Youth Poetry Project 2025
2025-10-20 10:00 - 2025-11-21 17:00 (America/Denver)
Teaching Artists in RFV middle schools for week-long intensives
Oct.-Nov., 2025
This fall, Aspen Words is thrilled to once again partner with the Aspen Education Foundation to bring renowned teaching artists and performance poets into Aspen middle school classrooms.
For the fourth year in a row, professional poets will lead a week-long poetry intensive in every English Language Arts classroom at Aspen, inspiring students to explore creativity, self-expression, and the power of language.
The poets will also return to the classrooms at Carbondale and Basalt middle schools. 2025 is the third year working with students in Basalt and the second year returning to Carbondale.
The Aspen Words youth poetry project will encompass three weeks of in-classroom instruction – one at each school – and a Student Showcase hosted by Basalt middle school where students from all three schools will perform their original work.
The 2025 Poetry Project

Aspen Middle School: October 20–24

Carbondale Middle School: November 10–14

Basalt Middle School: November 17–21

Student Showcase: November 20

Learn more and support the Youth Poetry Project here

FALL WRITING WORKSHOP WITH PETER MOUNTFORD
2025-11-02 10:00 - 15:00
JOIN US FOR AN ALL-DAY FALL WRITING WORKSHOP WITH PETER MOUNTFORD
MAKING MEANING IN YOUR PERSONAL ESSAY
Sunday, November 2, 2025 | 10AM to 3PM
Pitkin County Library
120 N Mill St, Aspen, CO 81611
REGISTER HERE
This all-day workshop with award-winning novelist and essayist Peter Mountford runs 10 AM–3 PM, with a lunch break from 12–1 PM.
Attendees will learn the most difficult and important skill in personal essay writing: how to make your personal story relevant to a perfect stranger. Hilary Mantel, on the difficulty of writing about oneself, said: “If other people are to care about your life, art must intervene.”
“Aboutness” is fundamental to a successful essay, yet both literary and general-publication editors frequently complain of receiving writers’ essays that don’t seem to be “about” anything. In this workshop, attendees will figure out how to select a topic, then focus and refine an essay to arc toward theme and meaning.
In the morning, the workshop will focus on choosing an essay’s seeds. These ideas should be inherently engaging from a story standpoint but also contain focused opportunities for rich thematic meaning. We will generate new writing for a few topics. Attendees will assess different ideas and talk about what each might offer in terms of story and meaning.
In the afternoon, the workshop will focus on developing one or two ideas further into a publishable work that appeals to readers. Specifically, we’ll work toward making meaning—how to write/revise toward your essay’s “aboutness.” Attendees will learn how there are several different approaches for seeking and demonstrating meaning, as we work through ideas generated in class. We’ll also learn secrets to successful essay structure.
Come prepared to brainstorm new essay ideas, bring ones you’ve been mulling over, or essays you’ve written that just aren’t working. Attendees will look at examples of how other authors have done this, including Melissa Febos, and Leslie Jamison. We will look at the first draft vs the published draft of the instructor’s Modern Love essay.
About the Instructor:

Peter Mountford is the author of A Young Man’s Guide to Late Capitalism (winner of the Washington State Book Award) and The Dismal Science (a New York Times Editor’s Choice), as well as the short story collection Detonator. His essays and fiction have appeared in The New York Times (Modern Love), The Paris Review, The Atlantic, The Sun, and more. He teaches at the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe’s MFA program and through Mountford Writing.

Aspen Words Literary Prize Longlist Announced November 13
2025-11-13 10:00 - 17:00
Aspen Words will announce the longlist for the Aspen Words Literary Prize on November 13.
The Aspen Words Literary Prize is a $35,000 annual award for an influential work of fiction that illuminates a vital contemporary issue and demonstrates the transformative power of literature on thought and culture.
Annually, open to authors of any nationality, the award is one of the largest literary prizes in the United States, and one of the few focused exclusively on fiction with a social impact. Past winners include Mohsin Hamid (2018 for “Exit West”), Tayari Jones (2019 for “An American Marriage”), Christy Lefteri (2020 for “The Beekeeper of Aleppo”), Louise Erdrich (2021 for “The Night Watchman”), Dawnie Walton (2022 for “The Final Revival of Opal & Nev”), Jamil Jan Kochai (2023 for “The Haunting of Hajji Hotak”), Isabella Hammad (2024 for “Enter Ghost”) and Tommy Orange (2025 for “Wandering Stars”). Eligible works include novels or short story collections that address questions of violence, inequality, gender, the environment, immigration, religion, race or other social issues.
Learn more about the prize

Youth Poetry Project Showcase 2025
2025-11-20 18:00 - 2025-11-21 19:30
Students from Aspen, Basalt, and Carbondale Middle Schools will share original work at the Student Showcase at Basalt Middle School on Thursday, November 20 from 6-7:15 p.m. These pieces were created during week-long poetry intensives led by professional teaching artists and slam poets.
During the showcase, students will be accompanied onstage by their instructors and the professional poets who helped bring their words to life.
This event is free and open to students, friends, and family.
Register or donate to support the Youth Poetry Project Showcase here

AWN November Meeting
2025-11-20 18:30 - 20:30
November 20 – Lucinda Halpern will be conducting a talk on: Get Signed: Find an Agent, Land a Book Deal, and Become a Published Author.
Lucinda Halpern is a literary agent and the founder of Lucinda Literary, based in New York. She has worked with all major publishers, including Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Macmillan, Hachette, and Scholastic, and currently represents New York Times and internationally best-selling authors in the categories of business, personal growth, popular science, narrative nonfiction, memoir, and upmarket fiction.
Her classes and coaching programs have been taught to hundreds of writers worldwide, and became the inspiration for her new book Get Signed: Find an Agent, Land a Book Deal, and Become a Published Author (Hay House; February 6th, 2024).
BECOME A MEMBER

Launching the Line Up and Tickets for the Winter Words Speaker Series 2026
2025-12-02 10:00 - 19:00
On December 2, Aspen Words will release the official Winter Words 2026 lineup and tickets for the Winter Words Speaker Series. Tickets will be available to purchase online starting December 2.
Join us in person at the Red Brick on December 4 from 5–7 p.m. to purchase tickets.
Save the Dates!

Wednesday, January 28 | Paepcke Auditorium | 6–7 p.m.

Wednesday, February 4 | Paepcke Auditorium | 6–7 p.m.

Wednesday, February 11 | TACAW | 6–7 p.m.

The Winter Words 2026 speaker series brings celebrated writers to Aspen for moderated discussions about their work, creative process, and the stories that shape our world.
Aspen Words looks forward to sharing this memorable literary experience with you!

Winter Words Speaker Series Tickets for Sale In-Person
2025-12-04 17:00 - 19:00
On December 4, Aspen Words will be selling tickets for the Winter Words Speaker Series in person at the Red Brick Center for the Arts from 5–7 p.m.
Red Brick Center for the Arts110 E Hallam StreetAspen, CO 81611Tickets will be available at the Aspen Words office, Suite #109.
Tickets will also be available to purchase online starting December 2.
Save the Dates!

Wednesday, January 28 | Paepcke Auditorium | 6–7 p.m.

Wednesday, February 4 | Paepcke Auditorium | 6–7 p.m.

Wednesday, February 11 | TACAW | 6–7 p.m.

The Winter Words 2026 speaker series brings celebrated writers to Aspen for moderated discussions about their work, creative process, and the stories that shape our world.
Aspen Words looks forward to sharing this memorable literary experience with you!

AWN Holiday Party
2025-12-18 18:30 - 20:30
December 18 – Holiday party and book exchange
Join us for a festive and fun gathering! Choose a beloved book from your shelf to share with other members, or support a local business by visiting Alpenglow Books in Glenwood Springs (a new store!), White River Books in Carbondale, or Explore Booksellers in Aspen to purchase one. Dedicate the book with your most valuable piece of writing advice, and wrap it up to share at the exchange. Attendees will also have the opportunity to share quotes or sayings that inspired and encouraged them on their writer’s journey.
BECOME A MEMBER

Winter Words with Susan Orlean
2026-01-28 18:00 - 19:00 | Paepcke Auditorium, 1000 N 3rd St., Aspen, CO, 81611, United States
Bestselling author and beloved New Yorker writer Susan Orlean will discuss “Joyride,” a magic carpet ride through her life and career. The book is also a time machine to a bygone era of journalism, from Orlean’s bright start in the golden age of alt-weeklies to her career-making days working alongside icons such as Tina Brown, David Remnick, Anna Wintour and other forces who shaped the media industry as we know it today. “Joyride” is a must-read for anyone who hungers to start, build and sustain a creative life. Orlean inspires us to seek out daily inspiration and rediscover the marvels that surround us.
Moderated by Christine Benedetti
About the Author

Susan Orlean is the New York Times bestselling author of “Joyride,” “The Library Book,” “Rin Tin Tin,” “Saturday Night,” “The Orchid Thief,” which was made into the Academy Award–winning film “Adaptation,” and other books. She has been called “a national treasure” by TheWashington Post and “a latter-day Tocqueville” by The New York Times. Her deeply moving explorations of American stories both familiar and obscure have earned her a reputation as one of America’s most distinctive journalistic voices. A staff writer for The New Yorker for over 30 years and a former contributing editor at Rolling Stone and Vogue, she has been praised as “an exceptional essayist” (Publishers Weekly) and a writerwho “approaches her subjects with intense curiosity and fairness” (Bookmarks).

Winter Words with Lily King
2026-02-04 18:00 - 19:00 | Paepcke Auditorium, 1000 N 3rd St., Aspen, CO, 81611, United States
Join acclaimed author Lily King (“Writers & Lovers,” “Euphoria”) as she discusses her latest novel, “Heart the Lover,” an instant New York Times bestseller. Written with the superb wit and emotional sensitivity fans of King have come to adore, “Heart the Lover” is a deeply moving story that celebrates love, friendship and the transformative nature of forgiveness. The novel is King at her very best, affirming her as an astute chronicler of the human experience and one of the finest novelists at work today.
Moderated by Mitzi Rapkin
About the Author

Lily King is the award-winning author of six novels, including most recently, “Heart the Lover.” She has also published a collection of short stories, “Five Tuesdays in Winter.” Her 2020 novel, “Writers & Lovers,” won the New England Society Book Awards and was a New York Times Notable Book and chosen as a top-10 best book of 2020 by The Washington Post, NPR, People Magazine and The Los Angeles Times. Her 2014 novel, “Euphoria,” won the Kirkus Award, the New England Book Award and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Award. “Euphoria” was named one of the 10 Best Books of 2014 by The New York Times Book Review. It was included in TIME’s Top 10 Fiction Books of 2014, as well as on Amazon, NPR, Entertainment Weekly, Publishers Weekly and Salon’s Best Books of 2014.

Winter Words with Tara Roberts
2026-02-11 18:00 - 19:00 | TACAW, 400 Robinson St., Basalt, CO, 81621
Adventurer and storyteller Tara Roberts will discuss her searing memoir, “Written in the Waters,” which recounts her epic journey to trace the global slave trade across the Atlantic Ocean. Roberts, a National Geographic Explorer in Residence, spent years diving with and telling stories about a group of Black scuba divers searching for slave shipwrecks around the world. For fans of Cheryl Strayed’s “Wild” and Jesmyn Ward’s “Men We Reaped,” Roberts’ memoir is a powerful blend of personal and cultural history.

About the Author

Tara Roberts follows, dives with and tells stories about Black scuba divers as they search for and help document slave shipwrecks around the world. Her journey was turned into an award-winning National Geographic-produced podcast called “Into the Depths.” Tara became the first Black female explorer ever to be featured on the cover of the magazine and was named the Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year. Currently, Tara is an Explorer in Residence at Nat Geo. She is the author of “Written in the Waters: A Memoir of History, Home and Belonging.” Tara is also a former magazine editor and indie publisher, a nonprofit communications director and editor of several nonfiction books for girls. She calls Atlanta home but loves to hit the road. Her motto is: have suitcase, will travel.

Aspen Writers Network Third Thursday Meeting: Integrating Romance Into Your Story of Any Genre – By Elizabeth Boyle
2026-02-19 18:30 - 20:30
Aspen Writers Network Third Thursday Meeting: Integrating Romance Into Your Story of Any Genre – By Elizabeth Boyle
February 19 | Bonfire Coffee (433 Main St, Carbondale) | 6:30 to 8:30 PM
Become an Aspen Writers Network member today!
Including romance in your story without it feeling forced or sounding clunky can seem difficult and even terrifying for non-romance writers. During the next AWN meeting, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Elizabeth Boyle will share guidance on this complex issue. Come learn how to make your romance elements both natural and compelling.
Elizabeth Boyle is an award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of 25 novels, as well as a respected writing teacher. Her debut novel, “Brazen Angel”, won the prestigious Romance Writers of America RITA® award. Romance Times gave their coveted Reviewer’s Choice award to “No Marriage of Convenience”, “Mad About the Duke”, and “The Viscount Who Lived Down the Lane”. “Stealing the Bride” and “Love Letters from a Duke” have made Booklist’s annual Top Ten Romance lists. https://elizabethboyle.com/
Upcoming Third Thursday Meetings
March 19 and April 16

Presented by Friends of Aspen Words: Adam Gopnik’s Talk Therapy
2026-02-28 18:30 - 19:30
Theater Aspen presents: Adam Gopnik’s Talk Therapy
Saturday, February 28, 6:30pm | Paepcke Auditorium
An Evening with Adam Gopnik You Didn’t Know You Needed

Best known as an acclaimed writer for The New Yorker, Adam Gopnik has spent more than three decades crafting essays, memoirs, and cultural criticism. The bestselling author of Paris to the Moon and The Real Work, Gopnik now turns his sharp eye and signature wit to the stage.
Join us for an intimate, one-night-only performance of his brand-new one-man show, Talk Therapy.
In this revealing and deeply personal piece, Gopnik reflects on his early years as a young writer finding his footing in the wilds of New York City—and the mentors, friendships, and formative encounters that shaped his path.

Tickets
Standard Seating: $65
Premium Seating (Assigned) – $95
includes premium assigned seating in Paepcke Auditorium
Run Time for each performance is 70 minutes. Doors: 6:00pm | Show 6:30pm
Online sales end 5:00pm day of performance, tickets may be available for purchase at the door.
Purchase tickets and learn more here!

Aspen Writers Network Third Thursday Meeting | Member Readings with Optional Feedback | June 18
2026-03-04 08:00 - 17:00
Aspen Writers Network Third Thursday Meeting
Member Readings with Optional Feedback
One of the more important Meetings in our schedule – it provides the opportunity for you to support your fellow writers and/or be supported. Audience feedback on your reading is optional.
April 16 | Bonfire Coffee (433 Main St, Carbondale) | 6:30 to 8:30 PM
Become an Aspen Writers Network member today!
Upcoming Third Thursday Meetings
July 16 | Summer Soiree

Presented by Friends of Aspen Words: Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It and conversation W/ executive producer Daniel Shaw at TACAW
2026-03-05 19:00 - 21:00
Presented by Friends of Aspen Words: Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It and conversation W/ executive producer Daniel Shaw
DATE: MARCH 5, 2026
LOCATION: TACAW
TIME: 7:00 pm / DOORS @ 6:00 pm
Purchase tickets HERE
MEMBER $15 / ADVANCE $20 / DAY OF $25
SEATED SHOW / 18+ VALID PHOTO ID REQUIRED

TACAW is presenting a screening of Billy Preston: That’s The Way God Planned It and a conversation after with executive producer Daniel Shaw.
RUN TIME: 105 MINUTES
Billy Preston was 5 years old when he backed gospel legend Mahalia Jackson. Over the following six-decade career, Billy contributed his signature sound to the greatest artists of his time, including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Barbra Streisand, Sly Stone, Ray Charles, Rufus, Eric Clapton, and others, while establishing himself as a GRAMMY-winning solo artist. Despite his success, Billy struggled to reconcile his deep relationship with the Black church with his sexuality, setting off a lifelong quest to find love and acceptance.
ABOUT DANIEL SHAW
Daniel Shaw is a journalist, musician and conservationist living in Woody Creek, Colorado with his artist and writer wife, Isa Catto. Highlights of a 40-year career include writing for dozens of page 7 publications, including the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, and Daily Variety, working as a Washington, DC bureau chief, hosting an NPR show interviewing musicians, and serving as press secretary for the Navajo Nation. As a blues, rock and country harmonica player, he’s played live and recorded with numerous acts. He currently sits on the board of Conservation International and chairs the nation’s only net-zero performing arts center in Basalt, Colorado.
Learn more and purchase tickets HERE

Aspen Words Literary Prize Shortlist Announced March 11
2026-03-11 10:00 - 17:00
Aspen Words will announce the shortlist for the Aspen Words Literary Prize on March 11.
The Aspen Words Literary Prize is a $35,000 annual award for an influential work of fiction that illuminates a vital contemporary issue and demonstrates the transformative power of literature on thought and culture.
Annually, open to authors of any nationality, the award is one of the largest literary prizes in the United States, and one of the few focused exclusively on fiction with a social impact. Past winners include Mohsin Hamid (2018 for “Exit West”), Tayari Jones (2019 for “An American Marriage”), Christy Lefteri (2020 for “The Beekeeper of Aleppo”), Louise Erdrich (2021 for “The Night Watchman”), Dawnie Walton (2022 for “The Final Revival of Opal & Nev”), Jamil Jan Kochai (2023 for “The Haunting of Hajji Hotak”), Isabella Hammad (2024 for “Enter Ghost”) and Tommy Orange (2025 for “Wandering Stars”). Eligible works include novels or short story collections that address questions of violence, inequality, gender, the environment, immigration, religion, race or other social issues.
Learn more about the prize

Aspen Writers Network Third Thursday Meeting | Flash Fiction with Grant Faulkner | March 19
2026-03-19 18:30 - 20:30
Aspen Writers Network Third Thursday Meeting
Flash Fiction with Grant Faulkner
Exercise your writing muscles with flash fiction. Short prose where every word counts is a great way to tighten up scenes and build the ‘voice’ of your work.
March 19 | Bonfire Coffee (433 Main St, Carbondale) | 6:30 to 8:30 PM
Become an Aspen Writers Network member today!
Upcoming Third Thursday Meetings
April 16 and May 21,

Presented by Friends of Aspen Words: PenPals A New Play by Michael Griffo
2026-03-20 16:00 - 2026-03-21 17:00
Theater Aspen presents: PenPals | A New Play by Michael Griffo
Friday, March 20, 6:30pm
Saturday, March 21, 4:30pm

Two Women. Five Decades. One Extraordinary Friendship.
The Smash Hit Comes to Aspen For A Strictly Limited Engagement! Pen Pals is the extraordinary story of two friends that unfolds over decades. Bernie and Mags live in two different countries, they’ve never met, and yet they’re best friends. Because they’ve been pen pals for over fifty years. Since they were teenagers, they’ve shared every aspect of their lives with each other. The trivial bits, the most intimate details, all the happiness, all the heartache. They’ve told each other things they wouldn’t dare tell another soul. Even though Bernie lives in New Jersey and Mags is from England, the women are closer to each other than anyone else in the world. Come witness the journey of their lifetime. In their own words.

Tickets
Standard Seating: $65
Premium Seating (Assigned) – $95
includes premium assigned seating in Paepcke Auditorium
Run Time for each performance is 90 minutes.
Online sales end 5:00pm day of performance, tickets may be available for purchase at the door.
Purchase tickets and learn more here!

Aspen Writers Network Third Thursday Meeting | Perfect Your Pitch a.k.a. Find the Heart of Your Story | April 16
2026-04-16 18:30 - 20:30
Aspen Writers Network Third Thursday Meeting
Perfect Your Pitch a.k.a. Find the Heart of Your Story
Identifying and being able to clearly articulate the heart of your story is key to writing and finishing your book, as well as selling it (to a publisher or the public). This workshop will help you tighten up your narrative arc to make your story more readable and more publishable.
April 16 | Bonfire Coffee (433 Main St, Carbondale) | 6:30 to 8:30 PM
Become an Aspen Writers Network member today!
Upcoming Third Thursday Meetings
May 21

Aspen Words Literary Prize Winner Announcement on April 23, 2026
2026-04-23 17:00 - 18:30
ABOUT THE PRIZE
The Aspen Words Literary Prize is a $35,000 annual award for an influential work of fiction that illuminates a vital contemporary issue and demonstrates the transformative power of literature on thought and culture.
Annually, open to authors of any nationality, the award is one of the largest literary prizes in the United States, and one of the few focused exclusively on fiction with a social impact. Past winners include Mohsin Hamid (2018 for “Exit West”), Tayari Jones (2019 for “An American Marriage”), Christy Lefteri (2020 for “The Beekeeper of Aleppo”), Louise Erdrich (2021 for “The Night Watchman”), Dawnie Walton (2022 for “The Final Revival of Opal & Nev”), Jamil Jan Kochai (2023 for “The Haunting of Hajji Hotak”), Isabella Hammad (2024 for “Enter Ghost”) and Tommy Orange (2025 for “Wandering Stars”). Eligible works include novels or short story collections that address questions of violence, inequality, gender, the environment, immigration, religion, race or other social issues.
2026 TIMELINE
Thursday, November 13, 2025 – Longlist announcement
Wednesday, March 11, 2026 – Shortlist announcement
Thursday, April 23, 2026 – Winner announcement & reception – April 2026 in New York City
Register here to watch the 2026 Aspen Words Literary Prize Winner Announcement and a livestreamed conversation with the finalists, moderated by The New York Times’ Elisabeth Egan.

Aspen Writers Network Third Thursday Meeting | May 21
2026-05-21 18:00 - 20:00
Aspen Writers Network Third Thursday Meeting
May 21 | Bonfire Coffee (433 Main St, Carbondale) | 6:30 to 8:30 PM
Come and commune with other writers. Sacks and drinks provided. All writers welcome: fiction, nonfiction, short story, memoir, essay, poetry. Topic: Member Readings.
Sig-Sign up in person at the meeting

Readings are 4 minutes max (yes, we enforce this). Please practice and time yourself.
Optional constructive feedback (1 minute max) per reviewer = what you liked best + one area you suggest the writer take another look at.
Become an Aspen Writers Network member today!

Aspen Writers Network Third Thursday Meeting | Writing Prompts | June 18
2026-06-18 18:30 - 20:30
Writing Prompts

A wonderful opportunity to push yourself to generate new work.

June 18 | Bonfire Coffee (433 Main St, Carbondale) | 6:30 to 8:30 PM
Become an Aspen Writers Network member today!
Upcoming Third Thursday Meetings
July 16 | Summer Soiree

2026 Summer Words Writers Conference Panels
2026-06-21 08:00 - 2026-06-26 17:00 | Viewline Resort Snowmass, Autograph Collection, 100 Elbert Ln, Snowmass Village, CO, 81615, United States
Summer Words Writers Conference 2026 Panels
📅 June 21–June 26, 2026
📍 The Viewline Resort | 100 Elbert Ln, Snowmass Village, CO
Aspen Words is thrilled to welcome writers back to Snowmass Village for a week of craft, creativity, and community. If you want access to industry experts and award-winning authors, our $40 Panel Pass is your ticket to six extraordinary sessions.
👉 Purchase your $40 Panel Pass here
Summer Words Craft Talks & Panels Schedule
Monday, June 22
Inside Publishing: How It Actually Works | 1:30–2:30 PM
Description: From agents to editors to marketing, the publishing process can feel opaque. This panel offers a clear, candid look at how books move from manuscript to marketplace—what matters, what doesn’t, and where writers have more control than they think. Expect practical guidance, straight talk, and a few persistent myths put to rest.
Speakers: Ashley Lopez, Cece Lyra, Abby Walters, Rebekah Jett
Moderator: Ryan Harbage
Tuesday, June 23
Finding the Form: How Structure Unlocks Story | 3:30–4:30 PM
Description: Sometimes the problem isn’t the writing—it’s the container. This panel explores how structure shapes meaning, sharpens stakes, and guides the reader’s experience. When the form clicks, the story gains clarity, momentum, and depth.
Speakers: Jamel Brinkley, Meghan O’Rourke
Moderator: Julie Comins
Wednesday, June 24
The Art of Perspective | 3:40–4:20 PM
Description: The success of any work depends entirely on its narrative strategy. This talk defines narrative strategy and discusses its relationship to perspective, narrative distance, and the myth of “reliability” through the lens of contemporary texts.
Speaker: Christopher Castellani
Where Meaning Lives: The Hidden Power of Detail | 4:30–5:10 PM
Description: This talk explores how the scraps writers collect—objects, phrases, half-formed observations—become a training ground for metaphor. Learn why concrete detail carries more emotional weight than abstraction, and why meaning emerges when two things sit side by side.
Speaker: Hannah Pittard
Thursday, June 25
Characters That Carry the Story | 3:00–4:00 PM
Description: Plot moves the story forward, but character gives it weight. This panel explores how to create layered, specific, and surprising characters—people whose desires, flaws, and contradictions generate tension and keep readers invested.
Speakers: Lev Grossman, Jade Chang
Moderator: Mitzi Rapkin
Revision is Writing: Where the Work Becomes the Work | 4:15–5:30 PM
Description: The first draft gets something down; revision makes it work. This panel focuses on how to approach rewriting—what to cut, what to deepen, and how to recognize the story you’ve actually written.
Speakers: Brian Broome, Christopher Castellani, Hannah Pittard
Moderator: Adrienne Brodeur
🎟️ Don’t miss out on this exceptional week of programming.
Get your $40 Panel Pass today!
Learn more about the Summer Words Writers Conference here!

Aspen Words Book Ball | July 10, 2026
2026-07-10 17:30 - 21:00 | Aspen Meadows Resort Doerr-Hosier Center, 870 Meadows Rd, Aspen, CO, 81611, United States
Book Ball | July 9, 2026 | The Aspen Meadows Resort
with Jonathan Franzen
We are honored to welcome bestselling author Jonathan Franzen as the keynote speaker for Book Ball 2026.
We hope you will join a vibrant and passionate community to celebrate writers and readers, and to connect through the power of stories on July 9, 2026, at Aspen Meadows.
This special evening raises vital funds to support Aspen Words programs, including the Aspen Literary Festival, Writers in the Schools, scholarships for emerging writers, and community talks with Pulitzer Prize–winning authors.
Learn more here!

The Lit Lounge: 2026 Community Read Discussion Featuring a Live Zoom Conversation with Maria Reva, Moderated by APR's Breeze Richardson
2026-07-15 17:30 - 18:30 | Pitkin County Library, 120 N. Mill St., Aspen, CO, 81611, United States
The Lit Lounge: 2026 Community Read Discussion
The Lit Lounge: 2026 Community Read Discussion Featuring a Live Zoom Conversation with Maria Reva, Moderated by Breeze Richardson from Aspen Public Radio
Wednesday, July 15 | 5:30 – 6:30 PM
Pitkin County Library (Free & open to all; no registration required)
Welcome to The Lit Lounge—a book club inspired by the thought-provoking novels championed by our local literary center, Aspen Words.
For our July meeting, we are diving into the 2026 Community Read and Aspen Words Literary Prize winner: Endling by Maria Reva. Join fellow literature lovers for an evening of great conversation.
We are thrilled to announce that author Maria Reva will be joining us live via Zoom for an exclusive, moderated conversation with APR’s Breeze Richardson. Don’t miss this chance to discuss her extraordinary novel directly with the author!
Have a question for Maria Reva about “Endling”? Submit your questions here.
Learn more about the Lit Lounge Book Club HERE

Third Thursday Meeting, July 16 – Summer Soirée with Doc Eason
2026-07-16 18:30 - 20:30
Aspen Writers Network Third Thursday Meeting
Summer Soiree with Doc Eason
July 16 | Two Rivers Café (156 Midland Ave., Basalt) | 6:30 to 8:30 PM

Come and share what you are currently working on. Dinner will be served. Then Doc Eason will give one of his astounding close-up magic demonstrations.
Doc perfected his craft over decades at iconic venues like John Denver’s World-Famous Comedy Magic Bar and the Artisan Restaurant. His warm style, quick wit, and incredible magic have earned him a global reputation, five awards from Hollywood’s prestigious Magic Castle, and recognition as an Honorary Member of London’s Magic Circle. Doc’s awards from the Academy of Magical Arts include: WC Fields Bar Magician of the Year, Two-Time Close-up Magician of the Year, and Two-Time Lecturer of the Year. He is also the author of Cocktails & Doc Tales.

Become an Aspen Writers Network member today!
Upcoming Third Thursday Meetings

August 20 | State of the Publishing Industry

Aspen Writers Network Third Thursday Meeting | State of the Publishing Industry with Mark Gottleib | August 20
2026-08-20 18:30 - 20:30 | Bonfire Coffee, 433 Main St., Carbondale, Colorado, 81623
Aspen Writers Network Third Thursday Meeting
August 20 | Bonfire Coffee (433 Main St, Carbondale) | 6:30 to 8:30 PM

State of the Publishing Industry with Mark Gottleib
An up-to-the-minute presentation on the trends and challenges in publishing. A lengthy Q&A period will follow, so you can get your questions answered.

Become an Aspen Writers Network member today!
Upcoming Third Thursday Meetings

September 17 | Flex Your Creativity and Expand Your Skill

Aspen Writers Network Third Thursday Meeting | Flex Your Creativity and Expand Your Skill | September 17
2026-09-17 18:30 - 20:30 | Bonfire Coffee, 433 Main St., Carbondale, Colorado, 81623
Aspen Writers Network Third Thursday Meeting
August 20 | Bonfire Coffee (433 Main St, Carbondale) | 6:30 to 8:30 PM

Flex Your Creativity and Expand Your Skill
Writing prompts are a fantastic way to expand your creativity, explore new genres, and find your unique voice. So, whether you’re a seasoned wordsmith or just dipping your toes into the world of writing, come expand your artistic chops. Sharing is optional.

Become an Aspen Writers Network member today!
Upcoming Third Thursday Meetings

October 15 | Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy with Mary Robinette Kowal

Aspen Literary Festival 2026: September 25-27
2026-09-25 08:00 - 2026-09-27 17:00
The Aspen Literary Festival returns this fall.
Join us for an unforgettable (LIT)erary weekend in Aspen—filled with dynamic panels, lively parties, engaging conversations, and unexpected delights. Over three inspiring days, dozens of acclaimed authors will gather in Aspen to celebrate stories, ideas, and the power of words.
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Stay up to date on all things ALF, including author announcements, ticket releases, and special events.
Visit the official festival website to learn more:https://www.aspenliteraryfestival.org/

Aspen Writers Network Third Thursday Meeting | Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy with Mary Robinette Kowal | October 15
2026-10-15 18:30 - 20:30 | Bonfire Coffee, 433 Main St., Carbondale, Colorado, 81623
Aspen Writers Network Third Thursday Meeting
October 15 | Bonfire Coffee (433 Main St, Carbondale) | 6:30 to 8:30 PM

Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy with Mary Robinette Kowal.

Why is SFF hugely popular? Writers of all genres can improve the appeal of their writing by applying SFF techniques.

Become an Aspen Writers Network member today!
Upcoming Third Thursday Meetings
November 19 | Writing fiction with Laura Zigman
