Ideas for Kentucky Writers' Day Events!!!

1. Create a lobby display of books by Kentucky writers
   
2. Have your children's reading times focus on books by Kentucky writers
   
3. Host a community reading by a local poet, storyteller, or fiction writer

Schools

1. On April 24, have your Language Arts and Reading classes read a book by a Kentucky author and then write a story of their own
   
2. Invite a local writer to visit your classroom and talk to the kids about writing
   
3. Create a bulletin board featured book jackets and photos of Kentucky authors
   
4. For older students, turn your classroom into a "Poetry Cafe" and have the students host an open mic reading
   
   

Businesses

1. Post information about books by Kentucky writers on your intranet or other in-house communications
   
2. Host a "Come as Your Favorite Kentucky Writer" party (and invite some real Kentucky writers and see who can tell the difference!)
   
3. Encourage your employees to brown-bag it on April 24 and talk about a Kentucky book during lunch
   
4. Invite a writer from your community to come and present a business writing seminar or workshop for your employees
   
   

Writers Groups

1. You are Kentucky writers, so change your regularly scheduled meeting to April 24 and share your work with each other or with friends and family you invite--serve refreshments and make it a celebration!
   
2. Invite a writer you don't know very well to come and speak to your group
   
3. Invite your kids and spouses to come to the meeting and write with you!
   
   

Book Discussion Groups

1. Hold your monthly or weekly discussion group on April 24 and talk about a book or books by Kentucky writers (go someplace fun and new to do it, like a nice restaurant or a city park)
   
   

Bookstores

1. Create a display of books by Kentucky writers
   
2. Host a reading on April 24 in your store (either by an invited writer or have an open mic)
   
3. Offer a discount that day on books by Kentucky writers
   
   

Colleges and Universities

1. Sponsor a writing contest and publish the winner in your school paper or on your website on April 24
   
2. Host a reading by students and faculty
   
3. Do something radical, like invite faculty to "perform" a piece of academic writing, get a group together to dramatize a journal article, or host a "marathon reading" all day in your free speech area or in the student center
   
   

Radio Stations

1. Invite local writers to come on your show for a live reading or interview
   
2. Run spots promoting community literary activities on April 24
   
3. Run "Poetry Spots" throughout the day
   
   

TV Stations

1. During the last 30 seconds of your newscasts on April 24, have the anchors read a passage from a book by a Kentucky writer
   
2. Invite a Kentucky writer to be a guest on one of your news programs
   
   

Newspapers and Magazines

1. Run a feature story on April 24 about all the writers in your community--it may be surprising to your readers to know how many writers there actually are in their towns and neighborhoods--create a sidebar on a "famous" local writer
   
2. Run a writing contest and publish the winning entry on April 24
   
3. Do something radical and fun! Ask one of your reporters to write a news or sports story in poetic form, create rhyming announcements on your community calendar page, or ask the editor to write his or her editorial that day in a poem or short story form
   
   

Adult New Learners (Literacy, ESL, and GED)

1. Use one of the books by Kentucky authors from the Kentucky Humanities Council's "New Books for New Readers" series with your small group or student
   
2. For ESL groups, ask your students to bring a book or poem by a famous writer from their native country. You bring a book or poem by a Kentucky writer. Discuss similarities and differences--this is a great opportunity for conversation practice!
   
3. Work with your student(s) to write a story for their kids or grandkids that they can then read to them
   
4. For family literacy PACT time, bring picture books by Kentucky writers and have the kids read to their parents.
   
   

Social Service and Non-Profit Agencies

1. Create a lobby bulletin board featuring pictures and work by local writers--there are probably a lot of writers among your clientele!
   
2. Ask a local bookstore for a donation of books by Kentucky writers and distribute them to your clients
   
3. Put poems and other writings by your employees and clients in the April edition of your newsletter
   
4. Do something radical and write your fundraising letter in poetic form--or ask a famous local writer to chair your campaign and/or help with promotions
   
   

1. Run a contest to see which of your clients have read the most books by Kentucky writers in their lifetimes
   
2. Poll your clients to see which ones have been or are writers (journalists, advertising agents, novelists, poets, songwriters)
   
3. Host a workshop led by a local writer and give your clients the opportunity to writer their own life stories
   
   

Group Homes and Day Programs for Adults with Developmental Disabilities

1. Hold a writing class or workshop for your clients in which they can write a poem or story. Begin with examples of poems or stories that relate to their life experiences. For those who are physically unable to write or who don't know how to read or write, let them tell their story to a volunteer to write down. Then have a class reading (ask for volunteers to read their pieces) and invite parents and friends
   
2. Invite a local writer to come to your program or group home and share their work with clients
   
3. Ask a local bookstore for a donation of books to give to each of your clients and invite a librarian to come and talk about how to start building a personal collection of books, how to choose them, how to use the library, and how to care for books
   
   

Jails and Prisons

1. Sponsor a writing contest, ask a local writer to judge the entries, and award a pizza dinner to the winner and his or her cellmates
   
2. Sponsor an open mic reading during recreation time--bring refreshments and make it a celebration!
   
   

Churches and Community Centers

1. Invite a local writer to talk to your group and lead a writing workshop
   
2. Host a reading by kids in your program--invite their friends and family
   
3. Create a display in the lobby featuring writings by people who frequent your center or church (be sure to include their pictures!)
   
   

Government Agencies

1. Randomly give away books by Kentucky writers to your clients throughout the day
   
2. Feature poems and stories by staff members in your newsletter
   
3. Get together an informal book discussion group about a Kentucky writer during lunch on April 24
   
4. Be radical and ask your board chair, council members, or department heads to start their meetings that week with either a poem they have written or one of their favorite poems by a Kentucky writer
   
   

Use any of these ideas, mix and match, or make up your own! Be creative and have fun!