The Dallas-Fort Worth area can sometimes feel devoid of a literary community, but look closer at the individual neighborhoods and you’ll see that the lit scene is bustling. Here are the DFW neighborhoods with bookstores, live readings, literary education programs, and more.

Park Cities

Finding your Community photo courtesy of Writer's Workshop

There are multiple reasons why literary-minded individuals will love Park Cities. For one, it’s home to Southern Methodist University, a university with a creative writing program and events like lectures, readings, and the Faculty BookFest. SMU is also host to the Kimbilio Fiction writers fellowship, which aims to tell the stories of the African diaspora.

The Highland Park LitFest is held in Park Cities and includes a festival with 60 workshops for high school students lead by published novelists, journalists, poets, and songwriters, and playwrights. There’s also an open-mic night, writing contest, and keynote speaker at HP LitFest.

Readers are attracted to Barnes & Nobles in Park Cities, a large chain bookstore that sells books and hosts literary events. Writers can also take a writing workshops in poetry, fiction, or screenwriting with the Writing Workshops Dallas, an organization that works out of the Foundry Club.

Deep Ellum

Photo courtesy of Deep Vellum

Deep Ellum is often referred to as the artsy neighborhood of Dallas, so it’s no surprise that it’s a great spot for literature lovers. Deep Vellum is the resident indie bookstore and publisher, offering weekly events that include poetry readings, novel discussions, magazine launches, and writer’s workshops. Deep Ellum is generally one of the locations for events during Dallas Lit Hop, a month-long literary celebration in Dallas during Dallas Art’s Month. Deep Ellum Art Co. occasionally holds literary-minded events like the Festival of Illustrated Literature which pairs student writers with artists and includes a literary magazine launch.

Downtown Dallas

Photo courtesy of Dallas Museum of Art

Downtown Dallas’ literary events focus around the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, the first Dallas Public Library opened in 1901. Literary lovers can marvel over eight floors full of literature and special exhibits that includes copies of Shakespeare’s First Folio and the Declaration of Independence. The J. Erik Jonsson Central Library hosts events like the Dallas Book Festival, a monthly book club, and story time (which is sometimes in Spanish).

When there isn’t an event at the library check out the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, which has hosted literary events like the Texas Library Association annual conference. The Dallas Museum of Art occasionally presents readings, signings, and discussions with big-time authors. There are also one-off events in the neighborhood that occur, like Klyde Warren Park’s upcoming Poetry in the Park and The Business Council for the Arts’ Literary Night at the Winspear Opera House in October.

South Dallas

African American Museum photo courtesy of Michael Barera

South Dallas was once the center of the Civil Rights movement in Dallas, so its literary culture often centers around the African American experience. The South Dallas Cultural Center will occasionally hold literary events like poetry readings, whereas the African American Museum is home to the Tulisoma South Dallas Book Fair, a community-based book fair that promotes literacy in South Dallas and invites African American writers to speak on their work. Expo Park is a small entertainment district in South Dallas that’s known to hosts literary events in connection with LitHop, but for literature throughout the year, head to Sandaga 813, a popular spot for poetry readings.

Oak Cliff

The Wild Detectives  photo courtesy of Joseph Haubert

Oak Cliff has steadily risen as a literary destination in Dallas. The Wild Detectives is the local indie bookstore that sells books and hosts literary readings, festivals, and author signings throughout the year. Lucky Dog Books is another area bookstore that primarily sells second-hand books and holds literary events. Also, the North Oak Cliff Library is a go-to destination to find books and participate in children’s story time readings. The Oak Cliff Cultural Center has events with literary elements like poetry readings that accompany their art show openings. And during Dallas Arts Month, you’re sure to find some literary-inspired events held in Oak Cliff’s restaurants and businesses.

Southside / Fairmount

Photo courtesy of Leaves Book and Tea Shop

The historic Southside in Fort Worth is serving up some literary love with a few outstanding places. The Half Price Book Barn is a neighborhood second-hand bookstore attracting residents who love reading and bargains. Leaves Book and Tea Shop is a new favorite in Fort Worth that brings community, tea, and books together in one special place. In the Fairmount neighborhood, you’ll find the Fairmount Community Library and Texas Christian University, whose English department hosts a Live Oak Reading Series and other literary events.