Writing as Inspiration and Self-Care and Other Free Workshops

# Calling All Wordsmiths

Want to learn how to write a book? Get help with writing, publishing and marketing with free Writer's Lab workshops at the Library! We've got a few programs coming up in August and the return of a bigger and better Jax Book Fest: Writers' Day in mid-September. At the Fest this year, there will be over a dozen workshops to choose from between four "breakout sessions." We've also got a ton of free resources like Pressbooks Public and Indie Author Project that will help you find new readers and make self-publishing easier. Keep reading for more information!

# Featured Program

Writing as Inspiration and Self-Care (with Women Writing for (a) Change)

Whether you are an experienced writer or still finding your voice through writing, it's easy to get bogged down in your goals, schedule demands, or expectations/insecurities. In this workshop, you'll explore the use of a writing circle as a means of setting goals (or reluctance) aside for a while. Writing together, or "in community," using poetry and prose prompts that encourage your mind to roam freely, can often spark new ideas as well as a depth of expression within you that truly becomes a potent means of self-care.

5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 19 | Murray Hill Branch Library

Register for this program    See all upcoming

"Writing to Transform Ourselves and Our Communities"

Women Writing for (a) Change - Jacksonville, is a growing community for Jacksonville writers that nurtures and celebrates the individual voice by facilitating supportive writing circles and encouraging people to craft more conscious lives through the art of writing and the practices of community.

Presenter Mary Moore holds a B.S. in Education from the University of Georgia and her Master of Divinity from the Southern Seminary. Every aspect of her career has been marked by her love of writing, teaching, and mentoring others during life’s critical transitions. She loves the weaving together of words, both for personal self-expression and to encourage others to engage in practices that bring nurture and foster empowerment. She is most inspired through the intersections of music, art and nature. She is a writer and a certified facilitator through Women Writing for (a) Change.

# Continue Reading & Learning

Mary Recommends

• The Four Fold Way by Angeles Arrien
• Devotions by Mary Oliver
• Bird by Bird by Anne Lamotte
• Women Writing for (a) Change by Mary Pierce Brosmer
• Write Yourself: Creative Writing and Personal Development by Gillie Bolton
• Cries of the Spirit by Marilyn Sewell

The Library Recommends

• The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
• Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg
• Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
• A Life of One’s Own by Joanna Biggs
• On Writing: a Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
• Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert
• Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo
• Cozy: the Art of Arranging Yourself in the World by Isabel Gillies
• Make Good Art by Neil Gaiman
• This Year You Write Your Novel by Walter Mosley

# More Workshops

Beyond the Page: Expanding Your Book's Horizons (with Authors Roundtable)

Ever wanted to be a screenwriter? Discover how to adapt your book into a film or TV series and navigate the entertainment industry. Learn about audio adaptations and business initiatives that can turn your book into a successful brand across multiple platforms. This workshop and author networking opportunity is presented by Authors Roundtable of Northeast Florida - a 501c3 that supports authors reaching their highest potential. 

10:15 a.m. on Saturday, August 2 | Main Library (Conference Level)

Register to attend in person or online

Authors Creating Community Impact (with Authors Roundtable)

Harness the power of storytelling to inspire social movements and address local challenges. Engage your community using your platform to foster dialogue, collaboration, and positive action. This workshop and author networking opportunity is presented by Authors Roundtable of Northeast Florida - a 501c3 that supports authors reaching their highest potential. Note: All genres are welcome. 

10:15 a.m. on Saturday, September 6 | Main Library (Conference Level)

Register to attend in person or online

# Jax Book Fest: Writers' Day

Save the Date for a Full Day of Writer's Lab Workshops

Jax Book Fest is a big, bold celebration of authors, authorship, and the written word—held annually at the Main Library in Downtown Jacksonville. This year, Jax Book Fest is being held over two Saturdays in September. The first weekend will focus on workshops for local writers; the second Saturday will be devoted to young readers and connecting them with books they'll love.

Join us for Jax Book Fest: Writers' Day from 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 13, in the Conference Center at the Main Library. There will be over a dozen different workshops—lead by publishers, authors, and other industry insiders. There will be four breakout sessions, each lasting one hour, with workshops scheduled at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. 

Depending on which program or track(s) you choose, you'll meet representatives from traditional, small, hybrid/subsidy, and indie publishing including Simon & Schuster, Kensington Publishing Corp., Indigo River Publishing, and BiblioBoard (Pressbooks Public). 

Go to the event page

Meet Tiya Miles: Jax Book Fest 2025 Featured Author

What do we seek to find when we write about our female family members, women in our community, women in history, or even ourselves? In an extra special Writer's Lab workshop with Tiya Miles at 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 13 (during Writers' Day), participants will explore a series of writing prompts and exercises, covering various forms (history, fiction, memoir, journaling), as well as the challenges and rewards of writing women's lives. 

Bonus Lit Chat Interview

Join us from 4 to 5 p.m. that same day for a Lit Chat Interview with Tiya Miles in the Hicks Auditorium. The author of eight books, including four prizewinning histories about race and slavery, Tiya Miles is best known for the New York Times bestselling and 2021 National Book Award-winning book, All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley’s Sack, a Black Family Keepsake. Her latest work is Night Flyer: Harriet Tubman and the Faith and Dreams of a Free People, which was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award in biography. 

Note: The programs with Tiya Miles are made possible by a grant from the Mellon Foundation.