Bad Love
A Dark Valentine's Reading & Open Mic
Love is not always roses and chocolates. Sometimes love is dark, sometimes it's a punch in the gut, and sometimes it's just laugh-out-loud ridiculous. This Valentine's Eve, join us for a different kind of Valentine's reading--one that doesn't focus on the happily-ever-afters but that instead lingers on all that is less than perfect in, about, and around the subject of love. We'll feature three special guest readers, poets John Pluecker and Reyes Ramirez and playwright Jelisa Jay Robinson, and will then open the stage to any and all Houston writers and poets for an open mic. Bring your fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and everything in-between!
Open mic signup will be on the night of the event, and will be starting at 7 pm, with the reading starting at 7.30 pm. Get there early to secure a 5-minute spot on the Bad Love stage.
WHAT TO READ: Anything about bad love, sad love, love gone hilariously wrong, love cynically rejected, love misplaces, love lost. Feel free to interpret the theme widely: it doesn't have to be romantic love--you can talk about family relations gone sour, friends turned enemies, your cat whom you love but who hates you, or the book you tried to love but that sorely disappointed your expectations. We can't wait to see how you interpret the theme!
WHAT NOT TO READ: We will not tolerate readings containing/promoting acts of violence committed in the name of love. We will not tolerate readings that are racist, sexist, ableist, or contain hate speech against any minority groups. We reserve the right to end any reading with material or themes we deem unacceptable for these or other reasons.