1 November 2004

In This Issue:

• The Stanza Meets November Head-On

• Forward it: Versal Submission Call

• New: Community Calls

• November Literary Picks

THE OPEN STANZA:

a night of mangoes, beat-box rhythms,
guerilla poets and macramé

When Ebele Ajogbe grows up, she wants to be a book. C.R. Avery opens his mouth and both poetry and harmonica emerge, while veteran performer Donald Gardner doesn't let his many awards and honors stop him from being a "perpetual child in wonder at his own constant escapes from his brain." And Gayle Force (a.k.a. Matthew Curlewis) may wear spandex as she presents her interpretive dance poem hits, but she is definitely no bimbo.

That, in a nutshell, is the line-up for November's The Open Stanza.

The four performers this month come from Nigeria, Canada, England and Australia, but have one thing is common: a desire to "Get It Off the Page" and onto the stage.

This show is poised to be a great one, with Ajogbe reading from her first published book of poetry; Avery singing, playing, and crafting clever rhymes all at once; Gardner sending chills through the audience with his legendary work; and Curlewis transforming himself into the wildly entertaining and sexy Gayle Force. DJ Pseudomodo, hailing from New Zealand, will tie it all together with a beat resembling the meter of their stanzas. More...

Thursday, 11 November
9pm (doors open at 8pm)
Volta, Houtmankade 336, Amsterdam
5 euros entrance

CALLS FOR WRITERS

Forward It: Versal Calls

Versal v.3.0 kindly requests your poetry, prose, essay, & art for consideration. Perfect bound, 100 page internationally acclaimed magazine; printed in Prague, published in Amsterdam. We seek work that is urgent, involved, and unexpected.

Full guidelines: www.wordsinhere.com/versal.html
Deadline: January 15, 2005.

Forward this into the world and help us get the world into Versal.

wordsinhere presents the Poetry Group

Robin's Poetry Critique Group is beginning again! Join us for sessions that will provide close critical consideration of poems by participants, interwoven with tips relevant to technical problems. How to turn the initial creative impulse into poetry? What distinguishes poetry from prose? How toshape a poem on the page? Everyone is welcome regardless of experience, though we are looking for a serious commitment from participants. Bring some of your own work and share with others.

Sign up for a free Introductory Session on Thursday, 4 November at 7:30pm.

To register contact r.winckel@wanadoo.nl or tel. 070 511 4800. Numbers are limited.

Workshops & Meetups

wordsinhere: Pure Fiction — Are you a fiction writer looking for feedback, inspiration and moral support? Pure Fiction is a group of English language writers of short stories, novels and other forms of fiction. The group emphasis is on reading/listening to each other's work and providing honest critique and encouragement.

Please contact Cindy David at cindy@wordsinhere.com for details and information.

ABC Treehouse: Finding Your Material: How to write authentically — In this two-day workshop, we’ll find out how to nail down your material and the voice which writes it. Please write for info and to reserve your place: capwrite@xs4all.nl.

For more information on these workshops and for a listing of more, click here.

COMMUNITY CALLS

New: Classifieds space for the community. Writer seeking writer for Keats and beer. All ads subject to approval. Email info@wordsinhere.com.

Writing Buddy?

I am looking for a writing buddy, who has an affinity with one or more of the following genres: non-fiction (personal essay, op-ed or memoir), creative non-fiction or short-stories. Depending on your time availability, we would aim at reading and discussing each other's work once every 1-2 weeks. The idea behind having a buddy is to encourage one another to produce more work, critique what we share and possibly to exchange information about markets, workshops and books. If this sounds interesting to you, please email me at: ekleinveld@yahoo.com.

English/Theatre Workshops

My name is Mike Williams. I am a theatre practitioner and English Language teacher. In November I am presenting two theatre workshops in Amsterdam of interest to both students of theatre and also students of English: Creating Theatre Workshop and an  English With Theatre Workshop. If you are interested in either or both of these workshops or would like more information you can contact me at mjw41a@hotmail or on (020) 623 0665.

NOVEMBER EVENTS WE'RE GOING TO ATTEND

Poetry in Motion. Motion in Poetry.

Friday 5 November, 7:30pm

Perdu, Amsterdam

Poetry translated through dance and sign language. Poems by Hugo Claus and Gerrit Kowenaar included. Translations from Mindy Brown, Pauline de Groot, and Jaap Blonk, among others. More info: www.perdu.nl.

Crossing Border Festival

11-14 November

Various Locations, Den Haag

Crossing Border is an international literature festival where the spoken word takes centre-stage. More info: www.crossingborder.nl. •

The Open Stanza

Thursday 11 November, 8pm

Volta, Amsterdam

Poets make their stanzas here. With performances from Donald Gardner (UK), C.R. Avery (Canada), Ebele (UK), and Gayle Force, aka Matthew Curlewis (OZ). With DJ interludes from DJ Pseudomodo (NZ). The place of international sounds and stanzas. Entrance: 5 euros. More info... •

Jeanette Winterson: Lighthousekeeping

Friday 12 November, 8pm

Vondelkerk, Amsterdam

Jeanette Winterson emerged onto the literary scene with the publication, in 1985, of her highly original, debut novel, Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit. BritLit brings her to Amsterdam to read and talk about her new novel, Lighthousekeeping. More info: www.britlit.info. •

Black Magic Poetesses

Friday 19 November, 8pm

Activiteitencentrum Ganzenhoef, Amsterdam

Palabras presents the Black Magic Woman Fest edition of their monthly spoken word evening. With performances from wordsinhere's favorite Zimbabwean, Rina Mushonga. More info: www.palabras.nl. •

Events listed with a • are known to be accessible to an English-language audience. If you visit a show which does not have a • on our list but does include multi-lingual performances, please let us know.

For the full list of November Events and for a listing of regular shows, click here.

ABOUT THIS LIST AND ADDRESS REMOVAL

This list provides news and information about the wordsinhere community and its projects, as well as a listing of this month's choice events in and around the Netherlands. How do you get an event on the newsletter AND on the site? Email it to us: calendar@wordsinhere.com.

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Copyright © wordsinhere 2004. No part may be reproduced, in whole or in part, without the specific written permission of wordsinhere first hand and obtained. wordsinhere is a registered association through the Kamer van Koophandel, Netherlands. Number 34181684.