Youngstown offers many resources for individuals looking to advance their writing, from Youngstown State University to Lit Youngstown.
While YSU serves as more of an educational steppingstone, Lit Youngstown provides workshops, writing camps, readings, discussions and other opportunities for those seeking to share their work without pursuing further formal education.
Karen Schubert, poetry author and co-founder of Lit Youngstown, holds a bachelor’s degree in professional writing and education, a master’s degree in English and a master of fine arts in creative writing. She is the author of “The Compost Reader” and five chapbooks. Having lived in Cleveland, a city with many literary organizations for children and adults, she wanted to bring similar opportunities to the Youngstown area.
“We have a lot of people who come to our programs who aren’t writers, but they come to our book discussion and read a book every month,” Schubert said. “For writers we have a monthly intensive workshop, each year it’s a different theme, this year we’re talking about the poetry chapbook.”
Participants in the monthly poetry intensive bring their poem manuscripts for review and feedback. Other intensive themes include nonfiction and fiction, but an alternative to the monthly sessions is the open mic night held on the first Wednesday of each month at Westside bowl. Schubert said that although writing is a solitary act, it is not completed until it is received, emphasizing that for work to be truly received, it must be heard by others.
“The freedom of self-expression is one of our greatest freedoms here, I really want to protect that as well,” Schubert said. “People should be heard, I think there’s something really empowering about that as well.”
Feedback plays a crucial role in all Lit Youngstown’s services, with an emphasis on ensuring it is constructive and supportive, especially for those new to writing.
Schubert manages feedback using a model she created, where each workshop focuses on a specific element of craft. For example, poetry workshops might center on enjambment, which help minimize harsh criticism while highlighting how these elements serve as building blocks to strengthen the piece.
Beyond workshops and writing camps, Lit Youngstown also offers guidance on publishing. They provide advice to participants in intensive workshops, as those writers are often focused on publication. This support includes discussing manuscript formatting, submission processes, potential outlets and what to expect during the submission journey.
Although Schubert covers certain aspects of publishing during the intensives, the process is much more extensive. Penguin Random House, a British American multinational publishing company, outlines the stages of publishing on its website, detailing the journey from the author to agent, publisher and finally the finished book.
The site emphasizes the importance of authors securing a literary agent, as most publishers do not accept unsolicited manuscripts. While agents take a percentage of an author’s earnings, they play a crucial role in negotiating contracts and supporting a writer’s career. The website also provides guidance on how to craft a compelling submission letter for potential agents.
“Before you approach an agent, make sure you’ve finished your manuscript and that you’ve edited it to a stage where you don’t feel you can make any more changes yourself to make it better,” Penguin stated.
However, the process differs for nonfiction writers, as agents typically request a proposal that includes chapter-by-chapter outline for planned content. The website emphasizes avoiding common mistakes, such as misspelling an agent’s name, and recommends highlighting awards, achievements and less commonly considered details, like where the book might be placed on a bookstore shelf.
From there, the website outlines what publishers seek, including the book’s cover design, target market and appropriate formatting. Finally, it addresses the publishing timeline, the steps involved in bringing a book to market, and how authors can promote themselves and their work.
It is important for aspiring authors to explore all available resources, whether through local community programs or online platforms offered by major publishing houses that share tips and useful insights.
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