I Know I Want You, But Why Do I Need You?

Imagine a group of people. They all have the same idea, and they are all standing with their backs turned to each other. Now picture someone else going into the middle of that group and yelling, “Hey, why don’t we turn around and talk about this.” To an extent, that is our goal with Halicarnassus. Growing up in the Allentown area and being an active writer, I have bounced from writing group to writing group. What amazed me was that these groups had similar ideas and goals. They had the same passions and loves. Yet, they did not know anyone else thought as they did. With Halicarnassus, we want to take those random dots of writers and be the connecting line. The magazine will be the forum for expression, and the idea will unite.

A writing workshop currently exists at the Hava Java coffee shop in Allentown. This workshop was our first attempt to locate talented writers in the area and provide them a forum for critique. This workshop will soon evolve and be directly linked to the magazine. We plan to work with the various art groups within the city to promote the idea of a unified literary base in Allentown. This will culminate with the release of Halicarnassus. We see a diverse group of people coming together to produce a solid collection of literature. That is why we do not exclude. We want those great writers hidden by the daunting world of publication to come out. These people deserve a voice, and we want to let them speak.

We won’t judge you based on your biography or where you’ve been published. In fact, we want those unknown writers who have been toiling away in basements and dens behind computers and typewriters. Allentown has needed this outlet for years. The city cannot consider itself a force in the art movement without strong representation from the literary field. We see the revival of fine art and music and we love it. We desire literature to achieve the same success. This is not an initiative we are trying to control. We want the artists to stand up and be heard. To the writers reading this, I urge you to contribute to this effort. Submit to the magazine and come out to our workshop. Let your voice be heard like it has so desired.

Our workshop will be changing location soon. When it does, all the information will be posted on this blog. Keep checking us out. If you are sitting at home trying to find errors in what I’ve written, I suggest you check us out. If you love to write, I suggest you check us out. If you want to break into a new medium of expression, I suggest you check us out. If you’re into hot college guys waxing poetic, I suggest you check me out.

Come down and be heard. We have coffee, but it’s not free. Maybe if you’re cute I’ll buy you a cup. Hell, maybe I’ll do it anyway. Keep reading. Keep writing.