Want to Crack People Up at Open Mic Stacey Gustafson

Image courtesy of thawats at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I jumped at the chance to make ’em laugh at Open Mic at the Pleasanton Firehouse Arts Center on April 8. It was an opportunity to share my favorite form of prose, humor writing. Even though I may not win any awards for writing, I bet I can make you laugh out loud. Laughter is part of sharing the human experience.

My Problems Are Like Yours

When I share my work, people laugh and can relate. That’s because my problems are like yours. Does your husband need to be reminded each week to take out the trash? So does mine. Do your kids complain about everything from the way you drive to your fashion sense? Mine too. See what I mean? You’re just like me except I write about it, much to the chagrin of my family. Let yourself have fun and watch my video below.

I read from my latest book, Are You Kidding Me? My Life With an Extremely Loud Family, Bathroom Calamities, and Crazy Relatives. My story, “Sleepover Gone Bad,” is about the frustration that ensues when you return to your childhood home and discover that no matter how much you’ve changed, everything there remains the same.

A Celebration of Literary Arts in Pleasanton

Sandra Harrison Kay, current Pleasanton City Poet Laureate, hosted, “A Celebration of Literary Arts in Pleasanton,” an evening of poetry and prose. She did a marvelous job of opening the event with a discussion about the importance of the writing community in California, especially Pleasanton.

http://www.independentnews.com/culture/firehouse-program-focuses-on-the-literary-arts/article_be6cbbf8-cde4-11e4-9d89-b710487da3ed.html

8 Shots of Ink

She revealed her film, “8 Shots of Ink,” a documentary featuring past poet laureates. Included were interviews with Jim Ott, program’s founder, Deborah Grossman, Kirk Ridgeway, and Martha Meltzer. They shared their answers to questions such as “What inspires you?” and “Why do you write?” Also included was a live reading by the current Teen Poet Laureate, Maya Lyubomirsky.

After an intermission, Deborah ‘Jordan’ Bernal, President of Tri-Valley Writers of Northern California, spoke about the Tri-Valley Writer’s Group and Open Mic Night with My Friends. Ten writers were invited to perform on stage during the Open Mic portion of the evening.

Tri-Valley Writers Club

The Tri-Valley Writers Club was formed as a branch of the California Writers Club (CWC). According to their website:

The California Writers Club (CWC), founded in 1909, is the oldest professional writers’ organization in the western United States. It began under the influences of Jack London, George Sterling, Herman Whitaker, and Austin Lewis. CWC is a nonprofit organization with nineteen branches with an estimated membership of 1,600 statewide.

It aims to foster professionalism in writing, promote networking of writers within the writing community, mentor new writers, and provide literary support for writers and the writing community as is appropriate through education and leadership.

For more information, http://www.trivalleywriters.org

More about Sandra Harrison Kay: http://www.writeousmom.com/index1.html

A Celebration of Literary Arts in Pleasanton: http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_23416316/pleasantons-new-poet-laureate-an-author-blogger-mother

Members and non-members are always welcome to the monthly meetings and Open Mic.

Tri-Valley Writers Club: Third Saturday at Four Points by Sheraton, 5115 Hopyard Road, Pleasanton, CA

Open Mic Night with My Friends: Second Monday of the month at Pleasanton Library.

Deborah Grossman: http://deborahgrossman.com

Martha Meltzer: https://www.facebook.com/martha.meltzer