In case you missed it, The Poetry Lab kicked off November at WE Labs with its annual Stranded Artist visiting writer's workshop and reading series. Co-founded by WE Labs founder Markus D. Manley and The Poetry Lab founder and director Danielle Mitchell, the series pays tribute to its Long Beach roots:

“In the 1930s Nat “King” Cole was stranded in Long Beach when his first paying gig was canceled. It is said that Cole liked Long Beach so much that he decided to stay, playing in jazz joints in the Downtown corridor until he had enough money to return home. Eventually back in Chicago, Cole formed King Cole Trio and launched his career, becoming one of the most legendary voices in American music. It is this tradition that the Stranded Artist celebrates; the history of nurtured creative talent finding a haven and a home, however temporary, in Long Beach, the city of vibrancy, art, and soul.” (via The Poetry Lab)

This year’s visiting artists were Geffrey Davis, author of the A. Poulin Jr. Poetry Prize-winning collection Revising the Storm (BOA Editions, 2014), and Los Angeles-based poet F. Douglas Brown, author of the Cave Canem Prize-winning collection Zero to Three (University of Georgia Press, 2014). Davis and Brown led the well-attended, all-day poetry workshop, which included lectures, critiques of student work, and generative writing prompts. The day concluded with a free, public reading by both visiting writers followed by a reception, complete with wine, book signings, music, and mingling.

There will certainly be more great events in store, including The Poetry Lab's bimonthly workshops, so follow The Poetry Lab on Facebook to keep up! In fact, up next is the year-end Holiday Potluck and Reading. Join us for TPL's final event of 2014 on Thursday, November 20th at 7pm to celebrate a great year of writing and community.

Member Spotlight On: Danielle Mitchell, Director of The Poetry Lab 

WE: Tell us a little about yourself and your work. 

DM: The Poetry Lab is a writing workshop event that takes place on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of every month. Our events combine elements of lecture/craft talk and generative writing workshop. Our goal is to grow the literary community in the city of Long Beach, to help support writers as they write, read, collaborate, experiment, and find networking connections. Our focus is on good writing as well as good relationships. It is on this idea that we’re building the second phase of the original Poetry Lab plan, a visiting writer’s series called Stranded Artist.

Stranded Artist is a special event that invites writers from out of town to a one-day residency at WE Labs. In the morning they lead a workshop, in the afternoon they participate in a question and answer session, and in the evening they feature at a poetry reading. The entire WE Labs community is invited to these events, especially the evening portion where members are treated to a short, but inspiring poetry reading followed by a mixer and dance party. Last year’s event was a success that brought new voices and collaborators into WE Labs and we hope this year’s event on Saturday, November 1st will be even more valuable to our community.

WE: How long have you been a member of WE Labs? How did you first get involved?

DM: I’ve been a part of WE Labs since February of 2013 when Poetry Lab started. Although, I first “got involved” earlier on when Markus was posting surveys and other promo matter to Facebook. I’d go in and proof read the materials and send the guys edits. I didn’t set foot in WE Labs for the first time until January. Markus and I had been friends for several years. In 2010 he was instrumental in helping a new poetry show get it’s start at The Basement Longue on Broadway. I met him there and we’ve been friends ever since.  

WE: What are you excited to work on in the future?  

DM: The future of The Poetry Lab looks bright. Our next big event is the Stranded Artist workshop and reading on Saturday, November 1st. We sincerely hope the WE Labs community will come enjoy what our artists have to offer. In the new year, The Poetry Lab will expand programming to include a monthly critical workshop. The format of the workshop will allow us to give detailed feedback on individual pieces of writing, which will help our writers become more studied and professional (as well as awesome and creative!). We are also working towards a book club, mentorship programs, and a printed anthology celebrating the first few years of The Poetry Lab.

WE: What’s your favorite thing about working at WE Labs?

DM: My favorite thing about WE Labs has always been the community of creative innovators that are housed within it. From the very first time I walked into the WE offices I knew Markus had done something amazing, and rare. He’d brought freelancers, community organizations, professionals, entrepreneurs, artists, techies, and musicians together under one roof. And they remained there, happily. WE Labs is so much more than a cowork space. It has a heart, a real beating heart. And to be in that space, to feel the love of not just one friend, but many new friends, that is my favorite thing.