Hello there! In hope to increase awareness about 1718 and the literary scene here in New Orleans, various members of the 1718 board will begin (a hopefully fruitful attempt) to regularly update this blog. Here, you will be able to find new information regarding 1718, its featured and student readers, and the other literary events going on within the city. To begin things on the right foot, the following is just the beginning of a list of places for local authors, readers, and literary enthusiasts to blend into the local scene.
The Neutral Ground is a non-profit coffee house in the Uptown area which is ran by volunteers and kept running by the level of community involvement that it receives. With Neutral Ground, you have to expect a large side of attitude and personality in addition to your coffee. On their Facebook page, they claim that they only serve coffee, and will shamelessly laugh at you if you ask for anything else. Every night except for Wednesday night from 8-9, they host a poetry hour. This is a great place to go and both share your personal work as well as hear what work the other members of the community are putting out. While there, make sure that you pick up a coffee float—sounds odd, tastes delicious.
17 poets! is a weekly literary series which focuses on bring both local and international poets, writers, and painters to The Gold Mine in the French Quarter. The Literary and Performance series is run by Dave Brinks and Megan Burns, and has put on over 800 productions since its inception in 2003. Megan Burns is a fabulous poet in her own right who read for 1718 last spring. Each poetry night is followed by an open mic session.
The Tennessee Williams New Orleans Literary Festival is a huge literary festival that takes place every spring in New Orleans. In addition to highlighting many great authors this spring, they are beginning a branch of the festival affectionately called “Coffee and Conversation”. These meetings will include local authors, books signings, and—potentially my favorite aspect—complimentary coffee.
Because many individuals involved within the literary scene are authors in their own right, in addition to the various readings and opportunities to get your name out, there are also various workshops that happen around the city throughout the year. For example, many of the local colleges and universities hold various workshops that are open to the public throughout the year. Also, once a year, there is an erotica workshop that comes to New Orleans. Although this workshop focuses on some lovely LGBQT literature, any writer of any persuasion is welcome to attend.
And finally, although if you are here on this particular blog, you are most likely already aware of what the 1718 series is, I though I may provide you with a short summary for anyone not as informed. 1718 Society is a student-run literary society from Tulane University, Loyola University, and University of New Orleans. On the first Tuesday of every month, students and locals alike meet at 7:00 pm at the Columns Hotel on St. Charles to listen to local authors read their work…and indulge in happy hour. 1718 is unique because it allows not only exposes students to local writers, but it also provides them with the experience to read their own personal work in front of a congregation of their peers and the community. Although most of the authors are local poets, there are also fiction writers and writers from across the country.
With this much writing actively being produced locally, there is no need to want for literature while in New Orleans. All of the above events (with the exception of a few workshops) are free to the public, which only adds to the accessibility of the local literature scene. So come: read, listen, share, and be merry with La Vie Boehme of New Orleans!
