9/30, Sa-- 7pm, Detox Sober Lounge presents Variety Show at Sozo Coffeehouse (1314 Jones St, Omaha). Sober Fun featuring Live Music, Local Artists, Comedy, Drag, Poetry and more, including prizes of $100 and $50 gift cards and tickets to October's show. $12 advance, $15 Day of Show. For tickets and more info: eventbrite.com.

10/1, Su-- 1-4pm, a Raymond Central Writers Symposium featuring Nebraska State Poet Matt Mason at Raymond Central High School (Mustang Room, 1800 W Agnew Rd, Raymond). There will be a poetry reading and discussion as well as a writing workshop. For more information, contact Harriet Gould: drhgould@gmail.com. Free and open to the public. Refreshments. Sponsored by Humanities Nebraska.

10/1, Su-- 2-6pm, the Bouteloua Literary and Art Festival at Glacier Creek Preserve (14810 State St, Bennington). A celebration of local authors and artists with a keynote by bestselling author Melissa Febos. Other participating authors include Gene Kwak, Lisa Knopp, Jody Keisner, and Rachel Luck. Free and open to the public, food and drink provided. Author panel 2-3:30, Melissa Febos talk 4:15-5:30. There will also be artwork displayed and a discussion by local artists. See full details at the Facebook Event page.

The Nebraska Poetry Society presents the Nebraska Poets Reading Series at 6:30pm on the first Tuesday of the month in 2022. See details at: nepoetrysociety.org/readings. Events are online, free and open to the public:
10/3, Stephanie A. Marcellus
11/7, Lucy Adkins
12/5, Matt Mason

10/5-8, Th-Su-- Nebraska Poetry Retreat at Norfolk Lodge and Suites (4200 W Norfolk Ave, Norfolk). See details and registration information at the Nebraska Poetry Society's website: nepoetrysociety.org/poetryretreat.

10/6, F-- Noon, First Friday Reading through Larksong Writers Place but on Zoom. Register at: larksongwritersplace.org. Free, registration required.
10/6: Kevin Clouther
11/3: TBA

10/8, Su-- 1-2:30pm, The Castle and Cathedral District and Metropolitan Community College's 14th annual Art and Literary Festival (running October 8-22nd) features a poetry writing workshop led by Nebraska State Poet Matt Mason at Cali Commons (518 N 40th St, Omaha). This is a workshop best suited for ages 12+. Free, but registration is required and space is limited. For more information and to register, see joslyncastle.com/events/special-events/art-and-literary-festival-2023.html.

10/10, Tu-- 6-8pm, Nebraska State Poet Matt Mason reads at Anthem Coffee (39295 NE-2, Thedford).

10/10, Tu-- 6-7:30pm, The Nebraska Writers Collective presents The Generator, a Creative Writing Series for Grown Folks. Each workshop is $15 and will take place on Zoom. Register today at: form.jotform.com/232206680805150
10/10: "Why and How Publication is for You" with Jordan Charlton.
11/14: "Radical Self-Love/Acceptance Through the Lens of Beyoncé" with Joe From Long Island
12/12: "The Gayest Workshop Ever" with Emily Anderson
1/9: "Parentification" with Paula Bell
2/13: "Well Fed: Poetry of the Senses" with Zedeka Poindexter

10/10, Tu-- 7-9pm, Corner's Space: Poetry Night at KANEKO (1111 Jones St, Omaha). A bi-weekly workshop designed to explore, learn, share, and grow through the poetic form. Join in the power of writing and space where new connections and self-expression are fostered. Hosted by Aspen Laboy, Chelsea Kavich, and Courtney Kilroy, made possible by KANEKO. Free, registration is required at: thekaneko.org/programs/corners-space/.
-Next events: 10/24 etc.

10/11, W-- 7:30pm, The UNO Writer's Workshop Reading Series in the Benson Theatre (6054 Maple St). Tonight features Megan Kaminski, a poet and essayist and the author of three books of poetry. See details at cfam.unomaha.edu/writersworkshop.
10/11: DezBaa' in the Benson Theatre (6054 Maple St), 7:30pm
10/18: Dr. Chesya Burke in the UNO Art Gallery (Weber Fine Arts Building, UNO campus), 7:30pm
11/8: Kevin Clouther in the UNO Milo Bail Student Center Dodge Room, 7:30pm

10/12, Th-- 7-9pm, The Lincoln Poetry Slam at Larksong Writers Place (1600 N Cotner Blvd, Lincoln). 6:30 doors, 7:00 show. See details at the Facebook Event Page. Sponsored by the Nebraska Writers Collective. (2nd Thursday)
Next events: 11/09, 12/14, 1/11 etc.

10/13, F-- 7pm, Nebraska State Poet Matt Mason reads at the Lynch Public Library (423 Hoffman St, Lynch NE). Free and open to the public.

10/14, Sa-- 6pm, The Castle and Cathedral District and Metropolitan Community College's 14th annual Art and Literary Festival (running October 8-22nd) features a poetry reading with Devel Crisp, Michelle Troxclair and Nebraska State Poet Matt Mason at Cali Commons (518 N 40th St, Omaha). Admission is free and registration is not required. For more information, see joslyncastle.com/events/special-events/art-and-literary-festival-2023.html.

10/14, Sa-- 7-9pm, The Omaha Poetry Slam at Dry Spokes (1901 Leavenworth St, Omaha). 6:30 doors, 7:00 show. Tonight features the U.S. Youth Poet Laureate, Salome Agbaroji. See details at the Facebook Event Page. Sponsored by the Nebraska Writers Collective. (2nd Saturday)
Next events: 11/11, 12/9, etc.

10/19, Th-- 6-7:30pm, Third Thursdays-Voices at Larksong (1600 N Cotner Blvd, Lincoln) featuring writers and musicians. See details and register at: LarksongWritersPlace.org. (Third Thursday)
10/19: Memoirist Michael James and poet Brad Anderson
11/16: Nebraska Warrior Writers Open Mic Night

10/19 and 22, Th and Su-- 6-7pm, The Castle and Cathedral District and Metropolitan Community College's 14th annual Art and Literary Festival (running October 8-22nd) features a poetry talk by Nebraska State Poet Matt Mason at the Joslyn Castle (3902 Davenport St, Omaha). The talk's title is: "The 1920s, How It Ruined Poetry For The Rest Of Us." Many of us don't like poetry these days. But over 100 years ago, it was seen as a form of entertainment, read for pleasure, memorized for fun. But critics took over and narrowed what people saw as poetry, leading to a downward spiral in the broader public's interest in poetry. Admission is free and registration is not required. For more information, see joslyncastle.com/events/special-events/art-and-literary-festival-2023.html.

10/19, Th-- 8pm, The Red Velvet Curtain open mic at the Benson Theatre (6054 Maple St, Omaha). The Red Velvet Curtain is the extension of the long-running commitment to the Spoken Word Poetry scene that has been richly courted and supported in Omaha. Hosted by Michelle Troxclair and Phillip Bauldwin. Help welcome all our Poets, Rappers, Storytellers, Comedians, Lyricists, Vocalists, Musicians and yes, Spoken Word Artists to the historic Benson Theatre. See more at BensonTheatre.org/. (Usually on the 3rd Thursday)

10/20, F-- 7pm, launch party for Trey Moody's Autoblivion at Grapefruit Records (1125 Jackson St, Suite 5, Omaha). The event features a live performance by the Jim Schroeder/Mesa Buoy ensemble and more.

The Nebraska Poetry Society presents writing workshops on different topics, led by some wonderful poets. $35 or free to members. For more information and to register, go to: nepoetrysociety.org/workshops:
10/21, Sa-- 10am, Kathryn Winograd, Discovering Kintsugi: The "golden joinery" of Revision
11/4, Sa-- 10am, Kelly Weber, Tongues in a Greening Field: "Queering" Ecology Through Poetry
12/2, Sa-- 10am, Freesia McKee, Tethering Poems to Place