Our good friend and upcoming reader Mare Swallow is putting her passion for writing into organizing the first-ever Chicago Writers Conference. We here at Essay Fiesta greatly commend her effort, and not just because we’ll be participating in it.
Please help the conference become a reality by donating to the Kickstarter campaign. Every little bit counts.
S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y! That’s what day it is…which means it’s just a short while from the next Essay Fiesta! And our last guest to highlight is a real doozie. She’s one of the funniest people in Chi-town and an all around swell gal. It’s the lovely, the spunky Cameron Esposito!
Cameron is one of the top stand-up comics in Chicago. She has performed throughout the country at a variety of venues and comedy festivals. In fact, she just got back from a stint at SXSW in Austin. She is also the producer behind the wildly popular Cole’s Open Mic and has performed as a circus ringmaster, which is pretty kooky.
So come on out and enjoy some amazing totally true tales by some masterful storytellers and perhaps win a prize from one of our wonderful sponsors and partners, including the delectable Southport Grocery & Cafe.
Achoo! That is the sound that Essay Fiesta is making right now as Spring fills the air, our nostrils and our lungs with an insane amount of pollen. Seriously. Lay off, Mother Nature! In any case, no amount of seasonal allergies are going to slow us down, or our very talented performers, who will be showcasing their goods on April 16 at the Book Cellar. And this month, we’re pleased to welcome back two of our favorite storytellers: Shannon Cason and Matthew Miller.
Shannon is a masterful storyteller who is best known as The Moth’s GRANDSLAM champion of Chicago. He’s also a regular on the storytelling circuit and has read at countless series throughout town. Pretty soon you’ll be able to see him monthly as co-host of Chicago’s first live lit open mic Do Not Submit.
Matt is an accomplished director and teacher. His credits include ProfilesTheatre’sGraceland as well as productions by American Theatre Company, CollaborAction and others. He’s also a member of the Serendipity Theatre Collective and Barrel of Monkeys. He also regularly performs with our pals at 2nd Story.
So come on out, support 826CHI and support your local artists. Also, did we mention it’s FREE? Cause it is.
Did you have a good Easter/Passover? We had a great Easter/Passover! Now Spring is in the air, which means it’s the perfect weather for an Essay Fiesta! And wouldn’t you know? We have one coming up on April 16! And we’re here to tell you about a couple of our readers: Jonas Simon and MT Cozzola.
Jonas Simon is the author of the blog Zen and the Art of Waitering as well as the book of the same name. A veteran of Chicago’s stand-up, improv, and sketch comedy scenes, he can currently be found performing nightly to crowds of enthralled audience members in downtown Chicago – usually at a chain restaurant that rhymes with “Schmeezecake Factory.”
MT Cozzola is a Chicago writer and director. She’s told stories around 
town at Here’s the Story, Tuesday Funk, Speak Easy Speak Hard and Stockyards Theatre Women’s Performance Art Festival; shared prose and poetry in the pages of After Hours, Swivel, Crawdad and other magazines; and screened films across the globe. She keeps a story blog at www.midwesternrobot.com.
So come on out and support our readers, support local businesses and support 826CHI!
By Alyson Lyon
Verb tenses are central to effective storytelling; it’s no mystery that stories unfold through relaying action. Choosing whether to write a story with verbs in the present, past or combo (past, present and future) is ultimately up to the writer. In storytelling, the form is personal, and it follows that style would be too; there is no prescribed right or wrong. That said, weighing the effectiveness of a variety of verb tenses and keeping them consistent will strengthen your writing. If your story employs a variety of tenses, it is muy importante to keep things organized so it all makes sense.
A story that took place in the past is written most clearly in the past tense. The reader has no question in their mind that what they’re reading has already happened. When writing a story in the past, a sprinkling of the present tense often comes in through dialogue (e.g., Phil walked down the stairs. His buddy Matt tried to trip him. “What’s your problem?” Matt said.). Notice that the actual line of dialogue is spoken in the present, but the verb “to say” is in the past (i.e. “said”). So, using the past tense in storytelling (with a healthy dose of present tense in dialogue) will give readers clarity in regards to contextualizing.
When I am a character in the unfolding story I’m writing, I find myself often utilizing present tense (e.g., I’m walking down the street and this dog comes out of nowhere…). I feel that this technique draws in the reader (or audience) better than just using past tense; present tense creates an immediacy…we’re in the moment (we, meaning me, the narrator and you, the audience) and the action is happening right now. The action is bringing me right back to that moment, and I am in effect reliving it, although this time you are witnessing it with me. I admittedly don’t know if my style would be backed up by any English grammar book, nor do I particularly care. I only know that when I verbally relay stories, I use present tense a lot; I’ve brought that colloquialism to my writing.
Perhaps the most important thing about tenses is to not worry so much about them when you start writing. They are fixed easily, and you can use them however you like. So, get down your story first (perhaps writing the whole thing in the simple past, if applicable) then go back and see where you can play and add some variety. Again, being consistent will make your story more readable and way more awesome. Happy writing!
Hi Essay Fiesta fans! If you can’t bare to only see Keith and Alyson do their thing once a month, fret not. The duo frequently perform throughout this fair city and beyond. In fact, Keith just performed at the 43rd Annual Chicago Biggest Liar Contest. Although he lost to formidable opponents Kristen Studard and Don Hall, he still pleased the crowd with his best pirate impression.
You can also catch Keith at the upcoming edition of Funny Ha Ha, a hilarious literary love fest produced by the always entertaining Claire Zulkey. That show is at The Hideout on April 10 at 7 p.m. Keith will also be speaking at DePaul University during a Career Center-sponsored event about creative people and their creative jobs. That is on April 13th at 2 p.m. at the new DePaul art museum.
Alyson, meanwhile, will be heading out of town to Three Oaks, Mich. on April 26 to entertain the lovely people at the Acorn Theater during another installment of their adult storytelling showcase. The Acorn Theater is an amazing space that must be seen to be believed. Featuring a beautifully refurbished pipe organ, the theater itself is a work of art, not to mention the amazing works of art that the night’s performers will be sharing on stage.
April is set to be an amazing Essay Fiesta. Join us on April 16 at 7 p.m. at the Book Cellar for a night of stories and charity where you can feast your hungry ears on these little Easter eggs of literary wonder:
Stand-up comic Cameron Esposito
Director and teacher Matthew Miller
Moth Grandslam champ Shannon Cason
Author of Zen and the Art of Waitering Jonas Simon
Writer and director MT Cozzola
