Ring in the new year with some literary events! If you’re looking for something to do in January, here are some upcoming literary events* that may pique your interest!
- January 1, 2025 Verse & Vibes
Indigo Cottage Crafts, 2063 Creekside Dr.
Papillion, 6:30 pm
An open mic at an artsy space full of good vibes, and not just because of the coffee and liquor bar ;). Open to poets, authors, writers, musicians, anyone who has talent to share. Everyone is welcome. Free event. Jules Coral, MC. - January 6, 2025 Gene Fendt Poetry Reading & Discussion
Zoom, 6:30 – 7:30 pm
Gene Fendt’s poetry wrestles with the physical world while reaching for the divine. Join us for an evening of reading and conversation with a poet whose work celebrates heritage, questions mortality, and seeks grace in the everyday. - January 9, 2025 Poetry Readings at The Lion: a Poetry Feature and Open Mic with Greg Kosmicki
St Mark’s on the Campus, 1309 R St.
Lincoln, 5:30 – 6:30 pm
Guests may study, write, read, relax, sit, talk, and generally socialize with friends over coffee, tea, and other beverages from opening at 5:30 pm until 6:00 pm when Greg Kosmicki will feature. If time remains, Open Mic will will follow until closing. - January 15, 2025 Third Thursday Artist Talk at the KHN Center for the Arts
Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, 801 Third Corso
Nebraska City, 5:00 – 7:00 pm
Meet KHN resident artists and get a glimpse of their creative work. We begin in the KHN Gallery dining room with light refreshments followed by presentations. Resident artists present for eight minutes each with additional time for questions. - January 15, 2025 Vocal Fry
UNO’s Criss Library, 6401 S University Dr Rd N.
Omaha, 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Prepare to be moved, inspired, and electrified at the only spoken word event in Nebraska dedicated solely to the art of expression. This isn’t just another open mic night—it’s a celebration of storytelling and raw emotion, where voices from all walks of life take center stage. Hosted in the intimate and immersive setting where every performance feels personal. Whether you’re a longtime lover of spoken word or a curious newcomer, this event guarantees an unforgettable night of connection and creativity. Featuring Sam Nichols and Allen Stevenson as MCs. - January 17, 2025 Poetry Writing Workshop: The Ekphrastic Poem
Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St.
Omaha, 10:00 – 11:30 am
Beat the winter blues with Julie S. Paschold, by diving into ekphrastic poetry, a form of poetry where the topic is based off of a work of art. Have your favorite piece in mind, or find inspiration from one of the artworks we bring and get ready to write! Pre-registration is required. - January 17, 2025 Book Launch: Carole Levin & Marguerite A. Tassi “Creatively Expanding the Premodern: Historical and Literary Afterlives”
Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St.
Lincoln, 5:30 – 6:30 pm
Join us as we celebrate the release of Creatively Expanding the Premodern: Historical and Literary Afterlives by Carole Levin, Marguerite A.Tassi, Christine Stewart-Nuñez and Julia Griffin. Co-authors Carole Levin and Marguerite A.Tassi will read from the book with Q&A and booksigning to follow. Their book highlights the stories of women from premodern history and literature through models of adaptations, retellings, and criticism such as poems, plays, and essays. In reviving these voices from the background, it widens the appeal and accessibility of scholarship in the humanities. - January 19, 2025 8th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Living the Dream” Original Social Justice Spoken Word, Music, Dance and Art Competition
Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St.
Omaha, 10:00 – 11:30 am
Sponsored by the City of Omaha Human Rights and Relations Department. There will be cash prizes and trophies awarded to winners from the Omaha metro area in grades 7-12. - January 24, 2025 Visiting Author: Brad Bigelow “Virginia Faulkner: A Life in Two Acts”
Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St.
Lincoln, 4:30 – 5:30 pm
Join us as we welcome writer Brad Bigelow to Lincoln! He will be presenting his upcoming book Virginia Faulkner: A Life in Two Acts. Published by the University of Nebraska Press, this new book tells the story of writer and editor Virginia Falkner. You don’t want to miss this fascinating history! - January 31, 2025 Excavating the Self: Poetics and Memory with Tatiana Johnson-Boria
Zoom, 10:00 – 11:30 am
Unearth the stories that live beneath the surface. In this generative workshop, writers will explore memory, emotion, and truth through guided exercises that help transform buried experiences into powerful new poems.
Check out the NCB Calendar to stay up to date on upcoming literary events happening near you!
*The time, date, and location of these events are subject to change.
Some of this month’s events, workshops, or conferences may require registration or charge a fee.
Feel free to contact us if you have an event that you would like to be featured.