We are now accepting proposals for vendors and partners for the American Writers Festival on June 6 and 7! To submit your interest, fill out the form at the link: hubs.ly/Q04fRdnM0

The first program of this year's American Writers Festival will take place at the AWM! Join us for a live reading of the critically acclaimed new play, The Last Senior Home in Bronzeville by Nikki Carpenter, a timely story of resistance and resilience.

This year's American Writers Festival is just over a month away! The 2026 festival will be bigger and better than ever, featuring 80+ writers and 40+ panels over TWO days of programming! Find out more and plan your festival weekend here hubs.ly/Q04frF_p0

Announcing our 2026 American Writers Festival! This year, we're expanding to two days, June 6-7, offering even more to discover! Headliners include Lauren Groff, Reza Aslan, John Fugelsang, Maggie Smith, Tananarive Due, Bill Kurtis, and Mayda del Valle. Learn more at americanwritersfestival.org

A message from our friends at the Science Fiction and Fantasy Association! Celebrate the work of N.K. Jemisin at the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association 61st Nebula Awards Conference happening June 3 to 7th. Learn more and register here: store.sfwa.org/nebula-confe...

Interested in flexing your writing muscles? Next week you can at our generative writing workshop on religion, spirituality, & faith with National Book Award finalist Andrew Krivák (The Sojourn, The Bear). Co-presented by @storystudiochicago.bsky.social Register at www.eventbrite.com/e/american-p...

KOVAL Comedy highlights Chicago comics and gives back to local nonprofits, and this month, ticket sales benefit the American Writers Museum! March 20, visit Koval's Distillery to enjoy Chicago comics Julio Ortiz, Megan McMurtry, & John McCombs! Details at www.facebook.com/share/18Drar...

This Women’s History Month, your gift to the American Writers Museum helps keep world‑changing words alive and sparks the next generation to pick up the pen. Donate here! secure.qgiv.com/for/spring20...

The AWM is proud to serve as a partner of Illinois America 250, the statewide commemoration of America's 250th anniversary. We're kicking off our celebrations by highlighting this year's Student Writing Competition prompt! Learn more at americanwritersmuseum.org/writing-comp...

We're highlighting another author featured in American Prophets in honor of Black History Month! Today, we celebrate Octavia E. Butler, a visionary writer who reimagined prophecy through science fiction. Learn more about Butler and Parable of the Sower in the sci-fi section of American Prophets!

Next week, learn more about one of the titans of industry with Dr. Kati Curts' discussion of her book, ASSEMBLING RELIGION. While Henry Ford was known for his cars, he was explicit that his work in engineering was prophetic and meant to remake the world. www.eventbrite.com/e/assembling...

Route 66 is celebrating its 100th birthday this year, so it's only fitting we celebrate it here in Chicago, where the highway officially began! Head to our blog to learn more about Route 66 and find our reading guide highlighting fiction, music, & more! americanwritersmuseum.org/route-66-the...

“INSPIRATIONAL & IMAGINATION” At the @americanwritersmuseum.org in Chicago and came upon a friend’s book cover! @gwillow.me G. Willow Wilson’s Alif the Unseen!

Our February staff picks are here! This month's list spans fiction, nonfiction, poetry, music, & more. Whether you’re looking to dive deep into something new or simply unwind with a familiar favorite, we've got something for everyone! Read the list here: americanwritersmuseum.org/awm-staff-pi...

The AWM joins the rest of the Chicago literary community in mourning the loss of President & CEO of the Chicago Public Library Foundation, Brenda Langstraat Bui. Brenda was an integral part of the community, and her loss has been profoundly felt; our hearts are with her family and loved ones.

Find more info on battling censorship on our resource page americanwritersmuseum.org/resources-to...

The American Writers Museum will be closed tomorrow, Friday, January 23 due to extreme cold temperatures. Stay warm, everyone!

What happens when a Chicagoan becomes Pope... and you’re the reporter in the room? FREE event with Emmy-winner Mary Ann Ahern on faith, power & journalism. 📍FREE In person at the AWM 🗓 Jan 22 | 6–7pm 🎥 Livestream option available www.eventbrite.com/e/religion-a...

How many artifacts are in the American Prophets exhibit? Hard to say… at least 6–7. 😏 Come see them for yourself—American Prophets is open now at the American Writers Museum. 🎟️ Get tickets at awmamericanprophets.org

Need a new book to read or show to binge? How about a new album to listen to on your commute? No matter what you're looking for, our December Staff Picks have got you covered! Find something new to read, watch, or listen to this month on our blog! americanwritersmuseum.org/awm-staff-pi...

Give a teacher the gift of membership this holiday season! Celebrate the teachers in your life who make a difference with an AWM Educator Membership—now 50% off for a limited time! secure.qgiv.com/for/educator...

It's Giving Tuesday! When you give to the AWM, you help spark a shift in perspective, one reader, one student, one story at a time. Your gift ensures that writers are seen and heard, classrooms come alive with stories, and new generations discover the joy of reading and writing. hubs.ly/Q03WvmnX0

It's Giving Tuesday! When you give to the AWM, you help spark a shift in perspective one story at a time. Your gift ensures that writers are seen and heard, classrooms come alive with stories, and new generations discover the joy of reading and writing. americanwritersmuseum.org/join-give/do...

“Stories keep our people alive.” –Brad Wagnon (Cherokee Nation) Storyteller & author Brad Wagnon preserves Cherokee history and values through his books and teachings. Explore his reflections on faith, identity, and storytelling in American Prophets — now open at the AWM!

Next week, join us for Get Lit: Santa's Book Fair to get your holiday shopping in early. Enjoy local Chicago bookstores, beer, wine, & a special cocktail, The Snowflake. Plus, be on the lookout for the man in red for photos and holiday stories! Tickets here! www.eventbrite.com/e/get-lit-sa...

Happy Birthday, Pauli Murray! Explore Murray’s legacy in American Prophets, where their writings and personal reflections reveal how faith and activism can work hand in hand toward equality. Get tickets to American Prophets today! awmamericanprophets.org

Make sure you get your tickets for next week's event, featuring Alan Light and @ryanarnoldrocks! In DON'T STOP, Light investigates what keep "Rumours" by Fleetwood Mac at the forefront of pop culture, from Glee to Saturday Night Live to Daisy Jones & the Six. www.eventbrite.com/e/spirituali...

American Prophets opens Nov 24 at the American Writers Museum. Across generations, writers used words to question, believe, and reimagine what America could be. Buy tickets here! awmamericanprophets.org

Honored to represent Rachel Pollack @AmericanWritersMuseum.org American Prophets exhibit opening 11/20. This special exhibit, the Museum’s largest to date, explores the profound ways writing reflects and influences our understanding of religion. #RachelPollack exhibits.americanwritersmuseum.org

Definition: A prophet is someone who uses their voice to reveal truth, challenge norms, and inspire change. The writers in American Prophets did just that: using words to shape culture, wrestle with faith, and reimagine what America could be. americanwritersmuseum.org/american-pro...

Looking for gifts this holiday season? How about an AWM Membership! Whether you're an avid museum goer, a student, a writer, or a book lover, we've got a membership level that will suit anyone. Learn more about what each level has to offer on our website! americanwritersmuseum.org/join-give/me...

Mark your calendars for December 2...Next month, Get Lit is back with Santa's Book Fair! Get into the holiday spirit, mix & mingle with fellow bookworms, and finish your holiday shopping with us and local, independent Chicago book stores! Get tickets at www.eventbrite.com/e/get-lit-sa...

Our November Staff Picks are here! Take a look to see what we've been loving this month, and let us know what's on your list in the replies! Check out the full list here: americanwritersmuseum.org/awm-staff-pi...

Tonight, Indigenous Studies scholars @tomtweed.bsky.social and John Low will be at the museum to discuss Tweed's new book, RELIGION IN THE LANDS THAT BECAME AMERICA! Beat the cold and warm up inside while learning more about indigenous history! www.eventbrite.com/e/american-p...

Hear all about our upcoming American Prophets program on Thomas A. Tweed's new book, Religion in the Lands that Became America, straight from Tweed's fellow Indigenous Studies scholar John Low! Get tickets to the event here: www.eventbrite.com/e/american-p...

Lit Editor Business: Halloween week! Guest author Holly Smith attended the horror writing and religion discussion at @americanwritersmuseum.org with writers @fulmerford.com, @bymattruff.bsky.social, and @tananarivedue.bsky.social. thirdcoastreview.com/lit/2025/10/...

Join us tomorrow to hear bestselling author @susanorlean.bsky.social discuss her new memoir, JOYRIDE! Orlean will be interviewed by Chris Borrelli of the Chicago Tribune. Right now, take advantage of our FLASH SALE! Until 10 AM tomorrow, in person tix are 50% off! www.eventbrite.com/e/author-tal...

"The hidden worlds of others have proved rich mines in the past, but so, too, Orlean’s own life turns out to be, from a nerdy, bookish childhood in Shaker Heights...to her first efforts at journalism," – Kirkus Reviews Hear more about JOYRIDE from Orlean next week! bit.ly/3Lfwsyw

Join us this Friday, Oct. 10 at 6:30 p.m. at the University of Chicago as we talk horror writing and religion with @bymattruff.bsky.social, author of LOVECRAFT COUNTRY, alongside Tananarive Due and Juan Martinez. Free to students! Register here: bit.ly/46EnYIF

Jane Goodall, 1934 - 2025 We are saddened to learn of the passing of primatologist Jane Goodall. Goodall was the author of numerous books on conservation, zoology, & of course, chimpanzees. She was an unwavering activist for the natural world & will be deeply missed. #JaneGoodall

I'll be at the University of Chicago on Friday, Oct. 10 as part of the @americanwritersmuseum.org American Prophets series, talking about "Horror Writing & Religion" with Tananarive Due and Juan Martinez. Details/tickets here: tinyurl.com/bdh6zhtd

What better way to celebrate #InternationalPodcastDay than by tuning in to one of ours? Dive into literary gossip with Dead Writer Drama, timeless stories with Nation of Writers, and exclusive conversations with today's leading writers with Author Talks! americanwritersmuseum.org/blog/awm-pod...

At our recent OnWord celebration, we honored 2 past winners of the John Estey Student Writing Competition, a key component of our Write In youth education program. Please consider a tax-deductible gift to support this important program! secure.qgiv.com/for/fallfund...

We know you missed Get Lit last month, and in October we're back and 🩸bloodier🩸 than ever with Get Lit: Blood Suckers! Until Friday, tickets are BUY ONE GET ONE FREE! Get your tickets today and don't miss out on this fang-tastic deal 🧛‍♂️ www.eventbrite.com/e/get-lit-bl...

Next week, we're hosting Nicholas Meyer to discuss his new book! Meyer has written Holmes novels and Star Trek screenplays, and even received an Oscar nomination for his screenplay "The Seven-Per-Cent Solution," based on his own novel. Get tickets here! bit.ly/4nkfFrS

Find a new play, novel, film, or album to read, watch, or listen to this month with our September Staff Picks. Read the full blog here! americanwritersmuseum.org/awm-staff-pi...

This year, our John Estey Student Writing Competition received hundreds of entries from around the world; there were so many amazing entries, and the talent absolutely blew us away. Check out this year's winners and get a peek at their winning entries!

At OnWord 2025, @petersagal.bsky.social and @davidgrann.bsky.social discussed the power of words to inspire and...the power of children to drive away men's hair? Stay tuned for a recap of the night coming soon!

We're open on Labor Day! Spend your day off with us at the Museum for some fun for all ages 🥳

Are you as excited for American Prophets as we are? Check out these renderings for the new exhibit and mark your calendars for the grand opening November 21st!