Open Mic

Word Up Bookstore will have its monthly open mic o Friday May 1st from 7-9 PM.  All poets, writers, singers, rappers and other artists are welcome. For more info go to: 

www.wordup.com

Festival

The 11 Annual Pen Voices Festival will be held next week beginning on May 4th and running through May 10th.

Go to www.worldvoice.pen.org for more info.

Words Of Wisdom

With me poetry has not been a purpose, but a passion.


~Edgar Allan Poe Writer (1809-1849)

Writing Plays

I rewrote a play I had written a decade or so ago. My spouse wrote a play also and it may be performed at a future date. I'v gotten into play writing and really enjoy it. It has been one of the genres that I have wanted to get into for some time. Play writing , I believe, is more nuanced because character building is so important. I've have the chance to act also. Never thought that I would enjoy acting.

If I was a young person going into the arts, I prefer plays because I like to interact with the audience. Just last night I thought again about writing a play about experiences in my life. A friend suggested that to me several weeks ago. I am formulating something now.  

Attended Both

I had the chance to attend both book fairs mentioned in my last post. I went the Anarchist Book Fair first. There's much radical literature here, some of it very good. I believe that, if all these folks can find some common ground and work together, can implement change in the country. I am impressed with the number of publishers and presses which cater to the radical and counterculture side.

After hanging out in Washington Square Park for awhile, I rode the subway to the upper west side to attend the Rainbow Book Fair. Publishers, authors, and presses in the TGLBQ  communities are featured here. Being gender variant I wasn't going to miss this event. I chatted with a few of the authors and vendors and discovered some very creative and intelligent people who are proud of who they are. I saw a couple of books I wanted to purchase but was short o funds. I'll order them from their publishers in a couple of weeks.  

Two Upcoming Book Fairs

Words Of Wisdom

If poetry and the arts do anything, they can fortify your inner life, your inwardness.


~Seamus Heaney, Irish poet, (1939-2013)

Article

I read this article and really liked it. I'm passing it on to you.



http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/breaking-borders/Content?oid=4954977

Words Of Wisdom

Poetry fettered, fetters the human race. Nations are destroyed or flourish in proportion as their poetry, painting, and music are destroyed or flourish.


~William Blake, Poet (1757-1827)

Writing Continuously

I have written everyday for the past two weeks. I don't ever remember doing that, at least in a very long time. I see that I have more inside of me than I thought. Then again maybe there's just more ideas right in front of me, but I'm paying more attention. Anyway, at least I'm writing. 

I'm editing a play that I wrote a decade ago. I'm also rethinking a novella I completed. Wow! There's so much to writing. It can get crazy but I love it!

KEEP CALM

Chapbook Festival Tomorrow

Remember tomorrow, April 2nd, is the NYC/CUNY Chapbook at the CUNY Graduate Center at 10 AM.

The Graduate Center/CUNY
365 Fifth Avenue @34th Street
New York, NY 10016

Words Of Wisdom

You fail only if you stop writing.

~Ray Bradbury, Writer (1920-2012)