The J. Edgar Edwards Reading Series showcases work by first-year MFA students in the Helen Zell Writers' Program.

Held in an intimate setting, Edwards Readings are organized and hosted by first-year poetry and fiction students. Each Edwards reading usually has three to four readers and is held on a Saturday evening. These events are indeed free and open to the public but locations may vary depending on the preferences of a given cohort. In recent years, Edwards readings have been held at the Michigan League (2013-2014), at local art galleries like Work Gallery on State (2012-2013) and WSG Gallery on Main (2015-2016), and at the homes of individual first-year students (2014-2015, 2015-2016).

The Edwards Reading Series celebrates the memory of J. Edgar Edwards.