The Polidori Society FAQ
by Rufel Ramos
Introduction: The author has been a member of the Polidori Society since fall 1993, when she attended a fall Polidori party held at Rome, Italy. She's been an active participant/organizer (among other participants/organizers) of the Dallas party since fall 1995.
1) What is the Polidori Society?
The Polidori Society is an informal organization promoting original creative writing, either fiction or non-fiction, poetry or prose. Polidori isn't a society of elitist "writers" (sniff, sniff), but a creative fellowship of people who don't usually have a chance or a forum to write creatively or who don't consider themselves creative. Everybody (from the professional writer to an office clerk slaving away in his/her cubicle) is creative! This society gives the Everyman a chance to be creative with an open and appreciative audience (other Everymen). "Polidori" refers to the society itself, the party/meeting that meets once or twice a year (depending on the host city) for the members to share their writing, and (not the common usage among members) Dr. John William Polidori.
2) Who is Polidori?
J.W. Polidori was the personal physician of George Gordon, Lord Byron. Lord Byron had a home in Switzerland, Villa Diodati, and hosted Percy and Mary Shelley in 1816. One stormy night during the summer of that year, Lord Byron read aloud from a book of ghost stories to Polidori and the Shelleys and suggested that each of them write a story. The Shelleys and Lord Byron were major writers during the Romantic Age, and one outcome of that night was Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Polidori, on the other hand, was not known for his writing prowess by the other guests, and his story The Vampyre, might be considered lesser in literary quality to Lord Byron and the Shelleys, all of whom were professional writers. But, as noted by some scholars, his story is considered the first modern vampire tale. Since John Polidori was more of an Everyman than the others in the group, it was appropriate for the founders of this creative writing society to name the organization after him.
3) How, where, and when did it begin?
It was Halloween, 1991 in Dallas TX. It started as a Halloween party with a twist -- the cover charge was a piece of original written work to be read during the party. A group of University of Dallas students (current and non) organized the party and invited their friends. The original organizers included David Banchs, Dennis Vranjesevic, John Chamberlain, and Jason Henderson (among others). The guests included Dr. Bruce MacQueen, Frank Patterson, Alex Volk, John Bender, Brian Rogers, Russ Mitchell, Curtis Petree, and others. The first Polidori was called The Polidori Pumpkin Party because a) for John Polidori, and b) it was alliterative. This party was only supposed to be a one-shot deal, but the idea of writing and then reading aloud in front of a gathering caught on, and the Polidori Society was born. The stories written for that original Polidori and all subsequent Polidoris falling around Halloween are generally (and sometimes loosely) related to Halloween: ghosts, dark forces, witches, pumpkins, cats, the date October 31, or anything that may come to mind when Halloween comes around.
Due to popular demand, the first Spring Polidori (then called Half Polidori) occurred on the Ides of March, 1992. (Note: The only cities that continue the spring party -- renamed Spring Polidori -- are Dallas TX and Charlotte, NC. To date, other host cities only hold the annual fall Polidori party.) Unlike the fall Polidori, the Spring Polidori varies its theme from year to year; in the past, such themes have been “drunkenness,” “the Faerie Tale,” and even “delays and diversions.”
4) When are the Polidori Society's parties/meetings, and what are they like?
Note: All of the details are from first-hand experience from the Rome Polidori (fall 1993) and from the Dallas Polidoris (since summer 1994). Other host cities may have conducted their parties differently.
The parties/meetings of the Polidori Society occur once during March or April (Spring Polidori) and once around Halloween (Polidori). They are ordinary, informal parties (sometimes with food and drink provided), and the host(s) and invited guests provide their own original written work. Guest population varies from 10-30, but a good size is 15, which allows everybody the chance to read their stories. After everybody signs the guest book (which began in Fall 1997 and contributes to the future guest list), somebody volunteers to read first, and the reader sits in the designated reader's chair.
Lights are dimmed, and the reader either reads by candelight or by one small lamp, creating a "reading by the campfire" effect. It is tradition for the reader to give a brief disclaimer, usually about writer's block or some such thing, and then begin reading when the audience yells out, "Declaim!" After the reading, the guests applaud, and the reader picks the next reader. Then the process begins again, and afterwards THAT reader picks the next reader until all the guests have read. Depending on the length of each reading, there is usually a 10-15 minute break for every three to four stories read. It is okay to eat and drink during the reading provided that the guest is respectfully quiet and listens to the reader.
An invited guest can bring a friend, but the friend needs to bring his/her own original written work. A Polidori usually lasts four to five hours, depending on how many works are read, how long the works are, and how many breaks are taken. After the final reader has read, the Polidori winds down, and the guests leave, sometimes with the Spring Polidori theme, but most times without. They will be contacted later with the theme.
5) What are the Polidori submissions like?
They can be any original written work: Short stories, short book excerpts, poems, essays, journal entries, informal written thoughts, things written on napkins. One thing to keep in mind: the shorter the better so that everybody can read in one night. If a guest forgets to bring an original written work, the host can provide a substitute work, like a mad-lib, instead. In other words, no guest will be turned away just because he or she had writer's block.
6) How does one become a member?
Anybody who is interested in writing creatively can become a member. One only needs to contact a local Polidori organizer, but this is an informal, word-of-mouth process. The Polidori Society usually ends up finding prospective members, but there is nothing to keep a prospective member from finding the Polidori Society. One becomes a member once one submits his/her own orginal written work at a Polidori party, either as a guest or even as a host of a Polidori party There are no dues. Anybody interested can email me at admin@rowenasworld.org for information about hosting your own Polidori party or, if you are in the Dallas/ Forth Worth area and would rather join an existing chapter, you can email me to add you to the Dallas chapter's invitation list.
7) Can one submit a story online?
Yes, anybody can. Please check the Polidori Society's blog, http://polidori.wordpress.com for details.