Garfunkel and Oates — featured in the video — did not make an appearance at La Paloma Sabanera on Wednesday evening, but two locals did a rousing cover of this song to wrap up the monthly edition of Syllable: A Reading Series.
Each month, writers are invited to submit pieces of writing on a theme. Those selected are allotted ten minutes to read. Most pieces are spoken word, though this time around there were several musical selections.
This is not just another poetry open mic.
Writers read short fiction, creative nonfiction, sketches, plays…really, anything that could stand alone.
This most recent reading revolved around the theme of love.
Some pieces covered the terrain one would expect — first loves and the loss of love. During one person’s recounting of her misadventures in love, she read from diary entries penned as an adolescent. Hilarious.
One reader shared a story of the non-sexual love she had for a caretaker who nursed her during chemotherapy.
This is no poetry slam, no festival of egotism.
Writers are expected to treat their work seriously. The program’s website says potential readers should “use appropriate grammar and have proofread your piece many times.” It’s not about perfection, but quality. Writers are welcomed regardless of training or experience. The environment is supportive. The audience is there to listen and offer encouragement.
And it’s free, thanks in part to a City of Hartford grant program.
“Luck” is the theme of the reading on March 21st. If you want to read in March, you can submit your writing by using this form.
Richard
Oh my goodness! I didn’t know that there was a gate keeper for Hartford’s literary scene. Hip or not hip I will have to tell yea old punkpink to clean up a bit, (might be hard to wash out pinks mouth with soap), read a few books on good grammar, study proper etiquette, and proofread more often.
Poor Pink had a proof reader at one time but the reader didn’t like the zip code pink lived in. So pink fired her backside and now doesn’t care if the white man’s English is murdered along with all other silly traditions, institutions, and learning to do courses. “We can bring to birth a new world from the ashes of the old.” Quality is a scary place to rely on.
Perhaps we can convince pink to come out on a date next month. She likes to be as lucky as the next guy. Are refreshments served?
Kerri Provost
There have been open mics at La Paloma lately, if you like the free-for-all format. After going open mics for years and years around CT, I have come to appreciate the gatekeeper. It’s not as stringent as it sounds, but definitely encourages writers to take more pride in their work.
Julia
As the gatekeeper in question, I want to second Kerri’s “not as stringent as it sounds” comment. I have never turned something down for grammar (or corrected it), and am certainly not perfect myself. Also note that I said “appropriate” grammar instead of “proper” grammar– meaning appropriate to your piece. If you’re writing and editing with an intentional style that breaks tradition, awesome– if that’s what you’re going for. (See how I ended in a preposition there? Totally fine.)
I based my guidelines on the guidelines of excellent and engaging literary magazines. Like a good lit mag, I want the evening to feel curated for the audience. That doesn’t mean I edit the pieces: it means that I put them in an order that is enjoyable for those who come to listen. It also means that we have large audiences, because they know who’s reading ahead of time. The intention is to create a live literary event– certainly not the ONLY literary event in Hartford (there are so many! And so many good ones).
There is an excellent open mic night at Real Art Ways called Inescapable Rhythms, which I have purposely scheduled around so that literary types can go to both that and Syllable if they desire. See you there, perhaps!
— Julia from Syllable