Writing Submission Party (FREE)
Saturday, August 22 at 1 pm at Thurber Center
This event is free, but registration is required.
About the Event
Submitting your work can feel intimidating, but it doesn't have to be a solo endeavor. Join Diane Callahan for an afternoon dedicated to helping writers take the leap from finished draft to active submission. Bring a piece you're ready to share, learn about publication opportunities, and submit your work alongside a community of fellow writers. Whether you're aiming for a literary journal, contest, magazine, or other publication, this event will provide encouragement, practical guidance, and accountability to help you hit "send."
Water and snacks will be provided, as well as the option to work in a space with lo-fi background music or in a quiet space.
Please bring your laptop with you so you can submit your work. Free Wi-Fi will be available.
About Host Diane Callahan
Diane Callahan is a writer, editor, and YouTuber who also happens to be the Arts Marketing & Online Strategy Manager for Urban Arts Space. On her YouTube channel, Quotidian Writer, she provides practical tips for aspiring authors. She has experience with traditional publishing, indie markets, and literary journals.
Diane is currently the Managing Editor of Story Garden Publishing. She previously served as a developmental editor and plot outliner for a best-selling indie publisher, overseeing the production of thirty novels across four series. As a developmental editor, she’s devised detailed critiques for fantasy, science fiction, literary, middle grade, thriller, and romance novels.
You can read Diane’s work in Consequence, Translunar Travelers Lounge, Paper Butterfly Flash Fiction, Short Édition, and The Sunlight Press, among others. Her debut poetry collection, The Ship and the Storm, was released in September 2025 with Story Garden Publishing.
Diane has a BA from The Ohio State University in Honors English and psychology, with minors in creative writing and professional writing.
-
This event will be held at Thurber Center (91 Jefferson Avenue, Columbus, OH 43215).
Parking on Jefferson Avenue: Free, easy street parking is available all along the Jefferson Avenue oval. Note: only the spots along the one-way oval are free; the spots along the two-way ends of Jefferson Avenue (near Broad Street and Long Street) are not free.
Parking off N. 11th Street (behind Thurber House): Free visitor parking is available in the small lot directly behind Thurber House, accessible off N. 11th Street and located here. There is no time limit as long as you are visiting Thurber House. All other parking lots do not belong to Thurber House and you may be towed.
-
The step-free and usually shortest entrance is to Thurber Center is from our back parking lot, reachable off N. 11th Street.
The first floor of Thurber Center is handicap/wheelchair accessible, including the first floor restrooms. Unless you wish to work in our quiet space, all event components will be located on the first floor (however, if you would like to utilize our quiet space upstairs and you cannot navigate stairs, please let us know in advance and we can make accommodations).
ACCESS FROM JEFFERSON AVENUE
If you can navigate four small steps (with handrails):
We recommend arriving earlier to get a parking spot closer to the entrance or doing a drop off in front of the entrance. If you cannot do so, please see “Access from the rear parking lot” below for an alternative path that will be shorter and eliminates all steps.
Access to Thurber Center from Jefferson Avenue requires one very slight curb step from the street and an additional four small steps (with handrails). You can also bypass the four steps by using the wheelchair ramp, which involves walking a slightly further distance.
If you need fully step-free access:
The closest “ramp” cut is the entrance to the large parking lot on the corner of Jefferson Avenue and Long Street (here).
Follow the sidewalk through the Thurber Center front gate. Take the sidewalk around the porch on the right side of the building. The entrance to the wheelchair ramp will appear on your left, past the porch.
ACCESS FROM THE REAR PARKING LOT
Fully step-free access:
Follow the sidewalk between the handicap parking signs (here). The sidewalk will take you around the north side of our multipurpose building, Thurber Center. The ramp will appear on your right and leads up to the front porch.
-
For any questions that are not answered here, please email Jess Cox at jcox@thurberhouse.org or call 614-412-5955.
‣ Can I drop in any time? No—please arrive when the event begins at 1 pm. However, you may leave early if you like.
‣ What should I bring with me? Your laptop! A large portion of the time will be spent submitting your work.
‣ Will snacks and drinks be provided? Yes.
‣ Will there be a bathroom? Yes, bathrooms will be available.
—
Disclaimer: Views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by event and program speakers in all mediums are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Thurber House, its affiliates, or its staff/board.