Literary Cleveland occasionally published anthologies of local writing to amplify the voices of those in our community. See below for some of our past projects, including collections of writing by veterans, essential workers, seniors, Black women, LGBTQIA+ writers, Mt. Pleasant residents, and more.
From October 2022-May 2023, Northeast Ohio military service members and veterans gathered in free creative writing workshops to reflect on their experiences, express their creativity, and share their stories. The "Celebrating Service: 2023 Veterans' Voices" anthology is a celebration of the talent, hard work, and dedication of the anthology’s contributors and recognition of their unique experiences serving in all branches of the US Military. We hope this anthology expands your understanding of military service by introducing you to the unique and talented veterans of our region.
Writing in the Gardens: Volume 1 is an anthology of stories, essays, and poems by residents of Council Gardens, an apartment complex in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, that provides quality affordable housing for low to moderate income seniors. The writing, much of it created in Literary Cleveland workshops from 2019-2021, is detailed, moving, humorous, complex, insightful, and as full of life as the residents themselves. Like the plants and flowers that make up a garden, the individual stories of these residents combine to reveal the vibrant community that is Council Gardens.
Reflections of The Land: Meditations on Environment & Industry features original poems, stories, and essays by 15 local writers highlighting relationships to the natural and built environments of Greater Cleveland. Reflections of The Land gives Cleveland writers a space to maintain a sense of pride when the place around us is changing so dramatically. The anthology was created by Aparna Paul, a participant in the internship program at Literary Cleveland, as a part of our ongoing Amplify Voices series. This series was designed to empower, uplift, and celebrate communities by giving them the platform to tell their own stories on their own terms.
@NahomysLibrary for Literary Cleveland is a series of BookTube/Bookstagram videos promoting reading, writing, and the use of social media to build literacy and furthering the Lit's mission to place power into the hands of marginalized people and communities, giving them the platform to tell their own stories on their own terms.
From April-May 2021, Literary Cleveland paid Northeast Ohio essential workers to participate in creative writing workshops to process their experiences, connect with other frontline workers, and express their creativity. The poetry and prose they created tells their stories in their own voices and transforms our understanding of the challenges they faced during the pandemic and the challenges they still face today. Read a collection of absolutely remarkable work that will open your eyes to the realities of being a frontline worker.
Breaking the Silence: Queer Self, Life, and Love in Northeast Ohio is an anthology of original poems and essays by 14 local writers that highlights the wealth of perspectives in the queer and trans community of Greater Cleveland. The anthology was created by Literary Cleveland intern and Oberlin student Alexander Saint Franqui as part of Literary Cleveland's new Amplify Projects series, which is designed to empower, uplift, and celebrate communities by giving them the platform to tell their own stories on their own terms.
Black Women Coping in Cleveland is an anthology of original poems and essays by 13 local writers that highlights the experiences and perspectives of Black women in Greater Cleveland. The anthology was created by Dr. Tisha Carter, a participant in the internship program at Literary Cleveland, as part of Literary Cleveland's new Amplify Projects series, which is designed to empower, uplift, and celebrate communities by giving them the platform to tell their own stories on their own terms. Scroll down to read the introduction and the full anthology.
As part of the Cleveland Humanities Festival, Literary Cleveland partnered with the CSU Poetry Center to create "Preparations for Travel," a crowdsourced video poem on the theme of identity.
Neighborhood Voices is a city-wide creative writing project designed by Literary Cleveland and the Cleveland Public Library to engage writers across Cleveland, allowing residents to connect with neighbors, share stories of their community, and draft new writing about what makes their neighborhood unique. Photo by Greg Martin.
Roughly a month into Ohio's stay-at-home order, Literary Cleveland invited everyone in the city to participate in a collective writing experience documenting what happened in greater Cleveland on May 12.
Beauty for Ashes: Stories of Maternal Hope is a restorative writing project seeking the stories of Black women who have experienced a difficult pregnancy or the tragedy of infant death.
“Anxiety is the handmaiden of creativity," wrote T.S. Eliot. During the pandemic, Lit Cleveland offered free writing challenges each week via our newsletter to inspire creativity during a time of isolation and social distancing.
Cleveland Stories is a place-based writing program for people who live, work, or have ties in Mt. Pleasant and surrounding neighborhoods on Cleveland's east side.