Literature and blogging
Emma Unsworth
WITH local blogs springing up like mushrooms and the second Manchester blog awards imminent, it transpires that our fair city is blooming with writers, an increasing number of whom are being picked up by publishers on the back of this thoroughly modern phenomenon.
The bloggers leave their bedrooms at least once a month and dust off to convene in the basement of the Deaf Institute for Manchester's newest live literature night.
'There's no point in not being friends with someone if you want to be friends with them'.
August's event featured poetry by the wonderful Annie Clarkson, readings from Chris Killen and Comma favourite Emma Unsworth, and a very well-received comedy set from Ben Davis on the bill.
Chris Killen and Sally Cook, both 27, are the enterprising bloggers who have taken the word to the street with this new night.
Virtual appearance
Sally admits that they are regretting the lengthy moniker a little but, aside from that, it's been a storming success so far.
Three events in, they've been promoted to the 'big room' upstairs at Trof and have American poet and novelist Tao Lin lined up to make a virtual appearance via web link-up at the next session among a new crop of local talent.
The inspiration comes from the New York underground literature scene (which explains the basements) and a number of other NY bloggers have made virtual appearances, lending a touch of Stateside cool to the proceedings.
''A lot of it has come from blogging' says Sally, 'the style is short and accessible and very suitable for a reading night.
''There are some brilliant nights already that are dedicated to one particular style, but we wanted to do something that included prose, not excluding poetry, but the written word under any guise at all really.
Less intimidating
''The fact that the night is not restricted to a certain form makes it a bit less intimidating and more inclusive.
' 'The really nice thing about a blog is that you can self-licence; you can write something that you'd be terrified to send out and just go ahead and publish it yourself. The freedom of the medium is extraordinary.''
The next 'there's no point in not being friends with someone...'will be on Tuesday 23 September in the Music Hall at Trof, Grosvener St at 8pm
Published: Wed, 17 September, 2008
Comments
You need to log in, and confirm your email address to comment.