November 9, 2023 - November 11, 2023

The Letters Festival 2023

presented by lostintheletters

Special Event

The Letters Festival believes in the power of independent literature and is committed to increasing its role in Atlanta’s rich artistic culture. The Letters Festival is a program of Lostintheletters, an Atlanta-based literary organization which also hosts an award-winning reading series. The festival offers workshops, conversations, and live performance featuring some of the country’s most riveting independent authors.

Schedule

The Letters Festival will happen over the course of two days at Atlanta Contemporary. The full schedule is as follows:

Thursday, November 9 | 7:00 - 9:00 pm at Whitespace

Reading & Conversation with Anya Lifting

  • Film Screening—7:30 - 7:45 pm
  • Live Reading—7:45 - 8:00 pm
  • Conversation with Stephanie Dowda DeMer—8:00 - 8:30 pm

Friday, November 10 | 7:00 - 9:00 pm

Live Readings

  • Monic Ductan—7:30 - 7:45 pm
  • Felicia Zamora—7:45 - 8:00 pm
  • E. Hughes—8:00 - 8:15 pm
  • Justin Torres—8:15 - 8:30pm

Saturday, November 11 | 11:00am - 8:00pm

Workshops—11:00 am - 3:30 pm

Finding the Heartbeat: A Workshop in Voice with Anya Liftig — 11:00am-1:00pm

In this generative memoir workshop, we will play with concepts of voice. Through close reading of short passages, we will examine how “voice” is developed in memoir. We will also look at voice in non-human forms, exploring the inner emotional state of objects and places.

This workshop is for writers, artists and makers of any type who are looking to approach their work from new perspectives. Whether you are working on a long project, starting something new, or just thinking about starting, you will find something to help your creative journey.

Overheard: Methods of Sound with Courtney Faye Taylor —1:30 - 3:30 pm

Sound is a vital unit of storytelling. Writers mold sonic textures, rhyme, tone, and even silence to convey truth and open universes of understanding. In this workshop, we will examine how sound appears in our everyday world and study artists who use sound to shape narrative. With these examples as a guide, we will generate new writing that asks us to manipulate, complicate, and reinvent our use of sound in writing.

Live Readings—6:00 - 8:00 pm

  • Babak Lakghomi—6:30 - 6:45 pm
  • Claire Donato—6:45 - 7:00 pm
  • Courtney Faye Taylor—7:15 - 7:30 pm
  • Marium Khalid—7:45 - 8:00 pm

Purchases & Parking

The Letters Festival will also feature a merch table, bartender, and food. The beverages and are paid by card-only.

Parking is always free at Atlanta Contemporary! Please park in the Carriage Works lot at the intersection of Bankhead Ave and Means St.

Purchase tickets for the Letters Festival here!


Upcoming Program Events

View All Programs
August 10 / 10:00am Special Event

Somatic Sound: Contemporary Yoga

Lead by Sydney McCall | DJ Lowray and DJ Sea

Register

Join us for a transformative morning of movement and sound at Flow State, a one-hour immersive yoga experience led by Sydney McCall, accompanied by the live sounds of DJ Lowray and DJ Sea. This is more than just a yoga class—it's an exploration of rhythm, breath, and energy. As Sydney guides you through a mindful flow, DJs Lowray and Sea will shape the soundscape in real-time, creating a fully sensory, meditative environment designed to ground the body and expand the mind. Whether you're a seasoned yogi or just beginning your practice, Flow State invites you to embrace the process—investigate, explore, and move with intention. Bring your mat, an open mind, and get ready to vibe.

August 16 / 12:00pm Special Event

Stokelys Records Pop Up

LéShawn Taylor

Free

Stokely's is back August 16, 12 PM-5 PM for another pop-up record shop! We'll have free coffee and some amazing records for sale! Come by, shop the curated selection, and say hello to the lovely Le'Shawn Taylor.

August 28 / 6:30pm Art Detour

Open Mic Poetry Night

Lead by Amena Brown

Free

Come catch a vibe and the beat this week at Atlanta Contemporary’s open mic night! Open to all who have a voice and wanna be heard, or the supportive friends cheering from the crowd, the more the merrier! It’s a night you're gonna regret watching from your friend’s story, so slide through!

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