Where literature jumps off the page.

Come be part of the City’s literary culture. The Grotto runs programs from classes to events to full fledged membership.

Rooted & Written co-founder Roberto Lovato speaking at the September 2019 workshop.
Rooted & Written founder Roberto Lovato speaking at the September 2019 workshop.

Rooted & Written

Rooted & Written co-founder Roberto Lovato speaking at the September 2019 workshop.
Rooted & Written is a yearlong fellowship and conference program that centers BIPOC writers through workshops, mentorship, readings, and community. Our mission is to provide a supportive and safe community, transformative mentorship, and access for emerging writers of color across multiple genres to develop their craft and share their powerful voices with the world and to foster a more inclusive literary landscape.

SFPL Grotto Nights at the Library

One of the Grotto’s longest-running community collaborations, Grotto Night is an exploration of ideas curated by the Grotto and hosted by the San Francisco Public Library. Free and open to the public, Grotto Night takes place monthly at SFPL’s main branch. Grotto Night brings together writers from all genres to share their wisdom through author interviews, panel discussions and conversations around the craft of writing.
Check Out Grotto Nights

Words & Stories

We invite you to our weekly, free lunchtime Grotto reading series in partnership with theTransit Joint Powers Authority (TJPA). It takes place from April–October in the WetlandsGarden on the far east end of Salesforce Park and is open to the public. Two readers from the Grotto read from 1-1:30 p.m. each week in a lush outdoor setting.

Flor y Canto Fellowship

The Grotto offers several fellowships annually to support emerging Black and Latinx writers in their craft. The program is open to writers of every genre, including fiction, nonfiction, memoir, journalism, poetry, playwriting, screenwriting, et cetera. Writers who have demonstrated a commitment to their craft but who are not yet widely published are eligible. The program provides discounted membership to the Grotto, access to our office space and mentorship. Our applications will open in 2027.

Literary Salon

For years, the Writers Grotto Literary Salon has been one of the Bay Area’s most respected literary gatherings, bringing together acclaimed authors, emerging voices, and devoted readers to celebrate storytelling. Throughout the year, the salon explores meaningful themes, from National Poetry Month, Pride Month, and Black History Month celebrations to conversations on immigrant voices, environmental writing, identity, memoir, and poetry. More than a reading series, it creates opportunities for readers to connect with writers in their community, engage in thoughtful conversations, and support diverse literary voices. By showcasing award-winning authors alongside new writers, the salon fosters inclusivity, inspiration, and connection.

Aloud/Outloud

We partner with the modern, stunning Telegraph Hill Books in North Beach to host a quarterly reading series which is seasonally themed. Each reading presents three recently published Grotto members and three non-member readers who are Rooted & Written alums. The free, public events features memoir, poetry and fiction. Refreshments are offered and the store conducts a raffle for wine and copies of the readers’ books.