Looks like our Karachi chapter has begun its activity. Our members in the city met up for dinner and drinks at Ciao. A full account of how things went, is available here. Great stuff, and an impressive crowd. Seems the readings have build up something of a buzz about the site, which was admittedly, something we were looking for.

The city’s first ever reading will be taking place on August 3. Details follow:

When: August 3, 2008 at 7.00 pm

Where: DHA Club, Phase 2

Who’s Invited: Anyone who likes to read and write, and a) wouldn’t mind critiquing the work of others, b) would like to read out their own material or c) just wants to participate.

Reading Deadline (by which pieces must be received): August 1-2, 2008. No later, because it’ll naturally be a scramble.

Contact: readings@desiwriterslounge.net

Please note: This might well become a permanent thing in the city, and while we can’t guarantee anything, if your piece doesn’t make it for the deadline, it might be addressed in the next reading. We’re still following the “no piece goes unread” policy.

So note the information above, and start sending in your stuff. We’re hoping our Lahore chapter opens up soon, too. Then it’ll really be a party!

🙂

– TPTB

Our third reading was a scramble in some bits, but went through without a hitch in most parts. We had no short stories at all this time, and between three poems and one very highly charged political piece, which was debated at length, our reading hit a new high.

An attendance ranging from some old established reading participants to some newbies to a new introduction altogether, we had a good time.

There are two more events I’d like to announce, however. The first is a play by one of our moderators: Osman Khalid Butt, who we’ve referred to here as Obi in the past. He’s directing a play entitled Superstar, Avatar and if the buzz around is any indicator, it’s the best play done so far. Show starts at 7.30 pm (last one’s on July 26).
Tickets available at both the Islamabad Club (where it’s being staged) and Illusions.

The second event is a meeting for the Karachiites. At long last, we’ve generated some buzz of our own around the readings and the other cities have begun waking up. Although not an “official” reading, I can’t guarantee that no reading will be done. Consider it an informal get together / meeting of the minds. Details below:

Where: Ciao on Zamzama

When: July 25 @ 7pm

RSVP: readings@desiwriterslounge.net

At best, you’ll get to hear never-before-seen stuff of our members. At worst, you’ll get to meet our members in Karachi.

No harm, right?

What: Desi Writers Lounge Reading Series – #3

When: July 20, 2008 — 5pm sharp

Where: Cafe Incantare (basement Pizza Hut, F-10 Markaz, Islamabad)

Who’s Invited: Anyone who writes, reads and is willing to offer a bit of feedback on someone else’s work, or present their own.

RSVP: readings@desiwriterslounge.net

Reading (Pieces) Deadline: July 16, 2008 11.59pm

Note: Bring along a friend if they’re interested. Pieces must be emailed in to the above address by the deadline. If sent a minute later, it’s fodder for Reading #4. Questions or comments? Post away.

We did take a trip down to the Academy of Letters. However, for now, at least until peak heat summer time dies down in Islamabad, and generators aren’t so much a necessity, we’re looking for alternative venues. We’d decided on Cinnamon Cafe’s Cigar Lounge but were thrown off when they told us they closed after lunch and reopened at 7.30pm, which is usually when our readings end. We can’t have our readings running on especially since Monday’s a work day for a lot of our attendees.

So now it’s a toss up between Civil Junction or Khiva, both of which we’ll scope out tomorrow to see the lay of the land. We’ve usually held our Islamabad meets at CJ, but due to its recent closing for redecoration purposes, haven’t had the chance to poke our heads in there. Hotspot’s out of the question, if it were ever in the question, because we’d have to take it outside, and it’s far too hot to be sitting out there. 5pm on the new time means 4pm by the old time, and if memory serves, waay too hot.

So we’re evaluating our options.

However, the deadline’s still withstanding our indecisiveness and if you’re interested to read out your stuff, mail it in to readings@desiwriterslounge.net. We’re serving pieces up on a first come, first serve basis and if you send in your stuff before the July 16, 2008 deadline, you’ll secure your place in this reading.

Realizing this is a series, I’m wondering when the first series should end. I’m thinking some time at the end of this year (November/Decemberish). We should plan things differently for the next series, or series in the plural. If we average about one every two months, we’re looking at around 1-2 more by year’s end. Meaning we’ll have done about 4-5 readings. Not bad. Not bad at all.

The E-Zine selection process will also be starting soon, with the polls going up on all pieces. This time around, we’ll be dedicating two months for editing to take into consideration the time of both our editors and their writers. Look for them in the next few weeks. A tentative e-zine publication date’s been set for October/November around the time our first reading series ends.

If you’d like to take a look at our last e-zine (Vol 3), check it out here and if you’d like to be included but aren’t a member, register here.

That’s it!

– TPTB

I think we’ve successfully managed to prove that we here at the Desi Writers Lounge are dedicated to this reading series. Our next in line will be held on July 20, 2008.

Interested writers must send in their material no later than July 16, 2008 to have their material featured in this session. Material received after this date, will be featured in our next session instead, for which dates and timings will be confirmed after July 20.

All material must be mailed in to readings@desiwriterslounge.net and remember to forward this address to anyone you think may be interested. We are particularly interested in members reading out their original, never before seen, pieces.

Watch this space for venue confirmations.

We’ll be scoping out The Academy of Letters’ Writers House today for a chance to see what it’d be like if we had our reading there. Aside from the fact that it’s a little farther away from the mostly central locations of our previous readings, (it’s in the Shifa Hospital area), it might be an excellent place. To answer the “might”s, we’re making our way there.

In other news, the mass marketing campaign mentioned much, much earlier is moving towards a green light. We’re drafting action plans for that process, thinking about advertising our website as well as our readings and generally subdividing responsibilities in the forum. While as currently, our moderators are responsible for the entire forums, they’ll be responsible for specific forums, where their word will be law (no, no I jest. My word will still be law! :D). But you get the gist of it.

Again, we’re asking local designers out there, or who know other locals, to please email us in (my email address is in the profile) and let us know whether or not they’d be interested. I have an international guy, but since we don’t know the current going price, I can’t be sure whether it’s perfect or overpriced. So come on, peeps! Show us that creativity you have holed within you!

Not much else going on. Reading’s in July. The email went out yesterday. If you’re interested in sending in your work, member or not, please do so to readings@desiwriterslounge.net . Surprise me! 🙂

– TPTB

Not only did it go through without a hitch, it was a smashing success! We had twelve writers in attendance, and four pieces to go through. Unlike before, where it took so much time focusing on just one piece, we made it through each, and even introduced two new members into our fold. The full details are up here, so go ahead and check ’em out.

Next reading’s planned for July (primarily because a few won’t be available in August), with a possible venue set for The Writers House in the Academy of Letters; the Editor of the English section was in attendance at our reading. But read the whole thing at the link above.

Because we’re adopting the whole open door philosophy when it comes to submission of pieces to the reading, we’d appreciate if you could keep those pieces coming and they’ll make it to the reading on a first come, first serve basis. Do not fear: each piece sent in will have its say. As always, material must be sent in to readings@desiwriterslounge.net.

That’s it.

– TPTB

Venue’s been confirmed.

Cafe Incantare. It’s a little place right next to Pizza Hut in F-10 Markaz. You’ll need to go down a few stairs, but the board’s there so it’s hard to miss.

Time’s 5pm. Date’s June 08, 2008.

The formal invitation: Sunday, June 08, 2008 @ Cafe Incantare – 5pm. Dress to impress (lol!).

Remember to send in your work well before June 08, 2008 if you’d like to have it read out and give us time to sort through everything. Deadlines aren’t there, but work will be served up first come, first serve. All material can be sent to this address. Hope to hear from you soon!

– TPTB

A heads up: we’re planning the next reading in a series held by Desi Writers Lounge in Islamabad. As before, we’re asking members in the city, or out of towners who would like to participate, to start sending in their material (short stories, poetry, rambles…it all goes!) to readings@desiwriterslounge.net.

Unfortunately, because we’ll be pressed for time, we’ll have to defer reading of some pieces to future readings. For this purpose, we’ve eliminated any deadlines…if you’re interested in having your work read out and workshopped “live” so to speak, then start sending in your material. Please remember: this is open to people outside of the Lounge as well, so if you know anyone who’d be interested and wants to have their work discussed, pass our email address along. We’ll unveil the time, date and venue in the coming days so keep an eye out for this space! As always, if you have any questions, you know where to find me…

So it’s official: we’re going to be taking Desi Writers Lounge to the streets in the form of bookmarks distributed to local bookstores, nationwide…or at least wherever our members are and who are prepared to canvas the neighborhood.

Before we go there however, we need fresh faced, funky graphic designers. So if you’re interested, know that you will be compensated for your work. Send in your bids as well as a portfolio of past work (if applicable) to the following address: maryam@desiwriterslounge.net.

The word’s out…pass this along to your friends and their friends; we’re on the market and we’re looking. If you think you’re creative, have a funky idea or have a designing bone in your body, mosey along over.

– TPTB