Jazz Poetry Slam au Chat Noir Friday 11th April

This was great the last times – at SpokenWord itself but also when Moe ran a whole Friday night. Poets give the band a beat, a rhthym, a theme or an atmosphere and the band will improvise behind the poet.

You get more time than at SpokenWord and it really adds something to prose or poetry to have the music interacting with and backing what you’re doing.

Plus Moe and the band are real good jazz musicians and will do their own pieces, songs and standards or Moe’s jazz poetry too.

The last Friday night ended with lots of singing and a great time had by all.

8pm till late
Friday 11th April
Au Chat Noir
76 rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud
Metro Parmentier/Couronnes

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Photoreport from Spoken Word Paris March 24: Sleep!

Photos by Sabine Dundure. Look at the full album here! Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci. Song to listen while shuffling pictures & memories: Goodbye for now by Charlie Rayne.

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The Other Writers’ Group

A writers’ workshop and the heart of a community of writers in Paris. We practice the art of giving useful feedback on stories and poetry in a spirit of encouragement and learning of the craft of writing. The experienced leaders, writers David Barnes and Bruce Sherfield, create a safe space to lead passionate enquiry into what makes stories and poems work. The atmosphere is that of a university tutorial focussed on fostering talent. David has been running the workshop since 2005, Bruce joined him in 2011. Suggested donation 5 euros.

The Other Writers’ Group
6.30pm-8.30pm every Sunday at Shakespeare & Company, 37 rue de la Bûcherie, 75005. Métro Saint Michel. Bring 10 copies of a poem or of 4 pages of prose for insightful feedback. Or come to listen and practice the art of giving useful and encouraging feedback to others. What makes a story work? What makes a poem strong? 6 euros participation. Click here 
for more info. Click on the blue stamp on the right to sign up to the mailing list. 

David Barnes is a short story writer and poet, prose editor of Strangers in Paris (Tightrope Books, 2011) and editor of The Bastille lit magazine. His short stories and poems have been published in a number of magazines. He has run the group since he started it in 2005.

Bruce Sherfield is a story writer and poet who designed The Bastille no.2: In Your Dreams. He is currently working on a novel set in Brussels. He has co-run the group since 2011.

We are both passionate about learning the craft of writing and about growing the community of writers. Join us!

 

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Building a writers’ community at Shakespeare & Company

Other Writers' GroupThe Other Writers’ Group is a space for all those who love writing to meet and practice the art of giving useful feedback on stories and poems.

Everyone is welcome – whether you’re a beginner writing your first poem or an experienced writer who has developed the craft over many years.

The workshop is led by David Barnes & Bruce Sherfield – “Between us we have 12 years experience of running the group. We believe useful feedback is both challenging and respectful.”

“We make sure the space is safe and nurturing so that challenging feedback can be offered. Conflicts of ideas are stimulating, creative and respectful. They produce growth in writing skill.”

The Other Writers’ Group has been running on these principles since 2005. Its goal, as always, is the development of community among writers.

In March we’re meeting at 12pm-2pm on Saturdays in the library at Shakespeare & Company. Taking part is only 6 euros. If you want feedback on your own writing bring 10 copies of your poem or 10 copies of 4 pages of your prose.

More info

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Spoken Word Paris March 3: Colours & Jazz!

It was March 3, it was having Colours as theme, it was the new setting, the new lights, it was the special 2nd round: “improvised jazz to accompany the poetry”. Andy Guthrie was at the piano, Jay Golden at the bass, Moe Seager at vocals & percussion. It was Gabriel Gorman’s birthday until midnight, it was Sabine Dundure’s birthday after midnight. There were 26 Performers officially and many more in reality. The Cinderella rule was destroyed. These are some of the images of that wild night. For the the whole album of pictures taken by Sabine click here. We ended with these last three lines read by Amruta:

Your absence has gone through me

like thread through a needle.

Everything I do is stitched with its color. 

W.S. Mervin (“Separation”)

But don’t look at the past. Think about your future, or don’t think about future: Next Monday’s theme is: fix.

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How to get your book out

How do you get published?
“It’s very difficult now to just have a manuscript and get it through the channels it needs to go to where it is accepted by a publisher and put out there. I do think this whole idea of self-publishing is really the most realistic and satisfying way that a first-time novelist, for example, should get their work out there.” – Bret Easton Ellis
Self-publishing is cheap but without promoting it in some innovative way will it just sink without trace? Julian is trying to launch his novel about a girl growing up in a dysfunctional family in Venezuela, ”Even the Red Heron,” through street art funded by crowd-sourced donations. The donations will cover both printing and promotion. Check it out. Good way to do it? Is his appeal for funds done well?

Feel free to support him. Even the Red Heron

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Photoreport from Spoken Word February 24: Initiation!

Pictures by Alex Manthei, you know, the guy of Twowordsfor. The guy below right here. 

Have a look atthe full album of  pictures here. Songs to listen while browsing the pictures: AC/DC – You shook me all night long (gently offered by David Leo Sirois) or Martha by Tom Waits (gently offered by Sile Somers). See you next Monday, downstairs au Chat Noir for the next episode of the saga: “Colour.”

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Come raise a glass to 9 years of the Other Writers’ Group

Come and celebrate 9 years of the Other Writers’ Group with a glass of champagne (offered) this Saturday 1st March at the new time 12pm-2pm upstairs at Shakespeare and Company. 6 euros to join us. Bring ten copies of your poem or of up to 4 pages of prose for feedback. Or come to listen and join in the discussion and drink a toast to this community.
Throughout March we’re trying out this new time of 12pm to 2pm.
Cheers all,
David
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Upcoming… JAZZ POETRY SLAM – Friday 21st Feb

Following the success of mixing poetry with improvised jazz in the 2nd round at SpokenWord Paris two weeks ago, Moe is extending the idea to a full night of spokenword and jazz on Friday 21st Feb at the Chat Noir:

Jazz Poetry Slam.
Au Chat Noir.
Friday. Feb 21.
20h00-midnight.
Sign up 19.30-20h00

Band:
Moe Seager-background vocals, percussion.
Andy Guthrie-piano.
Jay Golden-bass.

Moe explains:
Poets present a theme, mood & tempo – Poets can perform in Jazz, Jazz-Hop, Hip-Hop and Blues, Jazz-we accompany him/her in that style.Jazz The Chat Noir has offered me pilot dates in consideration of this being a weekly event. Very talented musicians have signalled their enthusiasm to play with poets. I am confident of success because of the many talented Spoken Word in Paris poets who participated on Feb 3rd, who wanna do it again. For now, we only pass the hat for funds – to pay the musicians. Sign up – 7h30-8h00.

Any questions please contact Moe
Cheers all, David

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Photo report from 10th Feb

Thanks to Alex Manthei for these.

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