Seattle literary events, from open mics to staged programs, draw lit lovers

How to Seattle

As a City of Literature, Seattle has no shortage of avid readers and writers. I, like many Seattleites, feel comfortable enjoying these activities in solitude, whether it's quietly curling up at home with a good book or journaling my thoughts in a nearby park.

But the city also has events that bring literature lovers into a more interactive space to read their original work, ranging from fiction and poetry to essays, memoirs and plays. These community literary events allow attendees to "share the experience of another human being" in a social setting, said Pam Carter, a writer and artist who frequents Crowd Mouth Lit in Sodo.

"And I know so many writers, poets in particular, who will say that a poem isn't really finished until it's expressed to at least one other in some fashion," she added.

If you're looking for a supportive environment to share your writing - or just want to spend an evening listening to a diverse lineup of writers - here are some live literary events that go beyond the standard author talk or reading.

Soapbox: A Literary Open Mic

On every second Tuesday of the month, the dim basement of a/stir, a restaurant and bar on Capitol Hill, becomes so quiet that you can hear the steady thrum of the air vents. Onlookers sip glasses of wine and beer as they listen to each reader onstage, giving them their undivided attention and applause.

At the April 14 iteration of Soapbox, Joel Ragona shared a poem that compared his feelings of anxiety to a ghost. He then followed up with a more romantic ode to his partner, declaring he could see the galaxy through a telescope.

Ragona, a Ballard resident, said he heard about Soapbox from a friend who lives in the neighborhood. It was his second time attending the event, and he hopes to come back.

"Once people are reading, everyone's listening," Ragona said. "But also, it's just a really cozy place to be."

This monthly literary open mic requires writers to share their own work, said Jen Reilly, a staff member who hosts the event. Sign-up is first come, first served, and each participant is given a 10-minute slot, though they don't have to use the entire time, Reilly said. Attendees usually read poetry and short stories, but others have sung original music and done stand-up.

Soapbox typically draws between 15 and 20 people who go onstage, in addition to observing restaurant patrons and audience members who come to support the participants. Reilly said she began organizing Soapbox in 2024 after her own experiences participating in open mics throughout the city.

"I was always lucky to be included in them," Reilly said. "I just thought there was kind of a hole in the scene where people who weren't well-known or a part of the community as much could just sign up to read whatever they were working on."

Another gap Reilly noticed at other open mics was attendees not having enough time to read their work, adding that it's really unfulfilling to share something just halfway."

When people come to share their original work aloud for the first time, Reilly said she makes it a point to acknowledge their vulnerability and remind the audience that Soapbox is a "safe space for us to flounder if we need to."

"It's just kind of given me courage to put myself out there, and I like the idea of it being the same for other people," Reilly said of the event. "What's the point of writing if you're just going to sit on it?"

Soapbox happens every second Tuesday of the month, 7-9 p.m., at a/stir, 818 E. Pike St. The event is free and open to all ages. astirseattle.com/seattle-capitol-hill-a-stir-calendar

Crowd Mouth Lit

The atmosphere at Crowd Mouth Lit is loud, theatrical and eclectic, with guests acting out passages from an author's book and artists performing live music sets.

Hosted monthly at The Mountain Room bar in Sodo, Crowd Mouth Lit proclaims itself as the city's "most unfiltered literary series." Instead of an open mic format, Paul Mullin, the event organizer, prepares a handpicked program every month for audiences. Its upcoming installment on Sunday will feature several local creatives, such as Mary Fields - author of graphic novel "Carried Away," which will have a special staged reading - poet Deborrah Corr and theater artist Dawson Nichols. Mullin will also read from his unpublished novel "One Cherry Deep," accompanied by actors Anise Rau and Ray Tagavilla.

"The best art starts in the studio or in the notebook. It's not polished," said Mullin, an author and playwright who's lived in Seattle since 1990. "I come from the theater where things go wrong all the time."

The event has two sections filled with readings and songs, with a 15-minute intermission in between, Mullin said.

"There's always going to be something in the evening that you simply cannot get online or in any other form," Mullin said. "And so, I think people have started coming to just see something new and exciting."

Carter, who initially came to the event when it was still called Loud Mouth Lit to support Mullin, has attended Crowd Mouth Lit every month and said she enjoys the casual setting.

"I know it's not going to be dull," Carter said. "I know it's going to have a lot of quirkiness to it."

Mullin said Crowd Mouth Lit is not like common author events at large bookstores: You won't find a writer standing behind a podium, simply reading.

"This ain't your stepmom's book club," Mullin said. "We're not precious with this stuff."

Crowd Mouth Lit happens monthly, 6 p.m., at The Mountain Room, 3100 Airport Way S., Building 3. The next event is April 26. The event is free and 21-and-older. instagram.com/crowdmouthlit

Works in Progress

One of the more well-known literary open mics in Seattle, Works in Progress at Hugo House gathers dozens of writers eager to share their works at any stage of completion.

The monthly event - usually held on third Tuesdays - was organized to give community members a consistent space to read their writing, said Natsiree Puttavon, outreach and events coordinator at Hugo House. Participants can "read a piece that they just started" or one "they've been working on for years," she said.

Attendees can begin signing up as soon as doors open at 6 p.m. Twenty reading slots are randomly assigned, and participants will be notified before the readings start. In recent months, Works in Progress has drawn 50 to 80 attendees. Because of increased demand, each reader currently gets three minutes to share their work, a decrease from five minutes.

"We are, however, due to community feedback, thinking about potentially expanding (Works in Progress) to twice a month," Puttavon said.

Works in Progress fosters a nurturing environment through a facilitator who gives each reader positive feedback after they read their piece. These literary open mics build community, Puttavon said. She's seen shy individuals who enter the events as strangers and leave as friends.

"It's very welcoming. It's also low pressure, especially when folks have come up to the stage and they've been like, ‘I have really bad public speaking anxiety,' " Puttavon said. "Everyone will just cheer them on and be so welcoming. It's such a beautiful, wonderful environment."

Works in Progress takes place monthly, usually on third Tuesdays, 7 p.m., at Hugo House's Lapis Theater, 1634 11th Ave. The next open mic will be on May 12, the second Tuesday, and is free. Sign-ups begin at 6 p.m. hugohouse.org

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