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 … Continue reading
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Get to Know: Cameron Esposito
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 … Continue reading
Get to Know: Shannon Cason and Matthew Miller
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 … Continue reading
Get To Know: Jonas Simon and MT Cozzola
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. … Continue reading
Writer’s Corner: Does the Tense Make Sense?
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 … Continue reading
Essay Fiesta Around Town (and Beyond)
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 … Continue reading
Announcing Essay Fiesta’s April Readers
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 … Continue reading
So You Think You Can Lie: The Biggest Liar Contest
A lying contest in a funeral home?! Who wouldn’t want to see 10 of Chicago’s biggest and best liars (and storytellers) go head to head in a usually somber setting? That’s exactly what’s going down at the 43rd Annual Chicago’s Biggest Liar Contest! Produced by Essay Fiesta alumni Scott Whitehair, the show will feature a variety of … Continue reading
What a Day That Was: Essay Fiesta Recap
Hello friends of Essay Fiesta. This past literary extravaganza was a swell shindig indeed. Great prizes were won. Wonderful readers performed their work. Baristas slung coffees and beers. People absorbed art. We have to say it was a smashing success. Our good buddy Monte (who is also an Essay Fiesta alumni) was kind enough to … Continue reading
Get to Know: Robyn Okrant
In the immortal words of Rebecca Black: “It’s Friday.” And thank goodness for that. Right? That means we are just a silly weekend away from the next Essay Fiesta. And boy oh boy have we got a show for you. I mean, we have the endearing Robyn Okrant. Robyn is a writer, performance artist and … Continue reading
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