The jury is out
Thursday, June 28, 2012 at 10:53PM 
Word count: 300 Reading time: 1-2 mins.
This spring, after years of avoiding it, I went to an open mike night. As I read the first poem I had written since high school, I clamped my hands together so they wouldn’t telegraph my nervousness. After that, I was invited to join Word Whips, a group led by the amazing poet Fran Bourassa. The challenge there was even greater: not only do writers read work aloud, they compose it on the spot.
“Speak only the truth even if your voice shakes,” sang The Blackout in Keep On Moving. That could easily be the motto of Word Whips as Fran’s free-writing exercises trigger deep emotional responses. Group members write powerful, often exquisite, pieces in five and ten minute sprints. In my inaugural session, both inspired and intimidated by the talent around me, I wrote a bitter poem to someone who once betrayed me. My voice quavered as I read it. When I finished, several people laughed, one even applauded. In being truthful, I had touched a universal chord.
No fear, no envy, no meanness Liam Clancy advised the young Bob Dylan in their early days in Greenwich Village[1]. There is so much to be learned from other artists, I have overcome my fear and envy and returned to Word Whips every month. When there, I remind myself it isn’t a critique group; it’s a sharing exercise, the chance to stretch artistic muscles. No fault-finding, no blame. The only thing anyone is guilty of is the desire to improve.
What are your experiences with reading your work aloud? Do you do it only in the privacy of your own home? Or have you taken the most difficult challenge and stormed through the barrier of your first public reading? Do you ever read out loud to anyone?
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Photo by: Kenny1
Reader Comments (7)
I'm not sure I could do it. But the exercises sound like a lot of fun.
I couldn't do this even last year. I still have to talk myself into it every time. It's one of those brick walls that has to be scaled. For me anyway.
I've done it at WordStorm in Nanaimo several times. I'm okay if I have a mike - feels like I can hide behind it. Much harder without. Kudos to you for overcoming your fear! Word Whips sounds like a good group; some groups can just be a dreary exchange of work quickly composed for that particular meeting. You've really lucked out with Word Whips - treasure them!
Hi Judy,
In case people get the wrong impression - there is no mike at either of the 'open mike' nights I attend. I use the term loosely to describe the process: stand up and read your work aloud. Try not to make a fool of yourself. And if all goes well, you start to believe in yourself just a little bit more than you did moments before.
Is that anything like group therapy? Maybe that's why I go!
Maggie
Can we read the poem??
...yes, would love to read the poem. If it's the one from Dust, I already love it.
Can you read the poem? Ha. Maybe. Maybe not. Certainly not in public view. Most of my poetry is best kept for personal consumption to quote a writer I know whose initials are AB.
What happens in Word Whip reminds me of meteor showers - a brilliant burst of light that passes quickly. A few nuggets may fall to earth but they’re never as bright once the fire has cooled.
Hi Allison, no this is not the poem I wrote for the latest reiteration of the manuscript formerly known as Dust. You've seen this poem but I'm not posting it here!
Alyssa, I'll send you a copy and you'll understand why.