Open Mic Nights

Hey guys.

My piece of advice for you this week is a little different and not really about writing but more about what you can do with it.

A couple of months ago, I performed at an open mic night. It was involuntary: as a committee member for the creative writing society at my university I was obligated to read out some of my work. Before now I have always been far too much of a coward to even consider performing at any of the many open mic nights my university host.

I was terrified. But I swallowed my nerves, got up and did it. And it was the most fun I have had in a really long time. I am not exaggerating. Yes, I had consumed a fair amount of wine to calm the nerves, which probably helped, but the real exhilaration came from standing in front of a whole room of people and having them listen to something I wrote. It was an experience I’ve never had before. I’ve given my stories to family to proof read and I’ve handed them in as coursework or to short story competitions. But I’ve never had a whole room of people just looking and listening to me.

I would highly recommend performing in an open mic night to any creative writer. It’s such a wonderful atmosphere. People who attend open mic nights tend to be creative writers themselves so the audience is really supportive and encouraging. And listening to the other performers can be so inspiring. Just sitting in a café packed with other writers can make you feel more creative.

Next time you see an open mic night advertised near you, pluck out any old thing you’ve written, whether it’s old, new, completed or unfinished, and volunteer yourself. Just go for it. It’s definitely something I look forward to doing again and again over the next year. And it also gives you something to write for. If you find it hard to inspire yourself, the knowledge that you’re going to be showcasing your writing in front of a whole room of people and nothing you have is really good enough can be a great kick up the back side.

So that’s my advice for the week. Perform in open mic nights. And even if you don’t feel confident enough to perform just yet, attend them anyway. It’s such a great experience that will boost your creativity and your confidence in your own writing. If you do take my advice, good luck!

Thanks for reading.