Open Mike @ Smalls Jazz Club

Saturday, January 31 2009 5:00pm

Smalls Reading Series

Phillip Levine & Joanna Herman + open mike(sign-up at 4:30pm)

Hosted by George Guida, Lee Kostrinsky and Christine Timm

Smalls Jazz Club

183 West 10th Street (near Sheridan Square on 7th Avenue)

$6 www.smallsjazzclub.com leeko@rcn.com

212-252-5091

Subway: 1/9/A/B/C/D/E/F/V to West 4th Street

Stress can produce masterpieces

How many of us have written hour after hour and afterwards see how much we have accomplished. You didn't worry about grammar or spelling. You had to write whatever was on your mind or in your heart. You could have been happy, sad, mad, troubled, thankful, or joyous. You just needed to release your heart of those things that were brewing inside.

Some of the best writing have come during times of duress. Maybe you didn't feel like doing it. Perhaps it wasn't the right time but you got out a pad, paper, or wordprocessor and wrote away. It may not have any meaning at first but when you read it at another time it has a connection with what you are trying to convey to your audience. People like writing that is original and heartfelt. One reward of writing is when it connects with your audience.

Don't minimize those times when life doesn't seem all that great. Get out your pad! Get on that wordprocessor and write away! It can be the beginning of speaking to others who are experiencing those tough times.

TODAY'S WORD

GHOSTWRITE

Write for someone else who receives credit as author.

Words

Sunday, January 25 2009 3:00pm

SOS: ABC No Rio Sunday Open

Open mike hosted by Bruce Weber, Eugene Ring,
John Bredin, John Marcus Powell, George Spencer.

No list, No Time Limit, No B.S., Workshop feel, Try out new work.

ABC No Rio
156 Rivington St. (Clinton/Suffolk Streets),

2 blocks south of Houston

$3 212-674-3585
Subway: F/V to Delancey/Second Avenue, then walk East and South

WORDS OF WISDOM

An individual can be educated well beyond the walls of academia. The best education we receive is from life's experiences.

Books for Writers

Below is a list of some books I recommend for writers.



Playwriting: The Structure of Action-Sam Smiley

The Elements of Style, 4th Edition-Wm. Strunk Jr. & E.B. White

Random House Basic Dictionary of Synonyms and Antonyms

Teach Yourself Writing: Non-Fiction Janet MacDonald

MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 6th Edition-Joseph Gibaldi

One Word

A story can sprout from just one word. I read what the word means then take off from there. I use my imagination, using metaphors to tell the story. I'm presently working on a few articles with one word as a catalyst. They will posted in future blogs.


Genevieve

Monday Night!

Monday, January 12 2009 7:30pm

KGB Bar

Monday Night Series featuring poets TBA

Hosted by Laura Cronk & Michael Quattrone

KGB Bar
85 East 4th Street @ 2nd Avenue

Free

www.kgbbar.com michaelquattrone@earthlink.net

TODAY'S WORD

BACCHANAL

1. a worshipper of Bacchus.

2. an occasion of drunken revelry.

Read A Poem

Friday, January 9 2009 10:00pm

Nuyorican Poets Cafe

Spotlight poet & slam (be sure to come early)

Hosted by Mahogany Browne
Followed by the Open Room,
a midnight open mike right after the Slam every Friday Night!!!

Bring a poem and read!

Hosted by A-Trayn
Nuyorican Poets Cafe

236 East 3rd Street (Avenues B/C)

$10 (each show) www.nuyorican.org
212-505-8183
Subway: F to 2nd Avenue, R to 8th Street,
4/5 to 14 Street, 6 to Astor Place

WORDS OF WISDOM

It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.

~Henry David Thoreau, American Author (1817-1862)

Reading Marathon

Today I attended a reading marathon at St. Mark's Church-in-the Bowery. The Poetry Project has presented this annualevent for 35 years. I arrived after two this afternoon. The church sanctuary was filling up. There were about 100 people seated. I listened to many writers read some of their work. Each person had a seven minute limit. I stayed over two hours (the event goes nonstop until midnight).

While I listened to the readers, I reminisced about a blog I posted a few months back. As a boy I was adventurous; I wanted to know what was in the woods behind our home. I still have that same curiousity as a sixty year old man. I am presently working on an essay for a book that I want to publish later in the year. I have a goal to write 20 essays and short stories. It's ambitious but I have a lot on my heart to say.