Where’s the Enthusiasm?

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In one of my writing classes, I begin each session with a short writing prompt. Today, I asked my students to write down their thoughts on the presidential election. I asked if they have been following it at all and which issues they would like the candidates to address during tonight’s presidential debate. When I gave out the assignment, I stressed that they did not have to reveal who they are voting for, but rather, just write about their interest or lack of in the campaign.

After they finished the prompt, some volunteered to share what they had written. A majority of them confessed that they really had no interest at all in politics, voting, or the outcome of the election. Some of them said they do not see how a presidential campaign  has any impact on their life.

The responses startled me some, especially since I have been extremely politically active since I was 18 and was eager to vote in my first presidential election. That said, I had a hunch that young people have tuned out the campaign season, and I suspect youth turnout is going to be low, especially compared to 2008 and even 2004.The youth vote played a major role in President Obama’s first election.

I pondered for a while why young voters are disengaged this time. Perhaps they are disillusioned with the dismal state of the economy and do not believe either candidate can fix it. Perhaps, as one student said, they don’t see how politics affects them, especially since they aren’t out of college and have yet to face real economic, bread-and-butter issues. Or maybe they just don’t want to spend a lot of their time thinking about foreign policy, the unemployment numbers, or other campaign issues.

Their responses were alarming in another sense, too. If there is a decrease in voting turnout, then it sure makes it easier for politicians to do whatever they want, if they know that a certain group of people don’t vote in large numbers. Why not slash Pell grants even more if you know a lot of young people don’t vote or won’t do anything about it? Why not slash education, which leads to tuition hikes?

By the end of the discussion, all I could  say is that in the past, throughout the history of our country, change happened not because of one politician and president, but because of movements, often fueled by young people. Any great movements over the last few years that led to a politician actually doing something was driven by civic engagement. I hope we reach a point in this country again where we can have meaningful discussions about issues.

 

A Major Win for Voting Rights Advocates

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Earlier today, Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court Judge Robert Simpson halted the Pennsylvania voter ID law from kicking into effect for the November election. This is a major win for voting rights advocates that have argued the voter ID law would disenfranchise voters that typically vote Democratic, including minorities and the elderly. Some reports estimated that if the PA law was not struck down, up to 750,000 voters could be disenfranchised.

Poll workers can still ask a voter to show an ID, but if a voter does not have an ID, she or he can’t be turned away from the polls. According to an article in The Washington Post, the judge’s decision can be appealed to the state Supreme Court, but it’s not likely that it will change. The Supreme Court already looked at the case and bounced it back to the lower court to make a final decision.

The PA voter ID law drew a lot of attention after state Rep. Mike Turzai said the ID law would help Romney win PA.

The judge’s ruling today proves that sometimes our system of checks and balances does work. It is clear from the video above that the voter ID law was nothing more than a partisan attempt to help Republicans in the fall election. I hope that the law is completely after Nov. 6.

 

Bowery Poetry Club’s Transformation

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Out of all the venues I’ve read poetry at in the tri-state area, by far my favorite is the Bowery Poetry Club in New York City’s Lower East Side. I read there last spring with other members of the Mulberry Poets and Writers Association. I especially like the atmosphere- the dank bar in front of the venue, before you go through a curtain and enter a seated area with a large wooden stage and bright lights over the mic. It’s a comfortable performance space that attracts regular, attentive crowds.

Today, I learned that Bowery Poetry Club is undergoing a major transformation. According to an article from The Poetry Foundation, there will be a farewell party at the venue this Tuesday, before it closes down for renovations to reopen jointly with TriBeCa burlesque club Duane Park. The article goes on to state that the burlesque club will use the space
Tuesday through Saturday each week, with Bowery Poetry Club operating on Sundays
and Mondays. However, one staffer is quoted in the article as saying, “As far as we are concerned, this place is closing.”

We’ll have to wait and see what the final fate of the venue will be, but I hope it continues to have poetry readings and host writers from across the country. It is by far one of the most accommodating and well-known poetry venues in NYC.

Some Love from Journals

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I’m thrilled to announce that I got a copy of the Michigan-based journal Third Wednesday in the mail today, and in the latest issue, I am the featured poet. Eight of my poems are included, as well as an introduction to my writing. Most of the poems included will be in my forthcoming full-length collection, which Unbound Content is publishing in 2013. The Third Wednesday poems are a nice preview of the book, especially in terms of the form, tone, and subject matter that my new collection will focus on.

Unfortunately, this journal doesn’t put any of its work online, but you can order copies through the website by clicking here.

I especially like the work Third Wednesday does because it often features a small sampling of writing by students in Detroit area schools. The editorial staff works with the organization Inside Out Literary Arts Project to foster creative writing in city schools and then supports some of the work through the journal.

In addition to the poems in Third Wednesday, I also have two pieces in the latest issue of Boston Literary Magazine. You can read them by clicking here, or ordering a print copy through the website.

In Praise of Open Mics

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When I was 18 years old and a freshman at West Chester University, I desperately wanted to become a writer, and I was fortunate to find a local literary community. Every Wednesday, I attended the open mic night at Fernarrio Coffee Shop, which provided a space for me to share my work with an audience that gave me helpful feedback, long before I had a clue how to craft a decent extended metaphor and where to break a line. This series was especially unique because it featured jazz musicians, Bob Dylan wannabes, and poets all sharing the stage. The first time I took the stage, I read too fast, stumbled over a few lines, and griped the paper until it wrinkled, but the more I did it, the easier it became. For four years, even after I took a bunch of creative writing classes, I continued attending local open mics. They made me confident in my work and eventually prepared me for doing my own featured readings.

Recently, some open mics have started in northeastern, PA. One occurs the last Wednesday of every month at the Library Express at the Steamtown Mall. It starts at 6:30 p.m., and so far, we’ve had a nice mix of college and high school students. I hope they continue attending as a way to revise their work and gain confidence.

The other open mic I know of takes place the third Friday of every month at ArtSeen Gallery in Wilkes-Barre. It begins at 8 p.m.

If you are just starting out, or even if you’re a polished writer, attend the open mics in your community as a way to share your work and support other writers. If you know of a local open mic, please spread the word.

Bob Dylan Being Bob Dylan

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If you want an interesting and entertaining read, then I suggest you pick up the latest issue of Rolling Stone featuring Bob Dylan on the cover. The interview between the American folk/blues troubadour and reporter Mikal Gilmore raises a lot of interesting points about the history of race in America, using other writers in one’s work, and Dylan’s own career. The full interview is not available online, but you can find one of the most riveting sections online here.

The interview has caused some buzz because Dylan addresses plagiarism issues that have dogged him for years, dating back to when he was accused of copying the words for “Blowin’ in the Wind” from a college student and the music from an old gospel hymn. This time, Dylan holds nothing back and says “F*uck ’em” to his critics, adding, “He’ll see them in their graves.” He does acknowledge that he has quoted other writers in his work before, including Civil War-era poet Henry Timrod, but he says that quoting other work is a long tradition in folk music.

The criticism and Dylan’s reaction to it raise a good point when pondering any art form. When is it okay to quote the work of others, and when is it plagiarism? I would argue that if you are using a line or two in your own work, but reworking it and doing something new with it, it’s not plagiarism, and that seems to be Dylan’s argument. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to give a citation in an album’s notes.

Dylan covers a lot of other issues in the interview, including the 1960s, and his desire to move as far away from that era as possible, as well as his new album, Tempest, and how he felt after President Barack Obama was elected in 2008. Interestingly enough, after discussing the history of slavery and racisim in this country, Dylan refuses to state whether or not he thinks this country has changed and is any closer to a post-racial era, due to the election of its first black president.

The interivew offers a lot of insight regarding Dylan’s new album, his view on history, and the way he’s been treated by the press and his fans, including the Judas label he was given in the mid-1960s for going electric. Some of Dylan’s answers are befuddling, but that’s how he’s always been. Check it out if you’re a fan of his, or you just want a good read.

Poetry Jazz Night

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A few months ago, I posted about a wonderful and inspiring poetry and jazz night that took place at the AFA Gallery in Scranton. The second poetry and jazz night is set to take place tonight, from 6-9 p.m. at the AFA Gallery again. The event is part of the weekly drawing social series that occurs at the gallery, so if you come, feel free to bring art to work on, or writing. If you don’t want to do that, then you can just enjoy the music and the poets.

The cost to attend is $5 for the general public, and $2 for students. The featured readers include Rich Howells, Tom Allen, Maureen McGuigan, and I. The musicians include Tom Allen on woodwinds, Chelsea Smarr on harp, Bob Ventrello on percussion, Doug Smith on acoustic bass, Ron Stabinsky on piano, and  Julian Sparacino on saxophone and flute.

This should prove to be another great event, and one that mixes different artistic mediums, which is a great way to share poetry with a broader audience. After tonight, there should be another poetry and jazz reading in two months or so.
 

The Vintage Theater’s Grand Re-opening

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I’m a firm believer that the more all-ages art and music venues a community has the better, which is why I’m thrilled that the Vintage Theater in Scranton is having a grand re-opening party this Friday, beginning at 6 p.m. A few months ago, the Vintage closed its location on Penn Avenue, and its fate was uncertain. However, the co-owners, Conor O’Brien and Theresa O’Connor, worked all summer to host fundraisers and an Internet campaign to save the venue. Not only did they raise enough money to re-open, but they exceeded their fundraising goal.

Since closing, the theater has relocated to 326 Spruce Street. The celebration this Friday is free and will include music by several local bands and artwork by my talented girlfriend, Jenna Casaldi, and our friend Heidi. (Some people already saw the art, since it was up during a sneak peek First Friday event a few days ago).

The new Vintage location should be even better than the last one, with plans for a full-scale cafe, used bookstore, art and writing workshops, and plenty of music events.  I’m looking forward to taking part in a reading and Q & A there on Oct. 19 with some other local published writers. More info on that when it’s closer to the date. For now, come to the grand re-opening this Friday if you can.

New Visions Writers Showcase

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If you read this blog and live in northeast, Pennsylvania, you should come out to the New Visions Writers Showcase taking place this Saturday at 7 p.m. at New Visions Studio Gallery, 201 Vine Street in Scranton.  This month’s readers include Chicago-based fiction writer Eugene Cross, poets Richard Aston and Scott Thomas, crime fiction writer Lauren Stahl, and Keystone College students Lisbeth Herr Gelatt and Jennifer Matarese. Below you can find bios of each reader. The reading is free, and authors will have books for sale.

Eugene Cross is the author of the short story collection Fires of Our Choosing, which was long listened for the Frank O’Connor International Short story Award. He was born and raised in Erie, Pennsylvania and received an M.F.A. from The University of Pittsburgh. His stories have appeared in Narrative Magazine (which named him one of “20 Best New Writers” and his story “Harvesters” a “Top Five Story of 2009-2010”), American Short Fiction, Story Quarterly, TriQuarterly, and Callaloo, among other publications.

His work was also listed among the 2010 Best American Short Stories’ 100 Distinguished Stories. He is the recipient of scholarships from the Chautauqua Writers’ Festival and the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, as well as a fellowship from the 2012 Sewanee Writers’ Conference. He is the winner of the 2009 Dzanc Prize for Excellence in Literary Fiction and Community Service.

Scott Thomas has a B.A. in Literature from Bard College, a M.S. in Library Science from Columbia University, and a M.A. in English from the University of Scranton. He is currently employed as a librarian, specifically, Head of Information Technologies & Technical Services at the Scranton Public Library. His poems have appeared in Mankato Poetry Review, The Kentucky Poetry Review, Sulphur River Literary Review, Poem, Stirring: A Literary Collection, and other journals. Currently, he resides in Dunmore with his family.

Lisbeth Herr Gelatt is a student at Keystone College and was born in Los Angeles, but eventually moved to Pennsylvania to raise a family. Currently, she works for Wayne Country Transportation and is now the mother of three grown women, including a veteran of the Iraq war. Her most recent writing credits include Keystone College’s The Plume Literary Magazine, CowboyPoetry.com, and PANK. She is working on at least one urban fantasy novel, and she hopes to complete a chapbook of poems in the near future.

Jennifer Matarese is also a student at Keystone College and the author of the novel Heroine Addiction.

Richard  Aston has been a member of Mulberry Poets and Writers Association for over 30 years and has been active in the Wilkes-Barre /Scranton poetry scene generally. He has coordinated all of the poetry contests held by the Mulberry Poets. He has been publishing poetry for over 30 years, and has had his collection Valley Voices published by Foothills Publishing. He has also published technical textbooks and numerous professional engineering papers. He has three children and seven grandchildren.

A former prosecutor in Pennsylvania, Lauren Stahl is an avid reader and writer of the crime fiction genre. She is a graduate of Pennsylvania State Dickinson School of Law and received her M.F.A. from Wilkes University. Lauren’s first novel, Deadly Conviction, is currently represented by Union Literary in New York with the hopes of reaching publication. She is hard at work on her second novel, The Bottom Line.

 

A Favorite Online Lit. Magazine

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Because it’s early September, the time when most academic/literary journals open for submissions to poetry, I’ve been thinking a lot about some of my favorite journals. I’m still more of a fan of print journals as opposed to online for a number of reasons. When I have a poem published, I like getting a print copy in the mail with the poem in it. I have a nice little collection on my bookshelf, and I know that I’ll be able to keep those journals for years. My concern regarding online journals is that a lot of them start up fast, but they don’t last very long, and then your poem published is lost if the editors never archived anything. However, I do realize that as the publishing world continues to drastically change, more long-standing journals will move to a strictly online format, or at least upload some of the content online.

This week, I’ve been pondering some of my favorite online journals. One that I like a lot s Solstice Literary Magazine. My poem, “Before He Enlisted,” appeared there in the last issue.  What I like about the journal is how clean and simple it is. It’s easy to browse around the site and sift through the poetry, fiction, non-fiction and interviews the editorial staff publishes. I also love the quality of writing showcased. The latest issue has work by well-known contemporary American poets Stephen Dunn and Afaa M. Weaver, mixed with writing by young, up-and-coming writers. The journal also has an impressive editorial staff and advisory board, which includes National Book Award winner Terrance Hayes, Stephen Dunn, and others.

Check out Solstice Literary Magazine if you’re looking for a good online journal, and feel free to share some of your favorite journals, either print or online. I may start showcasing other literary magazines on my blog over time.