I immensely enjoyed reading my pieces at those events and I’m thrilled to have one more opportunity to share at the Who You Calling Crazy? reading by emerging authors at Toronto’s Free Times Café on Thursday, October 3rd, starting at 7:30 p.m.
« A reading is a performance, » said Terry Fallis* in one of his University of Toronto Building An Audience courses.
Maybe I revive this outfit for one of the readings? (Award Gala photo by Danielle Maheu)
With three readings coming up over the next few months, I have reviewed my notes on the subject for a few hints that can help prepare the best performance possible:
1. Choose a section that reflects the book / that reflects you as a writer.
2. Make eye contact with the audience.
3. When reading, it’s good to « act » the characters a little.
4. Use your voice as your instrument. Adjust your voice/performance to fit the writing. Change volume – lower the voice for dramatic moments (but not so much as to be inaudible) and raise the voice for excitement.
5. Vary the pace – slow down to add drama; use pauses, let the audience hang before delivering a punchline (coup de grâce), or speed up for intensity.
6. Practice, practice, practice. Before the reading, try out your piece. Practice in front of friends, or in front of a mirror. You can even time yourself, so that you know how long your reading takes.
I’ve been rehearsing my readings, timer at hand, to help me choose the best sections. Want to know which I picked? Feel free to attend any one (or all) of the readings to find out!
*I know, I know, sometimes I should just call my blog a fan page for this award-winning author…
I confess: I’m one of those writers who loves to read her stuff out loud. Preferably when other people are around to listen, absorb, critique, discuss.
That’s why I’m very fortunate to have three opportunities to read excerpts of my short stories in the next few months.
Then, on September 15, 2013, at 1:45 p.m., the Toronto Writers’ Cooperative is once again providing a reading opportunity, thanks to the launch of its Voices 2013 anthology, a perfect-bound anthology of co-op members’ work, in a range of genres.
Both events are held at the Elizabeth Beeton Auditorium on the first floor of the Toronto Reference Library, and are free.
Finally, on October 3, 2013, at 7:30 p.m., another conglomerate of writers will gather to share a range of work – from short fiction to creative non-fiction to poetry – under the theme Who You Calling Crazy? While this event, held at the Free Times Café in Toronto, is free of charge, donations to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health will be gladly accepted.
I’ve been practicing and timing (and even editing) the excerpts I plan to read, and am excited about these opportunities to share my writing live. If you happen to be in town, come on by and let me know what you think of my performance.
I’m excited to be reading as part of the Toronto Writers’ Co-operative literary evening, called Exchanging Notes, next month. On September 5th, 2013, the TOWC has invited award-winning author (and my one-time mentor) Terry Fallis to chat at the Toronto Reference Library.
Prior to the interview with Terry, two TOWC members will read their work – yours truly is one of them. It all goes down at the Elizabeth Beeton Auditorium at 6:30 p.m. I’ll be reading an excerpt of my short story Where Pigeons Roost, about a woman who becomes obsessed with the underground game of pigeon-thwacking.
See you there!
Exchanging Notes: the interviews
with Terry Fallis
Host John Miller converses about the writer’s life and craft with Terry Fallis. Terry is the author of The Best Laid Plans (Leacock Medal for Humour, 2008) and The High Road. In 2011, The High Road won CBC Canada Reads as the “essential Canadian novel of the decade.” TBLP is currently in development as a CBC-Television mini-series. Terry’s continuing publisher, McClelland and Stewart, published Up and Down in 2011. It debuted on the G&M bestsellers list. Terry’s 4th novel, No Relation, will be published in May, 2014. His 5th novel is currently underway.
Terry has extensive experience in provincial and federal politics, and communications consultation with the agency he co-founded, Thornley Fallis.
A.M. Matte and John Warren of the T.O. Writers’ Co-op will read from their work.
Productions Nemesis’ The Letter was a great success at the Toronto Fringe Festival this summer.
We met all of our artistic goals: we presented all ten shows, in spite of torrential rains and oppressive heat, and we had terrific, participating audiences that provided us with over 75 letters on which we based our improv sketches.
Samples of letters received from the audience of The Letter at the 2013 Toronto Fringe Festival
And I am happy to announce that we will present The Letter (La lettre) again in Toronto in September (in French), during Culture Days, thanks to the support of the Toronto Public Library. We hope to see you there!
Fun and constructive rehearsal today, for The Letter / La lettre, Productions Nemesis’ next show, at the Toronto Fringe Festival.
Come write letters with us!
Improv artists Audrey Ferron, Barbara-Audrey Bergeron and Catherine Berthiaume are awaiting your letters at the 2013 Toronto Fringe Festival
Following two successful improvisation shows, Meurtre littéraire in September 2012 and Effeuilletage in April 2013, bilingual theatre company Productions Nemesis returns with The Letter / La lettre at the 25th Toronto Fringe Festival, July 3-14, 2013.
One of three Pay What You Can plays to share the outdoors tent space at the Fringe Club in Honest Ed’s Parking Lot, The Letter / La lettre invites its audience to bring letters to the show to inspire an improv sketch. For those who wish to write a letter on site, stationery will be provided.
“We’ve experimented with interactive improvisation before, and had a lot of fun with our audience,” says Sonia D’Amico, director. “Our blend of staged theatre and improvised sketch is an intriguing challenge. Throw in there that we will play in both English and French, and we’ve got ourselves a show that lends itself very well to our unique venue.”
Featuring Barbara-Audrey Bergeron, Audrey Ferron, and Catherine Berthiaume, researched and written by A.M. Matte and yet-to-be-discovered audience members, The Letter / La lettre is on stage (or, more precisely, under canopy) from July 3 to 14:
Readers were invited to read each of the seven stories, then vote for their favourite.
At the end of the month, my short story, Alicorn 2108, had gathered nearly 65% of the vote – for the win -, and numerous positive comments from readers, some of which I’ll copy here:
« I did read all the stories, and there is really no contest. [Alicorn 2108] is far and away the best (even though I am not generally a fan of science fiction.) » – Ron P.
« [Alicorn 2108] was the best by far – a good story by any standards. » – Dave M.
« I loved [Alicorn 2108] – I also loved one of the others but I can’t remember the title – these are interesting & up-and-coming writers. [A.M. Matte] has a great imagination & talent. Also excellent language. » – Helen G.
« Wow I am impressed – I love the flow of [A.M. Matte’s] writing. She really takes you there. And the votes – everyone else is majorly impressed. » – Sheila B.
Thanks to D.R. Racey for holding the competition, and thanks to all who read and voted.
