WESTPORT — One of America’s greatest storytellers, Samuel Clemens (a.k.a. Mark Twain), once observed, “Writing is easy. All you have to do is cross out the wrong words.”

And, to emphasize that ironic point, he also said, “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.”

The art, inspiration and hard work of contemporary storytelling will be celebrated when the Westport Library hosts its fifth annual “StoryFest,” a literary festival showcasing a diverse range of perspectives and genres by writers on writing.

StoryFest this year will take place Sept. 9-10 at the library, 20 Jesup Road.

The event, described in library publicity as “the largest literary festival in the state,” will feature “award-winning and debut authors talk about their work and books they have coming out this fall.”

StoryFest planners say they hope the event brings “a sense of the familiar — to a sense of community gathered.”

The programs kick off Friday, Sept. 9, with a conversation between best-selling authors and friends, Saeed Jones, (“How We Fight for Our Lives: A Memoir”) and Isaac Fitzgerald (“Dirtbag, Massachusetts”).

The free event begins with a 6 p.m. reception, followed by the writers’ conversation at 7 o’clock. Register here.

On Saturday, there will be a day-long series of panel discussions by writers on topics that range from creativity and perseverance, to mysteries and the relationships between writers and editors, to activism and dark fiction.

For details on the panels, check the StoryFest homepage.

The events wrap up at 6 p.m. Saturday, when the hosts of the “Reading Glasses” podcast, Mallory O’Meara, a James Beard Book Award-winning author, and Brea Grant, a filmmaker and actress, are featured at a reception with specialty drinks and small bites.

Register for the free program here.

For more information, contact the Westport Library at 203-291-4800.