Writing Professor Hosts Monthly Open Mic Night

Linda Presto, adjunct professor of writing, hosted an Open Mic Night at Black Dog Books in Lafayette, NJ, on Saturday, Sept. 27, to bring together local creatives–and a few Centenary students–to share their writing and honor the late Dr. Noah Haiduc-Dale.

Presto began the open mic by prompting participants to write about a space that inspires them most. The night began with ten guests– including two CU students: Alexis d’Ambly, senior writing major; and Alexander Clauson, freshman elementary education major. More readers trickled in as the night went on, including Katherine Benfante, a local novelist and guest speaker in one of Dr. Erica McCrystal’s classes last semester. Both newcomers and regulars alike read their stories, shared laughs, and inspired each other to keep writing. 

The idea for this Open Mic Night came from the collaborative efforts of both faculty and students back when Presto was completing her master’s degree.

“I was getting my graduate degree, and we always read,” said Presto. “Somebody was always reading. I just thought this was the best, and I really wanted to bring it home.”

“Being a good literary citizen is important. I started this partially because I feel we writers have a responsibility to bring literacy to others who may not have access or exposure.”

“Reading is a lost art, and I think it has so much potential to be beneficial, especially for students experiencing stress and anxiety,” said Presto. “When you read and write, you slow down, and I think there’s something really important about us having some places in our lives where we can slow down.”

Presto discussed being drawn to “writers who are able to be so genuine even when it doesn’t fit what is perfectly acceptable. In class, we [read] David Foster Wallace. I just think he did things that are so different and off beat. I always appreciate and love an author who can be sort of off beat and introduce new things to their genre.”

Presto encourages aspiring writers to just keep writing. She related writing to practicing a sport or instrument. “Be kind to yourself, because it’s a long process. You learn about writing as you learn about life. Some lessons in writing take quite a long time, so continue to practice and read others.”

And Black Dog Books became the perfect place for this group of writers to spend their Saturday night, giving them a place to sit, relax, and buy both classics and new reads in a warm, casual setting before sharing their work. 

Prior to the pandemic, Presto talked to the original owner of Black Dog Books at their other location, also in Lafayette, and started an Open Mic Night. It was smaller, then, and didn’t capture the essence she had hoped to achieve as published authors attempted to use the event as a place to market their work. 

COVID also halted the plans of getting that Open Mic Night off the ground. Then, Dr. Ashlyn Szilva, Centenary graduate and the first advisee to Haiduc-Dale back in 2015, bought the book store and loved the idea of an Open Mic Night. 

Presto hopes subsequent Open Mic Nights can help writers expand their work, interact with each other, discuss their writing, and inspire each other. “I want you to be thinking about what (you’re) going to write about next or thinking about your next character or your next story or someone else’s character or story, and I want that to go home with you,” said Presto.

Keep writing, and join Presto and other writers at Black Dog Books on Rt. 15 in Lafayette, NJ the fourth Saturday of each month (with the next being Saturday, Oct. 25), to share your work, buy some books, get inspired, and meet Anya, the adorable little black dog who inspired the store’s name and whose pitter patter can be heard across the hardwood floor. And keep an eye out for The Cyclone Chronicle’s Open Mic Night later this semester.