Write Now Literary Festival

The Write Now Literary Festival is a full-day celebration of literature, performance, and community featuring workshops, interactive experiences, an open mic, and a high-energy poetry slam.

Throughout the day, attendees can participate in hands-on writing and performance workshops designed to build creative skills and explore different forms of expression. Midday includes a break for food and local vendors, followed by The “LIT”erary Game Show, a fun quiz-style competition where participants test their knowledge of literature in teams for prizes.

The afternoon continues with the Write Now Fest Open Mic, welcoming poets, singers, and performers of all styles to share their voice in a supportive space.

The festival culminates in the evening with the Michelle Gilliam Memorial Poetry Slam, a three-round competitive slam featuring 15 poets, live scoring by judges, a DJ, and featured performances by nationally ranked poetry teams and comedians. The slam includes structured elimination rounds, strict timing rules, and high-stakes final placements leading to a grand prize for first place.

In addition to programming, attendees can enjoy food vendors, community engagement, and a vibrant creative atmosphere throughout the day.

Event Highlights:

• 6 creative workshops
• Literary Game Show competition
• Open mic performance showcase
• Featured comedy & slam poetry performances
• Michelle Gilliam Memorial Poetry Slam (main event)
• Food vendors & Vendors

*If you are looking for group or student discount ticket rates please call Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center to purchase your tickets*

Slam Logistics:

Participants are to report at 4:50pm to determine the order in which the poets present happens. Any poet showing up after the bout draw has started will automatically be assigned the earliest positions available.

The second and third round will be done by random draw at the time of performance. There will be a sacrificial/calibration poet performing before the first and final round. The “Sac” Poets will be judged just as if they were competing in the competition and their scores will be recorded.

All 15 poets perform in the first round, 9 poets advance to the second round, and 5 advance to the final round. If there are ties in either rounds 1 or 2, the tying poet’s dropped scores will be added back the poet with highest score will be selected to advance. If that does not break the tie, all poets involved in the tie will be cut.

If there are any ties during the last round to decide placement, the tying poets cumulative scores for the entire will be used to determine placement. If that results in a tie, then all five sores from all threets will perform 1 additional poem a piece where the judges will no longer score on a point value but choose either destinated poet A or B to take that placement won.

Info: Choose from two workshops to attend.

Info: Purchase food from Food Truck vendors or explore options in nearby downtown Newport News.

Info: Attendees are invited to participate in this quiz bowl style game where teams of five answer literary questions. The team with the most points wins!

Info: Choose from two workshops to attend.

Info: Sign up to perform in the open mic, or show support in the audience! All forms of expression are welcome, including spoken word, poetry, and song. Hosted by Q5.

Info: Choose from two workshops to attend.

Info: 15 poets will compete with their original written work.

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Host or Publisher Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center