April Events for Ohio Writers

Anne LamottApril is just bursting with amazing life-giving events, and I'm pulling my hair out that I'll have to miss most of them. This is completely maddening because I had every intention of being independently wealthy by now. 

Aside from two birthdays (my daughter's and my own), my eldest daughter's graduation from college (with honors, I might add), and the general loveliness that comes with springtime, there are several other events I'd very much love to attend. I'm passing them along here because maybe you are independently wealthy but woefully lacking in news sources and wouldn't have otherwise know about these things. 

First comes the University of Akron Writers Workshop on Saturday, April 14 at The University of Akron Wayne College in Orrville. I'm excited to be a part of this event because not only is it a great place to meet other writers (the writers group that I now attend was born out of this event a year ago), but also because I have two pieces that are being given awards this year as part of the Regional Writing Awards. That's always a nice feeling. 

Then, Anne Lamott is coming to Cleveland's Ohio Theater on April 17. Lamott's books Bird by Bird, Traveling Mercies, Plan B and Grace (Eventually) provided many aha moments for me about my writing, my faith, and my life. 

Also coming to Ohio Theater on on April 29 is comedian and storyteller Mike Birbiglia. Birbiglia has told some of my favorite stories ever on The Moth, particularly this one where he talks about breaking off a relationship while vacationing on a remote island and this one about discovering a tumor in his bladder, or the one below, where he talks about his adventures in sleepwalking.

Another April happening is the release of Blue Like Jazz, the movie. The book, for me, was almost as important as Lamotts', showing me that being a writer and being a Christian didn't mean that everything I wrote had to be sanitized and safe, buttoned up and beautiful; it could be messy, real, angry, frustrated and honest. From the looks of it, the movie isn't playing anywhere in Ohio, so I guess I'll have to travel to Pittsburgh to see it, unless I can get lucky and happen upon a preview.

And, finally, the biggie--the Festival of Faith and Writing. This happens once every two years at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI, and is packed with powerhouse folks who write honestly about faith, like Shane Claiborne, Marilynne Robinson, and Li-Young Lee. This year, there is the added treat of a concert by Bruce Cockburn. 

If you're heading to any of these events, I'd love to hear about them. Drop me a line in the comments, and maybe I'll see you there!