The Write Now Literary Festival
May 30, 2026 | 11:00AM - 9:00PM
The Write Now Literary Festival is a full-day celebration of literature, performance, and community featuring workshops, interactive experiences, an open mic, and a high-energy poetry slam.
*If you are looking for group or student discount ticket rates please call Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center to purchase your tickets*
Throughout the day, attendees can participate in hands-on writing and performance workshops designed to build creative skills and explore different forms of expression.
Midday includes a break for food and local vendors, followed by The “LIT”erary Game Show, a fun quiz-style competition where participants test their knowledge of literature in teams for prizes.
The afternoon continues with the Write Now Fest Open Mic, welcoming poets, singers, and performers of all styles to share their voice in a supportive space.
The festival culminates in the evening with the Michelle Gilliam Memorial Poetry Slam, a three-round competitive slam featuring 15 poets, live scoring by judges, a DJ, and featured performances by nationally ranked poetry teams and comedians. The slam includes structured elimination rounds, strict timing rules, and high-stakes final placements leading to a grand prize for first place.
In addition to programming, attendees can enjoy food vendors, community engagement, and a vibrant creative atmosphere throughout the day.
Event Highlights:
6 creative workshops
Literary Game Show competition
Open mic performance showcase
Featured comedy & slam poetry performances
Michelle Gilliam Memorial Poetry Slam (main event)
Food vendors & Vendors
Slam Logistics:
Poets are to report at 4:50pm to determine the order in which the poets present. Any poet showing up after the bout draw has started will automatically be assigned the earliest positions available. The second and third round order will be done by random draw at the time of performance. A panel of five judges will score on writing, creativity/originality, performance, stage presence, message, and impact. The lowest and highest scores will be dropped each round, and the three remaining scores are added together to determine who advances.
All 15 poets perform in the first round, 9 poets advance to the second round, and 5 advance to the final round. If there are ties in either rounds 1 or 2, the tying poet’s dropped scores will be added back and the poet with highest score will be selected to advance. If that does not break the tie, all poets involved in the tie will be cut.
If there are any ties during the last round to decide placement, the tying poets’ cumulative scores for the entire slam will be used to determine placement. If that still results in a tie, then affected poets will perform 1 additional poem a piece where the judges will no longer score on a point value but rather choose which poet will place.
Disclaimer: The Michelle Gilliam Memorial Poetry Slam may include strong language and mature themes. Performances are raw, uncensored and may explore sensitive or intense subject matters. This content is recommended for those 16+ and parental discretion is advised.
Itinerary
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Workshop Block 1
Choose from two workshops to attend.
12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
Lunch
Purchase food from Food Truck vendors or explore options in nearby downtown Newport News.
12:30 PM - 01:45 PM
The “LIT”erary Game Show
Attendees are invited to participate in this quiz bowl style game where teams of five answer literary questions. The team with the most points wins!
02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Workshop Block 2
Choose from two workshops to attend.
03:10 PM - 04:40 PM
Write Now Lit Fest Open Mic
Sign up to perform in the open mic, or show support in the audience! All forms of expression are welcome, including spoken word, poetry, and song. Hosted by Q5.
04:50 PM - 05:50 PM
Workshop Block 3
Choose from two workshops to attend.
06:00 PM - 09:00 PM
Michelle Gilliam Memorial Poetry Slam
15 poets will compete with their original written work.