The Porch, a Nashville-based nonprofit, brings its programming to Memphis for writers “of all ages and stages” for the first time this weekend. Folks can join in on two creative writing workshops and a community reading, hosted at Crosstown Arts and Novel respectively.
A literary arts organization, The Porch offers classes, readings, festivals, and partnerships across Tennessee. “The Porch is a really strong model for literary citizenship,” says Ashley Roach-Freiman, co-organizer of The Porch @ Memphis. “Writers love to teach, we love to write, we love to share our work, and we love to meet other writers. So literary citizenship is [participating in] that community for other writers.”
For Roach-Freiman, being a good literary citizen meant bringing The Porch to Memphis: “We have an incredible arts and music and food scene, and there are wonderful writers that come through and are hosted at Novel, but I just thought there’s more we could do for writers.”
During The Porch’s first foray in Memphis, Timothy “Urban Thoughts” Moore and Kendra Leigh Vanderlip will lead workshops at Crosstown Arts. A nationally recognized educator, award-winning writer, and multiple-time spoken word slam champion, Moore will focus his workshop on the “Weight of a Pause,” how silence and the unsaid can be a tool in poetry. Meanwhile, the workshop from Vanderlip, a University of Memphis creative writing professor, will discuss writing while healing from pain.
Both classes cost $50 to attend, but anyone with a student ID can register for $30. “And if someone really feels strongly that they would love to take a workshop, but [the cost is] too much for whatever reason, then we can make scholarships attainable for anyone who wants that,” Roach-Freiman says. Just email Yurina Yoshikawa, director of education, at yurina@porchtn.org.
“We’re not gatekeeping writing,” Roach-Freiman says. “I really do think everyone is a writer, and a lot of people don’t see themselves that way.” Indeed, these workshops are intended for people, she says, “who live and work in Memphis, who really value learning as opposed to demonstrating.”
After the workshops, The Porch will present readings at Novel by Urban Thoughts and Kendra Leigh Vanderlip, followed by a community open mic where workshop attendees and the writing community at large can share their work.
All in all, Roach-Freiman hopes the day’s efforts will lead to more chances for literary citizenship from The Porch. For full details and registration, visit porchtn.org.
The Weight of a Pause with Urban Thoughts, Crosstown Arts, 1350 Concourse Avenue, Suite 280, Saturday, November 8, 10 a.m.-noon, $50.
Writing the Hard stuff with Kendra Leigh Vanderlip, Crosstown Arts, Saturday, November 8, 1-3 p.m., $50.
Community Open Mic, Novel, 387 Perkins Extended, Saturday, November 8, 6 p.m., free.
