It’s just a phrase, maybe, but it was inspired by our first show of year 2. We counted 110 people but we’re not very good at that kind of thing yet. When we asked how many people had never been to a Quiet Lightning before, nearly 75% of the room raised a hand. But I’ll let Sarah Page tell you a bit about it:
It was a warm and welcoming event. Being a part of it was like having a dream that I did not want to forget when I woke. A buzz kill to return to the office the next morning. — The man who i had not yet met 5 minutes before the show, leaning into the microphone: “Is Mike Palmer here? Would Mike Palmer please come forward.”
I attended Quiet Lightning for the first time on January 3rd and my life is richer for the experience. I was sweetly surprised by the feast of creative energy flowing freely from the authors. I left feeling delightfully satiated. — A woman who had “never been to anything like this” (this she said before the reading!).
A big hearty thanks to Public Works and to our volunteers and to everyone who came out. To all of you new people: tell a friend. Especially a writerly friend. Our next show is Monday February 7 at supperclub. Roman-style beds. LED lighting. You don’t want to miss it! See the submission guidelines when you’re not sure what to do with yourself. Let the idea rattle around. Then, grab it. Take that thing and wrestle it onto the page. You don’t have to share it, but you could.
In case you’re just tuning in we have the New York Times on the line. We were just talking about Quiet Lightning, the monthly-submission based reading series that’s been striking San Francisco now for over a year and whipping all the litsters there into a bonafide frenzy. What is it that makes this series so special, do you think?
It’s funny you ask, really, because while some of the more fundamental reasons persist month after month, each show really does provide it’s own reasons. This month—as I was saying—there will be exactly 16 of these. … You have the image up, right? Can you see the image? You should be able to see the names of this month’s readers on that beautiful artwork by Casey Cripe. You should also be able to click on the art and find out more about this month’s readers.
So you mean the readers make it special. Interesting! I’m wondering if you’ve heard of any of these writers before. I mean, have you? Because I know I haven’t, and I guess what I’m really wondering is, if I haven’t heard of any of these writers before, how come I’ve heard of this series?
** that’s right, we’re gonna try a sliding scale this month. still $3, but if you have and can spare more, we’ll put it toward a good cause.
we are looking for volunteers. we are going to try a new policy: volunteer for 3 month terms. each show you get a complimentary copy of sPARKLE & bLINK. we need 3 volunteers for now. in? drop a line.
would you go to oakland for quiet lightning? no pressure. we’re just wondering if you’ll join us.
This is probably a good time to announce that this year we’ll see some changes. Some you’ll like; others you might not. And guess what? We haven’t figured it all out. This right here is live. Hope you catch it while you can.
