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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date 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-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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date you will be joining us.
Lake Lit Write-Ins - WEDNESDAYS FOR FONDDUNOWRIMO
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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date you will be joining us.
Lake Lit Write-Ins - SPECIAL SIX-HOUR FRIDAY SESSION
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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date you will be joining us.
Lake Lit Write-Ins - SPECIAL SIX-HOUR SATURDAY SESSIONS
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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date you will be joining us.
Lake Lit Write-Ins - SPECIAL SIX-HOUR SUNDAY SESSION
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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date 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.
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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date 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.
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.
Fond du No Edit Mo - A 4-Week Novel Editing Course
Time to edit what you worked on in November! Take a few weeks off from writing, maybe make some large-scale edits before the holidays in December, and enjoy the holiday season. Then, we’ll meet every Sunday in January to edit the 50,000-word or longer manuscripts we drafted in November 2025. This is a small group critique session with beta readers, if that’s something you’re seeking. Must have a finished 50,000+ word draft of a novel to enroll in this critique group, whether you drafted it during Fond du No Wri Mo or beforehand. We’ll each read the novel in question ahead of time, write the writer a 1-2 page letter about their work, mark up the novel draft with thoughts and possible revisions, and discuss. $200 for the four-week critique group. Includes snacks, beverages, intensive developmental and line editing suggestions on the entire manuscript from Erica Floyd, Lake Literary Center founder and CEO, a 30-minute one-on-one session with Erica to discuss the editing suggestions, and four workshops.
Register here:
Lake Lit Craft Intensive 4-Week Writing Workshops
Lake Lit Craft Intensive Writing Workshops – four consecutive Mondays, deep diving into the craft of different genres of literary writing, from fiction to poetry to creative nonfiction. 4-week workshops will take place in January, May, and July in 2026.
Lake Lit Once-a-Month Workshop
Lake Lit One-Night Workshop: First Tuesday of every month for 2026.
Some genres we will explore in deep-dive, one-evening workshops include:
Journalistic nonfiction
Romance
YA
Literary fiction
Poetry
Fantasy
History
Historical Fiction
Memoir
Gothic fiction
And more!
Fond du No Edit Mo - A 4-Week Novel Editing Course
Time to edit what you worked on in November! Take a few weeks off from writing, maybe make some large-scale edits before the holidays in December, and enjoy the holiday season. Then, we’ll meet every Sunday in January to edit the 50,000-word or longer manuscripts we drafted in November 2025. This is a small group critique session with beta readers, if that’s something you’re seeking. Must have a finished 50,000+ word draft of a novel to enroll in this critique group, whether you drafted it during Fond du No Wri Mo or beforehand. We’ll each read the novel in question ahead of time, write the writer a 1-2 page letter about their work, mark up the novel draft with thoughts and possible revisions, and discuss. $200 for the four-week critique group. Includes snacks, beverages, intensive developmental and line editing suggestions on the entire manuscript from Erica Floyd, Lake Literary Center founder and CEO, a 30-minute one-on-one session with Erica to discuss the editing suggestions, and four workshops.
Register here:
Lake Lit Craft Intensive 4-Week Writing Workshops
Lake Lit Craft Intensive Writing Workshops – four consecutive Mondays, deep diving into the craft of different genres of literary writing, from fiction to poetry to creative nonfiction. 4-week workshops will take place in January, May, and July in 2026.
READ LIKE A WRITER - an mfa-style Close reading course
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.
Fond du No Edit Mo - A 4-Week Novel Editing Course
Time to edit what you worked on in November! Take a few weeks off from writing, maybe make some large-scale edits before the holidays in December, and enjoy the holiday season. Then, we’ll meet every Sunday in January to edit the 50,000-word or longer manuscripts we drafted in November 2025. This is a small group critique session with beta readers, if that’s something you’re seeking. Must have a finished 50,000+ word draft of a novel to enroll in this critique group, whether you drafted it during Fond du No Wri Mo or beforehand. We’ll each read the novel in question ahead of time, write the writer a 1-2 page letter about their work, mark up the novel draft with thoughts and possible revisions, and discuss. $200 for the four-week critique group. Includes snacks, beverages, intensive developmental and line editing suggestions on the entire manuscript from Erica Floyd, Lake Literary Center founder and CEO, a 30-minute one-on-one session with Erica to discuss the editing suggestions, and four workshops.
Register here:
Lake Lit Craft Intensive 4-Week Writing Workshops
Lake Lit Craft Intensive Writing Workshops – four consecutive Mondays, deep diving into the craft of different genres of literary writing, from fiction to poetry to creative nonfiction. 4-week workshops will take place in January, May, and July in 2026.
2026 Lake Lit Book Club
Lake Lit Book Club will be on third Tuesdays of the month in 2026, except February’s meeting will be on the fourth Tuesday. $20 or register to have a seat on the designated book club sofa for the whole year for $225. Includes beverages (mocktail, decaf coffee, herbal tea, or soft drink) and food! Books for 2026 will be announced by December 1, 2025. The 2026 reads will include: hot new fiction (January, September), romance (February, May, June, July), banned books (March, October, December), nonfiction (November), women in translation (August), poetry (April).
Register for the entire year here:
Or register only for this month’s book club meeting here:
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.
Fond du No Edit Mo - A 4-Week Novel Editing Course
Time to edit what you worked on in November! Take a few weeks off from writing, maybe make some large-scale edits before the holidays in December, and enjoy the holiday season. Then, we’ll meet every Sunday in January to edit the 50,000-word or longer manuscripts we drafted in November 2025. This is a small group critique session with beta readers, if that’s something you’re seeking. Must have a finished 50,000+ word draft of a novel to enroll in this critique group, whether you drafted it during Fond du No Wri Mo or beforehand. We’ll each read the novel in question ahead of time, write the writer a 1-2 page letter about their work, mark up the novel draft with thoughts and possible revisions, and discuss. $200 for the four-week critique group. Includes snacks, beverages, intensive developmental and line editing suggestions on the entire manuscript from Erica Floyd, Lake Literary Center founder and CEO, a 30-minute one-on-one session with Erica to discuss the editing suggestions, and four workshops.
Register here:
Lake Lit Craft Intensive 4-Week Writing Workshops
Lake Lit Craft Intensive Writing Workshops – four consecutive Mondays, deep diving into the craft of different genres of literary writing, from fiction to poetry to creative nonfiction. 4-week workshops will take place in January, May, and July in 2026.
2026 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 write-ins! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for three hours. Refreshments provided. Just $8 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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date you will be joining us.
Lake Lit weekend Writing Retreat at hotel retlaw
This luxurious weekend-long writing retreat at the Hotel Retlaw in downtown Fond du Lac will feature:
On Saturday:
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.
On Sunday:
A working breakfast, dedicated writing time, sharing and feedback time.
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 on Saturday, working breakfast on Sunday, and light snacks, soft drink beverages and coffee/tea throughout the day on both days.
This experience will be open to 20 registered participants. Ages 21+. Room blocks available at a very discounted rate. Register here now!
Lake Lit Once-a-Month Workshop
Lake Lit One-Night Workshop: First Tuesday of every month for 2026.
Some genres we will explore in deep-dive, one-evening workshops include:
Journalistic nonfiction
Romance
YA
Literary fiction
Poetry
Fantasy
History
Historical Fiction
Memoir
Gothic fiction
And more!
READ LIKE A WRITER - an mfa-style Close reading course
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.
2026 Lake Lit Book Club
Lake Lit Book Club will be on third Tuesdays of the month in 2026, except February’s meeting will be on the fourth Tuesday. $20 or register to have a seat on the designated book club sofa for the whole year for $225. Includes beverages (mocktail, decaf coffee, herbal tea, or soft drink) and food! Books for 2026 will be announced by December 1, 2025. The 2026 reads will include: hot new fiction (January, September), romance (February, May, June, July), banned books (March, October, December), nonfiction (November), women in translation (August), poetry (April).
Register for the entire year here:
Or register only for this month’s book club meeting here:
2026 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 write-ins! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for three hours. Refreshments provided. Just $8 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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date you will be joining us.
Lake Lit Once-a-Month Workshop
Lake Lit One-Night Workshop: First Tuesday of every month for 2026.
Some genres we will explore in deep-dive, one-evening workshops include:
Journalistic nonfiction
Romance
YA
Literary fiction
Poetry
Fantasy
History
Historical Fiction
Memoir
Gothic fiction
And more!
READ LIKE A WRITER - an mfa-style Close reading course
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.
2026 Lake Lit Book Club
Lake Lit Book Club will be on third Tuesdays of the month in 2026, except February’s meeting will be on the fourth Tuesday. $20 or register to have a seat on the designated book club sofa for the whole year for $225. Includes beverages (mocktail, decaf coffee, herbal tea, or soft drink) and food! Books for 2026 will be announced by December 1, 2025. The 2026 reads will include: hot new fiction (January, September), romance (February, May, June, July), banned books (March, October, December), nonfiction (November), women in translation (August), poetry (April).
Register for the entire year here:
Or register only for this month’s book club meeting here:
2026 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 write-ins! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for three hours. Refreshments provided. Just $8 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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date you will be joining us.
2026 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 write-ins! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for three hours. Refreshments provided. Just $8 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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date you will be joining us.
Lake Lit Once-a-Month Workshop
Lake Lit One-Night Workshop: First Tuesday of every month for 2026.
Some genres we will explore in deep-dive, one-evening workshops include:
Journalistic nonfiction
Romance
YA
Literary fiction
Poetry
Fantasy
History
Historical Fiction
Memoir
Gothic fiction
And more!
2026 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 write-ins! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for three hours. Refreshments provided. Just $8 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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date you will be joining us.
READ LIKE A WRITER - an mfa-style Close reading course
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.
2026 Lake Lit Book Club
Lake Lit Book Club will be on third Tuesdays of the month in 2026, except February’s meeting will be on the fourth Tuesday. $20 or register to have a seat on the designated book club sofa for the whole year for $225. Includes beverages (mocktail, decaf coffee, herbal tea, or soft drink) and food! Books for 2026 will be announced by December 1, 2025. The 2026 reads will include: hot new fiction (January, September), romance (February, May, June, July), banned books (March, October, December), nonfiction (November), women in translation (August), poetry (April).
Register for the entire year here:
Or register only for this month’s book club meeting here:
National Poetry Month Reading Series & Lake Lit Out Loud - Poetry and Prose Open Mic
The National Poetry Month Reading Series features published poets 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, Lake Lit will present authors on January 22, April 23, July 23, and October 22, with Lake Lit Out Loud, a poetry and prose open mic, to follow the featured readers.
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 Craft Intensive 4-Week Writing Workshops
Lake Lit Craft Intensive Writing Workshops – four consecutive Mondays, deep diving into the craft of different genres of literary writing, from fiction to poetry to creative nonfiction. 4-week workshops will take place in January, May, and July in 2026.
2026 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 write-ins! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for three hours. Refreshments provided. Just $8 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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date you will be joining us.
Lake Lit Craft Intensive 4-Week Writing Workshops
Lake Lit Craft Intensive Writing Workshops – four consecutive Mondays, deep diving into the craft of different genres of literary writing, from fiction to poetry to creative nonfiction. 4-week workshops will take place in January, May, and July in 2026.
Lake Lit Once-a-Month Workshop
Lake Lit One-Night Workshop: First Tuesday of every month for 2026.
Some genres we will explore in deep-dive, one-evening workshops include:
Journalistic nonfiction
Romance
YA
Literary fiction
Poetry
Fantasy
History
Historical Fiction
Memoir
Gothic fiction
And more!
Lake Lit Craft Intensive 4-Week Writing Workshops
Lake Lit Craft Intensive Writing Workshops – four consecutive Mondays, deep diving into the craft of different genres of literary writing, from fiction to poetry to creative nonfiction. 4-week workshops will take place in January, May, and July in 2026.
READ LIKE A WRITER - an mfa-style Close reading course
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 Craft Intensive 4-Week Writing Workshops
Lake Lit Craft Intensive Writing Workshops – four consecutive Mondays, deep diving into the craft of different genres of literary writing, from fiction to poetry to creative nonfiction. 4-week workshops will take place in January, May, and July in 2026.
2026 Lake Lit Book Club
Lake Lit Book Club will be on third Tuesdays of the month in 2026, except February’s meeting will be on the fourth Tuesday. $20 or register to have a seat on the designated book club sofa for the whole year for $225. Includes beverages (mocktail, decaf coffee, herbal tea, or soft drink) and food! Books for 2026 will be announced by December 1, 2025. The 2026 reads will include: hot new fiction (January, September), romance (February, May, June, July), banned books (March, October, December), nonfiction (November), women in translation (August), poetry (April).
Register for the entire year here:
Or register only for this month’s book club meeting here:
Lake Lit Once-a-Month Workshop
Lake Lit One-Night Workshop: First Tuesday of every month for 2026.
Some genres we will explore in deep-dive, one-evening workshops include:
Journalistic nonfiction
Romance
YA
Literary fiction
Poetry
Fantasy
History
Historical Fiction
Memoir
Gothic fiction
And more!
2026 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 write-ins! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for three hours. Refreshments provided. Just $8 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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date you will be joining us.
2026 Lake Lit Book Club
Lake Lit Book Club will be on third Tuesdays of the month in 2026, except February’s meeting will be on the fourth Tuesday. $20 or register to have a seat on the designated book club sofa for the whole year for $225. Includes beverages (mocktail, decaf coffee, herbal tea, or soft drink) and food! Books for 2026 will be announced by December 1, 2025. The 2026 reads will include: hot new fiction (January, September), romance (February, May, June, July), banned books (March, October, December), nonfiction (November), women in translation (August), poetry (April).
Register for the entire year here:
Or register only for this month’s book club meeting here:
2026 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 write-ins! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for three hours. Refreshments provided. Just $8 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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date you will be joining us.
2026 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 write-ins! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for three hours. Refreshments provided. Just $8 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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date you will be joining us.
Lake Lit Craft Intensive 4-Week Writing Workshops
Lake Lit Craft Intensive Writing Workshops – four consecutive Mondays, deep diving into the craft of different genres of literary writing, from fiction to poetry to creative nonfiction. 4-week workshops will take place in January, May, and July in 2026.
Lake Lit Once-a-Month Workshop
Lake Lit One-Night Workshop: First Tuesday of every month for 2026.
Some genres we will explore in deep-dive, one-evening workshops include:
Journalistic nonfiction
Romance
YA
Literary fiction
Poetry
Fantasy
History
Historical Fiction
Memoir
Gothic fiction
And more!
Lake Lit Craft Intensive 4-Week Writing Workshops
Lake Lit Craft Intensive Writing Workshops – four consecutive Mondays, deep diving into the craft of different genres of literary writing, from fiction to poetry to creative nonfiction. 4-week workshops will take place in January, May, and July in 2026.
Lake Lit Craft Intensive 4-Week Writing Workshops
Lake Lit Craft Intensive Writing Workshops – four consecutive Mondays, deep diving into the craft of different genres of literary writing, from fiction to poetry to creative nonfiction. 4-week workshops will take place in January, May, and July in 2026.
2026 Lake Lit Book Club
Lake Lit Book Club will be on third Tuesdays of the month in 2026, except February’s meeting will be on the fourth Tuesday. $20 or register to have a seat on the designated book club sofa for the whole year for $225. Includes beverages (mocktail, decaf coffee, herbal tea, or soft drink) and food! Books for 2026 will be announced by December 1, 2025. The 2026 reads will include: hot new fiction (January, September), romance (February, May, June, July), banned books (March, October, December), nonfiction (November), women in translation (August), poetry (April).
Register for the entire year here:
Or register only for this month’s book club meeting here:
MAKING WAVES Reading Series & Lake Lit Out Loud - Poetry and Prose Open Mic
The Making Waves Reading Series features self-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, Lake Lit will present authors on January 22, April 23, July 23, and October 22, with Lake Lit Out Loud, a poetry and prose open mic, to follow the featured readers.
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 Craft Intensive 4-Week Writing Workshops
Lake Lit Craft Intensive Writing Workshops – four consecutive Mondays, deep diving into the craft of different genres of literary writing, from fiction to poetry to creative nonfiction. 4-week workshops will take place in January, May, and July in 2026.
Lake Lit Once-a-Month Workshop
Lake Lit One-Night Workshop: First Tuesday of every month for 2026.
Some genres we will explore in deep-dive, one-evening workshops include:
Journalistic nonfiction
Romance
YA
Literary fiction
Poetry
Fantasy
History
Historical Fiction
Memoir
Gothic fiction
And more!
2026 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 write-ins! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for three hours. Refreshments provided. Just $8 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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date you will be joining us.
2026 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 write-ins! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for three hours. Refreshments provided. Just $8 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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date you will be joining us.
2026 Lake Lit Book Club
Lake Lit Book Club will be on third Tuesdays of the month in 2026, except February’s meeting will be on the fourth Tuesday. $20 or register to have a seat on the designated book club sofa for the whole year for $225. Includes beverages (mocktail, decaf coffee, herbal tea, or soft drink) and food! Books for 2026 will be announced by December 1, 2025. The 2026 reads will include: hot new fiction (January, September), romance (February, May, June, July), banned books (March, October, December), nonfiction (November), women in translation (August), poetry (April).
Register for the entire year here:
Or register only for this month’s book club meeting here:
2026 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 write-ins! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for three hours. Refreshments provided. Just $8 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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date you will be joining us.
Lake Lit Once-a-Month Workshop
Lake Lit One-Night Workshop: First Tuesday of every month for 2026.
Some genres we will explore in deep-dive, one-evening workshops include:
Journalistic nonfiction
Romance
YA
Literary fiction
Poetry
Fantasy
History
Historical Fiction
Memoir
Gothic fiction
And more!
2026 Lake Lit Book Club
Lake Lit Book Club will be on third Tuesdays of the month in 2026, except February’s meeting will be on the fourth Tuesday. $20 or register to have a seat on the designated book club sofa for the whole year for $225. Includes beverages (mocktail, decaf coffee, herbal tea, or soft drink) and food! Books for 2026 will be announced by December 1, 2025. The 2026 reads will include: hot new fiction (January, September), romance (February, May, June, July), banned books (March, October, December), nonfiction (November), women in translation (August), poetry (April).
Register for the entire year here:
Or register only for this month’s book club meeting here:
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 Once-a-Month Workshop
Lake Lit One-Night Workshop: First Tuesday of every month for 2026.
Some genres we will explore in deep-dive, one-evening workshops include:
Journalistic nonfiction
Romance
YA
Literary fiction
Poetry
Fantasy
History
Historical Fiction
Memoir
Gothic fiction
And more!
2026 Lake Lit Book Club
Lake Lit Book Club will be on third Tuesdays of the month in 2026, except February’s meeting will be on the fourth Tuesday. $20 or register to have a seat on the designated book club sofa for the whole year for $225. Includes beverages (mocktail, decaf coffee, herbal tea, or soft drink) and food! Books for 2026 will be announced by December 1, 2025. The 2026 reads will include: hot new fiction (January, September), romance (February, May, June, July), banned books (March, October, December), nonfiction (November), women in translation (August), poetry (April).
Register for the entire year here:
Or register only for this month’s book club meeting here:
Trophic State Reading Series & Lake Lit Out Loud - Poetry and Prose Open Mic
The Trophic State Reading Series features established and widely published authors, with one or more books to their name, whose latest 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, Lake Lit will present authors on January 22, April 23, July 23, and October 22, with Lake Lit Out Loud, a poetry and prose open mic, to follow the featured readers.
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.
2026 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 write-ins! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for three hours. Refreshments provided. Just $8 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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date you will be joining us.
Lake Lit Once-a-Month Workshop
Lake Lit One-Night Workshop: First Tuesday of every month for 2026.
Some genres we will explore in deep-dive, one-evening workshops include:
Journalistic nonfiction
Romance
YA
Literary fiction
Poetry
Fantasy
History
Historical Fiction
Memoir
Gothic fiction
And more!
2026 Lake Lit Book Club
Lake Lit Book Club will be on third Tuesdays of the month in 2026, except February’s meeting will be on the fourth Tuesday. $20 or register to have a seat on the designated book club sofa for the whole year for $225. Includes beverages (mocktail, decaf coffee, herbal tea, or soft drink) and food! Books for 2026 will be announced by December 1, 2025. The 2026 reads will include: hot new fiction (January, September), romance (February, May, June, July), banned books (March, October, December), nonfiction (November), women in translation (August), poetry (April).
Register for the entire year here:
Or register only for this month’s book club meeting here:
2026 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 write-ins! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for three hours. Refreshments provided. Just $8 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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date you will be joining us.
2026 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 write-ins! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for three hours. Refreshments provided. Just $8 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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date you will be joining us.
Lake Lit Once-a-Month Workshop
Lake Lit One-Night Workshop: First Tuesday of every month for 2026.
Some genres we will explore in deep-dive, one-evening workshops include:
Journalistic nonfiction
Romance
YA
Literary fiction
Poetry
Fantasy
History
Historical Fiction
Memoir
Gothic fiction
And more!
2026 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 write-ins! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for three hours. Refreshments provided. Just $8 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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date you will be joining us.
2026 Lake Lit Book Club
Lake Lit Book Club will be on third Tuesdays of the month in 2026, except February’s meeting will be on the fourth Tuesday. $20 or register to have a seat on the designated book club sofa for the whole year for $225. Includes beverages (mocktail, decaf coffee, herbal tea, or soft drink) and food! Books for 2026 will be announced by December 1, 2025. The 2026 reads will include: hot new fiction (January, September), romance (February, May, June, July), banned books (March, October, December), nonfiction (November), women in translation (August), poetry (April).
Register for the entire year here:
Or register only for this month’s book club meeting here:
2026 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 write-ins! We will use the Pomodoro technique to spur creativity and word count: 25 minutes of writing, 5 minutes of rest, repeat for three hours. Refreshments provided. Just $8 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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date you will be joining us.
Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets 2026 Calendar Reading
Contributing poets are invited to read their poems from the 2026 Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets Calendar, plus one additional poem. This reading is FREE and open to the public. Everyone is welcome for this annual celebration. Hope to see you there! Light refreshments, coffee, tea, and other soft drinks will be provided.
Art by Mel Kolstad, the featured artist in the 2026 calendar, will be available for perusal and purchase. Calendars and contributors' books will also be available for purchase.
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 - WEDNESDAYS FOR FONDDUNOWRIMO
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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date 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.
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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date 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-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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date you will be joining us.
Lake Lit Write-Ins - SPECIAL sunday fonddunowrimo sessions
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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date you will be joining us.
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.
Lake Lit Write-Ins - SPECIAL SIX-HOUR SATURDAY SESSIONS
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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date you will be joining us.
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 6-9 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. Limited to 20 fae fans.
Lake Lit Write-Ins - FRIDAY FOR FONDDUNOWRIMO
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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date 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-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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date you will be joining us.
Romance Book Club
Join us monthly on second Wednesdays at Lake Lit to discuss the latest—and hottest!—romance novels and to share our favorite enemies-to-lovers tales, friends-to-romance yarns, forbidden love stories, will-they-or-won’t-they sagas, and more.
There are two ticket options - one that includes a paperback copy of the book for $30 and one that assumes you’re bringing your own copy, whether purchased elsewhere or borrowed from your local library, for $15. Both ticket options include a non-alcoholic beverage (soda, sparkling water, tea, coffee, hot chocolate or apple cider, depending on season) and snack plate. The $30 ticket includes a paperback copy of the book, which will be available for pickup at Lunar & Lake one month ahead of the Book Club event.
Keep an eye out here and on our website for ticket links once they're available!
Romance Book Club picks for the rest of 2025:
Elle Campbell, WAR ON CHRISTMAS - November
Ana Huang, THE DEFENDER - December
Lake Lit Write-Ins - WEDNESDAYS FOR FONDDUNOWRIMO
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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date 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-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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date 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-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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date you will be joining us.
Lake Lit Write-Ins - SPECIAL sunday fonddunowrimo sessions
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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date you will be joining us.
Book Launch Party for Kimberly Barrett's RETHINKING RACE
Join us for a celebration of Dr. Kimberly Barrett’s first book, Rethinking Race: A Memoir, at Lake Literary Center on Saturday, November 8 from 11 AM to 1 PM. Enjoy complimentary brunch grazing boards. Mimosas available for purchase.
Rethinking Race: A Memoir was written as an act of compassionate antiracism. The book invites people to better understand their role in fighting racism by calling them into the struggle rather than calling them out. It is the true story of everyday challenges and triumphs that an African-American mother and her husband, who is identified by most as white but is a citizen of an Indigenous tribal nation, encounter as they try to help their son develop a positive multiethnic identity. Rethinking Race illustrates how one person’s thinking evolved from taking race for granted, as an immutable part of our identity, to seeing it as a very impactful illusion. It is a story of how we can move beyond the false dichotomies of black and white, shaming and blaming to better articulate our rich individual uniqueness while acknowledging our common humanity. The book raises the possibility of becoming aracial, not through colorblindness, but rather by examining racism more closely and coming to understand how each of us creates race every day.
Dr. Kimberly Barrett is a writer, consultant and retired, award winning academic. She held administrative positions at universities in the U.S. and Canada, taught at the undergraduate and graduate levels, advised businesses and nonprofit organizations on issues of inclusion and belonging, and served as a columnist and commentator for newspapers and radio. Dr. Barrett has also been active on a variety of boards and community organizations working to promote social justice and the arts.
She enjoys meditation, yoga, knitting, crocheting, long walks, hosting family and friends and simply appreciating the value of a quiet life.
Lake Lit Write-Ins - FRIDAYS FOR FONDDUNOWRIMO
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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date 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-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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date you will be joining us.
Lake Lit Write-Ins - WEDNESDAYS FOR FONDDUNOWRIMO
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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date 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-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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date 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.
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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date you will be joining us.
Lake Lit Write-Ins - SPECIAL sunday fonddunowrimo sessions
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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date you will be joining us.
Lake Lit Write-Ins - SPECIAL SIX-HOUR SATURDAY SESSIONS
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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date you will be joining us.
Fond du No Wri Mo Kick-Off: Plotter or Pantser Course
Are you a novelist, whether published or aspiring, who misses National Novel Writing Month? We are bringing it back! Or at least, we’re putting a local spin on it for November. This quick course will serve as a kick-off to Fond du Lac Novel Writing Month (Fond du No Wri Mo), and will cover the basics of plotting or “pantsing”—aka, writing by the seat of your pants. We’ll cover word count goals, novel outlines, and debate whether there really is any difference between plotting and pantsing. This event will be part lecture and discussion, part word sprints, and part support group. Just $40 and will include pizza, soft drinks, and the two-hour course and discussion.
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!
Register for each session and indicate in the pop-up box prior to checkout which date you will be joining us.
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.