Upcoming events.
Lake Lit Write-Ins
Are you looking for quiet camaraderie and a peaceful environment in which to be productive on a writing project? Join us for thrice-monthly write-ins! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for two hours. Refreshments provided. Just $5 for a beautiful, comfortable environment, clean and tidy writing surface, and local writerly support. Bring your laptop, word processor, or even simply a notebook and pen, and get writing with us at Lake Lit!
Second Thursdays, Third Wednesdays, Fourth Tuesdays, 4 - 6 PM. Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which day and time you will be joining us.
Silent Reading Happy Hour
You’ve heard of happy hours, but have you heard of the latest trend in the literary world — silent reading happy hours? Popularized around the world in bars, cafes, bookshops, restaurants, and more, silent reading happy hours allow you to dedicate time after the corporate workday to focus on your latest read. Snacks and beverages will be available, and you can take breaks as needed. We simply ask that you keep conversation and movement sounds to a minimum to allow others to enjoy their silent reading experience.
Every fourth Wednesday of the month at Lake Lit. Registration required. Just $5 — enjoy dedicated silent reading time, a beautifully curated space, soft drinks, and light snacks, all for less than the cost of a latte or nightcap.
Silent Reading Happy Hour
You’ve heard of happy hours, but have you heard of the latest trend in the literary world — silent reading happy hours? Popularized around the world in bars, cafes, bookshops, restaurants, and more, silent reading happy hours allow you to dedicate time after the corporate workday to focus on your latest read. Snacks and beverages will be available, and you can take breaks as needed. We simply ask that you keep conversation and movement sounds to a minimum to allow others to enjoy their silent reading experience.
Every first Tuesday of the month at Lake Lit. Registration required. Just $5 — enjoy dedicated silent reading time, a beautifully curated space, soft drinks, and light snacks, all for less than the cost of a latte or nightcap.
Wined Down Book Club
First Thursdays book club celebrating the most exciting new fiction—and wine!
Thursday, September 4, 6-8 PM:
Book: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Location: Vines & Rushes Winery
410 County Road E
Ripon, WI 54971
Ticket includes:
Different wine-serving venue in the region for each book club meeting
Great camaraderie and bookish conversation
Snacks/light dinner
1 beverage of your choice: glass of wine, cocktail, or mocktail
$25. Please secure your copy of the book via your favorite local independent bookstore, like Lunar & Lake Book Market, the public library, audiobook app, or e-reading app. Limited to 12 participants! Register here:
Romance Book Club
Join us monthly on second Wednesdays at Lake Lit to discuss the hottest—and sometimes spicy!—romance novels and to share our favorite sweet yarns about enemies-to-lovers, friends-to-romance, and more.
Lake Lit’s Romance Book Club Picks for the rest of 2025:
● September 10, Deep End, by Ali Hazelwood
● October 8, First-Time Caller, by B.K. Boris
● November 12, War on Christmas, by Elle Campbell
● December 10, The Defender, by Ana Huang
We’re reading DEEP END by Ali Hazelwood for our September 10 Book Club. A little about the book to rev up your reading engine:
A competitive diver and an ace swimmer jump into forbidden waters in this steamy college romance from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis.
Scarlett Vandermeer is swimming upstream. A Junior at Stanford and a student-athlete who specializes in platform diving, Scarlett prefers to keep her head down, concentrating on getting into med school and on recovering from the injury that almost ended her career. She has no time for relationships—at least, that’s what she tells herself.
Swim captain, world champion, all-around aquatics golden boy, Lukas Blomqvist thrives on discipline. It’s how he wins gold medals and breaks records: complete focus, with every stroke. On the surface, Lukas and Scarlett have nothing in common. Until a well-guarded secret slips out, and everything changes.
So they start an arrangement. And as the pressure leading to the Olympics heats up, so does their relationship. It was supposed to be just a temporary, mutually satisfying fling. But when staying away from Lukas becomes impossible, Scarlett realizes that her heart might be treading into dangerous water...
Lake Lit Write-Ins
Are you looking for quiet camaraderie and a peaceful environment in which to be productive on a writing project? Join us for thrice-monthly write-in evenings! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for two hours. Refreshments provided. Just $3 for a beautiful, comfortable environment, clean and tidy writing surface, light snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, and local writerly support. Bring your laptop, word processor, or even simply a notebook and pen, and get writing with us at Lake Lit!
Second Thursdays, Third Wednesdays, Fourth Tuesdays, 4 - 6 PM. We also are now offering a later second Thursday session from 6:15 - 8:15 PM. Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which day and time you will be joining us.
Register here:
Banned Books Club
Join us monthly on third Tuesdays at Lake Lit to discuss the latest choice read in our banned books club. This book club will always be free, though minimum $5 donations for time and space use, plus provided refreshments, are encouraged. Pre-registration required; no walk-ins.
Why a Banned Book Club? Books are banned or challenged for various reasons — controversial themes, language, or ideas that some consider too provocative or culturally inappropriate. But these stories often offer new perspectives, spark meaningful conversations, and reflect the complexities of the world we live in. By reading a banned book, you’re celebrating the power of stories to challenge, inspire, and educate.
Lake Lit Out Loud - Poetry and Prose Open Mic
Fond du Lac’s premier poetry and prose open mic will continue in 2025 at a new location! Art of Spoken Word found its origins at Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts under the guidance of local writers and THELMA staff. Now, join us for a revamped and improved open mic experience!
The event will remain FREE, and our intention is to preserve the casual, supportive open mic spirit of the program while introducing some new, fun elements: a microphone and podium for those who wish to stand to read aloud, writing prompts for each month, and food and beverages! As part of the move to a new location, the event will also have a new name: Lake Lit Out Loud.
We can’t wait for you all to join us in sharing our prose, poetry, or memoir aloud at the new Lake Lit Out Loud. The open mic will also remain on the same date—always the third Wednesday evening of every month.
September 17 Writing Prompts / Themes:
Second summer, harvest, back to school, academia
Lake Lit Out Loud Guidelines:
Arrive at 6:30 and sign up, or if you’re just attending to listen, grab a snack and drink. We’ll start readings at 6:45.
Please keep your total reading to 8 minutes or less, and please plan on presenting 3 or fewer pieces, all at the same time. The sign-up sheet at the beginning of the event will reflect the order in which we read.
Please plan on standing or sitting at your chosen spot in the room to read your piece(s) aloud. The group will clap or snap in appreciation, and then the next reader will go. We’d like to limit prescriptive feedback on the pieces and discussion between each presented piece, given that this program is for practice reading the written word aloud, rather than a workshop setting. There will be time at the end of the open mic to discuss the presented work and chat about our writing processes.
Please preface your piece with any content warnings regarding violence, sexual assault, excessive drug or alcohol use, or other potentially triggering content. No hate speech of any kind will be tolerated.
Lake Lit Write-Ins
Are you looking for quiet camaraderie and a peaceful environment in which to be productive on a writing project? Join us for thrice-monthly write-ins! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for two hours. Refreshments provided. Just $5 for a beautiful, comfortable environment, clean and tidy writing surface, and local writerly support. Bring your laptop, word processor, or even simply a notebook and pen, and get writing with us at Lake Lit!
Second Thursdays, Third Wednesdays, Fourth Tuesdays, 4 - 6 PM. Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which day and time you will be joining us.
Silent Reading Happy Hour
You’ve heard of happy hours, but have you heard of the latest trend in the literary world — silent reading happy hours? Popularized around the world in bars, cafes, bookshops, restaurants, and more, silent reading happy hours allow you to dedicate time after the corporate workday to focus on your latest read. Snacks and beverages will be available, and you can take breaks as needed. We simply ask that you keep conversation and movement sounds to a minimum to allow others to enjoy their silent reading experience.
Every fourth Wednesday of the month at Lake Lit. Registration required. Just $5 — enjoy dedicated silent reading time, a beautifully curated space, soft drinks, and light snacks, all for less than the cost of a latte or nightcap.
Wined Down Book Club
First Thursdays book club celebrating the most exciting new fiction—and wine!
Thursday, October 2, 6-8 PM:
Book: Katabasis by R.F. Kuang
Location: Vintage Elkhart Lake
100 East Rhine Street
Elkhart Lake, WI 53020
Ticket includes:
Different wine-serving venue in the region for each book club meeting
Great camaraderie and bookish conversation
Snacks/light dinner
1 beverage of your choice: glass of wine, cocktail, or mocktail
$25. Please secure your copy of the book via your favorite local independent bookstore, like Lunar & Lake Book Market, the public library, audiobook app, or e-reading app. Limited to 12 participants! Register here:
Silent Reading Happy Hour
You’ve heard of happy hours, but have you heard of the latest trend in the literary world — silent reading happy hours? Popularized around the world in bars, cafes, bookshops, restaurants, and more, silent reading happy hours allow you to dedicate time after the corporate workday to focus on your latest read. Snacks and beverages will be available, and you can take breaks as needed. We simply ask that you keep conversation and movement sounds to a minimum to allow others to enjoy their silent reading experience.
Every first Tuesday of the month at Lake Lit. Registration required. Just $5 — enjoy dedicated silent reading time, a beautifully curated space, soft drinks, and light snacks, all for less than the cost of a latte or nightcap.
Romance Book Club
Join us monthly on second Wednesdays at Lake Lit to discuss the hottest—and sometimes spicy!—romance novels and to share our favorite sweet yarns about enemies-to-lovers, friends-to-romance, and more.
Lake Lit Write-Ins
Are you looking for quiet camaraderie and a peaceful environment in which to be productive on a writing project? Join us for thrice-monthly write-ins! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for two hours. Refreshments provided. Just $5 for a beautiful, comfortable environment, clean and tidy writing surface, and local writerly support. Bring your laptop, word processor, or even simply a notebook and pen, and get writing with us at Lake Lit!
Second Thursdays, Third Wednesdays, Fourth Tuesdays, 4 - 6 PM. Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which day and time you will be joining us.
Lake Lit Write-Ins
Are you looking for quiet camaraderie and a peaceful environment in which to be productive on a writing project? Join us for thrice-monthly write-in evenings! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for two hours. Refreshments provided. Just $3 for a beautiful, comfortable environment, clean and tidy writing surface, light snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, and local writerly support. Bring your laptop, word processor, or even simply a notebook and pen, and get writing with us at Lake Lit!
Second Thursdays, Third Wednesdays, Fourth Tuesdays, 4 - 6 PM. We also are now offering a later second Thursday session from 6:15 - 8:15 PM. Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which day and time you will be joining us.
Register here:
READ LIKE A WRITER BOOK CLUB
Read Like a Writer Craft Talk Book Club — an experience designed like an MFA-level reading analysis and annotation course. Every other month on second Tuesdays at Lake Lit, 5:30-7:30 PM.
$120 for the whole four-course session; registration required. There will be additional short story, essay, and poem reading assignments in addition to the chosen book for each meeting. These meetings are meant to build on one another, like a master class in writing craft, and required reading will include some of the last couple centuries’ best examples of writing in multiple genres.
Dates and books for 2025:
● August 12: Reading Like a Writer, by Francine Prose
● October 14: A Swim in the Pond in the Rain, by George Saunders
● December 9: Mrs. Dalloway, by Virginia Woolf AND The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Limited to 6 participants.
Lake Lit Out Loud - Poetry and Prose Open Mic
Fond du Lac’s premier poetry and prose open mic will continue in 2025 at a new location! Art of Spoken Word found its origins at Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts under the guidance of local writers and THELMA staff. Now, join us for a revamped and improved open mic experience!
The event will remain FREE, and our intention is to preserve the casual, supportive open mic spirit of the program while introducing some new, fun elements: a microphone and podium for those who wish to stand to read aloud, writing prompts for each month, and food and beverages! As part of the move to a new location, the event will also have a new name: Lake Lit Out Loud.
We can’t wait for you all to join us in sharing our prose, poetry, or memoir aloud at the new Lake Lit Out Loud. The open mic will also remain on the same date—always the third Wednesday evening of every month.
October 15 Writing Prompts / Themes:
Harvest, fall colors, indigenous people and their rights vs. Columbus Day, spooky season, decorative gourds, indecision
Lake Lit Out Loud Guidelines:
Arrive at 6:30 and sign up, or if you’re just attending to listen, grab a snack and drink. We’ll start readings at 6:45.
Please keep your total reading to 8 minutes or less, and please plan on presenting 3 or fewer pieces, all at the same time. The sign-up sheet at the beginning of the event will reflect the order in which we read.
Please plan on standing or sitting at your chosen spot in the room to read your piece(s) aloud. The group will clap or snap in appreciation, and then the next reader will go. We’d like to limit prescriptive feedback on the pieces and discussion between each presented piece, given that this program is for practice reading the written word aloud, rather than a workshop setting. There will be time at the end of the open mic to discuss the presented work and chat about our writing processes.
Please preface your piece with any content warnings regarding violence, sexual assault, excessive drug or alcohol use, or other potentially triggering content. No hate speech of any kind will be tolerated.
Lake Reading Series - THE SCREW CITY POEMS BY RICHARD VARGAS
Join Wisconsin-based poet Richard Vargas for a celebration of the publication of his latest poetry collection, The Screw City, which is to be released July 2025! There will be free refreshments. FREE to attend; Vargas will have books for sale at the end of the reading.
Vargas will be teaching a poetry workshop at Lake Literary Center in downtown Fond du Lac on Thursday, October 23, 2025, as well.
About The Screw City: “I am at an age when some poets get lazy and decide it’s time for the ‘New and Selected’ collection of their work. Those of us who are smiled upon by the big publishing houses (don’t look at me) most likely get gentle nudges to just do it and generate some quick book sales. It’s doesn’t take a lot of sweat and tears to put together about twenty-percent unpublished poems that are then padded with poems previously published in their books from years gone by. What they consider to be their ‘hits,’ along with a few misses. In my case, it’s merely an opportunity to present a sampling of my writing from the beginning to the present for those who have not read all my books. Has anyone read all of them? Buy that reader a beer.”
“Richard Vargas is a modern day lion of the literary underground, and one of the best working class poets to ever hold a college degree. The poems and stories in this book are a collection of life experiences and observations, a broken stained glass window, a kaleidoscope if you will, fragments of color, love and lust, hope and heartache, one hand reaching down to lift up the working dead, the other hand held high, middle finger raised proud in the face of a fast food nation that needs this work, these words of Richard Vargas, these prayers and pleas for respite and peace.” —Dan Denton, Author of $100-A-Week Motel and The Dead and the Desperate
“Richard Vargas clocks in with another winner. His latest collection of poems, cuts to the essence of human experience. He pulls back the veil on common, mundane activities which constitute the minutiae of life to reveal the motivations behind them that define our soul. These poems are the scars that build up from desperate living. As a proud citizen of Screw City, I’m so glad that work like this exists and you should be, too.”—Dennis Gulling, outlaw poet, author of Blood is Black in The Shadows"
About Richard Vargas: Richard Vargas was born in Compton, CA. He earned his B.A. at Cal State University, Long Beach, where he studied under Gerald Locklin and Richard Lee. He edited/published five issues of The Tequila Review, 1978-1980, publishing early works by Jimmy Santiago Baca, Alberto Rios, Nila Northsun, Dennis Cooper, Michael C Ford, Ron Koertge, and many more. His first book, McLife, was featured twice in February 2006, on Garrison Keillor’s Writer’s Almanac. A second book, American Jesus, was published in 2007. His third book, Guernica, revisited, was published April 2014, by Press 53, and was featured once more on Writer's Almanac. A fourth book, How A Civilization Begins, Mouthfeel Press, was released in September 2022. His most recent publication is leaving a tip at the Blue Moon Motel, Casa Urraca Press, July 2023. A new collection, The Screw City Poems, (poems about people and places in Rockford, IL during the times he lived and worked there: 1995-2002 and 2015-2018) published by Roadside Press, will be released in July 2025. Vargas received his MFA from the University of New Mexico, 2010, where he workshopped his poetry with Joy Harjo. He was recipient of the 2011 Taos Summer Writers’ Conference’s Hispanic Writer Award, was on the faculty of the 2012 10th National Latino Writers Conference and facilitated a workshop at the 2015 Taos Summer Writers’ Conference. He also edited/published The Más Tequila Review from 2009-2015, featuring poets from across the country. His poetry continues to appear in poetry journals and anthologies.
His work history is long and varied. Some of the jobs he’s had since the 1970s: fry and grill cook, women’s shoes salesman, bank employee, gas station attendant, retail sales/clerk (for house paint, men’s clothes, auto service/repair and bookseller), warehouseman, infantry lieutenant, warehouse supervisor, UPS deliveryman, massage therapist, bookstore events coordinator, inbound call center CSR (for several companies.) He is now retired but works part-time processing donated clothing at a local Goodwill. Richard currently resides in Wisconsin, near the lake where Otis Redding’s plane crashed.
The Lake Reading Series features published authors whose books have been released within the last year. Quarterly author readings, signings, book sales, and conversation at Lake Lit, every quarter on the fourth Thursday of the month, except for April. For 2025, the Lake Reading Series will present authors on January 23 (Larissa Antonioni), April 12 (James Hamilton and Luke Welch), July 24 (TBD), and October 23 (Richard Vargas).
Lake Lit Write-Ins
Are you looking for quiet camaraderie and a peaceful environment in which to be productive on a writing project? Join us for thrice-monthly write-ins! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for two hours. Refreshments provided. Just $5 for a beautiful, comfortable environment, clean and tidy writing surface, and local writerly support. Bring your laptop, word processor, or even simply a notebook and pen, and get writing with us at Lake Lit!
Second Thursdays, Third Wednesdays, Fourth Tuesdays, 4 - 6 PM. Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which day and time you will be joining us.
Silent Reading Happy Hour
You’ve heard of happy hours, but have you heard of the latest trend in the literary world — silent reading happy hours? Popularized around the world in bars, cafes, bookshops, restaurants, and more, silent reading happy hours allow you to dedicate time after the corporate workday to focus on your latest read. Snacks and beverages will be available, and you can take breaks as needed. We simply ask that you keep conversation and movement sounds to a minimum to allow others to enjoy their silent reading experience.
Every first Tuesday of the month at Lake Lit. Registration required. Just $5 — enjoy dedicated silent reading time, a beautifully curated space, soft drinks, and light snacks, all for less than the cost of a latte or nightcap.
Wined Down Book Club
First Thursdays book club celebrating the most exciting new fiction—and wine!
Thursday, November 6, 6-8 PM:
Book: The Antidote by Karen Russell
Location: TBD
Ticket includes:
Different wine-serving venue in the region for each book club meeting
Great camaraderie and bookish conversation
Snacks/light dinner
1 beverage of your choice: glass of wine, cocktail, or mocktail
$25. Please secure your copy of the book via your favorite local independent bookstore, like Lunar & Lake Book Market, the public library, audiobook app, or e-reading app. Limited to 12 participants! Register here:
Romance Book Club
Join us monthly on second Wednesdays at Lake Lit to discuss the hottest—and sometimes spicy!—romance novels and to share our favorite sweet yarns about enemies-to-lovers, friends-to-romance, and more.
Lake Lit Write-Ins
Are you looking for quiet camaraderie and a peaceful environment in which to be productive on a writing project? Join us for thrice-monthly write-ins! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for two hours. Refreshments provided. Just $5 for a beautiful, comfortable environment, clean and tidy writing surface, and local writerly support. Bring your laptop, word processor, or even simply a notebook and pen, and get writing with us at Lake Lit!
Second Thursdays, Third Wednesdays, Fourth Tuesdays, 4 - 6 PM. Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which day and time you will be joining us.
Lake Lit Write-Ins
Are you looking for quiet camaraderie and a peaceful environment in which to be productive on a writing project? Join us for thrice-monthly write-in evenings! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for two hours. Refreshments provided. Just $3 for a beautiful, comfortable environment, clean and tidy writing surface, light snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, and local writerly support. Bring your laptop, word processor, or even simply a notebook and pen, and get writing with us at Lake Lit!
Second Thursdays, Third Wednesdays, Fourth Tuesdays, 4 - 6 PM. We also are now offering a later second Thursday session from 6:15 - 8:15 PM. Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which day and time you will be joining us.
Register here:
Pre-Fae Ball Book Club Meet and Greet
As writing and book lovers, we are so delighted the Fae Ball will be held again in Fond du Lac this year at Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts! Will you be in town early? Interested in nerding out about fae books? Or maybe you can’t make it to the Fae Ball the next day but still would like some bookish community. Perhaps you’re a bit of an introvert and would prefer a smaller meet-and-greet before the big party! Whatever your reason for seeking a Friday night book party before the big Fae Ball, we’re here for you at Lake Literary Center. Join us on Friday, November 14 from 5:30 - 7:30 PM at Lake Lit for snacks, beverages, costume prep, and fae book talk in a glittering, fae-enchanted, cozy space.
We’re sure you’ve heard of Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses series, but have you read anything by Lexi Ryan? Sasha Peyton Smith? Julie Kagawa? Karen Marie Moning? Holly Black? Whether you’re a full-fledged fae fiction fan or simply dabble in faerie reads, we’ll have plenty to talk about at Lake Lit.
Keep an eye out for more details on vendors that will be at this event, from fae wing-making to crowns! Limited to 30 fae fans.
Fae Ball Hangover Brunch
Join us after the Fae Ball magic for a delectable brunch! Your ticket includes a specially decorated room at the stunning Cellar District space as a continuation of the Fae Ball experience, brunch buffet, faerie mimosa or mock-mosa, coffee, a special brunch swag bag, and a coupon for a discounted creative writing workshop at the area's buzziest literary third place -- Lake Literary Center.
Presented by Lake Literary Center in partnership with Cellar District.
Limited to 30 brunch guests! Get your tickets now! $60 for early bird tickets until November 9, 2025, $75 for tickets purchased November 10 through November 16, 2025.
Banned Books Club
Join us monthly on third Tuesdays at Lake Lit to discuss the latest choice read in our banned books club. This book club will always be free, though minimum $5 donations for time and space use, plus provided refreshments, are encouraged. Pre-registration required; no walk-ins.
Why a Banned Book Club? Books are banned or challenged for various reasons — controversial themes, language, or ideas that some consider too provocative or culturally inappropriate. But these stories often offer new perspectives, spark meaningful conversations, and reflect the complexities of the world we live in. By reading a banned book, you’re celebrating the power of stories to challenge, inspire, and educate.
Lake Lit Out Loud - Poetry and Prose Open Mic
Fond du Lac’s premier poetry and prose open mic will continue in 2025 at a new location! Art of Spoken Word found its origins at Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts under the guidance of local writers and THELMA staff. Now, join us for a revamped and improved open mic experience!
The event will remain FREE, and our intention is to preserve the casual, supportive open mic spirit of the program while introducing some new, fun elements: a microphone and podium for those who wish to stand to read aloud, writing prompts for each month, and food and beverages! As part of the move to a new location, the event will also have a new name: Lake Lit Out Loud.
We can’t wait for you all to join us in sharing our prose, poetry, or memoir aloud at the new Lake Lit Out Loud. The open mic will also remain on the same date—always the third Wednesday evening of every month.
November 19 Writing Prompts / Themes:
Gratitude, colonialism, family holidays, veterans topics, fantasy fiction, fae stories
Lake Lit Out Loud Guidelines:
Arrive at 6:30 and sign up, or if you’re just attending to listen, grab a snack and drink. We’ll start readings at 6:45.
Please keep your total reading to 8 minutes or less, and please plan on presenting 3 or fewer pieces, all at the same time. The sign-up sheet at the beginning of the event will reflect the order in which we read.
Please plan on standing or sitting at your chosen spot in the room to read your piece(s) aloud. The group will clap or snap in appreciation, and then the next reader will go. We’d like to limit prescriptive feedback on the pieces and discussion between each presented piece, given that this program is for practice reading the written word aloud, rather than a workshop setting. There will be time at the end of the open mic to discuss the presented work and chat about our writing processes.
Please preface your piece with any content warnings regarding violence, sexual assault, excessive drug or alcohol use, or other potentially triggering content. No hate speech of any kind will be tolerated.
Lake Lit Write-Ins
Are you looking for quiet camaraderie and a peaceful environment in which to be productive on a writing project? Join us for thrice-monthly write-ins! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for two hours. Refreshments provided. Just $5 for a beautiful, comfortable environment, clean and tidy writing surface, and local writerly support. Bring your laptop, word processor, or even simply a notebook and pen, and get writing with us at Lake Lit!
Second Thursdays, Third Wednesdays, Fourth Tuesdays, 4 - 6 PM. Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which day and time you will be joining us.
Silent Reading Happy Hour
You’ve heard of happy hours, but have you heard of the latest trend in the literary world — silent reading happy hours? Popularized around the world in bars, cafes, bookshops, restaurants, and more, silent reading happy hours allow you to dedicate time after the corporate workday to focus on your latest read. Snacks and beverages will be available, and you can take breaks as needed. We simply ask that you keep conversation and movement sounds to a minimum to allow others to enjoy their silent reading experience.
Every first Tuesday of the month at Lake Lit. Registration required. Just $5 — enjoy dedicated silent reading time, a beautifully curated space, soft drinks, and light snacks, all for less than the cost of a latte or nightcap.
Wined Down Book Club
First Thursdays book club celebrating the most exciting new fiction—and wine!
Thursday, December 4, 6-8 PM:
Book: Vera, or Faith by Gary Shteyngart
Location: TBD
Ticket includes:
Different wine-serving venue in the region for each book club meeting
Great camaraderie and bookish conversation
Snacks/light dinner
1 beverage of your choice: glass of wine, cocktail, or mocktail
$25. Please secure your copy of the book via your favorite local independent bookstore, like Lunar & Lake Book Market, the public library, audiobook app, or e-reading app. Limited to 12 participants! Register here:
READ LIKE A WRITER BOOK CLUB
Read Like a Writer Craft Talk Book Club — an experience designed like an MFA-level reading analysis and annotation course. Every other month on second Tuesdays at Lake Lit, 5:30-7:30 PM.
$120 for the whole four-course session; registration required. There will be additional short story, essay, and poem reading assignments in addition to the chosen book for each meeting. These meetings are meant to build on one another, like a master class in writing craft, and required reading will include some of the last couple centuries’ best examples of writing in multiple genres.
Dates and books for 2025:
● August 12: Reading Like a Writer, by Francine Prose
● October 14: A Swim in the Pond in the Rain, by George Saunders
● December 9: Mrs. Dalloway, by Virginia Woolf AND The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Limited to 6 participants.
Romance Book Club
Join us monthly on second Wednesdays at Lake Lit to discuss the hottest—and sometimes spicy!—romance novels and to share our favorite sweet yarns about enemies-to-lovers, friends-to-romance, and more.
Lake Lit Write-Ins
Are you looking for quiet camaraderie and a peaceful environment in which to be productive on a writing project? Join us for thrice-monthly write-ins! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for two hours. Refreshments provided. Just $5 for a beautiful, comfortable environment, clean and tidy writing surface, and local writerly support. Bring your laptop, word processor, or even simply a notebook and pen, and get writing with us at Lake Lit!
Second Thursdays, Third Wednesdays, Fourth Tuesdays, 4 - 6 PM. Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which day and time you will be joining us.
Lake Lit Write-Ins
Are you looking for quiet camaraderie and a peaceful environment in which to be productive on a writing project? Join us for thrice-monthly write-in evenings! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for two hours. Refreshments provided. Just $3 for a beautiful, comfortable environment, clean and tidy writing surface, light snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, and local writerly support. Bring your laptop, word processor, or even simply a notebook and pen, and get writing with us at Lake Lit!
Second Thursdays, Third Wednesdays, Fourth Tuesdays, 4 - 6 PM. We also are now offering a later second Thursday session from 6:15 - 8:15 PM. Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which day and time you will be joining us.
Register here:
Banned Books Club
Join us monthly on third Tuesdays at Lake Lit to discuss the latest choice read in our banned books club. This book club will always be free, though minimum $5 donations for time and space use, plus provided refreshments, are encouraged. Pre-registration required; no walk-ins.
Why a Banned Book Club? Books are banned or challenged for various reasons — controversial themes, language, or ideas that some consider too provocative or culturally inappropriate. But these stories often offer new perspectives, spark meaningful conversations, and reflect the complexities of the world we live in. By reading a banned book, you’re celebrating the power of stories to challenge, inspire, and educate.
Lake Lit Out Loud - Poetry and Prose Open Mic
Fond du Lac’s premier poetry and prose open mic will continue in 2025 at a new location! Art of Spoken Word found its origins at Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts under the guidance of local writers and THELMA staff. Now, join us for a revamped and improved open mic experience!
The event will remain FREE, and our intention is to preserve the casual, supportive open mic spirit of the program while introducing some new, fun elements: a microphone and podium for those who wish to stand to read aloud, writing prompts for each month, and food and beverages! As part of the move to a new location, the event will also have a new name: Lake Lit Out Loud.
We can’t wait for you all to join us in sharing our prose, poetry, or memoir aloud at the new Lake Lit Out Loud. The open mic will also remain on the same date—always the third Wednesday evening of every month.
December 17 Writing Prompts / Themes:
Shortest days of the year, winter solstice, Christmas, gift giving, slowing down, Hygge season, coziness, warmth, fireplaces, family holidays, dysfunctional families, close families
Lake Lit Out Loud Guidelines:
Arrive at 6:30 and sign up, or if you’re just attending to listen, grab a snack and drink. We’ll start readings at 6:45.
Please keep your total reading to 8 minutes or less, and please plan on presenting 3 or fewer pieces, all at the same time. The sign-up sheet at the beginning of the event will reflect the order in which we read.
Please plan on standing or sitting at your chosen spot in the room to read your piece(s) aloud. The group will clap or snap in appreciation, and then the next reader will go. We’d like to limit prescriptive feedback on the pieces and discussion between each presented piece, given that this program is for practice reading the written word aloud, rather than a workshop setting. There will be time at the end of the open mic to discuss the presented work and chat about our writing processes.
Please preface your piece with any content warnings regarding violence, sexual assault, excessive drug or alcohol use, or other potentially triggering content. No hate speech of any kind will be tolerated.
Lake Lit Write-Ins
Are you looking for quiet camaraderie and a peaceful environment in which to be productive on a writing project? Join us for thrice-monthly write-in evenings! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for two hours. Refreshments provided. Just $3 for a beautiful, comfortable environment, clean and tidy writing surface, light snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, and local writerly support. Bring your laptop, word processor, or even simply a notebook and pen, and get writing with us at Lake Lit!
Second Thursdays, Third Wednesdays, Fourth Tuesdays, 4 - 6 PM. We also are now offering a later second Thursday session from 6:15 - 8:15 PM. Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which day and time you will be joining us.
Register here:
Lake Lit Write-Ins
Are you looking for quiet camaraderie and a peaceful environment in which to be productive on a writing project? Join us for thrice-monthly write-in evenings! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for two hours. Refreshments provided. Just $3 for a beautiful, comfortable environment, clean and tidy writing surface, light snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, and local writerly support. Bring your laptop, word processor, or even simply a notebook and pen, and get writing with us at Lake Lit!
Second Thursdays, Third Wednesdays, Fourth Tuesdays, 4 - 6 PM. We also are now offering a later second Thursday session from 6:15 - 8:15 PM. Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which day and time you will be joining us.
Register here:
Romance Book Club
Join us monthly on second Wednesdays at Lake Lit to discuss the hottest—and sometimes spicy!—romance novels and to share our favorite sweet yarns about enemies-to-lovers, friends-to-romance, and more.
Banned Books Club
Join us monthly on third Tuesdays at Lake Lit to discuss the latest choice read in our banned books club. This book club will always be free, though minimum $5 donations for time and space use, plus provided refreshments, are encouraged. Pre-registration required; no walk-ins.
Why a Banned Book Club? Books are banned or challenged for various reasons — controversial themes, language, or ideas that some consider too provocative or culturally inappropriate. But these stories often offer new perspectives, spark meaningful conversations, and reflect the complexities of the world we live in. By reading a banned book, you’re celebrating the power of stories to challenge, inspire, and educate.
Lake Reading Series & Lake Lit Out Loud - Poetry and Prose Open Mic
The Lake Reading Series features published authors whose books have been released within the last year. Quarterly author readings, signings, book sales, and conversation at Lake Lit, every three months on the fourth Thursday of the month. For 2026, the Lake Reading Series will present authors on January 22, April 23, July 23, and October 22.
January 22 Lake Lit Out Loud Open Mic Writing Prompts / Themes:
Martin Luther King Jr., civil rights, polar vortices, cross-country skiing, cryogenic freezing, winter vacations, coziness, new year’s resolutions
Lake Lit Out Loud Guidelines:
Open mic will begin after the featured author is done reading, selling books, and signing books. Lake Lit Out Loud will be limited to 15 readers.
Please keep your total reading to 5 minutes or less, and please plan on presenting 3 or fewer pieces, all at the same time, within the 5-minute time limit. The sign-up sheet at the beginning of the event will reflect the order in which we read.
Please plan on standing or sitting at your chosen spot in the room to read your piece(s) aloud. Feel free to introduce yourself and give an overview of your writing background. Then, you may read your piece(s), the group will clap or snap in appreciation, and the next reader will go.
Please preface your piece with any content warnings regarding violence, sexual assault, excessive drug or alcohol use, or other potentially triggering content. No hate speech of any kind will be tolerated.
Lake Lit Write-Ins
Are you looking for quiet camaraderie and a peaceful environment in which to be productive on a writing project? Join us for thrice-monthly write-in evenings! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for two hours. Refreshments provided. Just $3 for a beautiful, comfortable environment, clean and tidy writing surface, light snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, and local writerly support. Bring your laptop, word processor, or even simply a notebook and pen, and get writing with us at Lake Lit!
Second Thursdays, Third Wednesdays, Fourth Tuesdays, 4 - 6 PM. We also are now offering a later second Thursday session from 6:15 - 8:15 PM. Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which day and time you will be joining us.
Register here:
Silent Reading Happy Hour
You’ve heard of happy hours, but have you heard of the latest trend in the literary world — silent reading happy hours? Popularized around the world in bars, cafes, bookshops, restaurants, and more, silent reading happy hours allow you to dedicate time after the corporate workday to focus on your latest read. Snacks and beverages will be available, and you can take breaks as needed. We simply ask that you keep conversation and movement sounds to a minimum to allow others to enjoy their silent reading experience.
Every fourth Wednesday of the month at Lake Lit. Registration required. Just $5 — enjoy dedicated silent reading time, a beautifully curated space, soft drinks, and light snacks, all for less than the cost of a latte or nightcap.
Regency Ball Pre-Party Tea Party - 2nd edition
Excited for the Lady Lake Literton Regency Ball? Or maybe you can’t make it but still want to join in the Regency ball fun? Join us for a casual, elegant tea party at The Osthoff the evening before! Ticket includes tea, mocktails, and/or cocktails, heavy appetizers for a full dinner, shopping, and a lovely lounge atmosphere. Just $30. Register here!
Lady Lake Literton Regency Ball - 2nd edition
Dearest Gentle Reader,
I must, with great excitement and the most proper of delight, inform you of an event that promises to surpass even the grandest of spring soirées. It appears that Madame Lady Lake Literton, ever the hostess of impeccable taste, has devised a plan most splendid—one which shall not only captivate but also delight the Ton of south-central and southeast Wisconsin.
Mark your calendars, for the Lady Lake Literton Regency Ball is soon to arrive, and it promises to be an affair of such magnificence that even the queen herself might pause to wonder how she might attend.
This fête will unfold on Saturday, the 26th of September, 2026, from seven o'clock in the evening until the stroke of midnight. The venue? The Osthoff Resort in Elkhart Lake—an establishment so resplendent that it could only be outdone by the grandest of country estates.
Prepare yourselves, for the evening will be brimming with delights: a Regency-inspired ballroom and terrace filled with the sweet strains of music from days gone by, delectable period-appropriate appetizers, and, of course, a cash bar to ease the spirits of even the most reserved. Dancing lessons will be offered, but do not fret—should you be already a practiced hand at the waltz, the dance floor will remain open to those who wish to show off their finest footwork.
But, Gentle Reader, there is more! The queen herself shall be present, her discerning eye searching for the one who dazzles the most—the Diamond of the Season. Will it be a lady? Or perhaps a lord? Only time will tell, but I dare say, the competition will be fierce.
In true Lady Lake Literton fashion, there will be games to play—cards, Condundrum word games, and even the chance to partake in a round of Pall-Mall on the terrace (weather permitting, of course). And, as a final delight, Lady Lake Literton has graciously invited her guests to submit their most succulent autobiographical secrets—secrets that will no doubt make for an exciting special edition of her letter before the evening’s last waltz.
If this were not enough, a Regency-era dating game will be held, offering an opportunity to vie for the affections of an eligible prince!
For those with a taste for literature, the evening will also feature a charming selection of books, including the Bridgerton series and the timeless works of Jane Austen. And, naturally, many opportunities for photographs to capture the spirit of the night.
For those desiring a more exclusive experience, a VIP ticket will grant access to an extra-special swag bag and additional privileges.
You may secure your place in this most anticipated event for the modest sum of $100 for general admission, or for a mere $200, you may enjoy the VIP treatment.
Tickets are available now, but as always, I would recommend you act swiftly, for events of this caliber are not easily obtained.
With deepest regards and ever so much curiosity about who shall take home the title of Diamond,
Your grateful hostesses,
Lake Literary Center
in collaboration with Lunar & Lake Book Market
Lake Lit Out Loud - Poetry and Prose Open Mic
Fond du Lac’s premier poetry and prose open mic will continue in 2025 at a new location! Art of Spoken Word found its origins at Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts under the guidance of local writers and THELMA staff. Now, join us for a revamped and improved open mic experience!
The event will remain FREE, and our intention is to preserve the casual, supportive open mic spirit of the program while introducing some new, fun elements: a microphone and podium for those who wish to stand to read aloud, writing prompts for each month, and food and beverages! As part of the move to a new location, the event will also have a new name: Lake Lit Out Loud.
We can’t wait for you all to join us in sharing our prose, poetry, or memoir aloud at the new Lake Lit Out Loud. The open mic will also remain on the same date—always the third Wednesday evening of every month.
August 20 Writing Prompts / Themes:
Dog days of summer, harvest season, planting crops, sunburn, sweat, overheating
Lake Lit Out Loud Guidelines:
Arrive at 6:30 and sign up, or if you’re just attending to listen, grab a snack and drink. We’ll start readings at 6:45.
Please keep your total reading to 8 minutes or less, and please plan on presenting 3 or fewer pieces, all at the same time. The sign-up sheet at the beginning of the event will reflect the order in which we read.
Please plan on standing or sitting at your chosen spot in the room to read your piece(s) aloud. The group will clap or snap in appreciation, and then the next reader will go. We’d like to limit prescriptive feedback on the pieces and discussion between each presented piece, given that this program is for practice reading the written word aloud, rather than a workshop setting. There will be time at the end of the open mic to discuss the presented work and chat about our writing processes.
Please preface your piece with any content warnings regarding violence, sexual assault, excessive drug or alcohol use, or other potentially triggering content. No hate speech of any kind will be tolerated.
Banned Books Club
Join us monthly on third Tuesdays at Lake Lit to discuss the latest choice read in our banned books club. This book club will always be free, though minimum $5 donations for time and space use, plus provided refreshments, are encouraged. Pre-registration required; no walk-ins.
Why a Banned Book Club? Books are banned or challenged for various reasons — controversial themes, language, or ideas that some consider too provocative or culturally inappropriate. But these stories often offer new perspectives, spark meaningful conversations, and reflect the complexities of the world we live in. By reading a banned book, you’re celebrating the power of stories to challenge, inspire, and educate.
Lake Lit Write-Ins
Are you looking for quiet camaraderie and a peaceful environment in which to be productive on a writing project? Join us for thrice-monthly write-in evenings! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for two hours. Refreshments provided. Just $3 for a beautiful, comfortable environment, clean and tidy writing surface, light snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, and local writerly support. Bring your laptop, word processor, or even simply a notebook and pen, and get writing with us at Lake Lit!
Second Thursdays of the month, 6-8 PM. Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which day and time you will be joining us.
Register here:
Romance Book Club
Join us monthly on second Wednesdays at Lake Lit to discuss the hottest—and sometimes spicy!—romance novels and to share our favorite sweet yarns about enemies-to-lovers, friends-to-romance, and more.
Lake Lit’s Romance Book Club Picks for the rest of 2025:
● August 13, Sounds Like Love, by Ashley Poston
● September 10, Deep End, by Ali Hazelwood
● October 8, First-Time Caller, by B.K. Boris
● November 12, War on Christmas, by Elle Campbell
● December 10, The Defender, by Ana Huang
We’re reading SOUNDS LIKE LOVE by Ashley Poston for our August 13 Book Club. A little about the book to rev up your reading engine:
Joni Lark has a secret. She’s one of the most coveted songwriters in LA, and yet she can’t write. There’s an emptiness inside her, and nothing seems to fill it.
When she returns to her hometown of Vienna Shores, North Carolina, she hopes that the sand, the surf, and the concerts at The Revelry, her family’s music venue, will spark inspiration. But when Joni gets there, nothing is how she left it. Her best friend is hiding something, her mother’s memories are fading fast, and The Revelry is closing.
How can Joni write when her world is leaving her behind?
Until she hears it. A melody in her head, lyric-less and half-formed, and an alluring and addictive voice to go with it—belonging, apparently, to a wry musician with an emptiness of his own.
Surely, he’s a figment of Joni’s overworked imagination.
Then a very real man shows up in Vienna Shores. He’s arrogant and guarded—nothing like the sweet, funny voice in Joni’s head—and he has a plan for breaking their inconvenient telepathic connection: finish the song haunting them both and hope they don’t risk their hearts—or their secrets—in the process.
Because that melody, the one drawing them together . . . what if it’s there for a reason?
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! ∙ A hitmaking songwriter and a bitter musician share a startling and inexplicable connection that they’ll do anything to shake, in the next sparkling, magical book from the New York Times bestselling author of The Seven Year Slip and A Novel Love Story.
As featured in The New York Times ∙ People ∙ USA Today ∙ NPR ∙ ELLE ∙ Marie Claire ∙ E! News ∙ Katie Couric Media ∙ Woman's World ∙ theSkimm ∙ Brit + Co ∙ Yahoo! Life ∙ She Reads ∙ and more
READ LIKE A WRITER CRAFT TALK COURSE
Read Like a Writer Craft Talk Course — an experience designed like an MFA-level reading analysis and annotation course. Every other month on second Tuesdays at Lake Lit, 6-8 PM.
$120 for the whole four-course session; registration required. There will be additional short story, essay, and poem reading assignments in addition to the chosen book for each meeting. These meetings are meant to build on one another, like a master class in writing craft, and required reading will include some of the last couple centuries’ best examples of writing in multiple genres.
Dates and books for 2025:
● August 12: Reading Like a Writer, by Francine Prose
● October 14: A Swim in the Pond in the Rain, by George Saunders
● December 9: Mrs. Dalloway, by Virginia Woolf AND The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Limited to 6 participants.
Wined Down Book Club
First Thursdays book club celebrating the most exciting new fiction—and wine!
Thursday, August 7, 6-8 PM:
Book: The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong
Location: SoLu Winery & Meadery
W8269 County Road F
Cascade, WI 53011
Ticket includes:
Different wine-serving venue in the region for each book club meeting
Great camaraderie and bookish conversation
Snacks/light dinner
1 beverage of your choice: glass of wine, cocktail, or mocktail
$25. Please secure your copy of the book via your favorite local independent bookstore, like Lunar & Lake Book Market, the public library, audiobook app, or e-reading app. Limited to 12 participants! Register here:
Lake Lit One-Day Writing Retreat at The OSTHOFF Resort
This luxurious one-day writing retreat at The Osthoff Resort will feature a working breakfast, dedicated writing time, a seminar-style writing workshop, lunch, an open mic to share what you’ve written throughout the day, and a cocktail hour with snacks.
You should bring:
—Your laptop or notebook to write in, plus pen and other technology items needed.
Lake Lit will provide:
—All materials for the workshop, including worksheets, notepads, writing instruments, and visual aids/inspiration
—Working breakfast, full lunch, one beverage at cocktail hour and light snacks, soft drink beverages and coffee/tea throughout the day
This experience will be open to 20 registered participants. Ages 16+. Register here now!
Lake Reading Series
THIS EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE DOWNTOWN FOND DU LAC NIGHT MARKET! Find us at the junction of Main Street and Sheboygan Street on Thursday, July 24.
The Lake Reading Series features published authors whose books have been released within the last year. Quarterly author readings, signings, book sales, and conversation at Lake Lit, every quarter on the fourth Thursday of the month. For 2025, the Lake Reading Series will present authors on January 23, April 24, July 24, and October 23.
For our July 24, 2025 event, author Gail Scoates will join us at Lake Lit!
Gail has spent a lifetime loving her family and her dogs. As a registered nurse, she worked in various areas in the hospital, worked in home care and hospice, and taught nursing students at Illinois Wesleyan University.
Gail earned both a bachelor's and master of science degrees in nursing. Her passion is program development, speaking at conferences, authoring professional articles, and now writing books.
Gail resides in Wisconsin with her husband David, and Sadie, her third golden retriever and current therapy dog. When she is not writing or involved with therapy dog work, her hobbies include wintering in Alabama during the cold Wisconsin winters, traveling, gardening, and spending time with family and friends.
About Gail’s work:
Paws, Purpose, and Possibilities is the story of a woman who tried to find meaning in her grief over the overwhelming loss of her beloved sister, Karen. Karen lost her battle with colon cancer at the age of forty-one. This is a journey with therapy dogs in memory of Karen and her love for dogs.
Read about the how-to's and why’s of therapy dogs and the wonderful people who do this work. Along the way, read how faith and an acknowledgment of God’s goodness and God’s grace were ever-present.
Lake Lit Write-Ins
Are you looking for quiet camaraderie and a peaceful environment in which to be productive on a writing project? Join us for thrice-monthly write-ins! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for two hours. Refreshments provided. Just $5 for a beautiful, comfortable environment, clean and tidy writing surface, and local writerly support. Bring your laptop, word processor, or even simply a notebook and pen, and get writing with us at Lake Lit!
Second Thursdays, Third Wednesdays, Fourth Tuesdays, 4 - 6 PM. Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which day and time you will be joining us.
Lake Lit Out Loud - Poetry and Prose Open Mic
Fond du Lac’s premier poetry and prose open mic will continue in 2025 at a new location! Art of Spoken Word found its origins at Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts under the guidance of local writers and THELMA staff. Now, join us for a revamped and improved open mic experience!
The event will remain FREE, and our intention is to preserve the casual, supportive open mic spirit of the program while introducing some new, fun elements: a microphone and podium for those who wish to stand to read aloud, writing prompts for each month, and food and beverages! As part of the move to a new location, the event will also have a new name: Lake Lit Out Loud.
We can’t wait for you all to join us in sharing our prose, poetry, or memoir aloud at the new Lake Lit Out Loud. The open mic will also remain on the same date—always the third Wednesday evening of every month.
July 16 Writing Prompts / Themes:
A Midsummer Night's Dream, summer blooms - hydrangeas and more, seasonal affective disorder in the summer, beach reads
Lake Lit Out Loud Guidelines:
Arrive at 6:30 and sign up, or if you’re just attending to listen, grab a snack and drink. We’ll start readings at 6:45.
Please keep your total reading to 8 minutes or less, and please plan on presenting 3 or fewer pieces, all at the same time. The sign-up sheet at the beginning of the event will reflect the order in which we read.
Please plan on standing or sitting at your chosen spot in the room to read your piece(s) aloud. The group will clap or snap in appreciation, and then the next reader will go. We’d like to limit prescriptive feedback on the pieces and discussion between each presented piece, given that this program is for practice reading the written word aloud, rather than a workshop setting. There will be time at the end of the open mic to discuss the presented work and chat about our writing processes.
Please preface your piece with any content warnings regarding violence, sexual assault, excessive drug or alcohol use, or other potentially triggering content. No hate speech of any kind will be tolerated.
Lake Lit Write-Ins
Are you looking for quiet camaraderie and a peaceful environment in which to be productive on a writing project? Join us for thrice-monthly write-ins! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for two hours. Refreshments provided. Just $5 for a beautiful, comfortable environment, clean and tidy writing surface, and local writerly support. Bring your laptop, word processor, or even simply a notebook and pen, and get writing with us at Lake Lit!
Second Thursdays, Third Wednesdays, Fourth Tuesdays, 4 - 6 PM. Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which day and time you will be joining us.
Banned Books Club
Join us monthly on third Tuesdays at Lake Lit to discuss the latest choice read in our banned books club. This book club will always be free, though minimum $5 donations for time and space use, plus provided refreshments, are encouraged. Pre-registration required; no walk-ins.
Why a Banned Book Club? Books are banned or challenged for various reasons — controversial themes, language, or ideas that some consider too provocative or culturally inappropriate. But these stories often offer new perspectives, spark meaningful conversations, and reflect the complexities of the world we live in. By reading a banned book, you’re celebrating the power of stories to challenge, inspire, and educate.
Forest Bathing Fridays
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT HAS ENDED.
Forest Bathing Fridays will combine wellness, writing workshops, and a love of the outdoors and Wisconsin forests. Each Lake Lit Forest Bathing Friday will look a little different in terms of schedule and will take place at a Wisconsin State Park shelter.
You should bring:
—Your own transportation; Lake Literary Center will not be providing a carpool or rides for this event.
—Hiking boots or trail-worthy shoes and/or swimwear, if desired, plus towels if needed.
—Sunscreen and insect repellent, plus any other needed medications and/or personal items.
Lake Lit will provide:
—All materials for the workshops, including yoga mats, blocks, worksheets, notepads, writing instruments, and visual aids/inspiration
—Lunch and light snacks, soft drink beverages
On July 11, we will enjoy our day at the Mauthe Lake Shelter. Agenda for the day includes:
🧘 9-9:45 AM Yoga led by Kelly Zurbuchen-Haas
✍️ 10AM-Noon Poemwalking and hiking haiku workshop experience led by Katrina Serwe
🥗 Noon-1:30 PM Lunch by 3 Sweets Cafe out of Dundee and free time to hike or swim (at attendees' own risk, though I am a Red Cross certified lifeguard)
📑 2-4 PM Telling Your Story nonfiction writing workshop led by Lori Jones
✍️ 4-6 PM Light snacks, beverages, and write-in time to produce work inspired by the day
Extremely limited enrollment. This experience will only be open to 6 registered participants. Register here now!
Lake Lit Write-Ins
Are you looking for quiet camaraderie and a peaceful environment in which to be productive on a writing project? Join us for thrice-monthly write-in evenings! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for two hours. Refreshments provided. Just $3 for a beautiful, comfortable environment, clean and tidy writing surface, light snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, and local writerly support. Bring your laptop, word processor, or even simply a notebook and pen, and get writing with us at Lake Lit!
Second Thursdays, Third Wednesdays, Fourth Tuesdays, 4 - 6 PM. We also are now offering a later second Thursday session from 6:15 - 8:15 PM. Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which day and time you will be joining us.
Register here:
Lake Lit Write-Ins
Are you looking for quiet camaraderie and a peaceful environment in which to be productive on a writing project? Join us for thrice-monthly write-ins! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for two hours. Refreshments provided. Just $5 for a beautiful, comfortable environment, clean and tidy writing surface, and local writerly support. Bring your laptop, word processor, or even simply a notebook and pen, and get writing with us at Lake Lit!
Second Thursdays, Third Wednesdays, Fourth Tuesdays, 4 - 6 PM. Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which day and time you will be joining us.
Romance Book Club
Join us monthly on second Wednesdays at Lake Lit to discuss the hottest—and sometimes spicy!—romance novels and to share our favorite sweet yarns about enemies-to-lovers, friends-to-romance, and more.
$15, book not included. Our July Romance Book Club pick is Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory. A little about the book to rev your reading engines:
"The banter zings. The steam rises off the pages and the chemistry is sapphic rom-com perfection. These two not only steal each other’s hearts. They’ll steal yours too! Jasmine Guillory delivers one of your favorite books of the year!"—Kennedy Ryan, New York Times bestselling author of This Could Be Us
A captivating and sizzling new sapphic romance by New York Times bestselling author Jasmine Guillory.
Avery Jensen is almost thirty, fresh off a breakup, and she’s tired of always being so uptight and well-behaved. She wants to get a hobby, date around (especially women), flirt with everyone she sees, wear something not from the business casual section of her closet—all the fun stuff normal people do in their twenties. One problem: Avery doesn't know where to start. She doesn't have a lot of dating experience, with men or women, and despite being self-assured at work, she doesn't have a lot of confidence when it comes to romance.
Enter Taylor Cameron, Napa Valley's biggest flirt and champion heartbreaker. Taylor just broke up with her most recent girlfriend, and her best friend bet her that she can't make it until Labor Day without sleeping with someone. (Two whole months? Without sex? Taylor?!?!) So, she offers to give Avery flirting lessons. It should keep her busy and stop her from texting people she shouldn't. And it might take her mind off how inadequate she feels compared to her friends, who all seem much more settled and adult than Taylor.
At first, Avery is stiff and nervous, but Taylor is patient and encouraging, and soon, Avery looks forward to their weekly lessons. With Taylor’s help, Avery finally has the life she always wanted. The only issue is: now she wants Taylor. Their attraction becomes impossible to ignore, despite them both insisting to themselves and everyone else that it isn't serious. When Taylor is forced to confront her feelings for Avery, she doesn't know what to do—and most importantly, if she's already ruined the best thing she's ever had.
Silent Reading Happy Hour
You’ve heard of happy hours, but have you heard of the latest trend in the literary world — silent reading happy hours? Popularized around the world in bars, cafes, bookshops, restaurants, and more, silent reading happy hours allow you to dedicate time after the corporate workday to focus on your latest read. Snacks and beverages will be available, and you can take breaks as needed. We simply ask that you keep conversation and movement sounds to a minimum to allow others to enjoy their silent reading experience.
Every first Tuesday of the month at Lake Lit. Registration required. Just $5 — enjoy dedicated silent reading time, a beautifully curated space, soft drinks, and light snacks, all for less than the cost of a latte or nightcap.
Fantasy Fiction Four-Week Workshop
Join romantasy author Larissa Antonioni for a four-week course on consecutive Mondays in June covering the breadth of knowledge needed to write fantasy fiction.
June 9th: Fantasy 101
June 16th: Character Development
June 23rd: Story Arc and Part
June 30th: World Building
Just $80 for the four-week course!
Silent Reading Happy Hour
You’ve heard of happy hours, but have you heard of the latest trend in the literary world — silent reading happy hours? Popularized around the world in bars, cafes, bookshops, restaurants, and more, silent reading happy hours allow you to dedicate time after the corporate workday to focus on your latest read. Snacks and beverages will be available, and you can take breaks as needed. We simply ask that you keep conversation and movement sounds to a minimum to allow others to enjoy their silent reading experience.
Every fourth Wednesday of the month at Lake Lit. You’ve heard of happy hours, but have you heard of the latest trend in the literary world — silent reading happy hours? Popularized around the world in bars, cafes, bookshops, restaurants, and more, silent reading happy hours allow you to dedicate time after the corporate workday to focus on your latest read. Snacks and beverages will be available, and you can take breaks as needed. We simply ask that you keep conversation and movement sounds to a minimum to allow others to enjoy their silent reading experience.
Every fourth Wednesday of the month at Lake Lit. Registration required. Just $5 — enjoy dedicated silent reading time, a beautifully curated space, soft drinks, and light snacks, all for less than the cost of a latte or nightcap.
Young Adult Romance Workshop with Author Sarah Razner
Love can make characters impulsive, vulnerable, brave, and/or terrified. These emotions are only amplified in the teenage years, as seen in many novels in the hugely popular Young Adult Romance genre of fiction.
Join us for an intimate and curated workshop on how to write believable, well-crafted, and playful YA romance fiction at Lake Literary Center, led by author Sarah Razner. Razner’s debut novel, In Name Only, was released in February 2025, and follows the coming-of-age journey of a teen protagonist from a family synonymous with American political royalty. The crush he develops on a co-worker and their ensuing genuine attraction and chemistry are prime examples of the type of scenes participants will learn how to write in this two-hour workshop on Tuesday, June 24.
Just $20, which includes a curated snack plate, non-alcoholic beverages (water, soda, tea, etc.), and all materials: binder, handouts and worksheets, pen or pencil, and notepad or looseleaf. Bring your laptop or tablet if you wish to take notes electronically, but a computer is not required to take this course. Register here to invest in your writing skills, whether you’re writing a YA Romance novel or short story, or in a different genre entirely. These writing workshop skills are translatable cross-genre. Limited to 6 participants!
Lake Lit Write-Ins
Are you looking for quiet camaraderie and a peaceful environment in which to be productive on a writing project? Join us for thrice-monthly write-ins! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for two hours. Refreshments provided. Just $5 for a beautiful, comfortable environment, clean and tidy writing surface, and local writerly support. Bring your laptop, word processor, or even simply a notebook and pen, and get writing with us at Lake Lit!
Second Thursdays, Third Wednesdays, Fourth Tuesdays, 4 - 6 PM. Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which day and time you will be joining us.
Fantasy Fiction Four-Week Workshop
Join romantasy author Larissa Antonioni for a four-week course on consecutive Mondays in June covering the breadth of knowledge needed to write fantasy fiction.
June 9th: Fantasy 101
June 16th: Character Development
June 23rd: Story Arc and Part
June 30th: World Building
Just $80 for the four-week course!
Lake Lit Out Loud - Poetry and Prose Open Mic
Fond du Lac’s premier poetry and prose open mic will continue in 2025 at a new location! Art of Spoken Word found its origins at Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts under the guidance of local writers and THELMA staff. Now, join us for a revamped and improved open mic experience!
The event will remain FREE, and our intention is to preserve the casual, supportive open mic spirit of the program while introducing some new, fun elements: a microphone and podium for those who wish to stand to read aloud, writing prompts for each month, and food and beverages! As part of the move to a new location, the event will also have a new name: Lake Lit Out Loud.
We can’t wait for you all to join us in sharing our prose, poetry, or memoir aloud at the new Lake Lit Out Loud. The open mic will also remain on the same date—always the third Wednesday evening of every month.
June 18 Writing Prompts / Themes:
Fatherhood and having or not having a father, Juneteenth day, emancipation, reparations, PRIDE and LGBTQ+, summer solstice and longest day of sunlight of the year
Lake Lit Out Loud Guidelines:
Arrive at 6:30 and sign up, or if you’re just attending to listen, grab a snack and drink. We’ll start readings at 6:45.
Please keep your total reading to 8 minutes or less, and please plan on presenting 3 or fewer pieces, all at the same time. The sign-up sheet at the beginning of the event will reflect the order in which we read.
Please plan on standing or sitting at your chosen spot in the room to read your piece(s) aloud. The group will clap or snap in appreciation, and then the next reader will go. We’d like to limit prescriptive feedback on the pieces and discussion between each presented piece, given that this program is for practice reading the written word aloud, rather than a workshop setting. There will be time at the end of the open mic to discuss the presented work and chat about our writing processes.
Please preface your piece with any content warnings regarding violence, sexual assault, excessive drug or alcohol use, or other potentially triggering content. No hate speech of any kind will be tolerated.
Lake Lit Write-Ins
Are you looking for quiet camaraderie and a peaceful environment in which to be productive on a writing project? Join us for thrice-monthly write-ins! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for two hours. Refreshments provided. Just $5 for a beautiful, comfortable environment, clean and tidy writing surface, and local writerly support. Bring your laptop, word processor, or even simply a notebook and pen, and get writing with us at Lake Lit!
Second Thursdays, Third Wednesdays, Fourth Tuesdays, 4 - 6 PM. Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which day and time you will be joining us.
Banned Books Club
Join us monthly on third Tuesdays at Lake Lit to discuss the latest choice read in our banned books club. This book club will always be free, though minimum $5 donations for time and space use, plus provided refreshments, are encouraged. Pre-registration required; no walk-ins.
Why a Banned Book Club? Books are banned or challenged for various reasons — controversial themes, language, or ideas that some consider too provocative or culturally inappropriate. But these stories often offer new perspectives, spark meaningful conversations, and reflect the complexities of the world we live in. By reading a banned book, you’re celebrating the power of stories to challenge, inspire, and educate.
Fantasy Fiction Four-Week Workshop
Join romantasy author Larissa Antonioni for a four-week course on consecutive Mondays in June covering the breadth of knowledge needed to write fantasy fiction.
June 9th: Fantasy 101
June 16th: Character Development
June 23rd: Story Arc and Part
June 30th: World Building
Just $80 for the four-week course!
Lake Lit Write-Ins
Are you looking for quiet camaraderie and a peaceful environment in which to be productive on a writing project? Join us for thrice-monthly write-in evenings! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for two hours. Refreshments provided. Just $3 for a beautiful, comfortable environment, clean and tidy writing surface, light snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, and local writerly support. Bring your laptop, word processor, or even simply a notebook and pen, and get writing with us at Lake Lit!
Second Thursdays, Third Wednesdays, Fourth Tuesdays, 4 - 6 PM. We also are now offering a later second Thursday session from 6:15 - 8:15 PM. Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which day and time you will be joining us.
Register here:
Lake Lit Write-Ins
Are you looking for quiet camaraderie and a peaceful environment in which to be productive on a writing project? Join us for thrice-monthly write-ins! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for two hours. Refreshments provided. Just $5 for a beautiful, comfortable environment, clean and tidy writing surface, and local writerly support. Bring your laptop, word processor, or even simply a notebook and pen, and get writing with us at Lake Lit!
Second Thursdays, Third Wednesdays, Fourth Tuesdays, 4 - 6 PM. Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which day and time you will be joining us.
Romance Book Club
Join us monthly on second Wednesdays at Lake Lit to discuss the hottest—and sometimes spicy!—romance novels and to share our favorite sweet yarns about enemies-to-lovers, friends-to-romance, and more.
Register here if you already have the book: https://www.lakeliterary.org/store/p/romance-book-club-feb-12-2025-book-included-pnsr7
Register here if you would like the book included and to pick up at Lunar & Lake Book Market: https://www.lakeliterary.org/store/p/romance-book-club-feb-12-2025-book-included