On Nov.5, the Lakewood Public Library hosted a successful meet-the-author event with Steve FitzGerald, a local award-winning author, and editor of The Best Haiku Collection 4: International Anthology. FitzGerald shared his passion for “small writing” and demonstrated how to craft haiku, leading attendees through an evening filled with creativity, conversation and connection.
Throughout the evening, FitzGerald encouraged attendees to see writing as something approachable, not intimidating. “[That’s] why I enjoy sharing with young people. It helps build confidence,” he said. “So many people say, ‘I want to be a writer,’ but then they never take the first step. And so, haiku is the first step.”
He explained that haiku is a great way for new writers to get started because it focuses on capturing a moment or feeling in just a few words. “You can go as short as ‘no,’ and we all can interpret that in a different way,” FitzGerald said. He added that the simplicity of it all is what makes the writing so powerful.
During the event, FitzGerald guided attendees through writing their own haiku. Some were trying it for the first time, while others seemed familiar with this form of storytelling. Regardless of experience, FitzGerald made sure everyone felt encouraged. “I give people credit for trying, especially for the first time,” he said.
FitzGerald shared his thoughts on writing and creativity, filling the room with excitement and curiosity. Several attendees expressed interest in the writing. Tom Curtin, a local attendee, described the event as “interesting, inspiring [and] enjoyable.”
The evening was part of the library’s ongoing efforts to connect the Lakewood community with local authors and create more opportunities like this. “We are so excited to promote and to get to know the local writers in Lakewood. We really want to support them, so we love to offer meet-the-author programs,” said Lisa Calfee, the library’s event planner.
Calfee explained that events like this help give local authors a chance to share their work and connect with readers. “They give them a platform, local authors, to tell us what they’re doing and to talk to the community,” she said. She emphasized that the library aims to create a space where both new and experienced writers feel supported.
In addition to hosting meet-the-author events, the library works closely with Literary Cleveland, an organization that provides writing workshops, classes and groups for authors across Northeast Ohio. “We do a series of classes and writing groups to encourage local writers,” Calfee said. Through this partnership, the library helps to connect people with resources to grow as writers and learn more about publishing and creative writing opportunities.
The library also supports and displays local authors through its new book room. “In our new book room, we have a local author’s display. We love to support local authors by buying their books. We buy extra copies of their books, and we have them front and center in our new book room for people to look at,” Calfee added.
The FitzGerald event exemplifies the library’s mission of bringing people together through words, ideas and creativity. His advice throughout the evening showed that writing doesn’t have to be a scary process. He explained that starting small is a step in the right direction toward building confidence and fostering creativity.
By helping others take their first steps into the world of creative writing through his passion for haiku, FitzGerald emphasizes that connecting with readers and young writers is just as important as the writing itself.
For the Lakewood Public Library, events like these are about more than promoting books — they’re about building community and showing that even a few words can make a big difference.
