Eleven years ago next month, in Austin, TX, I took one of the most life-changing thrill rides ever when I attended my first National Poetry Slam, as a member of the 1998 team representing the Nuyorican Poets Café that would go on to become their first (and still only) team to win the Championship. The … Continue reading Three Rules for the National Poetry Slam
Tag: Poetry Slam
What New Media Can Learn From Slam Poetry
"I have just read the immortal poems of the ages and come away dull. I don't know who's at fault; maybe it's the weather, but I sense a lot of pretense and poesy footwork: I am writing a poem, they seem to say, look at me! Poetry must be forgotten; we must get down to … Continue reading What New Media Can Learn From Slam Poetry
Three Tips for Curating the Community #TOC
This week's Tools of Change Conference ended yesterday and even though I wasn't in attendance, thanks to the laudable efforts of several Tweeters (@thewritermama, in particular), I felt like I was there the whole time. As is typically the case after a good conference, I'm simultaneously mentally exhausted and recharged by the ideas and opinions … Continue reading Three Tips for Curating the Community #TOC
Last night at the Slam
It's been a while since I judged a slam (publicly, at least!), especially at 13 where I know several of the regulars personally, so I was surprised when Lynne asked me to judge last night's open slam. I was happy to do it as a critical listening exercise, though, because I think my ears have … Continue reading Last night at the Slam
Me on IndieFeed
My poem Prodigal Son is being featured on IndieFeed as "Part 4 of a 9 part series, celebrating the release of Words in Your Face: A Guided Tour Through 20 years of the New York City Poetry Slam by Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz!" It's the live version from the nycSLAMS CD (2000), but it includes some great (and … Continue reading Me on IndieFeed
Flashback: Why I Slam…
[Going through the archives trying to figure out what to read tomorrow at the Nuyorican and I came across this little ditty, a typically belligerent, sophomoric effort from that crazy Summer of 1998! Backstory here.] Why I Slam... Hi my name is Guy and I’m not an alcoholic I just drink a lot. Can you … Continue reading Flashback: Why I Slam…
No news is good news
...for the time being, at least. I'd say it's a 50/50 shot right now, which is actually a little better than what I thought a week or so ago. Keep those fingers crossed! In other news, I need a vacation. And another 3 hours added to each day! Ugh. PS: Cleared out 12,000+ emails from … Continue reading No news is good news
R.I.P. Peter Conti (aka Peter of the Earth)
I hadn't seen him in a few years, drifting apart when we moved to Virginia and never reconnecting after we returned, and had no idea he was sick, much less dying. He missed his 30th birthday (today, Saturday) by one day. I'll always remember the carefree Peter who let it all hang out when the … Continue reading R.I.P. Peter Conti (aka Peter of the Earth)
On Writing
Just emailed the first draft of my comic book story to Erech, the artist putting the aforementioned anthology together. Second draft actually, as I handwrote (!) the first draft during lunch last Thursday and did a lot of revising while typing it up. I like what I'm trying to do with it, but have no … Continue reading On Writing
Comment: Making Comics Thin-Skinned
It's no secret that creative types can be pretty thin-skinned when it comes to their art, especially when they're in their early developmental stages. Personally, when I first got into the poetry slam scene - competitive poetry readings, for the uninitiated, where original poems are performed and then judged on a scale of 0-10 by … Continue reading Comment: Making Comics Thin-Skinned