Or, as we like to put it: writers write, actors read, audience listens, everybody wins.
What do we want?
Good question. We’re looking for fresh, original, unpublished short fiction between 800 and 2500 words long. Each of our events is themed, and you can find more details about each of our themes and respective deadlines over on our submissions page.
Once we’ve read through all the stories, we take a selection of the best and assign an actor to each one. Writers then have the opportunity to rehearse with their actor prior to the event itself – though if you're not local, you can just give us your thoughts in terms of direction. After the event, we’ll publish your story here on the site, together with a podcast and photos from the night.
We welcome submissions from all over the world, and you'll find complete details of how to submit right here. If you're interested in being one of our performers, you can find out more about that over here.
Where and when does all this happen?
Liars’ League NYC is recorded live at the East Village’s famed KGB Bar, the well-loved home of literary events and readings in New York since 1980, on the first Wednesday of every month. Entry is free - but you might want to come early to make sure you get a seat.
Why Liars' League?
Well, fiction is basically a lie. So is performance. To be honest, we're all liars. In fact, according to scientists, the average person tells eight lies every day of his or her life.*
But lying's not easy. You've got to work pretty hard at it if you want people to believe what you're saying. At its best, we think that's exactly what both fiction and performance can achieve. And we think that's worth celebrating.
Any other questions?
Send stories, actors' resumes, words of encouragement, and anything else that's on your mind to us at liarsleaguenyc@gmail.com. You can also friend us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter @liarsleagueNYC.
Praise for Liars’ League London
"Liars' League brings together actors and writers and lets each do what they are good at. The result is live fiction at its best. Funny, well presented, quirky, enjoyable."
~ Pulp Net
"These are great times for London's grass-roots literature; the London Lit Plus festival is going great guns, there's Litro getting literature onto the tube, and now this rather neat idea. It's simple. Writers submit short stories on whatever the month's theme is... Then, above a pub, naturally, a gang of actors read the best ones aloud, in suitably gripping/seductive voices to the adoring throng (i.e. you lot). You lot cheer wildly; the actors bow; beer is drunk and everyone goes home happy as you like. Like all the best ideas - simple."
~ Le Cool
"Liars’ League, a monthly fiction event, is a collaborative force like none we have seen out there thus far. Writers and actors pair up to breathe life into works. Everybody does win in this scenario. What a great opportunity for a writer - to see their work interpreted and performed by a complete stranger. What a unique venture they have going here - and God, we love that logo. Subscribe to the RSS feed and the podcast so you can listen to the results of this collaborative effort."
"We at Annexe HQ love the storytelling extravaganza that is Liars’ League. How could we not? There is something almost illicit about Liars’ League. An eager audience flows into a darkened basement to hear secret stories. The out-of-time setting conjures up a future where storytelling has been outlawed and enigmatic speakeasies have emerged in the shadows of the city."
"A wonderful thing the Liars are doing, a wonderful boost for the short story and for live story-telling."
"Thanks for making last Tuesday a really special night for me – to have my first piece of published work performed was something I never imagined would happen when I started writing, so it really was a very memorable occasion and a huge compliment. It was very clear at the rehearsal that you all put a lot of energy and passion into Liars' League and to have the chance to be a part of that is really, really appreciated."
~ Author Rob Mukherjee
"Thank you for doing what you do. It almost makes me wish I was English."
~ American author Dean Kisling
"Thank you for a lovely evening. I particularly enjoyed the spaces between the words. And the words of course, but I loved the spaces. I learnt to talk in comedy clubs and there as I'm sure you know, spaces are very risky and rare. To have spaces in which the words can grow is a luxury."
~ Audience member James Campbell
* This is an entirely made-up statistic.
