This past December 6th, Patricia Ann McNair graced our podium to bring us this "Deer Story" from her new collection The Temple of Air, and it went a little like this...
If you liked that, please don't miss our next event which takes place Tuesday, January 3, 2012, and includes readings from Stephen Markley, Lawrence Santoro, Holly McDowell, Christopher Sweet, and William Shunn!
Attention, aspiring writers! We interrupt this Christmas Eve to bring you an important message about skulls and spines.
No, it's not The Nightmare Before Christmas. It's the Skull & Spine Workshop, taught by two-time Tuesday Funk reader Suzanne Clores. It takes place in Evanston on Sunday evenings from January 8th to February 12th, and this is what it's all about:
Bring an idea. We'll give it some bones.The cost is $225 for the full run of six sessions. Sign-up is on a first-come-first-served basis.
Six sessions will be offered on Sunday evenings in Evanston, with specific focus on the first chapter of your novel/memoir and a working outline. Study of first chapters by Jonathan Franzen, Jennifer Egan, Joan Didion, Donna Tartt, Juno Diaz, Martin Amis and Patti Smith will serve as discussion topics before we workshop each other's chapters-in-progress. This is a fast moving workshop with aggressive deadlines.Prior to each class, participants will present one or several sequential scenes belonging to the first chapter for their work in progress. Classes will begin with a 'round the circle check in on writing process and impressions of the assigned readings. Workshopping each other's submissions will be the bulk of the workshop, with attention to character, action, setting, and possible next steps.
Attendance is limited to five. Each writer will receive weekly written feedback on their scenes and revisions by all participants. The last two sessions will be devoted to crafting a working outline based on methods determined by discussion and exercises. By the end of the workshop, you should have a functioning first chapter and outline to guide you.
Suzanne Clores is the author of Memoirs of a Spiritual Outsider. She blogs for Gaiam and The Nervous Breakdown, has taught in the MA/MFA program at Northwestern University, and is currently revising her debut novel. Contact Suzanne about participating at suzanne@suzanneclores.com.
And here's a handy PDF flyer you can download and print for more info. Write on!
He enjoys literary genres where the writer talks about himself in the third person. It reminds him of growing up in Kansas City, where his parents would frequently reference him as if he were absent, though he were standing between them. For example:
Father: Has he washed his hands for dinner?
Me: Who? What are you talking about?
Mother: I don't know, you'll have to ask him yourself.
Father: He ought to know what's expected of him.
Me: Hello, Dad, Mom! I'm here.
Mother: I'm sure I have no idea what he thinks he knows...
His favorite comedic rant is from the British television sitcom Coupling, the episode where the Steve goes shopping with Susan for furniture, and ends up losing his composure over cushions.
Not to fear, Chris won't rant for you at Tuesday Funk. As Steve says, "I can't have opinions in a place like this!"
Instead, Chris will read you a story about his misspent youth. He promises "something for everyone."
When not on stage reading, the writer enjoys bicycling, drinking coffee, and "jotting down notes," while waiting for Quinn The Eskimo to get here. Subtext: Godot.
Time's a whirligig.
Of the four elements, fire, earth, air, and water, he most enjoys "hey, ho, the wind and the rain," wild words and wet cheeks, laughter and tears, comedy and the other thing.
But that's all one...
Join Tuesday Funk on January 3, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. at Hopleaf's upstairs bar to hear Chris read!
This past December 6th, Hanna Martine dropped by our microphone to bring us a bit of Blue's Clues–inspired erotica. No, really, we're serious. Because you never know what's going to happen "In the Doghouse"...
And if you liked that, please don't miss our next event which takes place Tuesday, January 3, 2012, and includes readings from Stephen Markley, Lawrence Santoro, Holly McDowell, Christopher Sweet, and William Shunn!
This past December 6th, Electric Velocipede mastermind and Hugo Award winner John Klima made the dangerous trek south from the Waukesha Public Library to read his short story "Life's Simple Pleasures" for us. Attend, children...
And if you liked that, be sure to pick up some back issues of the fine Electric Velocipede (the most recent of which has one of your humble co-host's stories in it).
And please don't miss our next event, which takes place Tuesday, January 3, 2012, and includes readings from Stephen Markley, Lawrence Santoro, Holly McDowell, Christopher Sweet, and William Shunn!
This charitable monthly reading series benefits 826CHI, a Chicago non-profit writing and tutoring program. Please bring a bit of money for a donation or for the raffle, and arrive nice and early for a seat. See you there!
Strap on your snowshoes this January because Tuesday Funk is taking you on a wild winter trek. For our 41st episode you'll join us in tracking down the talents of Stephen Markley, Lawrence Santoro, Christopher Sweet, Holly McDowell, and William Shunn. And your reward? Dozens of varieties of cold beer in our warm, cozy environs, and an evening of prime entertainment.
The hunt gets underway Tuesday, January 3, 2012, 7:30 pm, in the upstairs lounge at Hopleaf, 5148 N. Clark St., Chicago. Arrive early, carve yourself out some space in the upper room, and grab a beer from John at the cash-only bar. We start seating at 7:00 pm and no earlier. Admission is always free, but you must be 21 or older. And come early or stay afterward for some great Belgian-style food downstairs.
Please bring plenty of friends, and become a fan of Tuesday Funk on Facebook so you never miss an invitation to our readings. Mush!
We just want to give you a quick heads-up that your Tuesday Funk co-host William Shunn will be appearing as part of the Essay Fiesta reading series at The Book Cellar in Lincoln Square this coming Monday, December 19th, at 7:00 pm.
It'll be Bill's third time reading at Essay Fiesta, a monthly charitable reading series that benefits 826CHI, a non-profit writing and tutoring program here in Chicago, and he's very excited to be asked back. Hosts Alyson Lyon and Keith Ecker (both of whom have read for us at the Funk) do a fantastic job of putting together a great program every month. Also appearing on Monday will be Dana Norris, J.H. Palmer, Jennifer Bosworth, and Eric Bjorlin. Please turn out and support the whole gang.
The Book Cellar, we should mention, is a wonderful place for a reading. It's a lovely independent bookstore and café, with beer, wine, and coffee available during their events. The reading itself is free, with fun prizes raffled and donation accepted on behalf of 826CHI. Show up early to be sure of a seat.
Last time Bill read at Essay Fiesta, back in April 2010, it looked and sounded something like this:
This past December 6th, Emile Ferris kicked off Tuesday Funk in a big way with her poem "My Mother Is 1968 Chicago." We wish technical difficulties didn't prevent us from showing you the full work, but check out this powerful, powerful excerpt from it:
And if you liked that, please don't miss our next event which takes place Tuesday, January 3, 2012, and includes readings from Stephen Markley, Lawrence Santoro, Holly McDowell, Christopher Sweet, and William Shunn!
