Getting the 1st Chapter Right

The Chapter One contest I'm one of the judges for is finally wrapping up. 125 manuscripts, the majority of which, like a poetry slam, went the maximum 20 pages! The panel wasn't able to meet in person so the contest coordinator is...um, coordinating our top six choices, trying to come up with a representative final … Continue reading Getting the 1st Chapter Right →

It's been four days since my last confession, Blogger, but in a rare switcheroo, I was busy talking smack over on my little-used LiveJournal account, commenting on the debacle that was the 2004 National Poetry Slam. I won't get into it here other than to say, while I feel bad for those who attended and … Continue reading →

Just read the text of Kerry's prepared speech - not the transcript of the one actually delivered which varied slightly - and can't help but think in terms of the poetry slam: 4.8 for content, 3.0 for performance. Which in this image-obsessed, media-driven world, one where George Bush is able to successfully present himself as … Continue reading →

For the last time…?

Truth or hyperbole? I've learned to never say never but in all likelihood, Wednesday, August 4th will be the last time I appear on stage as a featured poet. I fell into the slam scene on a lark back in the summer of 1997, competing in my first Friday night slam at the Nuyorican Poets … Continue reading For the last time…? →

Making Connections

You're not a poet, you just slam a lot. I should note that I tend to define slam poets in a very general sense, beyond the specifics of the actual competition. IMO, non-competing poets that read frequently at slam-affiliated open mics are also slam poets, looking for and benefitting from the audience the competition attracts … Continue reading Making Connections →

I may be speaking a bit prematurely on this but I'm bored at work and excited about the potential of this new wrinkle that's come up. I mentioned a couple of days ago that I wasn't feeling the idea of continuing louder than words after Eric heads west. One of the keys to the show … Continue reading →

What do American Idol and poetry slam have in common? A little bit of irony to set it up first. As a kid, I was notorious for always being late. Not a few minutes late, either, but often an hour or more. Because my mother was pretty strict, I knew 5 minutes was as bad … Continue reading →

This is for Bassey

Dear you, Since mid-1997, the New York City poetry slam scene has been more or less at the center of my life. Though more right-of-center these days, and considerably less significant in the bigger picture, there's two things I will always cherish about the experience: founding a little bit louder, and the Friends I've made. … Continue reading This is for Bassey →

This entry is for poetry slam geeks only.

This whole 5x3 idea that Taylor came up with for the National Poetry Slam - 5 teams, 3 POEMS per bout as opposed to 3x4, or the more recent 4x4 - isn't necessarily the death of Nationals as some have lamented. It is, however, a flawed band-aid that emphasizes the competition in a way that … Continue reading This entry is for poetry slam geeks only. →

I. Poetry Slam, Inc. Two poetry slam-related things I never expected to see: 1. Taylor Mali is the new President of Poetry Slam. Inc. 2. This. The Taylor thing is actually an interesting wrinkle that could mean PSI becoming relevant again. People may not agree with Taylor's positions on a lot of things but there's … Continue reading →