Back in 2011, a local writer had the idea of starting a writer's group and repeatedly pitched the idea to me until I said yes.
We held our first meeting in February 2012.
About a year and a half later, this writer had to step back and my current co-leader Tom Hernandez stepped up.
In the fall 2013, Tom approached Tammy at The Book and Bean Cafe about hosting an open mic event at her venue. Tom felt that we, as writers, should develop the skill of reading our pieces in front of a microphone to an audience.
We continued holding open mics at The Book and Bean a couple times a year until COVID. And we hope to schedule one later this year.
In September 2022, about a dozen of us stretched our confidence a bit further by reading in a large ballroom at The Timbers of Shorewood book club, which had read two of our anthologies.
We now have an opportunity that will stretch us even further.
At 7 p.m. April 22, eight of us will present our works in a radio-play format at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park and Theatre in Joliet in a yet unnamed event.
In addition to me, the following WriteOn Joliet members will participate: Maureen Blevins, Ed Calkins, Holly Coop, Steve Cordin, Diana Estell, Cean Magosky, and Duanne Walton.
The eight of us met at The Book Market last week to decide which pieces to read, what order to present them, divide speaking parts, lightly discuss sound effects, and read through the pieces a couple of times.
Except for WriteOn Joliet and Bicentennial Park, you, as reader of this blog post right now, are the first to hear about this event. We haven't event take a group photo yet.
It is a huge leap for people who are most comfortable sitting behind a computer to stand in front of a mic on a large stage.
But we promise to work really hard so you will laugh with us (and not at us) as we strive to entertain and, maybe, inspire you.
WriteOn Joliet meets at the Joliet Public Library.
For more information, visit writeonjoliet.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment