Editor’s Note: The following story by up-and-coming journalist RACHEL STAMFORD was published by Nicholson Student Media on its website NSM Today for UCF by UCF on April 8, 2017. Her story profiled our local writing group Writers of Central Florida or Thereabouts.
As the sun sets on a Wednesday evening, twenty-or-so patrons file in to a small Winter Park coffeehouse. The walls are lined with bookshelves and the ceiling is adorned with colorful lanterns. Fairy lights crawl up the cement walls and over the bar in the back of the performance room. The bartenders serve wine and lattes alike under the menu written on a chalk board with names like Best Boring Waffle and Vote for Pedro.
While there is usually a featured writer slated to speak on the schedule, a clipboard left on a table near the stage offers last minute sign-ups to anyone who wants to perform throughout the night. The writers range from UCF affiliates to complete strangers and patrons of the coffeehouse.
One may see retired UCF math professor Mike Taylor reading his own science fiction. Writing and rhetoric major Ross Ellison is developing his novel, and asks the audience for critiques on his characters. A young man in a hoodie who calls himself “J” requests no one takes his picture, joking he has some “alleged outstanding warrants or whatever.” J. Bradley shows off copies of his newest novel “Jesus Christ, Boy Detective”. Published writer Shasta Grant stays in the back of the room and reconnects with her old dance coach; someone she ran in to at the venue just by chance, as they haven’t seen each other in over a decade.
Read more →
Join us every SECOND Wednesday for a continuation of Open Mic night for all writers, storytellers, poets and other creative types. We host at Stardust Video & Coffee beginning at 7:00 PM. Three featured presenters will start the evening followed by you and your work. A sign-up sheet will be available.
Please share the good word with other writers, storytellers, poets and their related groups and mark your calendars for another night of entertainment.
No charge to attend or present. We do encourage you to take a look at the Stardust menu of food and drink. No pressure to purchase. No pressure to present. Just show up, sit back and enjoy the good works.
* * *
Our December featured presenters:
Join us every SECOND Wednesday for a continuation of Open Mic night for all writers, storytellers, poets and other creative types. We host at Stardust Video & Coffee beginning at 7:00 PM. Three featured presenters will start the evening followed by you and your work. A sign-up sheet will be available.
Please share the good word with other writers, storytellers, poets and their related groups and mark your calendars for another night of entertainment.
No charge to attend or present. We do encourage you to take a look at the Stardust menu of food and drink. No pressure to purchase. No pressure to present. Just show up, sit back and enjoy the good works.
* * *
Our November featured presenters:
Mike Scotchie, storyteller of television repair, homeownership and parenthood, among other things, from Storytellers of Central Florida.
Ric Bauer, author of Lights, Camera, Action! and Our First Book Of Stories, Volume IV. His books are available at Amazon.com.
Tim Rumsey, storyteller from Storytellers of Central Florida offering a “Yogisms” tribute to New York Yankee great Yogi Berra.
Join us every SECOND Wednesday for a continuation of Open Mic night for all writers, storytellers, poets and other creative types. We host at Stardust Video & Coffee beginning at 7:00 PM. Three featured presenters will start the evening followed by you and your work. A sign-up sheet will be available.
Please share the good word with other writers, storytellers, poets and their related groups and mark your calendars for another night of entertainment.
No charge to attend or present. We do encourage you to take a look at the Stardust menu of food and drink. No pressure to purchase. No pressure to present. Just show up, sit back and enjoy the good works.
* * *
Our October featured presenters:
Sarah Wynde, author of A Gift of Time, A Lonely Magic and The Spirits of Christmas. From Orlando Indie Authors.
Lauren Zimmerman, author and proprietor of Writer’s Block Book Store, Winter Park, Florida. From Writers of Central Florida or Thereabouts.
Curtis McKinnon, entertainer, host, MC and performance poet. From Diverse Word
Join us every SECOND Wednesday for a continuation of Open Mic night for all writers, storytellers, poets and any other creative types. We host at Stardust Video & Coffee beginning at 7:00 PM. Three featured presenters will start the evening followed by you and your work. A sign-up sheet will be available.
Please share the good word with other writers, storytellers, poets and their related groups and mark your calendars for another night of entertainment.
No charge to attend or present. We do encourage you to take a look at the Stardust menu of food and drink. No pressure to purchase. No pressure to present. Just show up, sit back and enjoy the good works.
* * *
Our September featured presenters:
Robin Schulte, Storyteller Extraordinaire from Storytellers of Central Florida.
Rusty Pliers, Raconteur, Animator, Actor, Pirate, Horseman and Writer at RustyPliersWriter.blogspot.com.
Kristin Durfee, Author of Four Corners, a young adult fantasy trilogy. The first book now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Black Opal Books.
Join us every SECOND Wednesday for a continuation of Open Mic night for all writers, storytellers, poets and any other creative types. We host at Stardust Video & Coffee beginning at 7:00 PM. Three featured presenters will start the evening followed by you and your work. A sign-up sheet will be available.
Please share the good word with other writers, storytellers, poets and their related groups and mark your calendars for another night of entertainment.
No charge to attend or present. We do encourage you to take a look at the Stardust menu of food and drink. No pressure to purchase. No pressure to present. Just show up, sit back and enjoy the good works.
* * *
Our August featured presenters:
Shawn Welcome, Performance Poet and Founder of the Diverse Word open mic series.
Noah David Lein, Author, Playwright and Blogger at NoahDavidWriter.com.
Ray Flynt, Author of the Brad Frame Mystery series and Life’s A Mystery blog.
Every FOURTH Wednesday, beginning at 7:00 PM, let’s keep the discussion going regarding issues affecting writers of all genre. And whatever it takes to get you to the next step. We’ll also entertain the presentation of new work – first draft or edited – and old work, as well as everything in-between. If you’re new to the group you have the option to order, or not order, something off the Graffiti Junktion menu. Our venue provides a “no pressure” environment. And if you have nothing to offer but a willingness and desire to sit back and enjoy, please do. We look forward to meeting you.
Every FOURTH Wednesday, beginning at 7:00 PM, let’s keep the discussion going regarding issues affecting writers of all genre. And whatever it takes to get you to the next step. We’ll also entertain the presentation of new work – first draft or edited – and old work, as well as everything in-between. If you’re new to the group you have the option to order, or not order, something off the Graffiti Junktion menu. Our venue provides a “no pressure” environment. And if you have nothing to offer but a willingness and desire to sit back and enjoy, please do. We look forward to meeting you.
