Post #31 – Women’s Memoirs, News – Matilda Butler and Kendra Bonnett
Memoir Writing AND Reading
One of our students, Tracy Kauffman Wood, emailed recently to say that she was starting an Open Mic night at a local coffee house and wanted us to know she’d be reading a chapter from her memoir at the first event.
Since we couldn’t make it to Philadelphia, we urged her to record the evening and let us share it with you. Here’s the backstory from Tracy:
“We have a couple of wonderful coffeehouse/music venue establishments within walking distance of our house. Both are called Milkboy. The work of local artists are featured on the walls. There is something going on there most nights, including singer/songwriters concerts, an Open Mic night for musicians, a monthly Mad Poet’s Society meeting, etc. I thought, “Here’s an opportunity for memoir writers to share and promote their work.” We are regulars at Milkboy so I spoke with the owners who immediately supported the idea. It was just a matter of agreeing on a monthly night and promoting it. I told every local writer I could think of (many had never read in public before.) I wrote a press release, which I posted on my facebook page, my blog and in mass emails. About a week later, I picked up a local paper and there was my announcement.
“On the first Tuesday of April we had seven writers of different ages and a wonderfully receptive audience. Every seat in the house was taken. I taped it and have just posted the the videos on YouTube. We’re all looking forward to the first Tuesday in May! I’m inspired and looking at some pieces I wrote in the past and have never shared. Perhaps this is the right venue. It’s a new dimension for my writing.”
— Tracy Kauffman Wood
http://www.whocanstopadream.blogspot.com
The spoken version of Tracy’s chapter is longer than YouTube’s 10 minute limit so she split it into two videos. We invite you to share this special experience with Tracy. Your comments are welcome below.
Part II
Perhaps you have a local venue where you might start an Open Mic night for memoir readings.
