AMAZING

Hey everyone,

Today was AMAZING. Today started out as just a regular ol' day. I went to school this morning for a crocheting class (which I LOVE) but before that was Creative Writing, which I am no longer in but I got to school early and crashed the last 5 minutes of the class. And I heard them talking about the reading at a coffee house (that the teacher was emceeing.) and Laura and Amber (two of my best friends from school) were going to go...I really wanted to go to the last one, but was unable to because of a puppet show. So I went with them....Poetry book in hand JUST IN CASE, but I didn't really think I would read because people had to sign up and you sign up a couple weeks beforehand. So, when we got in the ladies at the table said to sign in if you were reading and Amber says, "Come on, Jenn!" and I said, "No, I'm not signed up. I have my stuff, but I'm not reading." and one of the ladies overheard me and says, "If you have your stuff and we have extra time, we'll definitely let you read." So, after that I was excited, but I wasn't going to let myself get too hyped 1. so I wouldn't get too nervous and 2. In case I wasn't able to read, I wouldn't be disappointed. So, we all got drinks (I got a Chai Tea....If you've never had a Chai Tea, you haven't lived!!!! It's THE BEST drink ever!!!) and sat in the "performance room" (as I've named it) which is looks EXACTLY like what you would think a poetry reading coffee house should look like. Brick walls, paintings. Very comfy.
Throughout the readings I had a really good feeling that I would get up there to read....And....I did! OMG! My VERY FIRST poetry reading! It was amazing! Very liberating....After I read my poem "Forever" I heard someone say "wow" and that was SOOO great. Even if while I was up there I was shaking so much I thought I was going to drop my book.
When Nick (The Creative Writing teacher) introduced me he said, "And next is a very talented girl from Three Springs High School....She's published 3 books of poetry, one entitled 'Walking Barefoot In The Snow', here's Jennifer McLain!" and as I walk up I say, "Thanks Nick! I had no idea I did that!"

There's another reading next month and we've all planned to go back to that one...I'm going to try and write some more poems before then so I can read new and better stuff.

There is also a contest in April that Laura, Amber, and I are going to sign up for. It's a poetry slam. And Slam poetry isn't just poetry, it's poetry with a rhythm. It's performance poetry. There are cash prizes and the winners get to open for Pulitzer Prize Winner Poet Yusef Komunyakaa at the Get Lit! Festival (which I've ALWAYS wanted to go to) three days later!!! I'm not yet going to reveal what we have in store, but we DO have some ideas rolling in our heads. Please pray for us and wish us luck!!!!

Well, I'm going to go do some research on slam poetry and get some ideas.

I hope you all had as awesome of a day as I did!

Love you all,
Jenn