show & Tell series is possible through our partnership with Chicago’s Guild Literary Complex....
Join the Guild Literary Complex’s annual celebration of Gwendolyn Brooks, held every year on her birthday, June 7th. Since 2013, BrooksDay has been a marquee event in the Guild’s yearly...
Join us during Pride Month for TRANSVENGENCE, our bimonthly open mic and performance series REVENGE OF THE DOLLS Hosted by Joss Barton Featuring Ava Mirage Wanbli & Eris ...
Poet Ed Roberson will receive the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame's Fuller Award for his lifetime achievements as a writer. He will be the 19th Chicago author given the CLHOF's highest honor, at a ceremony at and in partnership with the Poetry Foundation. Speakers, including CM Burroughs, Peter O'Leary, Saretta Morgan, julie patton, Lena Roberson, and Chicago Poet Laureate avery r. young, will give...
Join us as we reflect on the impact of the overturning of Roe v. Wade On June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court officially overturned Roe v. Wade in the landmark Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision. By a 6–3 vote, the Court ruled that the U.S. Constitution does not provide a right to...
Mark your calendar for El evangelio jornalero: The Gospel of the Day Laborers Lectura dramatizada (staged reading): in Spanish with subtitles in English The play El evangelio jornalero tells the story of a group of day laborers in Chicago who meet daily at “Home Deport” to wait for work. One day a fellow worker convinces...
¡Anímate! The Guild Literary Complex is happy to announce that our annual Palabra Pura: One Poet/One Poem tradition is back this July. All poets are welcome to perform a poem, whether...
The first and only Spanish language slam in Chicago returns in-person! All participants have a chance to compete at the international level at the final slam hosted by a Latinx country (TBD). Hosted and curated by Crystal Vance Guerra and Luis Tubens “Logan Lu.” Open to poets of all styles and ages! From anyone who is just...
The first and only Spanish language slam in Chicago returns in-person! The first and only Spanish language slam in Chicago returns in-person! All participants have a chance to compete at the international level at the final slam hosted by a Latinx country (TBD). Hosted and curated by Crystal Vance Guerra and Luis Tubens “Logan Lu.”...
Join us at Printers Row Lit Fest from September 12-13! The Guild Literary Complex is excited to host our annual Authors Table (TBA) where anyone at the fest has the opportunity to chat with prolific and flourishing authors and pick up a signed copy of one of their books. We will also host a Musicality of Poetry event...
Brighton Park Poets collabs with Guild Literary Complex for this Palabra Pura bilingual open mic! Poetry open mic curated and hosted by Paige Savarese. Founder of BPP Palabra Pura is a bilingual reading series that promotes literary expression in Spanish, English, and/or other languages. Launched in 2006, the series celebrates the work of Latinx writers...
Celebrate a next generation of writers with us who’ve recently come out with new books.This showcase aims to highlight local writers and their new/upcoming work. Join us for a community reading featuring local Chicago writers: Billy Tuggle C. Russell Price Kathleen Rooney Shivani Gupta
Join us this September for our quarterly open mic and performance series, TRANSVENGENCE TRANSVENGENCE: Vol. 13 Hosted by Joss Barton Featuring Kitch Annette Doors: 7PM Open Mic: 8PM Performances: 8:30PM Special performance: Kitch will be doing a trans drag talk show in the vein of the 90's daytime format Kitch Annette Kitch Annette...
The Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Awards (GBOMA), founded by Gwendolyn Brooks and presented annually by Guild Literary Complex, celebrates outstanding original poetry by Illinois writers. Finalists selected by guest judge I.S. Jones will perform their work live for a chance to win a $500 audience prize, publication in RHINO Poetry, and an invitation to read...
The first and only Spanish language slam in Chicago returns in-person! The first and only Spanish language slam in Chicago returns in-person! All participants have a chance to compete at...
Presented in partnership with the Guild Literary Complex Join us for a free poetry reading celebrating National Black Poetry Day. Honoring the history and continued legacy of Black poetry, the...
An exclusive screening of the film La Bola Negra & pre-show poetry performances by the Guild Literary Complex's Palabra Pura community Join us for a special screening of La Bola...
The first and only Spanish language slam in Chicago returns in-person! Primera llamada to this year’s GRAND SLAM! Winners go on to Abya Yala Poetry Slam and Circuito Nacional Poetry Slam México - así que échenle todo el power a sus versos que con la poesía se viaja. All participants have a chance to compete...
The Guild Literary Complex partners with the Evanston Writers Workshop to host a reading at the In the Trenches Conference 2026 featuring finalists from our 2026 Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic...
Saturday, November 21st / 6:30 @ Haymarket House Transvengence Vol. 14 features the book launch of Goodbye to a Dream Believed by Joss Barton. Joss Barton will perform readings from...
