Whether you write short stories, poetry, memoir, young adult, fantasy, or work on your journal, finding a community to settle into as a writer can be difficult. When I first moved to the Tampa Bay area, it took me some time to get accustomed to the local scene. I spent hours attending author events, art shows, happy hours—all in the name of meeting other creatives. And though it took time, it paid off. Should you be reading this column, desiring an opportunity to connect, or to share the woes of your writing adventures, here are some places you can steer to in St. Pete.
Nestled on 6th Street North, between Central and First Ave is none other than Book + Bottle. Open since 2019, this beautiful bookstore welcomes all who love the written word and a happy hour with intentional wine selections or carefully curated coffee. When I stumbled into Book + Bottle, it was to attend the Tuesday evening Writer’s Happy Hour, hosted by Dominic Howarth, the store’s Book Director. I craved dedicated time to write—as those of us who work full-time, or have other obligations often do—and an opportunity to make friends, chat about art, or bond over books. The Happy Hours, hosted from 4:00-5:30, though arguably we oftentimes stay after, are a place to relate, to share the highs and lows of the writing journey, and most importantly, to get words on the page. Dominic provides fabulous and insightful writing tips and supplies books on craft for attendees to peruse as needed. Maybe, I will see you there on a Tuesday to comfortably coze over a mocktail thoughtfully poured by Gina or Andrea, or to simply be, as we all do.
If you’re instead looking for something to do on weekends, there are some great opportunities. A friend I’d met at the Book + Bottle Tuesday Happy Hour gave a shout out to The Bad Writer’s Group, founded by local writers Alyssa Harmon and Belén Alemán Vassallo. They set up in a different café or coffee shop in St. Pete each Saturday, usually meeting at 10:30 and ending around 12:30. The choice of venue is posted on their Instagram page (@badwritersstpete) the week prior to meeting. This convergence of writers—a lively, enthusiastic amalgamation of folks who travel near and far from both Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties—drink coffee and relax to the sounds and scents of a bustling Saturday morning. Sometimes it is quiet in subtlety of scribbling pens on paper, fingers tapping keyboards. And other times, it is rambunctious with laughter and warmth. Not only do you get the opportunity to write and meet wonderful people, but you also get to try the best coffee in the area.
To wrap up the weekend, on Sundays, local poet Denzel Johnson-Green hosts a weekly poetry meet up at Black Crow Coffee Co. on First Ave, from 3-5. Poets gather to write from the heart or from a prompt that Denzel prepares ahead of the meeting. My first time attending, we walked the streets of downtown to scrounge up inspiration from locals and wayfarers, murals on facades or colored gum on the sidewalk, and shelves in antique shops. I left feeling recharged by conversation and the peace of a mellow autumn evening in St. Pete. Bi-annually, Denzel also publishes Neptune (@neptunepoetryy), St. Petersburg’s bi-annual poetry journal. Afterwards, should you desire more things books, Tombolo Books, a stupendous store, is open until 5:30 for all of your needs. Simply cross the courtyard and enter a calming place home to kindness and wonderfully recommended books of all sorts.
Writing, like many forms of expression, is recurrently a solitary act of love. In times when you need to stretch and sense check if that line in your poem needs reworking, or if your character should live in Minnesota instead of Texas, head over to one of these groups. And I’ll be sure to see you there. •
