I’m playing up this Rumpus reading because it really seems like the kind of literary event we need more of: literary in leaning, but entertainment in approach. Something you can bring your non-writer friends to that’ll possibly get them jazzed about lit events in general.
I just saw that in addition to the great cross-genre lineup, they’ve added a way for the audience to get more involved–to actually read beside the authors on stage. This is a pretty neat opportunity. Basically, they’ve got “an ask.” Use a line from Sam Lipsyte’s novel The Ask as a jumping off point, and write a 300 word story. Send the result in to rozalia@therumpus.net, and get a chance of being 1 of 4 readers invited to the stage.
This is something all us NYC folks should do. Big Other represent! Here are the details.
Totally with you regarding the literary in nature, but also trying to be of a more general entertaining nature — far-reaching as possible without being entirely mainstream.
Also check out:
http://lightbulbmouth.com/
LightbulbMouth Radio Hour in Long Beach
and
http://www.literarydeathmatch.com/
Literary Death Match (everywhere)
as two other great examples you might already know about…
I’d never heard of Light Bulb Mouth. I very much like the idea of an Informationist.
You should actually consider doing it if you’re ever out on the west coast. Let me know and I can put you and Derrick into touch.
Sounds great! I will do.