Keith Ecker: Essayist, Journalist, Comedian

Keith Ecker at Printers Row Lit Fest

Keith Ecker — Wed, 23 May 2012 14:24:55 +0000

I am incredibly excited, honored and humbled to be so deeply participatory in this year’s amazing Printers Row Lit Fest. If you don’t know what this is, then you probably don’t read books. The Printers Row Lit Fest is one of the largest literary events in the country. The outdoor festival, produced by the Tribune Company, honors the written word with two full days of panel discussions, performances and, what else, books! See below to find out when I will be speaking/performing. I hope if you are in Chicago that you can check me out.

Sat. June 9 @ 10 a.m. – Keith will be moderating a panel of Chicago’s live lit heavy hitters for a conversation called Listen Up!: How Chicago’s Live Lit Scene Is Changing the Literary Landscape. Panelists include Ian Belknap (Write Club), Dana Norris (Story Club), Robbie Q. Telfer (The Encyclopedia Show) and Scott Whitehair (This Much Is True, StoryLab Chicago and Do Not Submit).
Sat. June 9 @ 3:30 p.m. – Keith will be speaking on a panel as part of a StoryStudio moderated discussion called Just Get Me Started Writing Workshop. He’ll be representing creative non-fiction and live lit.
Sat. June 9 @ 6 p.m. – Keith and Alyson will be showcasing a mini Essay Fiesta as part of the festival’s Lit After Dark event. Special guests include Scott Whitehair and the always entertaining Jen Bosworth.

Update: Broad Shoulders Podcast

Keith Ecker — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:41:47 +0000

The Broad Shoulders podcast is live…and it sounds amazing. Give it a listen. In. Your. Earhole.

http://inourwordsblog.com/2012/05/16/broad-shoulders-the-maiden-podcast/

Bridgeport, Broad Shoulders and Essay Fiesta

Keith Ecker — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:09:15 +0000

There are three major literary things going on in my life this month, all of which you should be privy to. And so I am privying you up with this blog post.

1. Stories from the Bottom of the Glass – Bridgeport

Six of the best damn live lit performers in the city are coming to Bridgeport to tell true stories of their own drunken mistakes.

Food and delicious concoctions will be provided. Complementary craft beer provided by Wild Onion Brewery. This is a free event with a suggested $10 donation to keep the performers in booze.

This show is a part of the Bridgeport Version Fest 12, a month-long celebration of this historic community.

Friday, May 18, 2012 – 7pm

The SMALL Showroom (aka Co-Prosperity Sphere gallery)
3219 S Morgan Street

There is ample free street parking. The location is a 15 minute walk from the Halsted Orange Line.

Admission: $10 Suggested donation

Performers:
Keith Ecker, host/producer of Essay Fiesta
Samantha Irby, writer of Bitches Gotta Eat
Ian Belknap, overlord of Write Club
JH Palmer, contributor to Gaper’s Block
Shannon Cason, winner of the Moth Chicago GrandSLAM
Dana Norris, host/producer of Story Club and writer of Bad With Men

2. Broad Shoulders Podcast

Soon you will be able to listen to my angelic voice via the Broad Shoulders podcast, a joint collaboration of In Our Words’ Nico Lang, Story Club’s Dana Norris and myself. Stay tuned.

3. Essay Fiesta – The Book Cellar

The Bulls might be out of the game, but we’re just getting started. Essay Fiesta is here to deliver you one of our best line-ups yet. And all this is going down at the Book Cellar on May 21st at 7 p.m. to help fund 826CHI. Thanks partners and sponsors Southport Grocery, Murder Mystery Maniacs and Chicago Underground Comedy.

This month Keith and Alyson welcome:

Director and Second City instructor Jen Ellison

Actor, writer and teacher Arlene Malinowski

Poet and playwright Chris Bower

Co-creator of In Our Words Nico Lang

Writer, editor and teacher Chris Terry

Look at Essay Fiesta’s May Line Up!

Keith Ecker — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:10:01 +0000

Hey kiddies! We’ve got a doozy of an Essay Fiesta lined up for May. Seriously. Alyson and Keith are thoroughly impressed with the caliber of talent. This isn’t marketing spiel, people. It’s the real deal. Take a look for yourself. Below are the people who will rock your world on May 21 at 7 p.m. at the Book Cellar:

Director and Second City instructor Jen Ellison

Actor, writer and teacher Arlene Malinowski

Poet and playwright Chris Bower

Co-creator of In Our Words Nico Lang

Writer, editor and teacher Chris Terry

I’m Back!

Keith Ecker — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:15:28 +0000

I am sorry for abandoning this blog so unceremoniously. Or perhaps it was ceremoniously…because how else do you abandon a blog besides just failing to update it?

In any case, I have been busy being gainfully employed at my new company Jaffe PR. It’s a great agency full of great people, and they aren’t just paying me to say that. One of my favorite aspects of the job so far is my ability to blog for the company. And so I wanted to share with you all some of my recent blog posts. Enjoy!

Get Your Learn On: PR and Comedy Writing Classes

Keith Ecker — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:51:24 +0000

I’m teaching a handful of classes in February through Dabble.co. My last classes in January were so successful that I’ve added a MEDIA RELATIONS class and a JOKE WRITING LAB. These classes have received amazing feedback from students, plus they are only $20. You can’t go wrong with that. Tell your friends or sign up yourself.

PR 101: Press Release Writing Basics teaches students how to format, write and distribute a press release.

PR 201: Media Relations Basics teaches students how to follow up with a press release, prepare to be interviewed and, in general, interact with the media.

Comedy Writing 101: The Basics of Joke Writing teaches students the nuts and bolts of putting together a zinger. You’ll receive a comprehensive overview of comedic genres as well as an in-depth list of tools and tips to help you craft your own jokes.

Comedy Writing 201: The Joke Writing Lab provides students with a workshop environment to test and refine material in a supportive. This highly interactive class focuses on instructor-facilitated peer critique.

Writer's Corner: What the F*$%? Is Cursing OK?

Keith Ecker — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:35:37 +0000

Reblogged from Essay Fiesta:

By Keith Ecker

At Essay Fiesta, we have a set of guidelines that we provide all of our readers. One of the most contentious guidelines is our suggested limited cursing policy. It’s also one of our most misunderstood policies. Allow me to explain.

First, we abide by the rules of our generous partner, the Book Cellar, which has graciously lent us their space for use to host our little show.

Least Consumer-Friendly Lawsuits of 2011

Keith Ecker — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:57:24 +0000

I’m very proud of this piece I wrote and researched on the least consumer-friendly lawsuits (and legal issues) of 2011. Also, if you get the chance to see Hot Coffee, by God watch it! You’ll never make a McDonald’s coffee-spilling joke again.

Here’s that story on the least consumer-friendly lawsuits of 2011.

Here’s some info on Hot Coffee.

Press Release Writing Basics This Thursday

Keith Ecker — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:39:38 +0000

Have you ever wondered how to get your name in the news? Are you trying to drum up more clients for your business? Do you need more individual donors for your organization? Then you need to learn to market yourself to the public. And one of the best ways to do this is through press releases.

I am teaching a class through the wonderful site Dabble.co called Press Release Writing Basics. It’s a 2-hour workshop held this Thursday at Noble Tree in Lincoln Park. I do not mess around when I teach. YOU WILL LEARN! And if possible, I’ll even provide some personally tailored advice to give you some ideas of how you can get the coverage you desire. And for only $20! Sign up today!

Here’s what you’ll leave with:

1) Format – What are all those little details that you should include in your press release, from a dateline to those little hash marks at the bottom. You need your press release to look like a press release.

2) Content – Pitching your business to the media is a nuanced skill. Merely saying your product is worth writing about is not enough. You need to be clever and think like an editor in order to create a press release that will actually get media attention.

3) Distribution – So how do you find media contacts to reach out to? And how do you alert them to your press release? What’s the protocol on follow-ups? This class will touch on each one of these critical points regarding press release distribution.

I Thought of an Amazing New Idea

Keith Ecker — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 06:02:42 +0000

I just thought of an amazing new idea. Here’s a hint…