By Patricia Dunn, Director, The Writing Institute

Oct. 12, 2016:   On Sunday, October 16, 2016, The Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence College will welcome the live reading series 650 to its campus for a staged event at the Heimbold Visual Arts Center, 935 Kimball Avenue. 

Featuring a dozen accomplished writers reading five-minute essays on the theme love and marriage, the show will begin at 2:00 pm and conclude at 4:00 pm with a wine-and-cheese reception hosted by The Writing Institute.

Six hundred fifty is the maximum word count for featured essays--two pages that can be read aloud within five minutes.

The broad themes selected for 650 events allow for a wide range of expression. "The breadth and quality of the work we receive is remarkable," said founder and editor Edward McCann. "For example, our first-time call for submissions prompted terrific writing about a child’s first haircut, a divorcee’s first Match.com date, and a student nurse attending her first autopsy. 

"It doesn't matter whether the pieces come from first-timers or bestsellers—or from graduate students or grandmothers. In a publishing environment that offers a shrinking number of opportunities to showcase new work, we've created a solid platform we’re really proud of. We simply feature good writing at a well-produced event."

"We've supported 650 since its inception," said Patricia Dunn, director of The Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence College, "and many of our faculty and students have participated as both readers and audience members. It's a carefully curated program of short, high-quality pieces read aloud by the writers, and it's always a dynamic experience. The pace and energy of these events leave audiences wanting more, and it's also a fabulous place for writers and lovers of the written word to meet. The Writing Institute is proud to be a 650 presenting partner, and we're excited to host this special event on our campus."

Several of the writers featured in the reading are associated with The Writing Institute, and the complete show roster can be viewed at Read650.com. Seating is limited, but tickets can still be purchased for $12 through the events tab of the Read650.com website. The event will also be live-streamed at Facebook.com/read650 beginning at 2:00 pm. 

Pictured here:  Edward McCann, founder and editor of 650.

Photo courtesy Patricia Dunn, Director, The Writing Institute