For Readers:
The Front Range area of Colorado has a wonderful program called the 4x4 reading series which I have been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to both read in and experience as an audience member. The idea is that one student from each of the four writing programs in the Front Range (CU, DU, CSU, and Naropa) read for fifteen minutes each. The first 4x4 of the year was held last night at Naropa and two new MFA students in the University of Colorado's creative writing program asked how long I thought the reading would take. I laughed and said about two hours. Their rough reaction: Ok let's back up here Erin, that sounds like faulty math. I thought you said that four students are each reading for fifteen minutes. That equals one hour, not two. I chuckle at their naiveté and tell them never to underestimate the ego of the writer. Ever.
Sure enough, one of the readers last night read an admittedly entertaining story that lasted 45 minutes. Two additional readers could have been added to the program in the time this took up. The problem I am trying to correct is this: someone told him prior to the reading that this would be fine. It is not fine, and this enabling pattern is a disturbing one, violating simple rules of etiquette. One of his equally misguided peers perhaps told him, yeah no one cares if you read over the time limit. The reality is, yes we do care. We do not care if you read five minutes over but ten flirts with rudeness and thirty minutes over is just plain out of line.
So yes, tripling your allotted reading time is rude to the audience, but who lost the most? The reader that had to follow him. Richard Froude is a brilliant writer who I had luckily heard read before, but after nearly two hours of a break-less reading I and most of the others in the audience had understandably already hit their physical attention span breaking point. I could not give Froude the attention he deserved because of the rudeness of the reader that preceded him. This happens at AWP at the mega press readings constantly. Readers are given five minutes to read and read for twenty. When there are nine people reading that time adds up fast. It is unacceptable, inconsiderate, and it undermines your wonderful work. I understand this is difficult for fiction writers to do, but you have to. Create an abbreviated reading version, or write some flash fiction. You should only read for forty five minutes if forty five minutes was the time allotted for you at the reading. This is about respecting your audience, your fellow readers, and your own work.
For the Audience:
The audience should act like they are at a church service that has the potential to switch to an opera/ballet/play/comedy club at any moment. Be respectfully engaged and ready for whatever might happen during the reading. Even if the reader rule above is broken, you cannot leave in the middle of the reading. You cannot leave between readers. You must clap, and you must not fall asleep (students). If you are annoyed by a reader breaking the rule above or for any other reason, hold your frustration until after and wait for that sweet validation you get when you realize everyone else felt the same way. Put yourself in the place of the reader and realize how difficult it is to get up and read work that you care deeply about to strangers . Turn your cell phones off.
I Love Readings
I love literary readings and I hate leaving upset like I did last night. I like to feel inspired not like I had been held against my will for two hours. Publishers, reading series coordinators, and readers: tell your readers that the time limit is strict, tell your audience to silence their cell phones and to not leave (or leave quietly if they have to) before the reading is over. Your reading will be a more successful event and most importantly, consistency in etiquette will help build an maintain a more solid literary community.
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