In June 2024, Belmont resident Danny Elfanbaum launched a unique literary event known as Two Page Tuesday.
What began as a casual writer meetup has blossomed into a vibrant monthly gathering that now features audiences of 50 or more, attracting a diverse group of aspiring writers and readers.
The event is held on the second or third Tuesday of each month, alternating between two local venues: The Banshee and Charlie’s Kitchen in Harvard Square.
At Charlie’s Kitchen, the evenings often take a spirited turn, transitioning into impromptu karaoke after the readings, as Elfanbaum describes it: “[It’s] mostly just a social thing that parades as a reading.”
Each installment of Two Page Tuesday showcases around six readers, with Elfanbaum curating the lineup.
Writers from all genres are encouraged to participate, and interested individuals may reach out to Elfanbaum to secure a spot on the roster.
“Just a couple of months ago, we featured some truly remarkable diss poems,” Elfanbaum recalled.
In June’s gathering, four readers took the stage: Kathleen Carr Foster, Maddie Kaprich, Nick Roberts, and Nicole-Anne Bales Keyton.
Foster presented a segment of her novel-in-progress, while Kaprich shared a “kind of a true story” reflecting on a grief-laden bachelorette trip.
Roberts offered two short poems—one about the peculiar Jumping Frenchmen of Maine and another inspired by cats and E.E. Cummings, describing them as “weird and short.”
Keyton read from two pieces: one was an experimental work crafted with predictive text, and the other, an excerpt from a novel they are contemplating abandoning.
Each reading is intentionally brief, lasting only a few minutes, adhering to a two-page limit in standard manuscript format: 12-point font, double-spaced.
Though the format operates on an honor code, many readers print their pieces for verification.
Elfanbaum emphasizes that submissions must be new and unpublished, implying a creative challenge for the contributors. His website even suggests, “You’ll get [bonus] points if you can think of a funny way to end your reading mid-sentence.”
Elfanbaum’s preference for brevity stems from his belief in cultivating form and constraints in writing.
He notes that this structure lowers the barrier for new writers, allowing them to focus on producing work without the pressure of perfection.
“The best feedback I get from the readers is, ‘I hadn’t written in months, and I had a deadline, and now I wrote this great thing,’” he said.
This aspect of the event resonates with readers, creating a supportive and encouraging atmosphere.
Speakers are introduced by Elfanbaum using only their first names, eschewing accolades that could create a hierarchy among participants.
“This approach serves to democratize the event,” Elfanbaum explained. “A reader who’s newer to publishing might find themselves reading alongside someone who has authored multiple books, and both should have their work heard.”
Keyton, a participant since Two Page Tuesday’s inception, considers the event a valuable ‘test ground’ for writers.
Originally attracting a mostly familiar crowd of former classmates, the event now welcomes a wider audience interested in creative expression.
“To see so many people I don’t know now is so fun,” Keyton remarked, expressing appreciation for the community’s growth.
Promotion for Two Page Tuesday relies primarily on word of mouth and the event’s website, aligning with Elfanbaum’s philosophy of fostering offline connections in a largely digital world.
He firmly believes that cultivating a DIY literary scene is essential in a city brimming with academic establishments like Boston.
Roberts added, “Poetry has become too corporatized in many ways, and I see Two Page Tuesday as a step away from that. It’s a gathering of individuals sharing a profound love of literature and art, free from the constraints of awards and prizes.”
The next installment of Two Page Tuesday is scheduled for July 15 at Charlie’s Kitchen, starting at 6:30 p.m. and is free to attend.
For more details, visit twopagetuesday.club.
image source from：bostonglobe
