Women! Yes, you deserve an exclamation mark! Have 2.

I am writing to inform you that it looks like the Vancouver Poetry Slam will be sending a representative to a brand new Poetry Slam Incorporated (PSI) event called the Women of the World Poetry Slam (WOWps).

Find out more about it here: http://womenspoetryslam.com

It will be run as the same format as the Individual World Poetry Slam (IWPS) in that you’ll be asked to have 1 minute, 2 minute, 3 minute and 4 minute poems ready to compete with. It will be happening in March 2008 in Chicago.

I am sending you this email because at some point and time you have participated at the Vancouver Poetry Slam, attended a Slam in Vancouver or thought slam is a dumb idea. And because I think of you as a woman who writes and performs poetry. The basic guidelines for participation in WOWps is that if you live your life as a woman, and you consider yourself a woman (regardless of your current body and genitalia) then you are eligible. If I have offended you by thinking of you in these terms, and you think of yourself otherwise, then I apologize. I am sometimes like a block of wood and can only see through my knot-holes.

That being said, if you are interested, because this is going to be held in the U.S. I am asking that everyone be at least 18 now and hopefully 19 by March 2008. I have been informed that all venues used in Chicago will be all ages but I think sending minors without a chaperone would be unwise, so 18 it is.

Registration for WOWps begins January 27, 2008. So we will have our playoff on January 7th. The top 10 female poets will be allowed to compete. We will for sure have a 1 minute, 2 minute and 3 minute round. There may be a 4 minute round, so it’ll be good to have something prepared anyway. Our feature for that night will be Shannon Leigh from Atlanta,

How do you qualify? We will be using a points system to qualify poets to compete. It will be retroactive to our first slam on Sept 3rd. You get points for every poet you beat at a Vancouver Poetry Slam or a Main Street Slam between Sept 3rd and January 7th regardless of their gender. You get 1 point no matter what if you decide to be the sacrificial poet at the Van Slam. January 7th will be your last chance to get points. You get 1 point no matter what just for participating. Specialty Slams like the Dead Poet Slam don’t count for points.

The more you compete at either event, the more points you get and the better chance you have of being one of the top 10. Granted this points system is as exuberant as the NHLs but so what?

Hopefully you are interested in this new slant to the slam. If you are not that’s fine. If you are that’s great. No need to reply (unless you have any questions), just show up. Participating this way does not alter your chances in making the Van Slam Playoffs in April and May. The same system of rankings and scores that we have used for that event will be used for again this season.

If you have questions or objections then give me a call 604 215 9230 and I’ll try and answer them for you.

Randy (RC)