Spotlight on Literary Events: October 2016

Tell Your Story, Then Write It

Saturday, Oct 1st, 2:00 pm

The Writer’s Center

4508 Walsh Street

Bethesda, MD 20815

Transform your memories into stories! Storyteller Ellouise Schoettler and novelist Solveig Eggerz team up to lead a panel focusing on the benefits of good oral storytelling to the writer. Panelists are Jessica Robinson, Dario DiBattista, Len Kruger, and Pat McNees. Admission is free.

Santa Fe Writers Project

Sunday, Oct 2nd, 2:00 pm

The Writer’s Center

4508 Walsh Street

Bethesda, MD 20815

Celebrate three authors whose first books have been published by the Santa Fe Writers Project. Daniel M. Ford reads from Ordination, book one in the Paladin Trilogy. He is joined by novelist Brandon Wicks, author of American Fallout, and Tara Laskowski, who reads from her engrossing collection of short stories, Bystanders. Admission is free.

JosephRoach: "Stars Down to Earth: Materializing Celebrity"

Tuesday, Oct 4^th, 7:00 pm

Folger Shakespeare Library

201 E Capitol St SE, Washington, DC 20003

Joseph Roach, Yale University, discusses the cult of literary celebrity surrounding Shakespeare and Austen. Tickets are $15, $10 for members.

 Douglas LaPrade Lecture

Wednesday, Oct 5^th, 2:00 pm

Library of Congress, Pickford Theater

101 Independence Ave SE, Washington, DC 20540

Douglas LaPrade of the University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley, delivers a lecture on the WWI, Spanish and Cuban influences in Ernest Hemingway’s work at 2 p.m. in the Pickford Theater. Event is free.

Clifford Garstang & BrianSimoneau, Emerging Writer Fellowship Winners

Sunday, Oct 9^th, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

The Writer’s Center

4508 Walsh St, Bethesda, MD 20815

Experience the work of our 2015 Emerging Writer Fellowship winners, Clifford Garstang and Brian Simoneau, at a free open door reading.

FreeFolger Friday: Theodore Leinwand on Writers Reading Shakespeare

Friday, Oct 14^th, 6:00 pm

Folger Shakespeare Library

201 E Capitol St SE, Washington, DC 20003

Author, University of Maryland professor of English, and consulting editor for The Shakespeare Quarterly Theodore Leinwand discusses his new book The Great William: Writers Reading Shakespeare. Admission is free but reservation is required.

 11^th Hour Poetry Slam

Friday, Oct 14^th, 11:00 pm -1:00 pm

Busboys & Poets, 14^th & V

2021 14th St NW Washington DC 20009

The 11th Hour Poetry Slam offers an opportunity for poetry lovers to enjoy the competitive art of late-night performance poetry! $5 for tickets.

Book Launch-The Killing Flower

Saturday, Oct 15^th, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Busboys & Poets, Takoma

235 Carroll St NW, Washington, DC 20012

Author W.K. Dwyer will be discussing his first novel, The Killing Flower. Admission is free.

Youth Open Mic

Saturday, Oct 15^th, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Busboys & Poets, 5^th & K

City Vista, 1025 5th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Youth-focused and youth-led, Youth Open Mic is a monthly series that features student poets, singers, musicians and actors from the DC/Maryland/Virginia area. Tickets cost $5.

Sunday Kind of Love Open Mic

Sunday, Oct 16^th, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Busboys & Poets, 14^th & V

2021 14th St NW WashingtonDC 20009

Sunday Kind of Love Open Mic Poetry features emerging and established poets from the Washington, D.C. area and around the nation. $5 for ticket.

Terri Ellen Davis & HayesDavis

Sunday, Oct 16^th, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

The Writer’s Center

4508 Walsh St, Bethesda, MD 20815

Terri Cross Davis and husband Hayes Davis read from their books, Haint and Let Our Eyes Linger, respectively. Admission is free to this open door reading.

Poetry, Publishing & Race

Tuesday, Oct 18^th, 4:00 pm

Library of Congress, James Madison Building

101 Independence Ave SE, Washington, DC 20540

Rob Casper, head of the Poetry and Literature Center will lead a discussion with poets/editors, Cathy Park Hong (New Republic), Don Share (Poetry Magazine), Evie Shockley (Feminist Studies), Carmen Giménez Smith (Puerto del Sol/Noemi Press) on the ways poetry helps us navigate race in contemporary American culture.

Reading-Natalie Eve Garrett-TheArtists’ & Writers’ Cookbook

Tuesday, Oct 18^th, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Upshur St. Books

827 Upshur St NW, Washington, DC 20011

Join us to hear Natalie Eve Garrett in conversation with contributor Jeffrey Renard Allen about The Artists' and Writers' Cookbook (Powerhouse Books). Admission is free.

William Dunlap-Short Mean Fiction

Wednesday, Oct 19^th, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Upshur St. Books

827 Upshur St NW, Washington, DC 20011

World War I: A Reading

Thursday, Oct 20^th, 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm

The Writer’s Center

4508 Walsh St, Bethesda, MD 20815

The Writer’s Center presents a series of readings from books set during the early 20th century. Admission is free.

Reading-DC Writer’s Collective

Thursday, Oct 20^th, 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Upshur St. Books

827 Upshur St NW, Washington, DC 20011

Hurston/Wright Foundation LegacyAwards

Thursday, Oct 20^th, 6:30 pm

Busboys & Poets, 14^th & V

2021 14th St NW WashingtonDC 20009

The Zora Neale Hurston/Richard Wright Foundation was founded in 1990 and is dedicated to discovering, mentoring and honoring Black writers. The Legacy Awards honors the best in Black literature in America and around the globe. Join us for a reading by 2016 nominees.

Nerds Trivia Night

Saturday, Oct 22^nd, 8:00 pm

Politics & Prose

5015 Connecticut Ave NW Washington DC 20008

Sign-up starts at 7 p.m. in The Den. Then grab a drink special, put on your thinking cap, and head upstairs for three rounds of mind-bending trivia by 8 p.m. Prizes awarded. Trivia night is open to all ages. Admission is free.

Fighting Cancer with Poetry

Sunday, Oct 23^rd, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Busboys & Poets, Hyattsville

5331 Baltimore Ave, Hyattsville, MD 20781

Fighting Cancer With Poetry, Inc. in partnership with Busboys and Poets cordially invites YOU to another installment of our renowned Poetry Jam Fundraisers. Admission is free.

Poetry & Prose Open Mic

Sunday, Oct 23^rd, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

The Writer’s Center

4508 Walsh St, Bethesda, MD 20815

Come share your poetry, fiction, and nonfiction works! Sign-up for readers begins at 1:30, and the reading starts at 2:00. Admission is free.

Busboys & Poets and@BeltwaySlamDC Presents: The Beltway Poetry Slam

Tuesday, Oct 25^th, 9:00 pm – 11:00 pm

Busboys & Poets, Brookland

625 Monroe St NE, Washington, DC 20017

This Poetry Slam, Inc certified slam event meets the last Tuesday of every month at Busboys and Poets' Brookland location. $5 for ticket.

Grace Bonney for In the Companyof Women @ Dock5

Tuesday, Oct 25^th, 6:30 pm

Kramerbooks

1517 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036

Design Sponge founder and author Grace Bonney will lead a conversation with:

-Sarah Gordon and Sheila Fain of Gordy's Pickle Jar

-           Amanda McClements of Salt & Sundry

-Ashley Ford, writer, editor and speaker

-Charlotte Cannon of The Vintage Vogue

Tickets include one copy of In the Company of Women and one beer or glass of wine. Cost is $50.00 + $3.74 fee.

Book Talk: Robert Barsky“Hatched”

Wednesday, Oct 26^th, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Busboys & Poets, 5^th & K

City Vista, 1025 5th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Join author Robert Barsky as he discusses and signs his book Hatched. Admission is free.

ASL Open Mic

Friday, Oct 28^th, 11:00 pm – 1:00 am

Busboys & Poets, 5^th & K

City Vista, 1025 5th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

American Sign Language users and viewers from all corners of life will come together to recite a poem, song, short skit or jokes. Come out and enjoy the wonderful environment while you eat, get your drink on and socialize. Great for those learning American Sign Language. $5 for ticket.

 Rachel Eliza Griffiths & JohnMorris

Sunday, Oct 30^th, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

The Writer’s Center

4508 Walsh St, Bethesda, MD 20815

Poet Rachel Eliza Griffiths is joined by long-time workshop leader John Morris, who reads from his collection of short stories, When I Snap My Fingers You Will Remember Everything. Admission is free for this open door reading.

Meet the Instructor: Tyrese Coleman

Meet the Instructor offers insight into the teaching styles and personalities of our instructors. This time around, we spoke with Tyrese Coleman, who will lead Developing Your Flash Fiction, an intermediate/advanced class that runs from October 22 through December 3.

The Writer’s Center: What brought you to the Writer’s Center?

Tyrese Coleman: I am a The Writer's Center alum.  I began my writing career taking courses at the Writer's Center. It was through those courses that I realized I wanted to study creative writing more in depth. I was encouraged by my then instructor to apply to Johns Hopkins, and I haven't stopped writing since. I always wanted to return to the Center to hopefully be for others what my instructor was for me: the encouragement I needed to pursue my dream.  

TWC: How would you describe your teaching style?

TC: I believe the cornerstone of good critique is a mix of encouragement, knowledge, and honesty. My style is one that revolves around those principles, with an added touch of humor and diversity. We are adults who want to create something meaningful to share with the world.  My teaching style keeps that goal in mind as a concrete point of achievement.  

TWC: What are you reading right now?

TC: There are way too many books lingering on my bedside table. I'm currently on 13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl by Mona Awad, and will then move to Slouching Towards Bethlehem and The White Album by Joan Didion, and Slumberland by Paul Beatty.

TWC: What are you writing right now?

TC: Right now I am working on two projects, one is a short story collection and the other is a hybrid collection of stories and essays. For those collections, I am writing flash fiction and memoir, plus longer pieces for publication in journals.  

TWC: What does your writing space look like?

TC: My living room, LOL! I have an office, but I never work in it.  In a corner of my living room is a cushy mustard-colored, mid-century styled club chair with a matching lamp above it and a small table right next to it. My laptop rests on a pillow on my lap; any papers or books go on the side table along with a glass of wine. Once my kids are in bed, the only sound you can hear in my living room is the tapping of computer keys and maybe my dog snoring.  

TWC: What is the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever been given and by whom?

TC: Ever? Oh, that's hard to answer because I've received such good advice, and my memory is really bad. So, I will go with the best advice I received recently. I conducted an interview for The Rumpus with another The Writer's Center instructor, Leslie Pietrzyk, who said, "Think about the stories you have inside that scare you. That's what you should be writing." This advice is so crucial for us storytellers who really want to get at the heart of the matter, the brutal truth of life. I hope to challenge my students to write those stories and put them out into the world.

Tyrese L. Coleman is the fiction editor for District Lit, an online journal of writing and art, and a graduate of the Writing Program at Johns Hopkins University. A 2016 Kimbilio Fiction Fellow and Virginia Quarterly Review Nonfiction Scholar, her work has appeared in numerous publications such as PANK, Washingtonian Magazine, The Rumpus, and listed in Wigleaf's Top 50 (very) short fictions.

Meet the Instructor: Jenny Chen

The ‘Meet the Instructor Series’ offers insight into the teaching styles and personalities of our instructors. This time around, we spoke with Jenny Chen, the leader of How to Pitch Magazines and Sell Your Work, an online beginner-level class that will run from October 15 through November 5, 2016.

The Writer’s Center: What brought you to The Writer’s Center?

Jenny Chen: I took my first class at The Writer's Center many, many years ago. It was a class for high school students on fiction, taught by Barbara Esstman. Since then, I've attending Writer's Center events and have always felt grateful for its presence in the D.C. community.

TWC: How would you describe your teaching style?

JC: Encouraging and specific. I like to help people enjoy the process of writing and to give specific, actionable feedback.

TWC: What are you reading right now?

JC: A lot of Junot Diaz.

TWC: What are you writing right now?

JC: Poetry and essays.

TWC: What does your writing space look like?

JC: I write all over the place and I travel a lot, so my writing space is generally a coffee shop with a notepad. I'm happiest when I'm minimalistic.

TWC: What is the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever been given and by whom?

JC: Oh dear . . . so many good pieces of writing advice and I can't even remember them when asked. My brother, who is a visual artist, always challenges me to be more concrete and specific in my writing, and has absolutely transformed my writing in a way that no writing teacher has ever done.

Jenny Chen is an award-winning science and health journalist. Her writing has appeared in publications such as The Atlantic, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Shape, and Marie Claire.

Sonic Memories

A collection of life essays by Cija Jefferson

By Mairin Rivett

Cija Jefferson, Baltimore resident and author, recently self-published her first book, Sonic Memories/and Other Essays. The inspiration for Cija’s collection of personal essays came from an assignment at the University of Baltimore's Creative Writing & Publishing Arts MFA program in which graduates were required to design and write a book. Although the collection began as a class project, Cija says that “the process of pulling essays and putting them together was very organic.” On the main floor of The Creative Arts Alliance for Cija’s book launch party, where I met Cija, chairs are set up facing a screen that has a slideshow of pictures from her life—her as a baby, she and her sister wearing matching dresses, her with a group of friends from college. It’s a surreal experience to see the characters from Cija’s essays suddenly come to life.

Cija initially planned to focus this collection on her post-college years when she lived in California. Her original working title for the book was, “Which Way Home.” However, guided by her mentors in the MFA program, Cija decided not settle on a fixed theme. Instead, she let her writing take her along for the ride. The result was a coming-of-age story told through a wide range of essays that span from her early years as a trouble-loving child, to her young-adult years when she struggled to find her place in the world, and ultimately, to the place she is today— where she says she’s beginning to let go of the negative voices in her head and pursue her true purpose in life: writing.

It’s hard to reconcile the outgoing, infectious, and confident Cija, who is standing across the room from me, with the timid girl in her essay, “The Whisper from Within.” In this piece she admits to purposefully waiting to tell her friends and family about a reading she was performing until the last minute—hoping, successfully, that if she told everyone at the last minute, no one would be able to show up. Although the reading in this essay occurred long before she completed Sonic Memories/and Other Essays, Cija admits that the nerves she felt that day are still very much present: “I still get butterflies when I step to the mic and share any of my work,” she says. “I've definitely gotten better about not allowing my nerves to take over, which is easier said than done—depending on the subject matter. Stories like ‘The Whisper From Within’ are tough to read aloud because the content strips away any artifice and reveals my fears and insecurities; it makes me feel exposed.”

As she reads excerpts of her essays at the book launch, Cija’s voice is loud and projects confidently. Wearing a chic white dress with her hair pulled back—an open and friendly smile on her face—Cija begins the reading by talking a little bit about the process of writing her book. Like many writers, the idea of publishing a full book initially seemed like a far-off, far-fetched dream. “I always thought of writing a book as some sort of lofty goal not made for mere mortals,” she says. “Honestly I don’t know that I would have ever attempted to self-publish a book, had it not been a program requirement.”

The process of self-publishing was long, and she admits there were many late nights and bouts of tears (mostly over the publishing software InDesign). In the end, however, Cija claims self-publishing proved to be infinitely worth the work. “This process taught me that I can self-publish without having to rely on templates…it’s like when people say driving a stick-shift gives you more control over [the car] than an automatic; self-publishing and designing your own work gives you more control over how the final product looks, and I’m really happy with what I’ve created.”

At 105 pages, Cija’s book is an emotional roller coaster. Separating humorous anecdotes from gut-wrenching pain by little more than a page or two, Cija’s book is a raw exploration of growing up, and on how the choices we make in an instant—looking back at a hospital bed or stealing a piece of candy from a local store, for example, have lasting impacts on us even years after the they are made.

Want a Byline? Learn to Write the Op-ed

By Ananya Bhattacharyya

Opinion Writing For Publication  starts September 15!

After eight years of writing and editing articles about marketing and managing small businesses—and spending my evenings and weekends polishing a literary novel—I reached a critical juncture. My novel was rejected by dozens of literary agents, and I wondered whether I should have gone to law school instead. It was in this dejected frame of mind that I wrote my first personal essay, and to my amazement it was published in The Guardian’s opinion section!

Since my début in The Guardian, I’ve had success in placing op-eds in well-respected publications, including The New York Times, Reuters, Al Jazeera America, and The Baltimore Sun. I’ve come to realize that editors are constantly looking for opinion-driven articles, which is why I’ve had success publishing them. While some newspapers and magazines only work with their regular columnists, many save space for outside contributors. How else can the press remain vibrant, keep a finger on society’s pulse, and provide meaningful insight into hundreds of ongoing issues?

Through the Opinion Writing For Publication workshop at The Writer’s Center, I will provide strategies and exercises to help you choose topics based on your sensibilities and experiences (as well as developing expertise) to create op-eds and get them published. You will learn to: perfect the art of making forceful arguments; know when to be subtle and when to not; craft a compelling narrative; figure out what one is trying to say as one is saying it; be aware of the power of aesthetics, humor, anecdotes; trust one’s intuition; and much more.

Are op-eds everyone’s cup of tea? No! There are many exceptionally talented writers with absolutely no interest in writing opinionated pieces. Instead, the op-ed is the perfect medium for writers who have the desire to be thought-provoking and who wish to shape public conversation.

If you tend to have contrarian opinions, if original ideas pop into your head regularly, or if you have expertise in one or more areas, I encourage you to join me. You will gain the understanding that an op-ed byline is an attainable goal—providing that you are willing to work hard—and that is a giant step toward success.