...., lets talk about productivity. The amazing Cara suggested I create a Trello board, containing all of the ideas and tasks and upcoming projects and needs. This way I have a space to put my thoughts, and you have a space to know what we need and lend a hand where you can. The internet is a vast wonderful place, and discovering Trello has rejuvenated me
Read moreThe 2017 Slam Team Competition
The big news for our poetry slam community is that we are going to be assembling a slam team in 2017. This is exciting because it will give us a strong group of performers who can represent us in regional and possibly even national performances and competitions throughout the year! Wahoo! I am here to address how we are doing that, and what exactly being on a slam team will mean for those interested.
Read moreOut Loud HSV A Year in Review - Call for Submissions
t’s that time of year folks, Out Loud HSV’s anthology is back for another publication built to highlight the work of our incredible community members. We’re teaming back up with Hypertrophic Press to bring you a beautiful book that you can be proud to be a part of. Here’s how it works. Everyone who submits gets at least one piece printed in the book. Submitted work must have been read at either an open mic or a slam from Dec 2015 onward. The deadline for submissions is November 16th so if you have a piece you want to contribute but haven’t read at an event, there’s still time.
Read moreCelebrating Visual Art by Literary Artists
Artist and poet Sam McCall brings visual and literary arts together at the Out Loud HSV studio.
Read moreSharing Safe Spaces
An opportunity to share and speak and listen and heal with our community.
Read moreOut Loud Update : We're Basically Taking Over
TC at the Veterans Memorial during the Rocket City Reading Tour
Okay, okay, I get it, I haven't been updating this blog nearly as much as I should. But come on, I've been busy! You believe me don't you?
Read moreWe Got A Studio!
It has always been a dream of mine for Out Loud HSV to have a physical location to dream and create and grow, and the Flying Monkey Arts was an obvious home for such a space. I never imagined it happening so quickly, yet here we are. I've had the key in my hand for a week now, and it feels so surreal. I've been on and off joy crying all week. I feel like my heart finally has a home.
Read moreThe Zine Scene
Uncle Flymo's Magic Elixir - If you have yet to pick up a copy, I suggest you head on over to Karma Rags on the Flying Monkey Arts floor of Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment this Wednesday at 12 on the dot and get yourself a copy! Several Copies! Mail them to your friends! They're only one plain old very simple dollar!
Read moreWe're on the Radio!
New project for the airwaves, straight to your ears!
Read moreWhat Are You Writing To?
Sometimes we do it in absolute silence. Sometimes we do it to the noises of the busy city street. Sometimes we do it to the endless drone of daytime TV, or the sweet ramblings of our favorite song. So I ask you fellow writers - what are you writing to?
Read moreBookshelf Writing Prompt
A random writing prompt to help you create wonderful words!
Read moreSynchronicities and Secrets
This blog post reaches you a day late, but let me explain. I was at a super-secret wonderfully creative meeting last night that I can’t tell you about just yet! You’ve got to believe me! I was craving my keyboard but alas, I was out late plotting and scheming amazing things for the future of Out Loud HSV and spoken word and creative collaborations and the next chapters! You believe me, don’t you?
Good. Now, I absolutely hate half-heartedness in all of my work, so I do feel completely guilty not giving you a well-rounded, fully formed thought in these blog posts. But then, I realized it is super Tuesday and this ish will probably get lost in your Facebook feed in an instant with all the hype of taking down Voldermort by voting for Dumbledore.
So I leave you as quickly as I started, with a fun synchronicity of videos that were next to each other in my newsfeed and how I started my day. I hope you push hate further away than the moon, beyond the furthest reaches of the furthest galaxies, today and all days.
Learning to Lean
Thanking my community, and learning to lean.
Read moreIs Your Brain Stuck on One Writing Topic?
We've all been stuck in writing ruts before, here's how I get out of mine.
Read moreHonoring Black History Month
As spoken word artists and creators and humans we need to be creating space for conversations to grow, and not just ones that feature our own voices. Each February I try to take Black History Month as a reminder of how I should live throughout the year - to check my privilege, listen to the stories of others, and realize that I have so much more to learn always. There are so many voices out there that don't get heard or seen they way they should. We own it to our communities to give space for these voices to be heard and to grow and to inspire new conversations. So I just want to use this space to recommend ten videos of astounding contemporary poets of color that I admire, in no particular order, and let these poets speak for themselves.
Read morePoem a Day Update
Writing a poem a day for a year is an incredibly daunting task. I had no idea what to expect. I have only ever completed one 30/30 (thirty poems, thirty days) in my life even though I had started many, so this task seemed unreachable. But here I am at day 32, feeling amazing. I am so surprised at the content I am producing, but also the way the words are coming out.
Read moreI Slam Poems and So Can You: A Beginners Guide
We've had some questions along the way about poetry slams, and I am choosing to use this weeks blog for a more in depth explanation on what exactly slam is, why the hell we do it, and how we can improve.
Read more7 Things I Learned While Compiling an Anthology
The Out Loud Year in Review anthology has been a huge deal, taking a lot of time and energy, and every second of effort has been COMPLETELY worth it. It looks amazing, and is beyond anything I could have ever imagined accomplishing. Thanks to the lovely Lynsey and Jeremy of Hypertrophic Press, I had some much needed guidance and wisdom along the way. I have submitted to many places before, and have tried my hand working at a few literary magazines in the past, but this was beyond what I had ever pushed myself to do. So, for your enjoyment or for you to ignore, here are 7 things I learned while compiling an anthology.
Read morePoetry Slam Sunday SUCCESS!
The thunder that ran through last nights poetry slam is still running rampant under my skin - the energy was intoxicating, the audience was present and powerful, and the poets, oh the poets....
Read moreGreetings From The Tiny Weirdo Who Hosts Out Loud!
This blog will be another avenue to support and grow our literary community. I plan to post videos or poems I find inspiring, writing prompts that may help us get out of creative road blocks, events or workshops going on in surrounding areas, and more.
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