“The open mic is one of the best educational experiences you will ever have. It will expose you to ideas, thoughts, experiences, techniques, cultures, opinions and much more than you ever imagined possible. You will also conquer fears and gain confidence as you participate. And more importantly if you want, you will learn how to become a better listener — which will enable you to continue growing, learning and creating.” -- Chris Jarmick

July 6th A Very Special First Saturday Reading and Open Mic

We are Celebrating poetry gatherings, and poets who have just been published in Good Word Walking and/or Examined Life: A Western Washington Poets Network Anthology.

Join us as 15 (yes 15) or so poets read a few poems, and share recent experiences at readings throughout Western Washington.

And yes...there will also be an Open Mic.

Note the starting time... There is no Workshop this time... Workshops resume First Saturday in August. This is a reading, sharing and open mic night that will begin at 4:54. Signups for open mic at 4:45.
It's okay to come late if you must. Hope you can make it. The ready for sharing Facebook Event Page is here (Thanks for letting others know about this one!!!)

We will be celebrating the recent publishing of "Examined Life: A Western Washington Poets Network Anthology," which features the work of forty poets from the Canadian border to the Columbia River, along with three "Good Word Walking" supplements to the anthology. The anthology and supplements were printed on an antique letterpress by Griffith H. Williams, at East Point West Press, in Kenmore, Washington. The printing press is a 113 year old Chandler & Price 10x15 letterpress.

The 15 poets scheduled to read are:
1) David D. Horowitz 2) Christopher J. Jarmick 3) M. Anne Sweet 4) Mary Eliza Crane 5) David Post 6) Pamela Carter 7) Kristine Iredale 8 ) Christian Wright 9) Griffith H. Williams 10) Narayan Rajan 11) Alison Peacock 12)­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Je t’aime Miller 13) Julie Robinett 14) Terry Busch 15) Emerson Pendleton

The Western Washington Poets Network was created by a handful of people during the summer of 2023 launching with an event on October 14th 2023 at BookTree bookstore in Kirkland featuring a reading from the Kenmore Youth Poet Laureate Jayden Chang. The poets who attended the planning sessions recognized the need for a service that could communicate schedules of Western Washington poetry readings and related events and groups to improve regional awareness and participation.

The Western Washington Poets Network wants to help you find your seat at poetry readings to share your poetry, or to help organizers fill seats at their poetry events. On the web at .org (Google WWPN) on Facebook and on Instagram.

The following are the founders of the WWPN.
Terry Busch, emcee of Tsuga Poetry Group, Bothell

Mary Eliza Crane, an organizer of Duvall Poetry, Duvall, and on the curating committee for Easy Speak Seattle, Seattle

David D. Horowitz, publisher of Rose Alley Press, Seattle

Christopher J. Jarmick, owner of BookTree bookstore in Kirkland. Host/Curator of First Saturday Workshop and PIE readings at BookTree.

Georgia S. McDade, coordinator for the African-American Writers Alliance, Seattle

David Post, emcee of Tsuga Poetry Group, Bothell

Julie Robinett, representing Everett Poetry Night, Everett

Raul Sanchez, poet laureate for the city of Redmond from 2020 to 2021, host of Poetry in the Park, Seattle

Bruce Stewart, president of Black Dog Arts Coalition, Snoqualmie

Michael Dylan Welch, poet laureate for the city of Redmond from 2013 to 2015; curator and emcee of SoulFood Poetry Night, Redmond; president of the Redmond Association of Spokenword (RASP), Redmond; director of Poets in the Park, Redmond; and web manager for Haiku Northwest, Bellevue & WWPN.org

Griffith H. Williams, publisher of East Point West Press, Kenmore, and liaison for Arts of Kenmore, Kenmore

Poets who have recently been published in the Examined Life anthology and supplements include:
Janka Hobbs, Craig Thompson, Emerson Pendleton, Leszek Chudzinski, Je t’aime Miller, Linda Conroy, Christopher J. Jarmick, Bruce C. Stewart, Jenn Cavanaugh, Dion O’Reilly, Mary Eliza Crane, Griffith H. Williams, Julie Robinett, Lori Bellamy, Terri Cohlene, Geri Gale, Narayan Rajan, David D. Horowitz, David Post, Art Gomez, Patrick Dixon, James Rodgers, chris dusterhoff, Terry Busch, Alison Peacock, Lesia A. Alexander, Derick Louis, Kristine Iredale, M. Anne Sweet, Sylvia Bryne Pollack, Tami Gatzke, Barbara Bloom, Richard Widerkehr, Sibyl James, Jayne Marek, Jacqueline Ware, Elmo Shade, Christian Wright, Eugene Marckx, Josie Emmons Turner, Judith Camann, Sean Lafferty, Cynthia Pratt, Alex Gherman, Jenifer Pratt-Walter, Taya Sanderson Kesslau, Lynn Geri, Priscilla Long, Pamela Hobart Carter, Angelica Urquizo, Luther Allen, Katherine Derbyshire, Martha Ellen Johnson, C. J. Prince, and Cindy Hutchings

Note: Open Mic times vary (usually 4 minutes for the first 12 to 15 on the list--additional people as time permits(usually limited to 2 to 3 minutes). If you want to read a longer piece in the 6 minute range you should check with the host to make sure there will be time. If you have a prose piece that takes 7 to 8 minutes to read sometimes that is possible but make sure it is okay or email in advance of the reading to get permission. Always be aware there are often many people who want to read their work. Sometimes it is possible for a slightly longer piece to be read if it is okayed before the reading.

Please don't come into the middle or end of any reading and expect to read a longer piece on the Open Mic. Please be aware time is often an issue and if you introduce yourself or have additional announcements that is part of the time allotted for your reading...4 minutes is NOT 4 minutes plus 2 or 3 minutes for introduction and explanations. If there is time you can share more but it is about sharing the time with your fellow writers and poets who would also like to read. The readings and open mic are opportunities to share what you have written and also improve your listening skills. You can also respond enjoy and perhaps get inspired by the work of others. Sometimes the host allows certain people to read or talk a little longer but it is usually part of planned readings and not done on the whim of the open mic reader. it is okay to read LESS than your allotted time too. Thank you for being considerate and for knowing how long it takes to read your poem (or piece).