Lit Boston: What's Happening in December?
In the December 2019 edition of "Best of Boston," we bring you our top Boston lit events this month, curated from the Boston Literary District's event calendar, an essential source of literary happenings.
Transnational Series Presents: Reimagining the Epics with Karthika Nair and Nina MacLaughlin
Tuesday, December 3rd, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Brookline Booksmith
In Until the Lions: Echoes from the Mahabharata, Karthika Naïr retells the Mahabharata through the embodied voices of women and marginal characters, so often conquered and destroyed throughout history. In Wake, Siren, Nina MacLaughlin revisits Ovid’s Metamorphoses and lays bare the violence that lurks in the heart of those narratives, stories that helped build and perpetuate the distorted portrayal of women across centuries of art and literature.
Building Great Stories in Three Acts
Friday, December 6th, 1:00pm - 2:30pm
Mattapan BPL
In this drop-in course with Quentin Lucas, examine the three-act structure of American storytelling, in both written and visual media. Along with considering how the structure of three acts can help a writer drive past writer’s block and how the three-act structure contributed to the success of stories like The Hunger Games, you’ll also discuss how the three acts can also make a story predictable and when it’s time to break the rules. Write Down the Street programs are offered tuition-free thanks to the support of generous donors who are committed to our mission of ensuring all voices are heard.
Winter Warehouse Sale at Harvard Book Store
Friday, December 6th - 8th, 13th - 15th
Harvard Book Store
Explore thousands of remainders—fiction, cookbooks, children's books, comics, art, history, science—plus used books (priced as low as $1 to $3!) in a range of subjects.
Pieces of Me: Writing about Age
Saturday, December 7th, 12:00pm - 1:30pm
Egleston BPL
Through dialogue, readings, and self-reflection, explore the concept of age in order to better understand yourself, each other, and the world in which we live. In this class with Vero González, leave with the first draft of a poem or personal essay, and feedback from the instructor and peers. All ages are welcome; participants under eighteen must be accompanied by an older relative. Write Down the Street programs are offered tuition-free thanks to the support of generous donors who are committed to our mission of ensuring all voices are heard.
Spoken Word Poetry Brunch to Support Mass LEAP
Sunday, December 8th, 11:00am - 3:00pm
Bill's Bar & Lounge ($20 – $45)
Join Mass LEAP for their 4th annual Spoken Word Poetry Brunch. Support Mass LEAP's mission to help set the stage for this generation. There will be a discount Holiday Book Bazaar featuring new releases from canonical writers, music, food, mimosas, and special guest poetry performances! Purchase your tickets here.
Wednesday, December 11th, 12:30pm - 1:15pm
GrubStreet HQ
Bring your lunch down to GrubStreet to meet fellow writers and get your creative juices flowing with some cool writing exercises. Be sure to arrive early, as space is limited! Additionally, Deborah Norkin, writer and Food Writing Editor at Pangyrus Literary Magazine, will be holding free, 20-minute Editor Hours before and after the session.
Massachusetts Book Awards Holiday Dozen: Cambridge Edition
Wednesday, December 11th, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Cambridge Public Library
Twelve Boston area writers, recently honored by Massachusetts Book Awards, will talk about their books, mix and mingle, and sign books for you and the book lovers on your list! (Porter Square Books will be selling books at the event.) Participating authors: Jabari Asim, Katie Bayerl, Julia Denos, Allegra Goodman, Richard Hoffman, Mira T. Lee, Jill Lepore, Cynthia Levinson, Fred Marchant, Stephen McCauley, Kevin McLellan, and Nancy Werlin.
The Moth Boston StorySLAM: Traditions
Wednesday, December 11th, 7:30pm - 9:30pm
WBUR CitySpace
WBUR and PRX are proud to be media sponsors of The Moth, an acclaimed non-profit organization dedicated to the art and craft of storytelling. The Moth StorySLAM is an open-mic storytelling competition, open to anyone with a five-minute story to share on the night’s theme. Come tell a story, or just enjoy the show! Tickets for this event are available one week before the show, at 3pm.
FREE Novel Incubator Open House and Info Session
Thursday, December 12th, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
GrubStreet HQ
Interested in taking your novel to the next level? Join us for an informal Q&A session on our Novel Incubator program. Alumni of the program and instructor Michelle Hoover to give you all the information you need to know about the application process, what the program entails, the schedule, the philosophy behind our approach, and anything else on your mind.
Jeffrey Colvin and Melissa Rivero at Boston Public Library
Thursday, December 12th, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Central Library in Copley Square
Jeffrey Colvin’s assured and captivating novel, Africaville, weaves a rich narrative tapestry from the colorful threads of multiple generations in one family. The title is inspired by Africaville, a real settlement in Halifax, Nova Scotia, whose black population—largely the descendants of slaves from the American South and the Caribbea—carved out a community against the harsh maritime landscape and against bigotry and racism. In telling this story, Colvin hopes to highlight the many “lost” free black communities throughout North America that have faded from history books and memory.
Friday, December 13th, from 5:30pm - 6:30pm
GrubStreet HQ
What's more satisfying than leaving work behind on a Friday afternoon? Rounding out the week with a free writing session, of course! Leave work behind and come on over to Grub HQ. In 60 jam-packed minutes, you’ll meet fellow writers and get your creative juices flowing with some great writing exercises. Free drinks (beer, wine, coffee, water) and snacks provided.
Young Adult Writers Program (YAWP): FREE Saturday Sessions
Saturday, December 14th 12:00pm - 4:00pm
GrubStreet HQ
GrubStreet throws its doors open during one Saturday each month, offering FREE creative writing workshops for Boston-area high schoolers. Write a poem, song, or hip-hop verse in The Art of 16 Bars. Craft jokes worthy of The Onion in The Fundamentals of Funny: Injecting Humor into Your Story. Weave fact into fiction in Writing What You Know. All students must register in advance.
The Solidarity Salon - Hosted by Lisa DeSiro
Saturday, December 14th 7:30pm - 9:30pm
The Lilypad ($5)
The Solidarity Salon gathers together local artists of various genres to share their creations in community spaces. The series aims to especially amplify the voices of women, people of color, immigrants, and LGBTQ persons. Donations collected at this event will go to On the Rise in support of their Voices Together writing program.
Meredith Atwood presents The Year of No Nonsense: How to Get Over Yourself an On With Your Life
Tuesday, December 17th 7:00pm
Brookline Booksmith
In The Year of No Nonsense, Atwood shares what she learned, tackling struggles with work, family, and body image, and also willpower and time management. Ultimately, she’s the tough-as-nails coach /slash/ best friend who shares a practical plan for identifying and getting rid of your own nonsense in order to move forward and live an authentic, healthy life.
Maura Intemann
Maura is a third-year student studying English and Communications at Northeastern University. She's from Long Island, New York and in her free time loves watching movies, listening to music, and rock climbing.
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