Dear Wordsmiths, Word Crawl is a fundraiser for the Festival of Words, and takes place in downtown Lafayette. Proceeds from the Word Crawl help bring the literary arts to people of all ages with little access to the literary arts. Through Word Crawl, you'll have the opportunity to perform in one of Louisiana's most dynamic literary events. Word Crawl invites all poets, fiction and non-fiction writers, spoken word artists, storytellers and songwriters to participate, perform, and help us in our fundraising efforts. Want to be a performer at the Word Crawl on September 14 How Word Crawl works: Download the Word Crawl Packet You can also request an application packet at bcoen@lusfiber.net Seek Sponsorship. As a Word Crawler, you are asked to collect a minimum of $100. You may seek funds in any denomination, from any number of sponsors, that you wish. Thank each sponsor and give him or her a receipt. Record Sponsors. Write the name, contact information and amount donated for every sponsor on your Word Crawl envelope or sponsor sheet. Turn in Envelope and Fill Out Application. Please fill out an application to be a Word Crawler and indicated time and location preferences on application. Each reading is 10 minutes. The deadline for all packets is Friday, August 9, 2019. ABOUT THE FESTIVAL OF WORDS LIVE WORDS! The Festival of Words hosts top notch authors who teach hands-on creative writing workshops in public schools, and has youth performing “Drive-by Poetry” in grocery stores, beauty shops, fast-food joints and all kinds of off-the-wall venues. You haven't lived until you've become the happy victim of a drive-by poem. Festival of Words has novice writers reading alongside experienced authors on the community stage in an atmosphere of mutual respect and encouragement. We are insistently inclusive. Festival of Words Authors for 2019 (November 1 & 2) Donney Rose Tyler Robert Sheldon Yuri Herrera PLUS Writing Workshops: songwriting, poetry, fiction, life writing, children's creative writing Drive-by Poetry through the streets of Grand Coteau Open Mic and more! *WHO WE HELP THROUGH WORD CRAWL The Festival of Words (November 1 & 2) takes place in the underserved, rural population of Grand Coteau, Louisiana. Grand Coteau is in St. Landry Parish, where over 25% of residents live below the poverty line and elementary and middle schools have shut down their school libraries. We emphasize outreach with programs like: Hands-on writing workshops in public schools and community centers Drive-by Poetry, featuring student poets in grocery stores, barbershops, and other nontraditional venues Public readings, featuring students and residents alongside prominent artists Our festival is open to everyone and attended by literature lovers from all over the state. We've offered teenagers and adults the ability to, for the first time, meet authors in person, and given them the opportunity to experience the diversity of modern wordsmiths. Past featured authors include Cornelius Eady, Toi Derricotte, Naomi Shihab Nye and Darrell Bourque.