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The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Queens Literature Lovers Plan Public Writing to Support New Magazine

QUEENS — A group of writers is waxing lyrical in bars, parks and subways to raise cash for a new Queens literary magazine.

The event, 'Queens Writes!," is the creation of Newtown Literary Alliance, a non-profit organization promoting new and emerging writers in the borough.

The group recently published the first edition of Newtown Literary, a journal promoting local authors’ work, and is now raising money for future editions.

On April 13 and 14, writers will venture out to public places to write, while asking for donations.

They will be producing anything from poetry to letters to friends, hoping that people watching them will donate money for the magazine.

"This event is designed to promote writing," said Karyn Slutsky, a member of the Newtown Literary editorial board who will be among the public writers. "There is a growing community of writers in Queens and hopefully this event will inspire more people to do it."

Specific locations can be found on the Newtown Literary website. Newtown Literary Alliance is still looking for more sites and volunteers.

Tim Fredrick, 36, the founder of the magazine and an Elmhurst writer and teacher, said his goal was to organize an event that would engage the entire borough.

As of Monday, five locations have been picked for "Queens Writes!", he said.

There will be sites in Long Island City, Sunnyside, Forest Hills, in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, and along the 7 train line, where participants will gather at the Queensboro Plaza stop first and then write as they ride the train.

The writers may type on laptops, tap on smart phones or scribble on scraps of paper — Fredrick said there are no specific rules on how they do it.

"You can write on an envelope if you want to," he said. He also said anybody can join the effort.

Each location will have its site captain and there will be a bowl for donations which will go to the printing cost of the journal. Each group will write for at least an hour.

Slutsky, 48, one of the writers who works as an assistant director at Queens Paideia School, said she will participate in the Forest Hills event with her 7-year-old daughter. She said she is planning to write a letter, and her daughter will probably write a short story or a poem.

"The only way to inspire others to do it, is to set an example," Slutsky said.

Newtown Literary is a semi-annual journal, published in electronic and paper formats. It prints all literary genres, including fiction, poetry, essays and creative non-fiction.