Teens is grades six through 12 can get a taste of what it’s like to be a professional writer when Lake Erie Ink partners with the  department host to hold its free Teen Writers’ Symposium this Saturday, May 6.

Participants will meet and learn from local writers during a day-long mini conference that includes a meet and greet, writer’s panel and hands-on writing workshops. The local guest writers work in a variety of genres—including poetry, fiction, science-fiction, and journalism.

The slate of this year’s writers include:

• Quartez Harris, a former teacher and the Ohio Poetry Association’s 2021 Poet of the Year.
• Helen Maynard, longtime journalist with News 5 WEWS and editor at Signal Cleveland.
• Philip Metres, recipient of the Adrienne Rich Award for Poetry, three Arab American Book Awards, the Lyric Poetry Award, and the Cleveland Arts Prize.
• DM Pulley, mystery writer and winner of the 2014 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award.
• Marie Vibbert, science fiction writer and 2023 Nebula Award
• Laura Maylene Walter, the Ohio Center for the Book fellow at Cleveland Public Library and host of literary podcast “Page Count.”
• Annie Zaleski, award-winning journalist, editor, and author of the recent biography “Lady Gaga: Applause.”

Hilary Plum, professor and associate director of the Cleveland State University Poetry Center, will moderate the writers’ panel.

This Symposium runs from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at CSU’s historic Mather Mansion, 2605 Euclid Ave. Pizza lunch will be provided.

Visit th Lake Erie Ink website for more information or to register, or call (216) 320-4757.