Express Yourself At First Draft: A Literary Social

The Center for Writing and Literature at Miami Dade College has put together an interesting string of events. First Draft: A Literary Social is a writing event that challenges all writers and readers alike to enjoy an evening sitting over coffee and drinks. Everyone is led through a short writing prompt, and encouraged to mingle and share their thoughts about the night’s themed writing.

First Draft: A Literary Social took place Feb. 19, at the newest location for Book & Books, located at the Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd. 

The Café At Books & Books, having been opened for only a couple of months now, is a gem and truly added to the nights ambiance with the courtyard hosting the writers while inside all the magic was happening with the bar and books beautifully displayed to inspire, much in part to Katherine Wakefield’s hard work as the bookstore manager and to Delphine Peña as the Café general manager.

Even the evening’s cold temperature could not put a damper on the nights affairs, as host Nicholas Garnett took the audience on a fun-filled night of writing about their obsessions. That was the theme after all, Obsessions: Love, Lust or Louis Vuitton, everyone has an obsession in one form or another. After topics were given, and pens had been laid down, Garnett let everyone have a turn with the microphone to share their obsessions as a guessing game. Participants were instructed to talk about it, describing what it smells like, taste like, without giving away what it was so the audience could mull it over.

All the attendee’s had a blast, shyness was cast away in favor of a glass of wine — to those of age — as it is a first draft, and the first glass is on the house to those who attend the night’s affairs.

The Café also makes wonderful coffee and desserts for underage members to enjoy, aside from the café’s menu.

Upcoming dates and themes include Thursday, April 9, with the location still being determined. The theme for the night will be ‘poetry’.

On Thursday, May 7 the Center will host another event with the theme of the night being ‘changes’ at The Democratic Republic of Beer/180 Bistro located at 501 NE 1 Ave. in Downtown Miami.

Make sure to mark your calendars for future First Draft events.  Attendance is free, however, it is required that anyone interested in participating RSVP online at thecenteratmdc.org.