Join us for a screening of Georgia O’Keeffe: the Brightness of Light, a feature documentary about the life and art of an American icon, featuring the voice of Claire Danes. O’Keeffe is widely revered as the “Mother of American Modernism” and the greatest woman artist of the 20th century. The film will be followed by a question and answer session with Roxana Robinson, author of the definitive biography of O’Keeffe, and a celebrated novelist in her own right.

Free event

Enjoy cider and cookies before the festival finale.

By donation

Obsessed with Wordle? Curious about the other word games out there? Andrew Innes, inventor of the bestselling table-top game Anomia and its many offshoots, will talk about the surprising history of word games, then lead a fun and fast-paced Anomia session. Bring your word-game loving friends!

Free event

The first page is a writer’s best shot at engaging a reader. Literary agent Ann Rittenberg will begin by discussing some of the best first pages in English literature before a close read of first pages from participants’ works in progress. She will offer publishing insider insights on what editors look for when they sit down to read an unpublished manuscript.

Pre-registration required

Compact, emotionally immediate, and surprising, “flash” memoir is “the writer’s experience of the world made small and large at the same time.” Participants will explore techniques that give flash writings their intensity and focus, reading examples from across the genre and generating flashes from their own material. They will have the opportunity to share writings and receive revision tips for these miniaturized distillations of memory and life.

Pre-registration required

Colin Woodard’s new book, Nations Apart: How Clashing Regional Cultures Shattered America, draws on groundbreaking original data and historical insights, to argue that many conflicts over today’s hot-button issues have their roots as far back as the colonial period. Alicia Anstead will join Colin onstage to discuss what he has uncovered about the centuries-old regional differences that have brought American democracy to the brink of collapse and to present a powerful story that can bridge our cultural divisions and save the republic.

This event will begin with a reading by Patty Morris, winner of Word’s second annual writing contest

Free event

Enjoy a casual supper of fish and vegetarian chowder, Tinder Hearth bread, salad, and sweets between the Poetry Crawl finale and the conversation between Colin Woodard and Alicia Anstead, courtesy of the Simmering Pot crew.

Ticketed event, purchase here

Word’s popular Poetry Crawl returns! Join us on an easy walk around Blue Hill village to hear a sequence of readings by remarkable poets, one poet at each of five local venues. Poets include John Reinhart, Annaliese Jakimides, Ed Go, Christian Barter, and melissa christine goodrum.

Free event

Join Anna from Healthy Peninsula’s Magic Food Bus to prepare a big pot of soup and celebrate the end of harvest season. Bring something for the pot or to go with the meal if you like! Enjoy a story on the lawn with Claire of the Blue Hill Public Library and share a bowl of soup together. 

Free event

While Maine often is depicted by writers and artists in broad brushstrokes, there is more than meets the eye to the rural corners of our state. This panel brings together three Maine writers working in fiction, poetry, and memoir: Michelle Lewis, Audrey Gidman, and Cynthia Thayer. These writers will explore how living in Down East and inland Maine, as well as other remote communities, shapes the stories we tell. 

Are you a writer eager to build impact and audiences in the digital age and curious about emerging options like Substack, blogs, and social media? Join this brisk hands-on workshop with longtime online journalist and podcaster Andy Revkin to explore tools, tactics, and practices that can help anyone make the most of online writing and connectedness.

Pre-registration required

Most fiction of the dark fantastic relies heavily on setting and atmosphere to generate suspense, tension, and good old-fashioned terror. We will discuss how setting and landscape impact fiction, then dive into generative writing prompts and exercises. Be prepared to write (using tablet, laptop, or carbon-based media) and to read work aloud.

Pre-registration required

The Poetry Society of New York defines a poetopia as: “a blueprint for possibility, a practice of reimagining a more inclusive, equitable world[…] a living force that can shape the future.” In this workshop, we will explore speculative poems that transform the world—and its malaises.

Pre-registration required

Literary agent Ann Rittenberg will meet individually with a small number of local authors to hear their “pitch” (description of their book project) and offer advice that will both refine the pitch for future submission to literary agencies and help writers improve their books. Participants will receive light reading beforehand.

Pre-registration required

Young book lovers are invited to a read-aloud and draw-along with Phuc Tran, author of the bestselling picture-book series about Cranky, an unhappy crane truck on a construction site. Geared to ages 5 to 8, but older kids are welcome.

Free event

Great crime fiction melds gripping plots and intriguing characters to some of the most enduring human concerns and conflicts. Maine favorite Paul Doiron is famed for his 15 acclaimed mystery novels featuring game warden Mike Bowditch. He’ll be joining us to talk about the challenges and rewards of writing crime fiction with Lincolnville local, Elizabeth Hand, whose bestselling novels include the psychological thrillers about photographer and former punk rocker, Cass Neary.

Free event

Kick off a weekend of literary festivities, meet and mingle with festival authors, and support Word’s future. Join us for wine, beer, and delicious hors d’oeuvres/light supper from our favorite local chefs before the Friday keynote with Paul Doiron and Elizabeth Hand.

Ticketed event, purchase here

Join us for the launch of Word 2025 with the annual Word.Art exhibit of visual art that includes or relates to the written word. Featured work is by Kristie Billings, Marechal Brown, Katy Helman, Annaliese Jakimides, Stu Kestenbaum & Susan Webster, Cynthia McGuirl, Jan Owen, Elaine Sexton, and Sandy Weisman. Poets Arisa White and Annaliese Jakimides will read at 6pm.

Free event

Back by popular demand! Choral conductor and composer George Emlen and Noel Paul Stookey (best known as “Paul” of the multi-platinum-selling group Peter, Paul & Mary) will offer songwriting techniques in a group setting to aspiring songwriters of all levels and genres. If you only have a melody, we'll help you find a lyric. If you only have a lyric, we'll help you find a melody. Class size is limited, so sign up early.

Pre-registration required