Mixers, Competitions, Publication...It's All Happening (Hopefully)

Having met up with Nadine yesterday, we came back with much brainstorming to do and a whole lotta events on the brain. For starters, we have our own little section for event notifications over at the Paper Microphone Cafe so you'll see us setting camp over there. Also, we've opened up Game Night to the public, instead of making it an invite only event, so hopefully that should help things along. It probably doesn't matter now though, registration wise, as long as you show up and are prepared to fork over the Rs 100 admittance fee and agree to order. You will get the fee back in a way, however, because we're planning on issuing cash prizes to winners which ups the stakes...by a whole lot. More people means more cash, means a whole different ball game. So spread the word to people you think will be interested in playing them wordy games. :)

We're planning for the "official" launch of the DWL Corner with Game Night which is on August 8 at 6pm at the cafe. Aside from that, we're also thinking of holding a formal mixer for writers, editors and publishers to all meet in one location, and discuss possible future collaborations held jointly under the Desi Writers Lounge and Paper Microphone banners. The DWL Corner may become a vantage point for editors and publishers to scope out new talent. So...yaay!

Another thing that is now most definitely on our horizon, post Vol 5 e-zine publication, is bringing out our own collection of short stories and poems. We need to compile the work into something presentable before pitching it forward to interested parties.

Writer and theater workshops are also on our list of things to get around to doing as and when the resources become available. Along with this, we're thinking of hosting a scripwriting competition, which would result in the winning playwright getting the chance of converting his/her play into a fullscale theatrical production, with no other than Osman Khalid Butt aka our Poetry Editor, as a mentor and director. It would be a great experience for any budding playwright, and something for which we are incredibly excited. We're hoping to launch that event either by the end of this year or some time in 2010.

And throughout all this, we're still going to continue with the book club and readings as the hallmark of what Desi Writers Lounge is all about, in essentials.

So there's a lot to look forward to in the coming months. Hope to see you guys at some, if not all our ventures. Everything is full of possibility, at this point.

Tally ho!

- TPTB

Game Night Registration Goes Public

Instead of keeping this a closed event and having advertised it for so long for the last 3 odd months or so, we're opening up registration to the public. So go ahead and register.

:)

- TPTB

Game Night Announced...at last!

August 8th. Be prepared to bring your best game, a healthy sense of competition and a whole lotta fun. We're finally bringing out our Game Night, featuring family classics like Boggle and Scrabble and newer additions like Balderdash and Taboo. Bringing the family activity to a cafe and opening up DWL to as much as it can be opened, with being a members-only event.

But don't let the members-only tag fool you. Members can invite whoever they want to, so if you're a member or know a member, good for you. The reason that we're not opening things up is to gauge interest for the event. If we have substantial interest, we will open things up. Hopefully. We have a thread over on the Coordinations, Coordinations board of the forums where we're encouraging registrations.

There will also be a cover of Rs 100. This marks the first time that we're charging for one of our events, and since the amount is nominal at best, we hope this won't deter participants from taking part in what promises to be a lot of fun.

If the event takes off, we might just include other games like Pictionary, Trivial Pursuit and any other games requested by participants.

Comments, questions, suggestions? You can always mail them to info@desiwriterslounge.net or write them in the comments.

We're boldly going where we've never gone before. Here's hoping we come out of this in one piece.

:)

- TPTB

Mark Your Calendars for July 12th

We're pushing forward with our July and August readings. August is going to be a busy month for us, with the conclusion of the Spring/Summer readings along with another book club discussion meeting and first game night. We're hoping to do a game night every month, but will be charging for this event. A nominal fee of Rs 100 at the minimum. We might or might not issue a set of tickets available at Paper Microphone.

Anyway, if you'd like to register for our reading, click here. And if you'd like to present your material featured, please send that into reading@desiwriterslounge.net no later than July 9th.

- TPTB!

Book Club New Pick Announced; Expansion Plans

Book clubs are being launched in both Islamabad and Karachi, which has started its own thread. Email us for more details and to put you in touch with our coordinator in the city. Meanwhile, we're still looking for reading material and because we've kept an open and revolving door policy, your material will be presented in a first come, first serve basis so if you're interested, now's the time to let us know!

Meanwhile, we're issuing a formal invitation to anyone in Islamabad to attend our next discussion meeting. Have your thoughts and ideas at hand. Without further ado, your invite:

Heralded as a breakthrough first novel, A Case of Exploding Mangoes reimagines the conspiracies and coincidences that led to the mysterious and still unexplained 1988 plane crash of Gen Zia-ul-Haq.

On August 2, we invite you to join us at the Paper Microphone Cafe to discuss the book over coffee, muffins and other delightful delicacies.

The What: Desi Writers Lounge Book Club Meeting #2

The When: Sunday, August 2, 2009 @ 6 PM (please be punctual)

The Where: Paper Microphone Cafe (2nd Floor, Main School Road, Super Market right after the Shell petrol Pump)

The Registration Details: Click here

The Extras: If you can't find a copy of the book at your local bookstore, you can always order it online at Liberty Books. Not pimping out their service or anything, but the prices are great and shipping is free so what's not to love?! :)

The RSVPs: Won't be there? Not enough time to finish? Bringing in a guest? Mail in your comments here. Also, if you've already registered prior to this posting, please don't register again.

Hope to see you there!

- TPTB

Possible TCF-DWL Collaboration

A few months ago, we were considering extending the muscle of Desi Writers Lounge towards social work and to that effect, had a meeting with representatives of The Citizens Foundation (TCF). With both parties suitably interested, we'll be taking a trip down to their two schools close to Islamabad to assess the situation.

Our ideas included holding a book club/reading session and a creative writing workshop, both activities conducted in the English language. Needless to say, we're looking for volunteers interested in literary and educational progress. So if you're interested, drop me a line with your name and any questions or suggestions you may have.

We're committed to this project and are looking for individuals who can help us further the cause.

- MP

Readings Soon To Be In Session Again

We realize it's been a while since our last reading session and want to give our member- and readership a heads up that we'll be taking material in for July's session now. If you're interested and/or know others you might be interested, direct them to this post.

Pieces (poetry, prose, random rants of non-fiction) can now be sent into readings@desiwriterslounge.net. Registration for the reading will be opening up shortly. Watch this space and our website.

Any questions, you know where to find us!

- TPTB