Literary Festival

You are all newbies when it comes to Literary Festival. I've said some things in class, but I want to post something you can read so I know you all were listening and can look back if need be.

Literary Festival is an annual (this is the 20th one!) celebration of the written and spoken word. Events happen every period from Tuesday, Feb 7 to Friday, Feb 10. Events are generally open to all community members. If you have a free you can most likely drop in (check with me if you want to be sure). Some of your classes may attend. If there is an event during a class meeting which is not attending altogether, you may ask your teacher for permission to go. Understand that your teacher has final say as always. Try as best you can to look at the schedule (on the MA website) far ahead of time and give your teacher as much notice or opportunity to consider letting you go as possible. Requests that pop up five minutes before the session are generally scorned. Rightly so.

These sessions are often small (unlike Conference on Democracy) and generally interactive. In other words, come prepared to write. Have materials with you. Even if you are not asked to write, you might find yourself inspired to jot down some notes: a book to read, a story to write later, etc. Most events are in the BBLC Lecture Hall. Some are in the Black Box Theater, and some are in the Main Theater. The all-school assembly on Thursday is as always in the New Gym. There will be a schedule in the lobby of the BBLC, and one is available right now on-line at the MA website.

Now and in years to come, you can participate in Lit Fest as a reader or even as a presenter. If you have something you'd like to read during our Community Readers time (Monday lunch in the BBLC Lecture Hall) let me know! You can read just one poem if you like. A very short story or essay! In future years, you could lead a session. Echoes, our Literary Magazine always sponsors a writing workshop. There have in the past been other student-led activities. Think about what you could do!

Bottom line, enjoy Lit Fest. Some of the writers are folks you may never see again, and these experiences can be life-changing. I hope they are for you!