Check it out, Word Pirates: Marcia published an essay on Common Ties about her adventures in speed dating called Bless Their Ugly Little Hearts. Very funny stuff. Give it a read.

And congratulations, Marcia.

… that won’t bore you 

Up-and-coming writers put on free reading and arts event at the historic Phoenix Theater

Petaluma, Calif., Jan. 23, 2007 – Word Pirates, a professional writing group, will host its first public reading on February 8. True to their name, the Word Pirates will be storming the Phoenix Theater and turning it into a showcase for some serious talent. Along with the reading, the show will feature work from photographers, artists, local literary journals and more!

Doors will open at 7:30 p.m., with a casual mingling among displays by Bay Area artists, pirate-themed appetizers and surprise live entertainment. At 8 p.m., seven Word Pirates members will read original pieces ranging from 5 to 7 minutes in length. This event is free to the public, and all are welcome. Peg legs and parrots must be checked at the door.

• Word Pirates Reading and Art Show Date: Thursday, Feb. 8
• Time: 7:30 - 9 p.m.
• Place: The Phoenix Theater – 201 Washington St., Petaluma
• Cost: Free (donations appreciated)

Reading at the Event: Joy Lanzendorfer, Morgan Elliott, Robin Cadogan, Noelani Price, Marcia Simmons, Steve Reid and Lindsay Riddell. For more information about the readers, visit www.wordpirates.org or e-mail wordpirates@gmail.com.

Also featuring visual artists Deanna Leiphart, Josh Martinez and Adam Mone, literary journal en fuego magazine and fine art book binders The Key Printing and Binding. Plus! Special guest star Stephanie Soleil.

For more information about the Word Pirates or this event, please contact Marcia Simmons at 707-782-0971 or e-mail wordpirates@gmail.com.

***

About the Group: Word Pirates is an independent writing group dedicated to the development and publication of creative writing. Co-founders Joy Lanzendorfer and Marcia Simmons chose the group’s name to reflect that while the group takes writing seriously, they don’t take themselves too seriously. You can visit the Word Pirates online at www.wordpirates.org or www.myspace.com/wordpirates.

Joy Lanzendorfer is a freelance writer living in Petaluma. Her work has been published in Salon, Bust, Bitch, Writer’s Digest, Imbibe, Paste, Bay Nature, San Francisco Chronicle, Pacific Sun and the North Bay Bohemian, among others. In addition, she has an MA in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University, where she sat on the editorial board for Fourteen Hills Literary Journal.

Marcia Simmons is an editor and writer at the North Bay Business Journal, a New York Times publication in Santa Rosa. She was an editor and contributor for Project Censored’s annual book of censored stories and produced radio and TV programs for the organization. Her blog can be found at www.smartkitty.blogspot.com.

I didn’t know who Ellen Tanner Marsh (pictured) was before reading this story on Slate.com. Apparently, she is a “New York Times best selling author.” When she’s not writing romance novels, she writes effusive book-review blurbs in exchange for cash. If you have $399, Marsh will praise your self-published book. And if you don’t like the way she praised it, don’t fret. She’ll praise it in words of your choosing.

-Marcia

I hope to see you at the meeting tomorrow. We will be settling the details of the reading and assigning any jobs that need to be done. We are going to have some snacks available for about 50 people, since we’re hoping to get a crowd of at least that size. Also, we will need some decoration and help setting up chairs, tables, etc., so think about all of that. We will also be telling you the reading line-up so you will know the order you will be going on.

If you would like to practice reading your story, bring a copy and we will try reading it out loud to each other. There will also be a prompt as usual, although we can use that time to work on our pieces that we’re going to read, if you prefer.

In the next few days, Leona will be writing a press release for the event. When it’s finished, I plan to send a copy to all of you. Please feel free to use it as an invitation to everyone you know!

As usual, please let me know if you can’t come. Steve, unfortunately, can’t make it this time.

Thanks!

~ Joy

Hiya folks. Today is the day I need to know who is reading and what they are reading on Feb 8. Also, I need an estimate of how long the thing is you are going to read.

People who are not reading:
Ellen
Laura
Leona

People who are definitely reading:

Joy, Professional Mourner’s Convention, approx 7 minutes
Marcia, Let Me Be Frank, approx. 5 minutes
Neolani, Sleepover, approx. 5 minutes
Lindsay, Datelexia, 5 minutes
Steve, The Typing Contest, 5 minutes
Robin, Memo, 5 minutes

Please let me know asap. Very important !

In addition, by next week, please send copies of what you’re reading to wordpirates @ gmail . com along with a brief bio that we can read when we introduce you.

~ Joy

JANUARY 15: DEADLINE to tell us whether you will be reading, what it is, and how long it will be.

JANUARY 18: Meeting at 7 p.m. at Joy’s house.

FEBRUARY 8: Word Pirates Reading.

FEBRUARY 15: Meeting at 7 p.m. at Joy’s house.

Hello,

We have extended the deadline for The Big Ugly Review (”The Body”) to January
31, and welcome your submissions.Categories are:

• * fiction (short stories of 3,000 words or less), flash fiction (stories of 1000 words or less), and the “And So It Begins” contest” (500 words or less, starting with the first sentence: “I’m not built for this kind of thing anymore.”)
  * creative nonfiction (3000 words or less)
  * poetry
  * photo-essay (a series of photo with captions/text of any length — collaborations between writers and photographers are welcome)
  * original songs of any genre (mp3, also send lyrics)
  * short films of five minutes or less.

PLEASE NOTE that all submissions in all categories must relate to the issue’s theme — “THE BODY.”

We are still accepting in all categories, but especially still seeking more music, photo-essay and short films of five minutes or less. Also still looking for more “And So It Begins” 500 word flash fiction entries. We’d also be glad to see submissions of cover/banner art. (Visit the archives to see what we’ve done there in the past.)

Please submit stories in the body of the email AND as a Word or Word-readable attachment.

Full guidelines are at www.biguglyreview.com/submissions.html.

Send submissions to the addresses listed on the submissions page. US Mail also OK.

Questions? info@biguglyreview.com

Please feel free to forward this post widely — especially if you are tapped into the music, film or photography communities.

Thanks!

Elizabeth

Elizabeth Bernstein, Editor
The Big Ugly Review
490 Second Street, Suite 200
San Francisco, CA 94107
www.biguglyreview.com
info@biguglyreview.com

Yesterday’s critique was a success! The Word Pirates gave each other helpful comments on their stories and ate snacks. Afterwards, we did a prompt.

Since the last Post Secret prompt seemed to inspire us, we decided to start the year out with some similar inspiration. Choose a Post Secret and write for 20 minutes on whatever it inspires in you.

Happy New Year! Just a reminder about tomorrow’s meeting. So far, Noelani is the only person who told me she can’t make it.

I do plan to send you something to read tonight. If you get around to it, that would be awesome. If not, I understand. I’m sorry I sucked on this one.

As of right now, people who have sent work to be critiqued are:

Marcia

Steve

Ellen

Noelani

Me, I hope!

Also, I will want a commitment from all Word Pirates about the February 8 reading by January 15. Please let me know for sure whether you will read, and how long your piece will be in terms of reading time. Ideally, it should be between 5-10 minutes. I know several of you have finished pieces that you could read right now (Lindsay, I’m thinking of your story about the kayak).

I really encourage you to read at the event. If not, I need volunteers to help out and man the reception table. I hope all WPs will at least come to the event.

In addition, I need food for the reading. Anyone have any ideas about that? I am thinking pirate cupcakes for sure.

See you tomorrow at my house around 7 p.m. ~ Joy