The Cincinnati Enquirer

Ask any writer: Getting started in the business and then getting started on the piece are always the hardest. Most all of them sing the same refrain.

But now there's help: The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County is joining forces with InkTank, a sort of incubator group for local writers, to present Writer's Day, a full range of programs designed to give aspiring writers the inside story on breaking in, getting started and getting better.

Events are 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and all free except for one and all but three at Memorial Hall.

Centerpiece of the day is a 1:30 p.m. presentation by Dave Eggers, author of the bestseller A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, although he'll be talking more about his new passion, 826 Valencia, the children's literacy center he founded in San Francisco's Mission District.

But there's a heck of a lot more than that going on. Take a look ...

9 a.m.: Writer's Roundtable is a discussion with poet Dick Hague, CityBeat columnist Kathy Y. Wilson, poet Aralee Strange and novelist Michael Griffith chatting about the art of writing.

Also 9 a.m.: Editors from Writer's Market, Writers' Digest and Cincinnati Magazine tell you what you need to know about selling that freelance story.

10 a.m.: Brock Clarke, author of An Ordinary White Boy and member of the University of Cincinnati Creative Writing Department, facilitates a prose writing workshop.

Also 10 a.m.: Poet Benjamin Hughes facilitates a slam workshop for teens and young adults.

11 a.m.: Execs and editors from Emmis Books and F&W Publications stage a panel discussion, "What Writers Need to Know."

1 p.m.: Teens reading selections from Seven Hills Review, the Library-sponsored publication that spotlights the best work of young Cincinnati.

1:30 p.m.: Dave Eggers' presentation. He's joined by the InkTank sampler, including poet Matt Hart, journalist Stephanie Dunlap, writers from the after-school program at Emanuel Community Center, the Drop Inn Center and Women of Success in Over-the-Rhine.

All above events are at Memorial Hall, 1225 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, next to Music Hall. Call 369-6974 for information and free tickets.

Off-site events

4 p.m.: The Know Theatre Tribe presents I Will Love You at 8 p.m. Next Wednesday by local playwright Kevin Barry, 1425 Sycamore St., Over-the-Rhine, $10.

7 p.m.: Meet the Playwrights is a panel discussion with Kevin Barry, Dale Doerman, Thom Atkinson, Joe McDonough and Mary Tensing. Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati director Lynn Myers is moderator. ETC, 1127 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine.

9 p.m.: InkTank Slam: Kathy Y. Wilson emcees a competitive invitational poetry slam with some of the top spoken word artists in Ohio, including Tyrone Williams, author of C.C. and head of the Xavier University English Department. Greenwich Tavern, 4440 Gilbert Ave., Walnut Hills.