What a Poem Wants: New Poetry Critique Group at MWC, facilitated by Ryan Collins  

Posted on by Ryan Collins

The Midwest Writing Center is hosting a pay-what-you-can poetry critique group for “serious poets” — the next meeting is Wednesday, November 19 at 5:30 p.m. at their office in the Rock Island Public Library – Downtown branch. The group will be facilitated by poet and MWC Executive Director Ryan Collins.  

The group is open to poets who are actively working toward publishing their work and/or developing a new book or chapbook project, who have “a broad conception and appreciation of what a poem can be.” Collins said he hopes the group will be “an opportunity for poets writing adventurous work to engage and help each other find their poems’ most successful shapes.”

MWC Press Bookstore Open for Business!

Posted on by Ryan Collins

After much hassle & delay, our MWC Press bookstore is back up & running! All of our most recent titles are ready and available for purchase today — check out all the info here:

https://www.mwcqc.org/mwc-press/online-catalog/

We’re still updating some titles in our back catalog, but everything will be live soon!

MWC Offers New Writing Group — Memory Keepers: Next Meeting 11/20 at RIPL Downtown

Posted on by Ryan Collins

One of the greatest gifts you can give to your children and future generations is to keep your family stories alive. Please join our new Memory Keepers Group as we come together with a common interest and goal to preserve our family stories through the written word.

The next meeting will be Thursday, November 20 from 1:00-2:30pm in the MWC office, ground floor of the downtown Rock Island Public Library, 401 19th St., Rock Island.

2025 Banned Books Read-Out – Monday 10/6 at RIPL Watts-Midtown

Posted on by Ryan Collins

Thanks to a partnership with Augustana College, the 2025 Banned Books Read Out will also feature a special guest, intellectual freedom pioneer, Steven Pico. Although Mr. Pico might not be immediately known by name, he and four other classmates were part of a landmark court ruling by the US Supreme Court in “Board of Education, Island Trees Union Free School District vs. Pico.” The ruling in favor of the plaintiffs concluded that “School boards may not remove books from library shelves simply because they dislike the ideas contained in those books.” 

Pico will join the 2025 Banned Books Read Out on Monday, October 6 at the Rock Island Public Library Watts-Midtown Branch auditorium, 2715 30th Street. The event features brief readings by local volunteers from books challenged for their right to remain available to the public.  

The Read-Out event starts with social time and networking at 5:30 pm, with a short student documentary screening at 5:45 pm. Steven Pico will then kick off public readings by community members from 6 pm to 8 pm. Attendees may come to read or just listen. The event also includes free drawings for Banned Books buttons and other items with this year’s theme, “Censorship is So 1984, Read for Your Rights.”