Building Indy’s Writing Community (2014-2018)

The Geeky Press brought together writers for workshops, retreats, publications, and events, building Indianapolis’ largest independent writing community. From those gatherings emerged four anthologies, two literary magazines, and a writing podcast that connected creative voices across Indiana.

By the numbers:

• 800+ active community members
• 325+ writers attended our weekly workshops
• 65 authors attended our retreat programs
• 2,000+ podcast listeners

Published Works

Literary Magazine

• HoosierLit (Spring 2017)
• HoosierLit (Fall 2017)

Books & Anthologies

• Dear America: Reflections on Race: Essays exploring America’s racial divide
• Bad Jobs & Bullshit, Vol. 1: A collection of workplace survival stories
• The Gallery Trilogy: Experimental plays from an Indiana writer

Student Publications

• Bunker Hill Extreme (2009)

The Invictus Writers Series

• If I Leave Here Tomorrow: The Invictus Writers, Vol. 1
• Gently Used (The Breakfast Club): The Invictus Writers, Vol. 2
• Damaged Goods: The Invictus Writers, Vol. 3

Community Programs

The Downtown Writers Jam Series

• The Downtown Writers Jam, Vol. 1: A Recap (July 2014)
• The Downtown Writers Jam, Vol. 2: A Recap (November 2014)
• The Downtown Writers Jam, Vol. 3 (Jam & Juice): A Recap (March 2015)
• The Downtown Writers Jam, Vol. 4: Storytellers (July 2015)

Special Series

• Disgust with Civilization, Vol. 1 (March 2016)
• The Geeky Press/Youshare Project Reading Series, Vol. 1 (July 2016)
• The Fan Fiction Reading Series: “The City on the Edge of Yesterday’s Enterprise” (October 2016)
• Bad Jobs & Bullshit Launch Party (September 2016)

Performance Writing

• Scripted: J. Eyre by Paige Scott
• Scripted: Letters Sent by Janice Hibbard
• Circle City New Play Fest

Regular Programming

• The Downtown Writers Jam: Quarterly reading series
• #WritersHack: Weekly writing sessions
• Arts Council Partnership: Monthly creative networking events
• Annual Weekend Writing Retreats
• Book Launch Celebrations
• Performance Writing Showcases

Media Coverage

Press Highlights

• New Literary Magazine Examines Hoosier Life (May 2017): Coverage of HoosierLit’s launch featuring 19 Indiana authors
• The Indy writers’ podcast that goes beyond writing (Oct 2016): Profile of the Downtown Writers Jam podcast
• Bad Jobs and Bullshit: An Indy writer’s collective publishes a book about terrible jobs (September 2016): NUVO’s coverage of our first anthology
• “Every Story Needs a Darth Vader” (November 2014): Theresa Beckhusen interviewed Brad in lead up to Indy WordLab in December.
• Sticky Writing (November 2014): Preview in Blue Sky Window of The Downtown Writers Jam, Vol. 2 in all its crunchy goodness.
• Curbside Collaborates with The Downtown Writers Jam (November 2014): A lovely write-up about Jam, Vol. 2 with our friends from Chicago.
• Out of print writing (May 2014): Rowena Wiseman interviewed Brad about So Far Appalachia, and the idea of professionalized amateurism as a writer.

Broadcast Features

• FYI’s The Art of the Matter (May 2017): 8-minute feature on The Geeky Press and HoosierLit
• WFYI Online (November 2014): Feature story on The Downtown Writers Jam

Leadership Team

• Brad King: Founder & Director
• Amber Peckham: Fiction Programs Director & Reading Series Curator
• Nicole Mathew: Writing Community Director & Poetry Editor
• Elise Lockwood: Performance Writing Director
• Jessica Dyer: Poetry Programs Director & Vouched Books Indy Lead