Kick Starting the New Year

 Besides getting up this morning and writing, I went this afternoon to the Writers Place for the 4th Annual Writers Place - New Years Day Celebration Reading. It's a 12 hour Poetry Reading Marathon that Sharon Eiker organized based on the annual Bowery Poetry Club event in New York.  So from a creativity standpoint I feel like the year has gotten off to a good start.

I thought now might be a good time to roll out some resources for those writers looking for good start to the year.

• The Artist's Way.  This is something I just learned of this past week. Julia Cameron has put together a fascinating program that is geared for artists of all types. The program is a 12 week concentrated effort to spark creativity. If interested, check out the web site here.
• Bob Ragland the non-starving artist~ I heard an NPR story about Bob Ragland - He is an upbeat, energetic fellow that has made a living as an artist and tells other what he has learned that makes it work. The NPR story is here.  You can find his web site here. The story mentions a pamphlet of his road to success. It's simple and focused. I'm sure it can be modified to any art venue.  The Stuff You Won't Learn In Art School 
• readwritepoem poetry prompts
• The Writing Site

There's a few things to get you thinking if your having trouble getting the new year started.

Best wishes to everyone in 2009!

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Mark Your Calendar - Local Poetry Events

Main Street Rag Poetry Showcase

December 21, 7PM

Join Shawn Pavey, co-founder of The Main Street Rag Literary Journal, for an open mic reading and holiday party at The Writers Place. The cost of admission will be a snack tray or any of your other holiday favorites, beverage of your choice, or any other holiday cheer that you wish to bring.  There's no sign up list, and the party goes until we're out of poems or can no longer stand, whichever comes first. 

New Year's Celebration Reading- 4th Annual!!!

January 1, 12PM-12AM

Start the New Year off right at The Writers Place with our fourth annual New Year's Celebration Reading and Open Mic. Sign up to perform original music or your own poems and short stories. $5 suggested donation.

www.writersplace.org Questions: director@writersplace.org 816-753-1090

Technorati Tags: Kansas City Poetry Events,Wroters Place

Bohemian Ball

Saturday night I attended the the Bohemian Ball - a fund raiser to support the operations of the Writers Place in Kansas City. There were a few in costume and many who weren't. The evening got off to a rocky start when writers arrived to find the building dark and candle laden. The power on the entire block had gone out at the most inopportune. The muse in the end smiled upon us and the night ended in the light.

Among the food and drink there were these long flat crackers that were so damn addictive. Picture wine + poets, only more. We just shortened the word cracker by dropping the er.

At one point a chorus of singers did a ditty to the tune of Abbas' Dancing Queen changed to Writing Queen.

Lots of silent auction items. People were carrying out tons of spoils at the end of then evening. The only downer beside the initial dark was the Chardonnay running out quickly. I don't do red wine.

Some upcoming Writers Place events:

Sunday, October 19, 2008 -- 7:00 p.m.

Main Street Rag Poetry Showcase Featuring Tim Pettet and Prometheus Unbound

Main Street Rag hosts a production of "Imagination, Please" featuring the voices of Sharon Eiker, Shawn Pavey, Timothy Pettet and others.

Friday, October 24, 2008- 8 p.m.

Dan Jaffee Reading

Poet Dan Jaffee will read political and social issue poems for the "First Tuesday in November".

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Bohemian Ball 2008

This Saturday night - 6:00 to 9:00 PM all of the serious local writers in the Kansas City area will be in one place... The Bohemian Ball!

Wine and beer

Lavish buffet coordinated by Murray Gorman,
Food and Beverage Director for the Nelson-Atkins Museum

Jazz and blues by Brother Iota

The opportunity to bid on our 100 Silent Auction items, including

• Theater tickets - American Heartland, KC Rep, and The Unicorn
• Gift certificates from popular stores and boutiques
• Feasts at favorite restaurants
• Gift baskets for holidays, cat lovers, kids, homes
• massage, yoga , language lessons, creativity coaching, computer repair
• One-on one sessions with some of Kansas City's best writers

Proceeds from The Bohemian Ball support The Writers Place’s community literary programs, readings, and workshops.

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Writers Place - Sunday -Sept. 14 6:00-PM Reading and CD Poetry CD Give-Away.

A repeat of sorts to the event last Monday at Johnson County Library.

At the Writers Place - 3607 Pennsylvania, K.C., MO there will be another reading and CD release party. First 50 get a free CD!

Technorati Tags: Writers Place,Poetry,Kansas City event,Free CD,Reading