Writers, GOOD NEWS!

Back by popular demand, we’re having a Part II to our virtual open mic night! 

Our second virtual open mic will take place via Zoom on Saturday, May 9th from 6:00-7:30pm. Each person will get a 3 minute time slot to read a poem, excerpt of a short fiction piece/personal essay, or performance. We’ll also discuss ways we’ve been caring more for ourselves, our writing, and our mental state during this time.

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We encourage everyone to have a drink ready, whether it’s a glass of wine, shot of tequila, your favorite beer, ANYTHING because we’re all in for a treat! Whether you want to read your work or not, we encourage everyone to swing by!

JOIN HERE AT 6:00PM SHARP!

https://us04web.zoom.us/j/79677053885

Meeting ID: 796 7705 3885

SEE YOU ALL THERE!!!

Hey Writers!

This meeting will be a crafty one!

For the first part of our session, we’ll discuss our thoughts on Joan Didion’s, "Goodbye to All That.” How did New York City change her life before and after she moved? What are scenic and memorable moments she cherishes the most?

For the second half of the session, each writer will get a poem from a random New York poet. The poem will be ripped into pieces of scattered words. Using the single words, we will create our own poem, allowing us to strengthen our diction skills and create a brand new New York poem.

Assignment due this session: Read Joan Didion, “Goodbye to All That.” Click the link to read: https://www.academia.edu/34057378/Joan_Didion_Goodbye_to_All_That

SCHEDULE:

2:30-3:00: Discuss Joan Didion, “Goodbye to All That.”

3:00-3:10: 10 min. break

3:10-4:00: Create our own poem from cut up pieces of NY poems

4:00-5:00: Share our new poems, and the original poem

This meeting is free, and only requires a reservation. Please arrive 5-10 minutes earlier since we begin promptly.

Hey Writers!

For our next meeting, we will read and analyze from two native New Yorkers: Colson Whitehead and Stan Lee! For the first part of our meeting, we’ll discuss our thoughts on Colson Whitehead’s essay, “City Limits” from The Colossus of New York and a Stan Lee article, “Stan Lee’s New York.” How does Whitehead feel about NYC? How does he depict its changes? What inspiration does Lee get from NYC for his comics and storytelling? For the second half of the session, we will share our assignment and receive feedback. Both readings can be found here:

https://www.citylab.com/life/2018/11/stan-lee-marvel-comics-new-york-city/575668/

http://www.subwayreadsny.com/book-excerpts/9780307428288/

Assignment due this session: Pick an image of New York that Colson Whitehead or Stan Lee use as inspiration for their storytelling. Begin an essay, poem, or story that highlights that image in your piece.

SCHEDULE:

2:30-3:30: Read and analyze Whitehead and Lee’s essay and article

3:30-3:40: 10 min. break

3:40-4:00: Continue writing your piece

4:00-5:00: Share your essay, poem, or story then share/receive feedback

This meeting is free, and only requires a reservation. Please arrive 5-10 minutes earlier since we begin promptly.

Hey Writers!

I want to wish you all a Happy New Year!

For our next meeting, we will discuss another NYC native, James Baldwin! For the first part of our meeting, we will map out Baldwin’s travels throughout New York, highlighting how he worked the politics and culture of neighborhoods into his work and why that is important. We will discuss his essay, “Fifth Avenue, Uptown” found here: https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a3638/fifth-avenue-uptown/. Then for the second half, we will write an essay on an issue that disproportionally effects a marginalized community in NYC. For example: Fare Evasion

This meeting will be hosted by Christina Santi

SCHEDULE:

2:30-3:30: Discuss Baldwin’s travels

3:30-3:40: 10 min. break

3:40-4:00: Write an essay on an issue that disproportionally effects a marginalized community in NYC

4:00-5:00: Share finalized essay

This meeting is free, and only requires a reservation. Please arrive 5-10 minutes earlier since we begin promptly.

Hey Writers!

For our third meeting, we will take inspiration from ashcan art and create a landscape of New York City! We will sketch using charcoal pencils, then cut and glue different words and pictures from magazines to create a collage. Underneath, we will write our poem from last session. It is the perfect blend of art and poetry to gift someone for the holidays, or to hang on your wall as decor. All supplies will be provided for!

Assignment due this session:

• Bring your poem on a place you are familiar with in NY

• Bring 1-2 magazines to cut for the collage, or have pieces cut out in an envelope that relates to NYC and your poem

• New members must have the poem written before attending the meeting

This meeting will be hosted by Stacey Zerilli

SCHEDULE:

2:30-3:00: Share poems

3:00-3:20: Share observations on poems

3:20-3:30: 10 min. break

3:30-5:00: Begin sketching/collaging and end by 5

This meeting is free, and only requires a reservation. Please arrive 5-10 minutes earlier since we begin promptly.

THIS MEETING IS OFFICIALLY SOLD OUT!

Hey Writers!

For our second meeting, we will analyze a prominent figure during the Harlem Renaissance, Harlem’s very own, Langston Hughes! For the first part of our meeting, we’ll read and share our thoughts on Hughes’ poems, “Second Generation New York” and “Dream Deferred,” then for the second half, we will write a short poem using New York imagery and literary devices. Both poems can be found here:

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46548/harlem

http://www.unz.com/print/CommonGround-1949q1-00047

Assignment due this session: Write a personal essay/poem about a vivid memory you have in New York

SCHEDULE:

2:30-3:00: Read and analyze poems

3:00-3:20: Share thoughts

3:20-3:30: 10 min. break

3:30-4:00: Write a short poem on a place you are familiar with in New York using imagery and other literary devices

4:00-5:00: Share finalized personal essay/poem

This meeting is free, and only requires a reservation. Please arrive 5-10 minutes earlier since we begin promptly.

THIS MEETING IS OFFICIALLY SOLD OUT!

Hey Writers!

For our first official meeting, we will analyze two renowned New York poets, Walt Whitman and Allen Ginsberg! For the first part of our meeting, we’ll describe life in New York, listing distinct qualities from the sound to its people. Then, we will read and share our thoughts on Walt Whitman’s poem, “Manhatta” and Allen Ginsberg’s poem, “My Sad Self.” Both poems can be found here: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/49307/my-sad-self

https://poets.org/poem/mannahatta

2:30-3:00: Read and analyze poems

3:00-3:30: Share thoughts

3:30-3:40: 10 min. break

3:40-4:00: Write a personal essay about a vivid memory you have in New York

4:00-5:00: Share work

THIS MEETING IS OFFICIALLY SOLD OUT!