Gemini Ink

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Gemini Ink Gemini Ink is San Antonio's Writing Arts Center.
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10/02/2026

The day has arrived! The Texas Institute of Letters is now accepting entries for our 14 categories of literary awards for published work and our Jesse H. Jones Fellowship — newly increased to $10,000 — to help a writer complete a work of fiction, nonfiction, or poetry.

The Jones Fellowship is aimed at working writers — emerging, mid-level, or restarting. It consists of a $10,000 award that can be used for housing, travel, research, marketing, or any other related cost that helps the recipient complete a literary work.

Our literary awards include:

Jesse H. Jones Award for Best Book of Fiction

Sergio Troncoso Award for Best First Book of Fiction

Carr P. Collins Award for Best Book of Nonfiction

Beverly Lowry Award for Best First Book of Nonfiction

Burdine C. Johnson Award for Best Book of Poetry

Naomi Shihab Nye Award for Best First Book of Poetry

Texas Institute of Letters Award for Most Significant Scholarly Book

Jean Flynn Award for Best Young Adult Book

Deirdre Siobhan FlynnBass Award for Best Middle Grade Book

Brigid Erin Flynn Award for Best Picture Book

Kay Cattarulla Award for Best Short Story

Edwin “Bud” Shrake Award for Best Short Nonfiction

NEW FOR 2027: Giron/Valdez Award for Best Poem (English or Spanish)

Fred Whitehead Award for Best Design of a Trade Book (biennial)

Eligibility for the Jones Fellowship and for the writing awards requires that either the writer has lived in Texas for at least five consecutive years at some point, or the work’s subject matter substantially concerns Texas.

To be eligible for the Whitehead Award, either the book’s publisher must be based in Texas, or the book’s designer must have lived in Texas for at least five consecutive years at some point, or the work’s subject matter must substantially concern Texas.

The entry/application forms are available through links in the comments. The forms include the detailed guidelines.

The final day of the application period for the Jones Fellowship is Friday, December 18.

The final day of the submissions period for these 14 awards is Friday, January 8, 2027.

A tribute to Jan Jarboe Russell from the Gemini Ink team: We are deeply saddened at Gemini Ink to hear of the passing of...
10/02/2026

A tribute to Jan Jarboe Russell from the Gemini Ink team:

We are deeply saddened at Gemini Ink to hear of the passing of beloved and brilliant journalist and author, Jan Jarboe Russell.

A dedicated supporter of Gemini Ink and longtime board member, Jan was an instrumental part of the Gemini Ink community for years and took part in a succession of literary discussions and events, adding her honesty and incisive wit to all that she did. We had the privilege of honoring Jan in 2016 with our Award for Literary Excellence and had a literary celebration like no other that year. To say her friends and fans packed the Pearl Stable that year for Inkstravaganza is an understatement. Her participation on a nonfiction panel at Gemini Ink's first Writers Conference was also memorable, as it allowed her to share her candid insights on the challenges of moving away from shorter form journalism into full-length book writing. Her comments were elucidating and timely; her book, The Train to Crystal City, had just been published and was a 2016 New York Times bestseller.

There's so much that could be shared about Jan, and more than can be done justice to here, but today we just know how much she will be truly missed, by us and so many others.

"'It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be done.'Of course this motto applies to cleaning your house or doing ho...
10/01/2026

"'It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be done.'

Of course this motto applies to cleaning your house or doing homework. But it also applies to writing. I’m a recovering perfectionist and I’ve found that attachment to perfection is the number one barrier to writing or working on any creative project. The more important thing is to show up on the page. Even if it is messy. You can polish it later. If you wait until you feel you have the energy or inspiration to write the 'perfect sentence' you’ll never sit down to write. Perfectionism is a kind of procrastination. I probably stole that quote from someone, but I don’t recommend perfectionism if you want to have regular writing practice and a fulltime job."

Read our full interview with Barrón here: https://geminiink.org/the-writers-desk-with-christen-barron-2/

Spots still available for her class, "Creative Writing for Newbies." Class starts Tuesday, October 6!

Seven days until Inkstravaganza! ✨🎶 Come celebrate Jim LaVilla-Havelin with an evening of conversation, tribute, music, ...
10/01/2026

Seven days until Inkstravaganza! ✨🎶 Come celebrate Jim LaVilla-Havelin with an evening of conversation, tribute, music, books, and community at The Veranda on October 8. We’d love to have you there for this special night.

Tickets are still available!
https://buff.ly/4wx80XQ

Photo of Jim by Ramin Samandari.

09/30/2026

For your afternoon listening 🎧

Take a moment to listen to Demetria Martínez read her poem "Wanted."

You can hear more poetry from Albuquerque poet Demetria Martínez at Gemini Ink this Saturday, October 3rd from 6-8 pm!

Spots still available for her class on Friday, Oct 2nd: https://bit.ly/46TW6Ri

Credit: University of California Television

Looking for some poetic inspiration this weekend?Join us for this Hispanic Heritage Month event where Demetria Martínez ...
09/30/2026

Looking for some poetic inspiration this weekend?

Join us for this Hispanic Heritage Month event where Demetria Martínez and Dr. Norma Elia Cantú will discuss poetry as resistance. A reading and community open mic will follow.

Sharpen your powers of observation through ekphrasis with Jehanne Dubrow on Saturday, October 10th! One scholarship stil...
09/29/2026

Sharpen your powers of observation through ekphrasis with Jehanne Dubrow on Saturday, October 10th! One scholarship still available 🎨 📝

In this one-day course, participants will read examples of ekphrastic writing from across genres and learn how to research the history of an art piece. Through guided writing exercises, we’ll write about our art discoveries while engaging the five senses and using concrete, specific details. Participants will then weave their description, research, and a personal experience together to generate an ekphrastic personal essay.

Register with the link in bio! Do you want to explore creative writing but you don’t know where to begin? Take this crea...
09/29/2026

Register with the link in bio!

Do you want to explore creative writing but you don’t know where to begin? Take this creative writing sampler for newbies and reconnect with your self expression! In this hands-on writing workshop, participants will receive a gentle and fun introduction into creative writing and the opportunity to dabble in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction to see which one resonates most. This course is perfect for beginners or anyone looking to rediscover their creativity.

There's still time to join us this Friday at Gemini Ink:Poetry in Dangerous Times: From Witness to Resistance with Demet...
09/28/2026

There's still time to join us this Friday at Gemini Ink:
Poetry in Dangerous Times: From Witness to Resistance with Demetria Martínez & Dr. Norma E. Cantú. Join us for a day of reading, writing, reflection, and building work that can sustain us through difficult times.
Oct. 2 | 10am–3pm CT | In person
https://buff.ly/UDjLpzH

Address

1111 Navarro Street
San Antonio, TX
78205

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+12107349673

Website

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